"THE KENTUCKY DERBY”— “GRANDMA’S BOY.”

Southland Times, Issue 18965, 12 June 1923, Page 7

"THE KENTUCKY DERBY”— “GRANDMA’S BOY.”

NO MATINEE TO-DAY. On account of the fact that the films will not reach Invercargill until late in the afternoon, the management of the Civic Pictures regrets having to announce that the matinee arranged for the afternoon will have to be abandoned. The screenings announced for the remainder of the season, i.e., night sessions, to-night and on ..Wednesday and Thursday with matinees bn Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, will be strictly adhered to. The abandonment of this afternoon’s matinee is to be regretted, but unfortunately under the circumstances it is unavoidable. Considerable interest is being taken in “The Kentucky Derby”-“Grandma’s Boy” season, which promises to be in every way a record one. The plans at the Bristol are filling rapidly, and there is every indication that bumper houses will reward the enterprise of the management in arranging for two such outstanding picture to be brought together on the one programme. In a hard driving finish that will go down in racing history as one of the greatest thrills of the track, Duke Charles, Col. Moncrief Gordon’s superb three-year-old, captured the Kentucky Derby. Twilight, Duke Charles’ greatest rival, was second, but only after a fight that drove the winner to his last ounce of speed. Hokum, the Uno entry, finished a poor third, while Copy Boy broke down early. A purse of 50,000 dollars and gold plate valued at 7,000 dollars crowned the efforts of the Gordon colt. Joe Rance, popular Kentucky rider of many winners from the Gordon stables, was up, after an unexplained eleventh hour substitution for Ted Topper, a new wearer of the Gordon colours, from New York. More than 75,000 people, the greatest crowd that ever witnessed a horse race, crowded the stands and lined the track at Churchill Downs for the big event. Batting had run high on the two favourites, and the long turf rivalry of Col. Gordon and his neighbour, Col. Rome Woolrich, owner of Twilight, only added to this. It was rumoured that Col. Gordon had placed his entire for- : tune at stake on the outcome of this one race. After the finish and after Gov.

Morrow of Kentucky had presented the gold plate, Col. Gordon almost broke down. The victory of his favourite colt, it later was learned, was timed almost to the second with the reappearance of Donald Gordon, his son, who had been missing for three years. The strange circumstances surrounding this disappearance and the exciting events which led up to his return, and how remarkable an effect they had upon the great race, have been woven into a stirring picture by King Baggott, a director of Universal pictures. It is called “The Kentucky Derby.” one of to-night’s big attractions. It contains, among other thrills, an entire moving picture of the great race. Reginald Denny is the star, and Lillian Rich is the heroine. Harold Lloyd is not merely a comedian —he is an artist, and like the true artist makes good use of light and shade to achieve the befit results. He demonstrates this in “Grandma’s Boy,” his first five-reeler—his most ambitious, and his most delightful piece of work. He is first seen as a very “cissified” young man afraid of his own shadow, until Grandma took him in hand. There are many moments of pathos, but these only serve to heighten the comedy high lights. To make a truly great comedy contrast must be skilfully woven in with its fun. “Grandma’s Boy” with its appealing human story, is a perfect example of what a comedy should be. Don’t miss it!