STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 576, 31 January 1929, Page 15

STRAND

“FOUR SONS” ‘ Four Sons,” the big attraction at the Strand Theatre, is a deeply moving story of youthful romance and motherly devotion. While the action takes place during the period of the World War, it is not essentially a war picture, since only one scene of the battlefront is shown. The story deals with the whitehaired mother, who sacrifices her sons to her country, who fares on through sorrow and despair until, conquering fate, she finally attains happiness. It was produced for Fox Films by John Ford, of “Mother Machree” and “Iron Horse” fame. In the cast are Margaret Mann, the 60-years-old screen find, who gives a brilliant performance as the mother: James Hall, Charles Morton, George Meeker, and Francis X. Bushman, jun., who play the sons; Earle Foxe and June Collyer. An interesting programme of short supporting pictures is shown, including a Strand Magazine, with all the latest world news. A highly enjoyable musical programme is presented by Eve Bentley’s Strand Symphony Orchestra. Davies and William Haines, created a tremendous furore at its world premiere in Xew York. The big King Vidor special with its story a.bout movie life made a big impression, and the inclusion of a score or more of the greatest screen stars in its scenes was enthusiastically commented upon. There can be no possible doubt that “Show People” is set for a recordsmashing career everywhere. Esther Ralston’s latest starring production for Paramount, titled “The Case of Lena Smith,” is now nearing completion at the Paramount studios. The story is laid in Hungary. James Hall plays the male lead and Josef von Sternberg is directing.