"MR WU."

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19212, 19 January 1928, Page 4

"MR WU."

lon chaney as vengeful MANDARIN. One remembers the silent Mr Wu of Louise Jordan Miln's Chineso drama; one remembers bis daughter, Nang Ping, nurturing her hopeless love for tho Euglish youth; Mrs Gregory, the bravo slayer of tho terriblo Celestial, and abovo all one is going to remember I-oil Chaney's Sir Wu when even his Hunchback is forgotten. In tho MctroGold-wyn-Mayer picture of that title, "Mr Wu," at the Liberty Theatre next week, Chaucv appears in the ttilo role,at the head of an imposing personnel of players in the brilliant screen version of that daring and delicato drama of China, written in Mrs Milne's effective and realistic style, liberally embellished with all tho exotic luro of China in her high places, peopled by thoso secretive and bafiling characters, the Chine,se lordu while plotting and scheming against the White Power in their ignorant and ancient land. "Mr Wu" is not political. Mr Wu, with his Western learning and university training, pits civilised knowledge against his white enemies, fights them with their own weapons, but his fight is not political. He has a vengeanco to take on an English family, for a wrong against Nang Ping, the flower of his heart, and almost he takes it, extracting an exquisite mental torture from Mrs Gregory and her indiscreet son; leering over them, playfully pricking at them like any Grand Inquisitor; evolving delicate and frightful punishments for tho ceremonial death of Nang Ting, tho unfortunate. "Mr Wu" is emotional drama of a pathetic nature that does not depress. Remember "The Green Goddess," and Guy Bates Post's polished yet savago Rajah of Kukh; remember that potentate and you have Mr Wu, mora dangerous, more polite, more subtle. A quiet laugh is raised here and there, for "Mr Wu" is thoroughly human, albeit very dramatic. "Mr Wu" is one ol tho most successful pictures on tho M.G.M. programme this year, and Christchurch is fortunato in securing the' film thus early in the year. Kouee Adorcc plays Nang Ting, Ralph Forbes (the .Tohn Gesto of "Beau Geste") is her lover, Louise Dresser is Mrs Gregory, aud Anna May Wong, Gertrude Olmstead, and Holmes Herbert also appear in the cast. This morning the box plans will open at The Bristol Piano Company, where patrons arc advised to book their seats.