CRYSTAL PALACE.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18802, 21 September 1926, Page 14

CRYSTAL PALACE.

"THE GRAND DUCHESS AND THE WAITER." 'TEE SHADOW OF EGYPT." A French comedy with a, kick in every inch of it—such is "The Grand Duchess and the Waiter," the leading picture in the new programme which is offered to' patrons of Crystal Palace this week. A foreign play translated into English jften Buffers badly in the process, but it is impossible for anything of the kind to happen in a picture, which is universal in its appeal. French comedy is in a class by. itpeli, and the present film brings out the many subtleties of the play in a manner that is completely satisfying. Thero is nothing risque about U:e production, which is acted in masterly style, the principal part that of the i acuc-si>, being taken by Florence Vidor. ! Who appears in a great variety of wonderful [ gowns. Supporting her is a strong cast, the leading masculine role being allotted to | Adolphe Menjou, whoso consummate skil' must be. seen to be properly appreciated. The story is of a Russian Duchess who 13 seen at a theatre bv a wealthy man, who imme- : lis ih'love with her. He sends her i his card, but she will have nothing to do ■ with him. It, order to get near her be j manageß to secure an engagement as a waiter, and it is bis experiences in this role '"' form the basis of the comedy. Those who havo a liking for stories concerning the land of the yiamids will be deI.! htr-1 with the second picture, a I aramount production entitled The <-'hadow of Egvpt," in which the principal characters aro taken by Alma Taylor and Carlye B!ac<well. It concerns on English officer who saves the life of an Egyptian beggar lad during the period of the Great W«r. and promptly forsret3 about the incident. >ot so with the boy, however, and somo years ■ afterwards, when his benefactor returns to ! • v t the debt is repaid a thousandfold the ; boy receiving a bullet intended for the Eng- ! lisbraan. While the story is a truly grip- • ping one, it is the setting that paces Hie i picture iD the iorei/round Most of the action takes dace in E?vpt.' and among the scenes shown are the Pyramids and the Sphynx the Vi'e. the desert, a native bazaar, and the entrance to the tombjof Tutankhamen. Another very intexestins scene is where the Kpi ishman comes unexpectedly upon two thieves engaged in looting a treasure vault, which they have discovered, inside- being a. wonderful collection of amulets, crowns, and, .:h- jewelled articles heaped together on a table. Then there is a revolt, followed, by a fi>bt in a harem, in which hundreds-o: people are involved. : The whole production is a masterpiece of its kind. ' The Symphony Orchestra, under Mr A. Buna, plays a. programme of music in keopin" with the atmosphoro of the two big films, including the following .pieces:—Overture, "Ballet Egyptian" (Luigini); symnhonv, "D Major" (Beethoven), "Flower Maidens" (Wagner), "Giroflo Girofla" (Lococo) "La, Giaconda" (Ponchelli), "The Garden of Allah" (Ronald), -'Cairo" (Fletcher), "Calliihoe" (Cnaminade), 'Myrtles of Damascus" (Woodforde-Finden), "Dance of tho Sugar Plum Fairy" (Tochaikowsky).