"CHILDREN OF DIVORCE."

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19109, 19 September 1927, Page 6

"CHILDREN OF DIVORCE."

A SPLENDID DRAMA. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE, TO-DAY. ."Wliat," asks a' moralising professor in an American exchange, "is the cause of all this divorce?" Speaking offhand, wo should a ay, Marriage. And alimony statistics show that two tan . live more cheaply than one. And another thing: It is wise to tell your wife everything, but tell lier before someone else docs. And so the professor is well and truly answered." As America leads the?# world in divorce (and if' that isn't setting an exaniplo in disarmament wa don't know what isn't), there can bo, no one more suited to talk on the subject than American writers, entertainment producers, and "uplifters"; and the greatest of these is the entertainment producer. So the Paramount picture to be presented at Everybody's Theatre this week, "Children of Divorce," is quite the most concise, clear, and cleverly dramatic expose of the much-discussed evil that we have yet seen. This is not a flapper picture, not an amusing series of . jazz parties, domestic law suits, and a cheerful superfluity of marriages and annulments. Far, from it. "Children of Divorce" is one of the screen's most ambitio'is efforts along purely 'dramatic lines, deals with a thoughtprovoking theme, and at the same time has its wild moments and its flashes of humour. ■ But in the main it is stark drama of the most gripping nature, building swiftly from one powerful, situation to another, up to a climax that leaves the most blase audience breathless. "While the newspapers and the debating societies have been busy -discussing tho primary participants in divorce, petitioner and respondent, i* has never occurred to anyone yet to turn the spotlight on the children; Sir Philip Gibbs has written "The Custody of the Olilid," but failed rather to come up to expectations, and "Children of Divorce" deals with these "Lost Children," in childhood derived : of parental affection,' -and growing up to a strange. code of ethics and laws, and it is with a sense of humour, as well as a sense of the pathetic futility and essential drama of such a situation, that Frank Lloyd, the director, has essayed to treat his subject. The result, is i picture that enters ths class of the yqar's best pictures. It is a strong impeachment against divorce, but it is not a. problematical idea, and it is not '•preachy." Clara Bow, who plays tho colead with Esther Ralston, sees to that. Those who have, in the past, walked many weary tniles ; just to see Miss, Bow disport herself upon, the screen, will find in the girl of this'film an actress who can plumb the depths of dramatic tragedy. For the first time, in her professional career, the screen's queen of flappers enters the ranks of wifehood and motherhood, and in a tense climax, achieves a piece of acting that might be the envy of . Norma Talmadge herself: . Miss-Ralston is . xquisitely gentle as ever she was, while Gary Cooper, ian emotional role, Norman Trevor, and Einar Hansen' aro the complement of as fine a cast that ever appeared in a single picture. "Upstream" is the title of the second feature on the programme, with that hilarious pair, Ted and Sammy Cohen, in the . leading roles. McNamara and Cohen •have "brought down" many a hpuse throughout the world 'by ; their gorgeous clowning in "What- Price Glorv." Wo use "gorgeous" advisedly, for their work was as multi-coloured and attractive as the rainbow. In "Upsflream," which is a romantic drama of the theatrical life \on Broadway, the' "River of Life," this inimitable team are seen to delightful advantage Nancy Nash and Earle Fox - are the stars The Select. Orchestra, under Mr Albert Bidgood, will play the following . musical, programni" : Overture, "Si j'etais Roi" ("If I- Were King," by Adam), suites "Summer Davs" (Coals), "Two Salon Pieces" (Ireland). "The Rake" (Quilter). "Jeux d'Enfant" (Bizet); selections. ■ "The Blue Mazurka" (Lehar), "Blue Kitten" (Fr'ml), light pieces, "The "The Toy Soldiers" (Kreislerl, "Le Cygne 1 (Siant-Saena); entr'acte, "The, World is Waiting for the Sunrise" (by request), arranged by -Mr Bidgood The box plans are now open l at The Bristol Piano Companj, where scats may be., reserved.