“THE WHITE SISTER” FOR DE LUXE

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12330, 28 December 1925, Page 4

“THE WHITE SISTER” FOR DE LUXE

A LILIAN GISH TRIUMPH. Artistically, ana to -rther way, “The White Sister” (coming to De Luxe Theatre next .Frid--! without exception, the finest picture of its kind ever screened in this oity. It is an epio of the screen; it fills eleven reels. Directed by the master-director, Henry King, “The White Sister” has been adapted to the, screen from the widely-read' and famous novel of the same ; name by F. ■ Marion Crawford,. and it glorifies and magnifies the unquestionable charm and art of the demure Lilian ’Gish. She is the only one who could have harried the noble traditions of * the greatest personalities of. the speaking' stage to the silver sheet as she does in “'The White Sister.” Alone,, she ..literally, made “The Birth of a Nation,” “Orphans of the Storm,” *nd “Way Down East” —never-to-be-forgotten masterpieces all. Briefly, it is a love romance,' beautifully sad.v It possesses a striking apirifiml quality, which not only lends to; the picture a pronounced and obvious . distinction, but which . also proves to' bo very effective in that it leaves sweat memories. Vividly the great emotion's in “The White Sister” clash; and wonderful is the revelation of the two souls in conflict. Progressively and vigorously the picture yvorks up to a climax. One sees the pleasant and fascinating Angela promise to love her hero for ever and over on the eve of his. fateful departure for Africa. And one sees her again, having recovered from the dreaded nows of the death of her lover in the far-off, desolate wild, loving the! church where' she fflund solitude and peace, entering into a marriage with it, and becoming for ,all time one of its pure and faithful white , sister*. But then, with draraatio suddenness, there comes back Angela’s, passionate lover, Whom she bad Tong since 'given up as dead, to' claim her. And then it was that he learned that be was but a day too late— that hi* love,, who had so fervently promised to he his till death they did- part, had wedded the Holy '©torch, and was no longer his. Vainly he endeavoured to tempt her to forsake her sacred vows, hut she held fant to her beliefs and remained bound up with the. church. The ending is too subtle, to be. betrayed in a review, hut- suffice it lo say that up till within two minutes of the ending of “The White ’Sister” not one person in the audience could foretell the conclusion. The locale of the film is In Italy, and all the old atmosphere has been caught. Exciting and spectacular scenes include' the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the rolling streams of molten lava pouring down the mountain side; , the bursting' of a huge dam; the flooding and overwhelming of the villages at the mountain’s foot, and the last mad ride of the lover N the White Sister.,

A special . musical programme habeen arranged by Mr L. D. Austin for? the Orohestra Do Luxe'. In addition an elaborate prologue will -be staged.' The box plans are now open' at the Bristol Piano” Co., Aitkpn’s Book Arcade, or ring theatre, ’phone 23—080.