"ROSE OF THE GOLDEN WEST."

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19201, 6 January 1928, Page 5

"ROSE OF THE GOLDEN WEST."

MARY ASTOR AND GILBERT ROLAND.

There is no more romantic spot on earth —or there was no more romantic spot—than California under the Dons. That most fair and colourful period spent out its gay life in the forties, ;vvhen that lovely state, under the ceremony and dignity of Spain, wroto in its story book all that was gallant, all that was noble, and all that was beautiful. It was the Golden West, that men havo written about, which has lured men, and its men and women were the high-spirited descendants of tho grandees. A splendid locale for tho setting of adventurous romance, of which delightful type of fiction no more entrancing examplo could bo found than "Rose of the Golden West," that gay and gallant tale that George Fitzmaurice has produced tor First National Pictures. Fitzmaurice, who has made nearly all of the Colman-Banky productions, has a courtly touch belonging to no other director, so that when he sets his hand to the painting of such a glamorous and languid period as that mentioned, ho produces nothing short of a triumph. At the Liberty Theatre next week this "Rose of the Golden West" will be the single feature attraction on a bill composed of reviews and gazettes, which, together with tho admirable musical programme to be presented by Mr Ernest Jamieson, thero should be no more popular house of entertainment than the Liberty nest week. Heading the cast are Mary Astor and Gilbert Roland, Miss Astor is very well known, and is one of tho most gifted of the younger stars, but her vi3-a-vis, Gilbert Roland, only came into prominence with Norma Talmadge's "Camille," in which ho played the tragio lover, Armand Duval. He is a young Argentinian, with,all' the poetry and fire of the Latin, and specially in such a picture a3 this one, he is seen in a role and a place to which he is perfectly adapted. The cast could not have been more happily chosen. Montagu Love, flora Finch, Harvey Clarke, and. Gustav von Seyffertitz are others supporting the principals, all throwing themselves into tho fiery romance. The story itself is gloriously adventurous, a tale of bold intrigue, of lusty crimes that those jolly Sogers of the land would commit so light-heartedly, of convent bells, and assassination plots, and above all, of Elena and Juan, that brave pair who were placed in that melting pot, and, through the length of the picture, had to fight 'their way out of it. Through, all the sinister plots and the Spanish drama of it there runs this delightful love story, delicately played by this peerless pair. "Rose of the Golden West" is one of the year'B best pictures, even though the year is young yet. It has every essential towards this end, a magnificent tale, production on a lavish scale, and a superior cast. The box plans are now open at Tho Bristol Piano Company, where intending patrons are urged to book seats.