STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 443, 27 August 1928, Page 14

STRAND

“THE BUSH CINDERELLA”

Without hesitation critics can claim “The Bush Cinderella,” Rudall Hayward’s latest production, to be the finest ever produced in New Zealand. Story, photograph, acting and scenery are all of a very high standard. The photography and the scenery of the film, particularly those scenes taken in the peaceful countryside and in the beautiful native bush, can comparev favourably -with any produced in America.

The story opens in 1900 when New Zealand was sending her gallant soldiers to the Boer War. Miss Dale Austen, a young orphan, brought up by a stern guardian, is seen bidding a fond farewell to her lover, who is leaving to go to the war. Months pass, and the tragic young lover is denounced and turned out of her home by her guardian. After weeks of aimless wandering. Margaret Cameron (Dale Austen "> reaches a kindly farmer’s homestead and there, in his kindly hands, leaves her tiny daughter. True to her promise to the little mother, the kindly people bring the orphaned baby up as their own, and in the story proper MisS Austen is seen as a sunny-natured «„nd beautiful maid of 17 years. Then into Dale’s life comes a charming young naval lieutenant, played by Cecil Scott. Outstanding characters in the film are those portrayed by A 1 Mack as “Sammy,” the hired farm boy, Ernest Yandall, who portrays a very rascally individual, and Mr. Thomas McDermott, the kind-hearted farmer. A 1 Mack as a comedian provides some merry moments. His rehearsal of the Lancers in the ploughed field is a clever piece of work, and his attempts to learn “personality” from an American book and his attempts to make love a la Rudolph Valentino are highly amusing. As an introduction to the picture Mr. Alf J. Lawrence, world-famous composer of many numbers, and his charming partner. Miss Nell Crane, sing several well-known New Zealand songs composed by Mr. Lawrence “Down by the Wanganui.” “I’ve Lost My Heart in Maoriland,” “There’s a Little Maori Whare.” and “There’s a Girl in Maoriland” are some of the numbers, and “The Bush Cinderella.” specially written by Mr. Lawrence for the film, is also sung by Miss Crane. Mr. Lawrence also conducts the Strand Symphony Orchestra in a bright orchestral novelty. “A Trip Around the World in Ten Minutes,” and takes the audience to practically every country in the world. Selections typical of each country visited are played. Under the talented conductorship of Eve Bentley, the popular musical directress, the orchestra plays “Waiata Poi*” Alfred Hill’s famous composition. An extremely funny Aesop Fable cartoon, an interesting Strand Magazine with the latest topical budgets, and an English nature study film, “The Stream,” are on the programme.