"THE MIDNIGHT ALARM."

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18194, 3 October 1924, Page 13

"THE MIDNIGHT ALARM."

LIBERTY THEATRE TOMORROW. i _ One of tho most spectacular scenes ever screened will be eecn in "The Midnight Alarm" at tho Liberty Thcatro on Saturday. A complcto four-storey office building is burned down to give spectators thrills. "Tho Midnight Alarm" is a story of a plotting business man, Silas Carringford, who slays his partner to obtain his wealth. Mrs Thornton i 3 driven to death before an onrushing train in trying to escape from Carringford in an automobile. Susjui, her daughter, is tossed to safety, and is picked up by Mrs 'Rarg, who raises her as her own. Mr and Mrs Tilwell, her grandparents, Carringford keep up an intermittent search, for the child, who is now known as Sparkle. Carringford learns eho is alive and 6ceks to destroy evidenco of her identity so that alio cannot claim the estate left to her, which on her death ia to go to Carringford. Chaser, a lovable "crook," played by Cullcn Landis, .and Harry Wcstmorc, a fire captain, impersonated by Percy Marmont, savo tho heroine after many daring adventures. The : fire scenes are the best ever shown in anv pnotopiay. Percy Marmont, Cullen Landis j and Joseph Kilgour deserve great praise for their remarkable character impersonations. George Pieroo is excellent as the hardened father, whilo Kitty Bradbury gives a pathetic touch as Mrs Tilwell. Maxine Elliot Hicks plays the part of Aggie, a crippled waif, charmingly. Pew pictures are destined to make a wider appeal than "The Grub Stake, ' the second feature on the programme. The story is about Faith Diggs, who makes a precarious living for her3e]f and her invalid father "The Skipper." In Seattle she encounters a gambler, Mark Leroy, who makes a business of procuring girls for tho Monte Carlo dance hall in Dawson. Faith's dreams aro of the north, and she bogs Leroy to give her a grub-stake that she may make a fresh start in Alaska. Leroy gives her the money, and on tho way north pretends to marry her, this in despite the fact that he has. a .wife already. Faith, believing she is meeting the elite of the town, is introduced as the new "Queen of the Yukon." From Dawson Kate, a woman of the dance hall, she learns tho truth about Leroy. Guided by Malamute Mike, an old prospector, Faith takes Leroy's dog team and with her father strikes out into the wilderness. Tho ageing thaw overtakes the travellers, the sled is stranded, the supplies gone, and "the Skipper" delirious. Malamute Mike takes them to Dawson Kate's cabin where her son Jeb is working a mine. Faith goes in search of firewood, is frightened by a cougar and becomes lost. Befriended by a bear, ehe wanders through the valley and encounters the forest life of the place—porcupines, beavers, badgers, deer, coyote, skunks, elk and scores of other animals and birds until she is swept into astonishing adventures which culminate in a breath-taking thrill. Nell Shipman plays the part of Faith Diggs, and she is abiy supported by Hugh Thompson, Alfred Allen, George Berrell, Walt Whitman, C. K. van Auker, and Ah Wing. There is also a good comedy entitled "Dogs of War," featuring the youngsters of "Our Gang." The censor for New Zealand films, Mr Joliffj, when reviowing this picture, declared that it was one of tho most amusing comedies ho had ever seen, and that' he laughed heartily from beginning to end. This is bi?h praise from one wh6 is seeing pictures all day and most days of the week. Tho Liberty Quality Orchestra, under Mr Howard Moody, will play a "delightful musical programme.