“SIDE STREET”

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1022, 12 July 1930, Page 15

“SIDE STREET”

THREE MOORE BROTHERS AT THE STRAND GLAMOUR OF CITY LIFE The cross-section of New York life —alt its glamour, and the cunning of the underworld —is shown in the new screening at the Strand Theatre, “Side Street,” It - is a radio picture of romance and drama, richly flavoured with humur. Three brothers, a policeman, a surgeon, and a leader of an underworld gang are pitted against one another, but* their loyalty as brothers is never severed and they guard an unfaltering love. For the first time in nearly a quarter of a century of screen work, three brothers, each of whom has achieved individual success, are brought together in a picture. The trio is made up of the Moore brothers —Torn. Matt, and Owen —and it is difficult to realise that a l>etter trio could be found to fill the three featured roles. There is Tom as .a conscientious Manhattan traffic “cop”; Matt as the police surgeon: and Owen, the king of an underworld gang, keeping his means of livelihood secret from his brothers. The plot is clev- ■ orly conceived, j

and* is a, most intriguing one. There : s plenty of action hroughout. while die story is easy to follow. The ictivlties of the underworld form to a* large extent the basis of the plot, but there is not that ’• sordid crime, merely thrills and mystery —and then trag-

John, the surgeon, first discovers that Dennis is the leader of one of the renowned criminal gangs which Jimmy, the uniformed man, has sworn to squash, little realising that Deryiis is his brother. But in the final scene lho three are brought together, and it provides a stirring close to a. fine film. IRISH HUMOUR The father and mother of the three brothers, Frank Shierdan and Emma Dunn, are responsible for some typical Irish humour, which adds a pleasing touch to the picture, while there is also a musical background which affords a fine setting. The -programme also provides an amazing number of interesting short pictures. Herbert Kawlinson, the wellknown stage player, introduces the latest when he is seen in a witty monologue, while some of thd brightest jazz music and many of the melodies which gained such popularity during the war daj's are played by Mai Hallett and his band. Of this band of bright musicians, one abandons his saxophone and reveals a clear tenor voice in the singing of “Mother Machree.” Quite a feature pf the supporting programme, and one which created considerable interest, was the picture showing the second Rugby test match at Christchurch. The photography was clear, and the sound effects accurately and well produced. The most spectacular and more exciting* incidents of the game were shown, and one scene shows M. Corner, the brilliant Auckland halfback, being carried shoulder-high from the field at the conclusion of the game. “Cow Camp Ballads” provided some amusing songs, while one particularly interesting section of the Fox Movietone News was a brief chat by Kingsford Smith on safe flying. Clive Brook, handsome leading man of the screen, was one of the British soldiers buried alive at the Battle of i Messines,