STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 444, 28 August 1928, Page 14

STRAND

“THE BUSH CINDERELLA”

“The Bush Cinderella,” New Zealand’s first “super-production,” is attracting large numbers of people to the Strand Theatre. That Aucklanders are desirous of giving the New Zealand film industry a helping hand is elquently shown. “The Bush Cinderella” provides surprisingly polished and satisfying entertainment, apart from the interest created by its atmosphere of New Zealand, and in particular Auckland, and it is confidently expected that;the film will be a pleasant surprise to most picture-goers. • The work of Miss Dale Austen, who has the leading role of the little Cinderella, is the greatest of the many surprises the picture has in store. Her acting is at all times charming and convincing. Especially fine is her work in the prologue to the picture, when sho appears as the tragic little lover, turned out from home by her harsh guardian. As a fine contrast comes her role in the story proper, when she appears as a sunny-natured, happy-go-lucky orphan, brought up by a kindly farmer.

Mr. Cecil Scott, in the leading male role, appears as a handsome young naval lieutenant, full of vitality. Prior to the screening of “The Bush Cinderella,” Mr. Alf. J. Lawrence, the well known song-writer, presents a short revue of his own successful New Zealand compositions at the piano. Those numbers sung by Miss Nell Crane, his charming partner, include “Come Down the Wanganui,” “I’ve Lost My Heart in Maoriland,” “There’s a Little Maori Maiden,” and “There’s a Maori Whare.” The final number presented is “The Bush Cinderella,” a charming composition specially written by Mr. Lawrence for the photo-play. Mr. Lawrence also conducts the Strand Symphony Orchestra in a very novel musical number, “A Trip Round the World.” In the short space of 10 minutes nearly every country in the world is visited by the orchestra, and musical numbers typical of the country are played. Under the conductorship of Eve Bentley, the Strand Symphony Orchestra plays a delightful musical programme, and- specially features as the overture Alfred Hill’s famous composition, “Waiata Poi.”

“THE DEVIL DANCER”

A REMARKABLE FILM “The Devil Dancer” is a vividly moving story of a white girl and an intrepid Enuglish explorer, set in the remote and mysterious mountains of Tibet. Gilda Gray, as the white girl adopted by the devil-worshipping Lamas of Tibet as their “Devil Vi*gip,” is most fascinatingly seductive in her characterisation and in her portrayal of the famous, yet seldom witnessed, Devil Dance. The striking native customs and conditions, together with *me scenes in a Nautch House, are a .revelation. Especially does this apply to the enactment of some of the religious rites of this brutal sect of devil worshippers.