STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 528, 4 December 1928, Page 15

STRAND

“STEAMBOAT BILL, JNR ” As many laughs as can be crammed into 7,000 feet of film; romance, suspense, thrills —these are some of the elements which go to make up the year’s surprise comedy, "Steamboat -Bili. Jr.,” which stars Buster Keaton and presents a number of noted supporting players of the calibre of Ernest Torrence. Keaton’s new United Artists laugh feature is convulsing capacity audiences at the Strand Theatre, and this writer takes pride in especially recommending “Steamboat Bill Jr.” as one of the season’s “guaranteed pictures.” The fast-moving story of river life is Keaton at his funniest and Torrence in his most interesting role. Photo-play-goers who invariably associate the noted character actor with villainous parts are due for a shock when they see him sharing laughs in his portrayal of BLister’s hard-boiled, swashbuckling dad, a modern river pilot with a haired for mollycoddles, and with a penchant for getting into trouble. How his son, “Steamboat Bill, Jr.,” as played by Keaton, turns from a foolish youth to a hero, wins the town belle, defeats a gang of river rowdies intent upon ruining him, and finally rescues the entire community from a tornado and flood, forms a background for scores of mirthful situations. The settings in the big comedy are as spectacular as the action itself. Excellent supporting music from Eve Bentley’s Strand Symphony Orchestra enhances the enjoyment of the evening. The programme also contains an interesting budget of the world’s news, and a gloriously coloured picture of the lives of Napoleon and Josephine.

The latest Zane Grey picture to be filmed for Paramount is titled “The Sunset Pass.” It will go into production in the near future, following the completion of “Avalanche,” also from, the pen of the same author. Otto Brower, the director of “Avalanche,” will have charge of the production of “Sunset Pass.”