‘M'FADDEN'S FLATS’

Evening Star, Issue 19632, 11 August 1927, Page 11

‘M'FADDEN'S FLATS’

A CHARLES MURRAY COMEDY. ’The story of a canny Scots barber and an inconsequential Irish builder, who become fast friends, is unfolded in ‘M'Fadden’s Flats,’ a hilarious comedy, which commences at the Empire Theatre to-morrow. Charlie Murray, as the hod-carrying Irishman, is irresistible, ami, teamed with Chester Conklin as a Scotch barber, proves one of tho greatest comedians of the screen. Of course, pretty laces have not been overlooked in the making of this picture. Edna. Murphy, in tho leading feminine role, gives a. splendid portrayal, while Dorothy Dwau is seen to advantage. Other members of the east who should bo given special credit for their characterisations arc Larry Kent, Aggio Herring, Do Witt Jennings. Freeman Wood, Cissy Fitzgerald, Dot. Farley, and Leo White. Richard Wallace, who directed tho picture, again has proved himself a master of “gags.” Incidentally, areview of tho picture would not be complete without a, word about the remarkable photographic; effects which wore the work of Arthur Edoson. ‘ M'Fadden’s Flats ’ tells tho story of the struggles of an Irishman who, coming to America, has ambitions to get out of the ranks of hod carriers and become a builder—a builder of a Hat building that might hoar his name, in fact. Ho meets a tight-fisted Scotchman—portrayed by Chester Conklin—who becomes his fast friend in spite of their wide differences in taste. That tho son and daughter of tho two wrangling friends should, fall in lovo with one another, permitting the unfolding of an entrancing story of young lovo, was a complication that neither had'expected. It is from this material that one of the most successful of stage comedies was made, mid _it_ is in the dressing up of this story in its present, form that picture audiences are being given one of the genuine treats of the year

An additional attraction will be the Whispering Baritone. All lovers of the gramophone will recollect with pleasure his tasteful renderings of popular songs, and his peculiar “whispering” tones, which have won for him such fame, and reproduced in person with much mpre effect than on tho machine. He has a winning stage personality, and, together with the originality and artistry of his singing, should prove a very big attraction during his season. Included in his programme are such songs as ‘ Bye-bye, Blackbird,’ ‘Mary Lou/ ‘Thinking/ ‘l’d Climb the Highest Mountain/ 'Calling/ ‘Hose Colored Glasses/ ‘Baby Face/ and ‘Tenderly.’