QUEEN’S THEATRE

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12247, 19 September 1925, Page 9

QUEEN’S THEATRE

‘-CONTRABAND," A PARAMOUNT FEATURE, “Contraband/' the latest Paramount master production, a screen adaptation from the celebrated novel of the same name by Clarence Budington Kelland, which opened at the Queen’s Theatre last evening, is as exciting and thrilling as its title would lead one to believe. Rum-runners, bootleggers, crooked politicians, a villainous deputysheriff, a beautiful girl newspaper editor, and a scholarly young professor—these are the principal characters in this splendid Paramount comedy-melo-drama. , . The story has lost none of its original vitality in the process of transference to file screen, and Alan Crosland, the celebrated director, has taken full adavntage of the many opportunities afforded by the plot for excitement and gripping suspense, which interspersed with delightful flashes of whimsical humour, renders the picture from start to finish one long alternating succession of gasps ana chuckles. As to the actual story itself, tho theme concerns the adventures of a lovely young miss who inherits a small town bankrupt and proceeds to make of it a paying proposition and a force for the benefit of the community. Her efforts to improve the town are frowned upou by a local politician who is the secret leader of a band of rum-runners and bootleggers. Follow in one succession of intensely exciting and interest-sustaining action, thrilling situation upon situation, 'the whole culminating in a climax magnificent in tho intensity of it/? dramatic power. Lois AVilson and Raymond McKee aro in the leading roles, and in supporting roles are famous movie artists, including Charles Ogle, Luke Cosgrove, Victor Potcl, Johnny Foxe, Edwards Davis, Alphonz Ethior, and Lillian Leighton. Tho supporting programme attains an especially high standard of merit, and includes a further thrilling episode of “Tho Riddle Riders," the latest Paramount Gazette, a picturesque Australian scenic, and a clever and most laughable comedy. Exceptionally delightful is tho charming musical programme submitted by the Queen's Select Orchestra, under the baton of Miss Eileen Denuchy>