"FINNEGAN'S BALL."

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19460, 6 November 1928, Page 16

"FINNEGAN'S BALL."

BROAD COMEDY OF LOVE AND RICHES.

LIBERT? THEATRE. Another picture of raw humour, with pathos skilfully blended, is being shown at the Liberty this week. Patrons. of that thearte are always sure of an excellent evening's entertainment, and this week the programme is no exception. Heading the bill is a comedy concerning those very comical person*, the Irish-Americans. "Finnegan's Ball" is quite a simple story, but it is impossible not to become thoroughly intrigued over. the activities of the two families concerned in it, not to be amused at their eccentricities, not to follow with interest the romantio adventures of the younger members—in short, not' to find the picture, a tremendously gay and original bit of screen foolery. Tho story opens in Ireland, amongst the quaint Irish'folk. >Blanche Mehaffey, the girl, .receives enpugh .money from her Irish Foyer, who is in America, to take them, the. whole family, father, mo.ther, and two children, to that land of riches. They aTrivo there after many humorous, and indeed some: times pathetic, little happenings. There the tun continues unabated, with brickbats and bouquets alternating, and the climax is attained when the Finnegans fall' heirs to a great .estate, move into the loftiest circles, know, not the Flannigans—the other familyaccumulate enormous hills, and then discover that some dolt of a lawyer has made.a mistake, and it is another family altogether that should be occupying the estate. It is left to the son of- the Finnegans and the daughter of the Flannigans to reunite the families, which they do in the most sensible • and proper manner —by getting married. Thus the families are united again, the children are married, and except for occasional Irish battles, all is well with the Finnegans and the Flannigans. The second-picture is a most thrilling and breathless comedy. "The Fighters" is the title, and, as the name, suggests, it deals with the, ring and all that 'goes on behind the scenes. It is a whirlwind of action, one fight after another. In addition, there is a most interesting "Know New Zealand First" picture. So many t0 these "New Zealand" pictures are uninteresting, bnt this week's is a good one. A news reel and a "Felix" comedy complete a most excellent programme. Some beautiful old Irish melodies are. played during the screening of the big picture by the Liberty Concert Orchestra under the baton of Mr Ernest Jamieson, perhaps one of the frest being "The Last Rosa of Summer," played on the violin by Mrs Bill*. The entr'acte was "Love's Old Sweet S«M *"/ arranged by the conductor for strings all bells. This number had to be repeated. Other numbers Included "Rosamunde" (Schubert), "Belle of New York" "Kerker), and "Slave Dance" (Dvorak).