"OLD BILL."

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19104, 13 September 1927, Page 13

"OLD BILL."

AT THE QUEEN'S. BAIKNSFATHBft'S "SETTER 'OLE." War is never a. pleasant experience, but, like most bitter things, it has ,t> humorous B lde if one knows where to look for it. Bruce BBirOsthther was the man who found the less gloomy side of the Great War, and by his derisive, yet sympathetic, pictures, brought a more cheerful outlook into the lives of many, who were winning tho conflict at home and at the front. How well ho found the elusive jest Of the private soldier, even in the face of death, was shown by his sketches. Old Bill, the war's most famous veteran, became a mythical figure long before the ond of the war. Then Bnirnefother produced the fetage-play, "The Better 'Ole," and Old Bill took a more human guise. Tho pictured version of "The Better 'Ole is American, which is a pity, but otherwise Syd. Chaplin might not haVC- played the hero, and ho is necessary. He has all the time and appreciation of tho finer points of tho comedy As Old Bill, ho kept tho audience in wars of laughter. Never for a moment did the Comedy flag, though some more serious play was introduced. "The Better •Ole " Is almost wholly comedy, and makes no pretence of telling a By>ry of tM war. There is hardly any plot. From the front line of trenches Old Bill and his, companion Alf so on leave to a French village, and there »h» main comedy i; , played. The pair afe seen in a variety of incidents, as Hun soldiers, an impromptu horse, and the saviour* of the approaching British relief fortes which would have been blown to pieces had they not captured the guard of the min» entrenchments. % "Old Bill 1 ' is a likeable character, and a human one through--06 "Texas" is another feature film, a stirring Western tallroad drama of the early pwaeet «av», .tarring Franklyn Farnum as Texhß Alifisht. The president or the railroad has font Clark Daley to negotiate with the ranch owners for right-of-way through the country. He was almost successful, except for Texas, who was stubborn and to sell. Texas fights for his property, attd glveß many drills ahd ft sparkling display of . horse; manshtp. Other films are ."Days of Old, "Living London," "A Salty Sap," and "Quest of a Minute."