LIBERTY THEATRE.

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

LIBERTY THEATRE.

A DELIGHTFUL PICTURE. JACKIE COOGAN AGAIN. "The Peter Pan of Screcndom," Jackie Coogan has been called, but truth to tell, the young actor haa, of late, grown up amazingly. Therefore "Old Clothe*," which acreens at the Liberty TWtre this week, haa an additional interest and an added valua —it is probably the last picture in which Coogan the boy will be Men. In future years, perhaps, Coogan the man may grace the films, but with "Old Clothes," the inimitable Jackie ia near the end of the first chapter of his career. All the wistful childishness and the delicate humour that the young star brings to the screen are displayed in "Old Clothes." He is again in one of tho roles that suit him best—as the "kid." Clad in the castoff garb of some burly man, patched as to condition, and. enveloping in dimensions, Coogan makes an irresistibly appealing figure. Bui his appearance ia not all; in every scene tho little actor dominates the film with his attractive personality; and the other artists are dwarfed by the magnitude of this diminutive hero's gifts. From gravo to gay, from pathos to perplexity, overy emotion is truthfully portrayed by Coogan. The story is a simple but a delightful one, and traces the fortunes of Kelly (Coogan) and his partner Ginsberg through a time of financial stress after their money is lostin coppor. A wholesome love interest Is introduced, Joan Crawford proving a charming heroine to a dashing young millionaire's Borneo. Jean Hersholt, Jewish character actor, plays in the supporting film, "The Old Soak." Hersholt lifts this picture from the mediocre in his characterisation of the main role, though the sentimentalists of the production is ovsrdrawn. Bright scenes of stage life and life behind the stage liven up the film and add to its interest. The story tells of the regeneration of a pleasant but ne'erdo-woll small-town garage proprietor, whose weakness for ths bottle is finally overcome by his love for home and son. The Liberty Orchestra, under the baton of Mr Ernest Jamieeori, is to be congratulated on its rendering of Suppe's "Poet and "Peasant," "William Tell" j{Bossim), and "Favorite" (Doniietti). The 'cello soke of Mr K. Werry left little to be desired.