MAJESTIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 909, 28 February 1930, Page 15

MAJESTIC

“DRAG OF TrtE FAMILY” Are blondes more home-loving and devoted to their families than brunettes? • This question is suggested toy the story of Richard Barthelmess’s newest starring vehicle, "Drag of the Family,” the First National picture which opens at the Majestic Theatre today. “Drag of the Family” has two leading ladies, a blonde and a brunette. The blonde. Alice Day. marries the hero, but their home life is wrecked because of her excessive devotion to her own kinsfolk. The brunette, Lila Lee, an equally nice girl who is less enslaved by the ties formed in childhood. finally wins the affections ofDavid Carroll, as Dick Barthelmess is known in the film. But the blonde in "Drag of the Family” was too domestic to preserve her marital happiness, and the dark-haired girl conquered his wounded heart and shared with him the glory of his great musical success on Broadway. An entire musical show. “The Love Prince,” w a s staged as part of "Drag of the Family." the featured number being “Song of the Nile.” In the screen version of this William Dudley Pelley novel, David Carroll marries Allie Parker and suddenly- finds himself the keeper of her brother, father, mother, brother's wife and brother's three children. She clings to them with a sincere but misplaced affection that eventually ruins her domestic bliss. Their selfishness never becomes apparent to her —a. selfishness that drags David down and down until he baulks against the unnatural burden, and concludes that his wife’s love for her family is rooted deeper than her love for him. “Good works” Allie does not promote. She is primarily interested in the welfare and humouring of her own family. The fact that her husband's future is being ruined by her own misinterpretation of marital obligations does not occur to her. so disaster follows in the wake of their bond. An excellently varied supporting programme will also be presented this evening. “Hell Harbour.” Henry King's production made in Florida, has Lope Velez at the bead of a cast that includes Jean Hersholt. John Holland. Gibson Gowland and A 1 St. John. This is Mr. King's first ali-talking production, and the mater of “Stella Dallas •md “Tol'able David” has chosen a pirate story this time.