UNUSUAL FILM AT LIBERTY THEATRE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18055, 15 January 1927, Page 6

UNUSUAL FILM AT LIBERTY THEATRE.

“ THE MARRIAGE CLAUSE ” HAS GRIPPING THEME. } Perhaps there is no subject under the I sun more discussed, .both verbally ami j in print, than matrimony, or, to delve | deeper, than marriage. Without getting ( embroiled in fundamentals, one can but dtate that the reason is simple and obvious, a reason that begun in the Garden of Eden and has continued down to this year of grace. It is but is; it is equill? a Lo d u> e sa^ a ufat C oiie can extract a vast amount of humour out ot it, but one can; it is brutal and unkind to aver that marriage, after a few months, sheds its garments of romance, and assumes the prosaic garb of reality, but it does. The average man shies clear of drama, the average woman emthe average man shies clear of matrimony. Yet there are some, who, desirous of avoiding Its eternal paradoxes, still cling to romance, and -when that cur. Such a situation is, to be perfectly candid, found more frequently between the pages of the dramatists's manuscript than between the pages of Life, but in the hands of competent artists, skilful authors and sympathetic directors, a wonderfully convincing play can be evolved from the theme. Such a. play is “The Marriage Clause.” the Universal production, which has been secured for presentation at the Liberty Theatre next week, and if the Universal Corporation never made another film, they would be remembered for "The Marriage Clause," just as long as the industry survived. In this age of competition, of strife, of the theory of the survival of the fittest carried into all arenas, the plot of this picture might not be encountered very frequently, but a generation back it was a dramatic commonplace? in which shattered romance and broken dreams were the predominant factors. It is a bold, sincere, effective story, essentially serious drama, to which is imparted the balance of light and delicate humour, the colour of romance, the always attractive combination of tragedy and triumph struggling for the ’honours. It is a story of the theatre, the lives of a company of artists being traced with a ruthless hand, lives that, flow' now serenely, now turbulently, a theatrical play which is vivid and descriptive with all the glamour of the footlights, and all the stark realism of backstage. Playing the leading role is Miss Billie Dove, who has deserted the mediocre roles so long offered her in the past, and blossomed forth as a dramatic actress with a distinctive flair for the emotional. is both strong and artsuccess of the picture. She is supported by an excellent cast, in which Warner Oland. in a typical role, is, perhaps, the most notable. The complement of the programme is “ Ramshackle House,” a Master picture starring Betty Compson. For ingenious mystery, sensational thrills and pleasant human .Interest, this picture stands well to the forefront, and the acting of Miss Compson, which is always of a high order, is, in this Floridan romance, polishedfltand dramatic to a degree. John Davidson, who came to the front in “ Monsieur Beaucaire,” plays an important part with commendable finish. The Liberty " Concert ” Orchestra, under Mr Ernest Jamieson, will play a special musical programme, including the following numbers: Overture, "Light Cavalry” (Von Suppe); Symphony No. 1 (Schumann); ” Fantasia ” (Meyerbeer) ; selection, ” Sullivan’s Operas” (Clutsam);; suite. " Belsazar ” (Sibelius);; entr’acte, “The Prisoner's Song ” (Massey) ; “ Indian Suite ” (Dvorak); song hits, “ Ukelele Lullaby” "Save Your Sorrow,” “Ninette Ninon,” ** Pearl of Malabar.” The box plans are now open at the Bristol Piano Company, where seats may be reserved.