‘VARIETY’

Evening Star, Issue 19542, 28 April 1927, Page 3

‘VARIETY’

A THRILLING DRAMA

, J 1 ? 01 ! 1 ® idea of the magnitude of Variety’ may be judged by the fact that 5,000 extras took part during the filming of the great German picture. In its ruthless and clear-sighted realism ‘Variety’ shows more clearly than many hooks the |ortuous moral reactions of a. not unintelligent woman to her lovers. It shows, also, the lengths to which that most Killing of all passions—jealousy—will drive a normally amiable man.

A prison is seen in the opening stages of the picture, which is coming to the Empire Theatre to-morrow. Prisoner 28, an aged, bent, old. man, lias been summoned by the warden. The prisoner, who has refused to talk through more than twenty years of confinement, has atlast consented to tell his tale to tho kind-hearted warden. His story is as follows:—The prisoner, as a young man, handsome and muscular, is named Boss. Ho was a partner in a travelling carnival, acrobatic act with a beautiful girl, Bertha, whom Boss idolised. She, however, was a selfish littlo flirt, who made Boss practically a servant. The carnival was playing in an outlying section of a great European city. To the fair grounds came Artinelli, foremost acrobatic star in the world, and a notorious sheik among women. Artinelli was facing tho prospect of losing a very profitable engagement at the mammoth Winter Garden because of the loss of his partner in an accident. He was looking for another partner, and had been told about Boss and Bertha. At sight of the beautiful Bertha, Artinelli at once made a lucrative proposition to Boss and the girl, to join his act at tho Winter Garden, They accepted. Soon, they became the sensation of Europe, and packed the great theatre at every performance. The climax of their act was the famous < triple death-defying somersault in which Artinelli’s life depended upon the skill of Boss in catching, him after the'third flip through the air, 200 ft above the heads of the audience. Meantime off-stage Artinelli was making every effort to lure Bertha away from Boss. Ono night, high over the heads of a huge audience—he had debated whether or.not, to kill tho man who . had stolen his wife. Just a movement of a single finger, and he’d be rid of him* What should hO' do? Looking down, a thousand faces seemed-to say “No!” ‘ Thoughts kept running through; his head,, but tho. act_ continued as usual. ' Then the avdienco applauded. Bowing, the. performers ran off. But, hours later, he could stand it no longer So ho went do the dressing room of his partner, and there stabbed him'. The scene then fades out-,and tho‘prisoner is again seen. Tho official tells him a pardon has been granted—he is free. ■ The acting of Emil Jannings is supert: with Vo. Stroheim; he shows that Continental players can portray on, film much that American, actors cannot. Lya De Butti makes a striking appearance in the role of Bertha Marie. WarwickAVard, an English actor of dashing, if somewhat sinister .appearance,, plays the other part in tho triple alliance of stars. ■