GEORGE BANCROFT, STOKER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 607, 8 March 1929, Page 15

GEORGE BANCROFT, STOKER

LIFE OF NEW YORK WATERFRONT FINE PICTURE AT PLAZA Tho rough, hard-as-nails stoker of a few years ago lias at last been brought to the screen in ail his crudeness nad massive strength. The stoker is a picturesque, though dirty, figure, which is fast dying out with the advent of oil-burning vessels, and the idea of making a whole picture around a pretty typical specimen is just that touch of genius for which some of the German-born directors of Hollywood are noted. The chief character in the picture, "The Docks of New York,” now at the Plaza and Tivoli Theatres, is just an ordinary rough stoker.

The whole action of the picture is in less than one day. The boat berths in the late afternoon, the stokers have one night ashore and are back at the stokehold next morning. But in that one night there are adventures enough to satisfy the most hardened

George Bancroft is Bill Roberts, the stoker, who, on the way ashore to “enjoy” himself on a “bust,” jumps into the harbour to save a girl from committing suicide. She is not particularly thankful, but Bill cheers her up, and, in his rough way. which involves one or two knockout blows to others, sets her on her feet again. This includes the stealing of a new set of clothes. The girl is a real down-and-out. inhabiting a sailors’ beershop, “The Sandbar,” but Bill takes a fancy to her and she to him. In the impulsiveness of his rough nature he suggests they get married. They are married right away by a waterfront missioner, “Hymn-Book Harry,” amid the ribald jesting of the drink-sodden sailors and stokers, and their lady friends of “The Sandbar.” Next morning the call of the third engineer to the stokers is too much for the sea-loving Bill, and he is back in tho stokehold. But something stirs within him at leaving his “wife,” and he returns just in time to save her from imprisonment on a charge of theft. The picture closes as he is taken away to the gaol and she is set free. . . The story seems ordinary enough, and the surroundings are indescribably cheap and vulgar, but nevertheless this picture cun be regarded as one of the finest Hollywood products of the year. It is real, and true to life. The stokers are a rough lot and the picture shows them for what they are. Places like “The Sandbar have existed, and the women who frequent them are not depicted as angels in disguise The whole picture is a raw slice of waterfront life, and carries an air of conviction. As for the character portrayals, they are wonderful. Chief acting honours should go to Betty Compson as ••Sadie.” tired of the life of sailors inns and admiring Bill s iug®ed strength, Olga Baclanova, the Russian actress, is “Bon,” another of the women, a rough character, and George Bancroft and Clyde Cook are two stokers to the life. Joseph von Sternberg was the director. In a prologue to the picture, Mr. Ernest Thomas, the popular basso, sang, “Hats Off to the Stoker’ m his inimitable manner. , , , The programme also included ahe Phantom City.” a story of a deserted goldmining village, starring Ken Maynard, also a gazette and “Krazy Fat cartoon. _ , , \t the Plaza Mr. Howard Moody s Svmphonic Orchestra played the overture. “Martial Moments.” and the following selections: Suites. “Petite Suite Moderne,” “On the Briny ; opera, “Maritana,” “The Pearl Fishers”: svmphony, “Unfinished”: selections. “A Little Dutch Girl,” “Hit the Deck.”

Seven suspeets of a murder crime contribute to the mystery of "The Canary Murder Case,” a Paramount picture recently completed at the Hollywood studios of that organisation. The role of detective. Philo Vance, is played by William Powell.