STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 602, 2 March 1929, Page 15

STRAND

“BATTLE OF THE SEXES” When life no longer has a meaning —then and only then will pictures like D. W. Griffith’s “The Battle of the Sexes" stop providing laughter and tears to human beings the world over. Love, life, the modern home and the sex lure that has made and unmade empires, fortunes and men. these are the pivotal points around which “The Battle of the Sexes," United Artists picture, which is still attracting crowds to the Strand Theatre, is set a-whirling. This pulsating drama hits every hearth, heart and home. Into the soothing quiet of a typical modern household comes conflict —in the person of an irresistible gold-digger. At a fast night club the wife sees her supposedly hard-working spouse carousing with the captivating vampire. Then the story builds up to a terrific climax depicted in the inimitable Griffith manner. An the cast! Jean Hersholt is the husband, Phyllis Haver the gold-digger and Belle Bennett the suffering wife. Don Alvarado and Sally O’Xeil are also importantly cast. The supporting programme includes a Strand Magazine and comedy, and a colourful stage prologue, “Love’s Triumph,” featuring Gwen McNaugliton (dancer) and Mr. Walter Brough as the soloist. Most enjoyable music is provided by the Strand Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Eve Bentley. The only reason they had guards in the prison scene in “Brotherly Love” was to keep pardoned convicts from breaking back into gaol. This is - just one of the many laugh riot situations in the new Karl Dane-George lv. Arthur comedy which is coming here shortly, as a Metro-Gold wyn-Mayer feature. The plot is motivated by a collegiate prison in which football and ukulele playing take the place of breaking rocks and lock-stepping. Jean Arthur (no relation to George) is the leading lady.