MAJESTIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 688, 13 June 1929, Page 15

MAJESTIC

“THE SILENT HOUSE” This evening will see the final screening of the current programme at the Majestic Theatre. This includes Victor McLaglen’s latest comedy-drama, entitled “Strong Boy,” also “The Ringer,” an exciting picture based on Edgar Wallace’s famous play. Tomorrow the Majestic will present a film version of the well-known stage thriller, “The Silent House.” An unusually strong cast was selected for this picture, headed by Mabel Poulton, already well knpwn in Auckland for her screen work. Arthur Pusey, who plays Richard Winsford, is a clever, good-looking young film actor, who has had many successes in Continental pictures. He has been leading man in several of Olga Tscliechowa’s biggest pictures, and was brought back to England by Archibald Nettlefold to star in “The Silent House.” This young man has a great screen future ahead -of him. The role of Dr. Chan Fu, played on the stage by Maurice Moscovitch, is interpreted by Gibb McLaughlin. Since McLaughlin deserted the stage for the screen, his roles have swung from the ultra-comic to the hyper-heavy. In “The House of Marney” he was an undiluted villain, in “London,” a Limehouse Chinese in “Nell Gwyn” a fastidious exquisite, in “Xot Quite a Lady” a parson, in “Poppies in Flanders” and “The Farmer’s Wife” a broad comedian.

Xow McLaughlin has the heaviest part he has ever played. Albert Brouett’s interpretation of Peroda, the Chinese-Portugee in “The Silent House,” which ran for 12 months at the Comedy Theatre, London, was hailed as a gem of stage villainy. When Archibald Xettlefold decided to film the play he could conceive of no better player for the screen “Peroda” than the man who had made such a success of it on the stage, and those who see the film of “The Silent House” will sav that Brouett has, for fictional purposes, repeated his hit as a double-dyed, crossbred scoundrel. The British Dominions Films’ version of the play is one of the finest productions to come from a British studio. It is melodrama supreme, and the whole of the magnificent cast portray their respective roles perfectly- The photography and production are really amazing, not forgetting the wonderful and spectaculan=Chinese scenes. Tomorrow’s programme will also include an Eve’s Review, a gazette, and the “Four Indian Love Lyrics,” with special accompaniment. Charles Gilpin, celebrated negro star, will make his debut under the Fox banner in the all-talking production. “Hearts in Dixie.” The cast will be all negro, including Madame Sul Te Wan. a voodoo woman. A mixed chorus of fifty negro voices singing spirituals and plantation songs will be a feature of this production. “The Single Standard” has been selected by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as a starring vehicle for Greta Garbo.