"THE FAR CRY"

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18788, 4 September 1926, Page 11

"THE FAR CRY"

■ ♦ ■ — " COMEDY AND DRAMA. EVERYBODY'S, MONDAY. Tho masterly, polished touch ot & new dlrecitor to iscreendonv. is visible in the First National, picture, "Tho Far Cry," which is to" be Bhown at Everybody's Theatro next week. It is the work of .Balboni, an Italian, who brings to this picturo what appears- to be a depth of vision and a symmetry "of emotional. outline which belongs .essentially to European drama. It is pervaded with an almost indefinable atmosphere of something that" is deeper and more telling than mere sophistication, an atmosphere that findß expression in the angle of truth and sincerity from. which the picture is treated. The theme is original, but not too much so to make it ultraimaginative. Its name, "The Far Cry," is derived from the vast difference in the lives and demeanour, of Americans when they live in Europe, lives that are far cries between ( those at home and abroad.. If at times these lives appear to border upon the Bohemian existence, and if the opinions and views expressed by the principals, savour of "a very worldly erudition, it is only because the director lias caught the very spirit of his story, a spirit. that is profoundly i real and consequently impressive. Except for one powerful, vivid scene, "The Far Cry" has eschewed melodrama and seußation, and, contenting itself with pre? senting 'bald 'facts with as little striving after hectic . effect a3 possible, succeeds in raising itself .to very lofty heights as a motion picture with a moral. It is a picture which impresses first with its novelty of'story, then the fact that- it has been embellished with that truth which is stranger than fiction projects itself npon the mental vision, and the entire production weavos itsslf* into a woof of dramatic " intensity and stands forth as one of the few'really worthwhile pictures of the year. The balancing ingredient of comedy is - necessarily present in so finished a picture, that airy, inconsequent comedy of the true Continental, which, by its undoubted foreigness, makes .a peculiar appeal to the audience. Naturally, the cast to play in this distinguished pic-, ture -.had to be chosen with the utmost regard to type and temperament, and the choice of Blanche Sweet and Jack , Mulhall for' the two leading roles must meet with the approbation of all. patrons.. That original and amusing comedy, "So Lpng, Letty," was the inspiration for the second attraction, "Exchange of Wives." which stars Eleanor Bdardman. and Jjew Cody, a particularly happy inspiration, as the picture ultimately proves. While making come Blight but improving divergences) the story is fundamentally the same as the well-known tale of the placid Letty, but the changes have only served to bring the comedy within more firmly-constructed bounds, 'and the amazing cleverness of the .piece receives added • impetus at the sauve ■ find polished hands of Lew Cody. ' Renee Adoree and Creighton Hale complete the marital and rebellious quartette, and they manifest that in the realm of delicate comedy that have few, if any. peers. Everybody.'s "Select,'.'. Orchestra, under Jlr W. J. Bellipgham, F.S.M., will play a programme of orchestral music, including the following numbers: l —Overture, "Polonaise Militaire" (Chopin); suite, "Orchestral Suite" (Guirand), "Candrillon" ' (Massenet); ballet music, "La Farandole" (Dubois);, opera. "Inquisitive Woman'' (Wolf-Ferrari); entr'acte, "Beside a Silvery ' Stream" (Kern); selection, "You're in Love" (Friml); fox-trots, "Garden Gate," (Ryder), etc. 'The box plans are now on view at The Bristol Piano Company, where seats may be reserved.