MAJESTIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 908, 27 February 1930, Page 17

MAJESTIC

“DRAG OF THE FAMILY” The final presentation will be given this eyening of the splendid programme now at the Majestic Theatre. This includes “The Very Idea” talkie comedy-drama, and a full list of shorter talkie featurettes. A small town publishing office is authentically reproduced in “Drag of the Family,” the new Richard Barthelmess starring vehicle produced by First National-Vitaphone which comes to the Majestic Theatre tomorrow. This set was “dressed” by former newspapermen and printers. Mechanical and hand printing presses were installed, and dust-laden shelves holding paper stock, etc., were carefully arranged. Two journeymen printers with actual experience were engaged as extras so that they would not be seen doing the wrong thing. In this set Barthelmess, in the role of David Carroll, publishes “The Courier,” the town weekly. Here also he prints the bills announcing: “The Love Prince,” a musical production to be produced by the local Ladies' Guild. “The Love Prince” later plays an important part in his career. “Drag of the Family” was directed by Frank Lloyd from the novel by William Dudley Pelley. The cast supporting Barthelmess includes Lila Lee, Alice Day, Margaret Fielding, Lucien Littlefield, Tom Dugan, Katherine Ward and others. The story of “Drag” is that of a young newspaperman who takes over the local paper in a small community. By circumstances he is forced into all the domestic troubles of the smalltown family and the weight of carrying on a large family of adults and children as well as the newspaper forces him to breaking-point. He leaves for New York and. after a heart-breaking beginning, gradually achieves success and love, only at the last nearly losing it all to the horde of relations who follow him to New York. Richard Barthelmess is at his greatest in the story of a man who married the wrong girl and is man enough to admit it.