CRYSTAL PALACE.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19666, 9 July 1929, Page 16

CRYSTAL PALACE.

DOUBLE-FEATURE PROGRAMME. "SHOW LIFE" AND "RED WINE." Few could fail to appreciate the exceptionally fine production entitled "Show Life," which commenced at tJie Crystal Palace Theatre yesterday. Just one or pate's castaways, Anna May "Wong, who take-j the leading role, acts her part to perfection. The story opens with Song, a young Chinese girl, playing on a beach in tho reij-'hbourhood of the. city. She is attacked by f.vo scoundrels who endeavour to kidnap her. Her cries attract another on the beach, by the ni-me of Houben, also a derelict, who comes to her rescue and succeeds in driving on her attackers. Leaving her, he proceeds to hi.i lod-ines in the slum quarter oi tho city, but as followed by Song, who litis picked u.p has knue. While she is eiicifrom the rain in his poor quarters, Lu iniorma her that he makes his living by throwing knives, and asks her to join nirn and ba his partner. She consents and the two oi them periorm at a local cafe every t-vening. One night, Gloria Lee, a distinguished actress who is playing in tho city, decides with others to go out and rind something exciting, the tccietv life depressing her. Fate takes them to the caie where Song and Bouben are performing. "When they appear on the stage, Houben recognises Gloria a* one whom hj& was deeply i'ond of years before. It appears that the two had been on tho stage together and while on board ship during ono tour another passenger had made advances to Gloria. Houben resented this and in an ensuing tasslo with his rival both fell overboard as tho ehip was entering the harbour, and were thought to be drowned. "Mi- Prager, who had accompanied Gloria to the restaurant, asks both Song and Houben to join them, but the offer is refused. The latter several times asks Gloria to come back to him, but she refuses. Thinking that if be could lavish money on her hie wishes would be fulfilled, he, with others, plans to rob the mail train. The police, however, get to hear of the proposal and arrive on the scene before the gang ba3 an opportunity of touching tho van containing the money. To avoid arrest, Houben crawls under the engine, and is compelled to lie there in the steam until tho train has moved on its way. Song, who, all the time, is hiding close by in the trees, rushes out as soon ae the coast is clear, but finds her partner almost completely blind owing to the escaping steam. She manages to get him home, but he goes off to the cafe in tho evening as usual trying to hide his injuries. In the middle of the performance be collapses, and when on regaining consciousness, he is told that Song had informed the police of tho intended hold-up, lie loses his temper and tries to kill her. In endeavouring to catch her, he strikes his head against the wall and the shock makes hia blindness complete. To cure him, an operation is necessary. To get money for this, Song goes to Gloria, who, however, is not sufficiently interested to help. Eventually Song steals the required amount and this makes the operation possible. On the departure of Gloria to another engagement, Prager takes an interest in her, and gives her employment dancing in one of the largo hotels. Here Song makes her name. Houben begins to worry over Gloria. As tho days go by he gets worse arid Song suffers terribly "at his hands. Finally, during one of her performances, a eword dance, he appears at the back of the theatre, and at the sight of him she faints, and striking one of the swords in falling, dies, although not before ahe is able to forgive Houben. The second uicture featured is an excellent. comedy, "Red" Wine," in which are starred .Tune Collyer and Conrad Nagel. Scenes of the areas devastated in the recent earthquake, together with fitting orchestral music, make up a very enjoyable programme.