CRYSTAL PALACE AND EMPRESS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 899, 17 February 1930, Page 13

CRYSTAL PALACE AND EMPRESS

An old railroad engineer—crusty, gruff, his engine and the traditions of the road his religion—this is the new character Lon Chaney gives his audience in his starring vehicle, “Thunder.” a sound synchronised epic of the railway, which is to show at the Crystal Palace (Mt. Eden) and Empress (Newton) Theatres this evening. It affords a startling variation of the usual bizarre and macabre roles assigned to “The Man of a Thousand Faces.” Chaney’s characterisation is an intensely human one, and will long live in the memory of those who see it, for he veritably lives the part of the veteran railroad man. He even wears a moustache to make his part convincing. and his make-up is a marvel of illusion.

There are thrills galore—thundering, rides over frozen rails in a great locomotive —weird scenes in great railroad vards, drama, tragedy and romance, Phyllis Haver and James Murray are ideally cast to support Chaney.

Phillipe de Lacy, prominent child actor, will portray the son in “Sarah and Son,” Ruth Chatterton's latest starring picture for Paramount, which was adapted from the famous novel by Timothy Shea. Fredric March plays the leading male role.