"THE HEART OF A NATION."

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19448, 23 October 1928, Page 14

"THE HEART OF A NATION."

AM) A COMEDY ABOUT A GARTER. AT LIBERTY THfiATRK. . .Two excellent featuro. films; "The Hoarfc •f a Nation" and "Getting Gertie's Garter," comprised tho principal- attractions at Liberty Theatre this week. There is a » -trealih of humour and pathos blended *in both, contributing to one of the most delightful programmes shown to Liberty Theatre patrons. "Getting Gertie's Gart«r" provides a feast of variety, hilarious iniddents following one another in the frantic effort* of a lover-to hash up a-prosper.-the scandal. "The Heart of a Natipn" eaatre* round the lives of immigrant fami-lies-in New Y&rk. It is excellently portrayed. Parents who retain the habits and customs otf - the old world are apt to get out ot touch with tho lives "of' their children, particularly the' Americanised children of inunfgrjats. Tho opening scenes of "The Heart. of n Nation" aro. centred, in New York, where three immigrant families have trilled for, fifteen years. Two have prospered, the other, » Russian immigrant, is /till a trouser presser. He finds it diffirgJt to nnderstand his children, one an artist and a charming- typjf of modern American woman, who drift, away from .him. Thea follows war. a tragedy in the- lives of. <h« German family, when they see young Americans telling out to fight against their Fatherland. Albert Grau and Daisy Belmara as the German parents, give appealins portrayals, while Michael Visaroff and Rotita Alarstini are -well cast as tho Italian!. , George Sidney is splendid as tho Buaaian immigrant. The younger generation is capably portrayed by Patsy Ruth. Millar, John Boles, and George Lewis. Tferonghetit. the picture runs a charming love atorr. • "Getting Gertie's Garter" tells- of tho efforts of a young man to recover a jewelled farter bearing ltis photograph in ■ miniature, which he had siren to his former fiancee. Ilia attempts displease his present fiancee, whil«. the owner of the garter is jealously watched by another young man. The two paira are involved in many amusing complications beforo a satisfactory conclusion ia reached. Marie -Prevost, one of the Kereen's most popular comediennes, and Charles Bay are excellent in the leading role*. Excellent supports make up a most enjoyable programme. An interesting' repertoire of-rousio -was played by the Liberty Concert Orchestra, under the baton of Mr Ernest Jamieson. The entr'acte, for which an encore bad to be firen, was "Rio Rita" (Tierney), and during the screening of the big picture Mr Keith Werry gave an artistic rendering of "Eili E..U" (Sandler) on his 'cello. Other numbers included:—Symphony (Schubert). '"Songs Without Words" (Mendelssohn), and 'Gilbert and Sujlivan Favourites" (Higgs).