NEW ZEALAND'S OWN

Evening Star, Issue 19999, 17 October 1928, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND'S OWN

* BUSK CINDERELLA ’ COMING Another outstanding day in the history of the Strand Theatre will be Monday next (Labour Day), when * Tho Bush Cinderella,’ Rudall Hayward’s latest New Zealand-made production (a private screening of which was given to-day) will have its first local presentation. It will bo a big event so far as New Zealand him production is concerned, and it is said to servo to illustrate ono point very well—New Zealand can produce a film that needs no coddling criticism. Ono does not have to be tolerant of faults because the production has admirable, impressive qualities of its own to force one to the conclusion that Mr Hayward has succeeded in all he set out to do. He had difficulties to contend with, but his resource was sufficient to meet them all, and after seeing ‘ The Bush Cinderella’ all those who have any spontaneity in their natures must feel like congratulating New Zealand’s pioneer producer. New Zealand, artistically, it in & fluid state yet, but nevertheless it is heartening to_ see the various lands of artistic activity going on. We have our art, our literature, tentative dramatic efforts, and so on, but it has been ordained in the world to-day that the big force shall be the films, for in film production all art is blended. In ‘ The Bush Cinderella ’ we have a film tiiat may be sent abroad without qualm, because it gives in accurate detail one phase of New Zealand life. Naturally enough, there has to be a little leavening of molo dramatic incident, but it is scarcely so obvious, say, m in some American films. The story itself is simple and direct There are no distracting incidents which turn the mind from the development of tho main theme. The photography is good, particularly in the bush scenes, where some beautiful “ , s made. The producer’s jprjßespto NjsiftSuL-y has

been_ with interior work; yet, in spite of his handicaps, he has dono reasonably well. Mr Hayward has accomplished something, and he needs no apologist for this-first effort. Mary Makepeace Cameron, the heroine of the story, is a South African war baby. Her mother, the niece of an affluent Auckland Scot, leaves her uncle’s house after her lover goes overseas to war. The child is born at thoCodlin homestead in the bush, and eighteen happy years pass by before the real difficulties begin to come along. Old Cameron, the victim of the evil machinations of his private secretary, Michael Myrgatroyd, still hopes in his heart that he may bo able to leave his niece’s child as heiress'to his fortune. Myrgatroyd, however, has other ideas, arid docs not stop even at murder to carry them out. In the meantime, the bush Cinderella meets a naval officer, who spends his leave hi the quiet of the country, and he turns out to bo the instrument through which she gaius her rightful fortune. Miss Hale Austen, New Zealand’s own film actress, played the heroine as sweetly as any American star could have done. She was natural in her acting, and there was a delightful freshness in all her work. It was a little triumph for her, and mav it be the, prelude to many others. 'Mr Cecil Scott was a handsome and convincing hero. His acting, too, was clear cut and unaffected. Mr A 1 Mack, as the hired hand Sammy, did a brilliant piece of character work. Even the subordinate characters were excellently chosen, and-the whole cast was admirably balanced.