SOUTH SEA SPELL.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18926, 15 February 1927, Page 13

SOUTH SEA SPELL.

"ALOMA OF THE SOUTH SEAS.*' PERCY MARMOXT AT CRYSTAL PALACE. All the glamour of the South Sea Islands, with their coral reefs and dancing maidens, is in "Aloma," and there Is a very prettily-worked-out love interest to boot. "Aloma" is a j,lay by John B. Hyroer and Le Roy Clemens which played so successfully at the Strand Theatre in London, and in the photoversion at Crystal Palace Theatre the story loses nothing of its interest and gains a jrcat deal in effect. Bob Holden went to the Great War from somewhcre-in-Amurica. and when It- was reported killed his friend, Van Tompleton. knowing the ropori to be untrue, held hU peace and persuaded the missing man's liancec to marry him instead. On returning to his home, the original lover does not suspect tho truth of his friend's treachery, but hies himself to 3 South .Sea island and proteeds to drink himself to degradation. At I Ins island there is a girl, Aloma. beloved of one Nuitnne, and llolden earns her gratitude by protecting her from the evil attentions of lied Malloy. Aloma does her level best to get him for her ••man," like Tondelevn in •White Cargo," though Tondelcyo was merely sensual, whereas Aloma is really attractive 11. played by (iilda lirny. Just when the hem, now 11 reformed character, is on tho point of surrender, and so incurring the enmity of Nuitane, his best friend and wife arrive at tho island. Templeton has become a drunken »ot, and his wife is obviously saddened and disillusioned, and to add to her sorrow she learns of her husband's treachery. Templeton confesses the truth to llolden, and Nuilane offers to canoe them across the lagoon to rlic "Blue Pearl." whero Hidden will confront his "friend" with his wife. A hugo storm ionics up, and the solution of the difficulty is found by Nuitnne. who conveniently lips up the canoe aud leaves tho drunkard to the mercy of the sharks. In the words of the native, ".Vuitano fix nice. White lady marry white man, brown girl marry brown inn n." Tho artistry of Percy Mnrmont, 83 llolden, has a great deal to do with tho success of the play. Tho acting of this experienced mummer is always of the highest order, and liu brines out without exaggeration both the strong and tho weak points of each character ho portrays. Oilda Gray is a delightful dancer as well as a finished nctrVss in the name-part of tho picture, and Warner Baxter gives a very virllo touch to her native lover. Tho spectators aro saturated, there is no other word, in local colour; and nil tho subordinate characters, Including tho multitudinous Indies in bare logs and arms, play their parts in true style. Harry Morey gives a good impression of Red Malloy, who "wnsn't all white —his father was a sailor, too." The second feature was "Souls for Sables." This picture, with Claire Windsor and Kugene O'Brien in tho leading roles, is tho story of two women who wore infatuated with sables, and ono who literally gavo her soul for them. Tho story is of no great importance, but the picture points a sound moral in "when a wife is forced to seek her own amusement she usually chooses the wrong playmates." An intorcsting addition to tho programme this weak is a short film showing tho effect of balloon tyres on motor vibration. A scries of experiments with balloon tyres is screened, and then tho same operation with highpressure tyros, and the difference may well bo Judged without any explanation. The Crystal Palace Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Mr Alfred J, Buns, played a programme of music which was in strict accord with tho features screened.