"FOOL'S PARADISE."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18279, 21 December 1922, Page 11

"FOOL'S PARADISE."

.ATTRACTION AT THE PRINCESS.

To say that it is a truly wonderful picture is not giving too high praise to Cecil R. De Mille's production, " Fool's Paradise," a Paramount picture, commencing to-morrow at the Princess Theatre. The acting of Dorothy Dalton in the parts of a cafe dancer and a self-sacrificing wife, is superb, while the portrayal of the difficult role of a blind man is excellently accomplished by Conrad Nagel. The story opens in El Paso, Texas, and concerns a. young oil prospector and poet, Arthur Phelps, who is in love with Rosa Duchene, a French danseiiEo, to whom he gave his heart while recovering from war wounds in France. Ho is made the victim of a, foolish joke, which results in the loss of his sight. Before his sight entirely fails, Rosa visits El Paso, nnd he see's and speaks to her. Pol] Patchouli, a. Mexican girl, who was the originator of the joke that cost Arthur his sight, stricken with remorse at his affliction, resolves to persuade him that she is Rosa, and thus save him the disappointment of discovering that Rosa has gone. Under this impression Arthur marries Poll, and there is a time of hnppy married life, until, by a successful operation, his sight is restored to him. Then follows a series of events of the deepest interest, resulting in Arthur finding the right woman and obtaining love and happiness in the end. The production is on a much larger scale than that usually attempted by mo-tion-picture producers. No trouble has been soared to give an accurate picturisation of the life in a Mexican cantina, and the attention to detail is remarkable. There is a thrilling fire scene, as well as a right in the cantina. The story takes the audience half way round the world, from America to the Far East, and gorgeous Oriental scenery is depicted. The palace of a Siamese prince is shown, together with all the .mysterious Eastern rites that are attended with the making of a sacrifice. There is a bos ting scene where the royal party arrives at the temple, which is interesting and stirring in the extreme. Another boating scene is remarkable for tho beauty of the setting. But standing out above all other episodes in the picture is the thrilling fight by the hero with a number of infuriated crocodiles. He rescues his rival at the risk of his life from falling prey to the reptiles, and only escapes himself with the greatest difficulty from-the animals' pit. The acting leaves nothing to be desired. even the dog doing his narf. to perfection. The plot is one of absorbing interest, and. quite part from the excellence of the setting, the story is one that is sure to command 'much favourable comment. The difference between tin natures of the two women, one an idol of society, the other living among the rougher men of the West, is striking* v portray d, while the nv'rir'fk'ent Oriental scenes, the thrilling fights, and the vivid picttirisation of Mexican life all serve to form a wonderful setting for the deeply interesting plot.— (Advt.)