MAJESTIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 533, 10 December 1928, Page 15

MAJESTIC

“THE ADORABLE OUTCAST” One of the outstanding programmes of the year is now being shown at the Majestic Theatre, headed by the fine production, “The Adorable Outcast.” It is a stpry of life in the Islands, and so presents a closer local, for the production is an Australian one. An admirable finish in detail characterises the acting, and the settings are quite natural. This last advantage is one that is not perhaps realised until its effect comes home, enhanced by vivid photography. In this case it gives the production that undercurrent of realism that helps to make it the success it is. As Luya, a half-caste girl, Edith Roberts adds brains to beauty, and gives a rational and balanced performance. She lives her exacting part, and fulfils all the incidental requirements perfectly. As {Stephen Conn, Edmund Burns has to handle the part of the rich white, man with almost kingly power on the island. The .story tells of the adventures of Stephen Conn, the wealthiest inhabitant of one of the Pacific Islands. The source of his riches furnishes the problem that occupies the mind of Fursey, the leader of a gang of blackbirders. Conn falls in love with Luya, a beautiful half-caste girl, who helps him to circumvent Fursey’s plots. Hfe disappears for long intervals into the bush, and these mysterious happenings titillate the imagination of Fursey’s gang. One day when Conn is in the interior of the island he discovers Luya and declares his love for her, together with the secret of his wealth. From then on the action quickens. Fursey kidnaps the girl, and, wishing to drag the secret from her, forces her to dance until she collapses. Naturally, this rouses the anger of her lover, so he enters the gang’s low waterfront haunt and horsewhips Fursey in a satisfactorily revengeful manner. The scene at the saloon beggars description; it will surely rank as one of the most willing and successful melees in mo-tion-picture history. In the meantime, Deirdre, the daughter of Cadberry, the storekeeper, returns from Sydney, and gives birth to a child. Wishing to keep the disgrace from her gruff parent, she palms the infant off on to Luya, who gives it every attention. Of course, Conn gets to hear of this, and as Luya will not explain, he believes that she is the mother of the child. Excellent supporting features are provided, including a comedy, gazette and a travel picture of the Flanders battlefields made famous in the Great War. A splendid musical programme is presented by the Majestic Orchestra.