LYRIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 417, 27 July 1928, Page 14

LYRIC

TWO FINE PICTURES John Gilbert has given the screen swashbuckling heroes like “Bardeleys” and other types ranging from a Yankee soldier in “The Big Parade” to a modern buccaneer in “Twelve Miles Out.” Now comes this same John Gilbert, in the role of a man the public knows but little, but who knows the public—the modern newspaper reporter. Gilbert plays a reporter on a big metropolitan daily in his latest picture, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer‘s “Man, Woman and Sob,” which was shown for the first time last evening at the Lyric Theatre, and incidentally gives the audience a glimpse into that mysterious region whence comes the world’s news. Reporters at work in a whirling local room; the roaring presses and clicking linotypes at work on a big edition, in the hurry and bustle of a huge plant—these are almost fantastic backgrounds for an ultra-modern role for the famous star. Besides all this, however, “Man, Woman and Son” is a very real story of a young man who rose from the gutter. The dramatic scenes of a murder trial were watched with wrapt attention by last night’s audience. Gilbert, in a modern role, is just as romantic as in a role of times gone by, and the modern settings only make the romance more appealing. Miss Eagels is a very beautiful sweetheart for the young reporter of the story. Miss Eagels and Gladys Brockwell, playing the mother role, stage some tense dramatic scenes with rare artistry, and the great courtroom scene is a masterpiece of dramatic construction. The second attraction on the programme was “Honour Bound,” a remarkably dramatic story of prison labour. The stars are Estelle Taylor, who, by the way, is the wife of Jack Dempsey, and George O’Brien. The story is about John Ogletree, who goes to prison to protect a woman entirely unworthy of such sacrifice. After two years he is transferred to the coal-mines where he finds that his former sweetheart has become the wife of the cruel and grasping coal baron who operates the mine. Having tired of her husband, she attempts to win back the affections of Ogletree which leads to a series of complications. Excellent supporting pictures and music by the competent orchestra under Mr. Marbeck, completed an enjoyable evening’s entertainment.