KING’S THEATRE

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12485, 29 June 1926, Page 12

KING’S THEATRE

. “CHEAPER TO MARRY.” A photoplay bringing a scathing indictment against the modern tendency to tear down modern conventions, is being starred at the King’s Theatre. It .is “Cheaper to Marry.” Robert Z. Leonard’s production for Metio-Goldwyn-Mayer. A powerful lesson to the effect that matrimony is the best and safest, to say nothing of being the cheapest, policy is forcibly demonstrated before the final fadeout. The picture is extraordinary, aside from its rare dramatic and entertaining value, because in the course of adaptation to the screen not a single fundamental change was made in the original plot of the play by Samuel Shipman. Heading the list are Lewis S. Stone and Conrad" Nagel, who have established themselves as among the most popular men on thp screen. They play partners in business who. on fundamental questions of life,. differ. radically, Stone as Jim Knight, holding conventions and matrimony in contempt, and Nagel, as Dick Tyler believing in marriage and practicing hi® theory, with the aid of Marguerite de la . Motte, as the play reaches its startling climax. There is an excellent supporting programme, 'and the ‘King’s . Orchestra contributes appropriate selections, including the overture ’"William Tell.” PARAMOUNT THEATRE “THE SPLENDID ROAD.” 'Bet in California during the hectic gcild rush days of ’49, “The Splendid Road,” which heads current pro- - gramme at the Paramount Theatre, is a_ neat blending of romance, beauty and suspense. Anna Q. Nilsson, Lionel Barrymore and Rob'ert Frazer, head tfio splendid cast. “The Splendid Road” is the first picture based on the early history of the West that illustrated the fact that» possibly more people went from the East by ship - around Cape Horn than by covered wagon. It describes the hardships that they knew and tenderness pays a glowing trihete the character of the women who were among the early settiers. It is a drama of the gold country where men fought for gold—fought for kne—fought for life itself, and the woman who played their game, their 'way, and won! It shows that when a girl is outcast because she dares to fight a man’s fight—hut fights and wins —the thorniest path of life ' becomes a splendid road. There is also a “Gaumont Graphic,” a “Pathe Review,” a “Felix the Cat” cartoon, and a fine musical score rendered by the Paramount Orchestra, under Mr Caulton.