"MY OLD DUTCH."

Taranaki Daily News, 14 March 1916, Page 3

"MY OLD DUTCH."

AN ARTISTIC TRIUMPH. The coster, the typical denizen nf the East End of London, is portrayed with all his very Initnstn traits in n way that, has never been attempted before in tlie delightful Turner "feature" film. "My Old Huteli," which was submitted for the first time at the Empire Picture Palace last evening before a crowded assemblage. To Albert Chevalier, the London music-hall artist and composer, is due the honor of having first brought the coster into world-wide prominence with the tuneful songs lie composed and sang about the man in the "pearlies" nnd his "gal." Of several of his songs which were sung and whistled everywhere, "My Old Dutch" was one of the most notable. Tiie photo-play is suggested by the song, and quite a complete plot is evolved from the verses which are the coster's expression of his esteem for his life partner. Chevalier himself infuses a life-like realism to the princvial character, Joe Spudd, and his acting throughout is a crowning success to a career that has already won immortal fame in the historv of the British stage. 'F.vcn by one who has seen the coster in his native environment it is difficult to imagine that Joe Spudd, as presented by Chevalier, is anything but the actual man with the donkey and the "barrel-." Hiss Florence Turner, who became a "star" picture-player under the aegis of the Vitagraph Company, is convincing as Spudd's "Old Dutch"—the coster's colloquialism for the word "wife." There are many glimpses of coster domestic life, daily avocations, and merry-making at 'Appy 'Ampstead 011 a bank holiday. The coster character has been keenly appreciated, bv the playwright, and the whole-souled devotion of Jocior his wife and the faithfulness of his did pal 'lirb are pathetic. The . story relates'how Jo» and Sal iirst meet. Their courting is lmppy and brief, and then they are wedded in the old Shoredileh Church. They i afterwards adjourn to the theatre to wit- i ncss a .melodrama of the. blood-curdling tvpe keenly relished by the costers! Chevalier and Mis s Turner ad'ord much amusement in the demonstrative manner in wh,i'-h they follow the course of th'i play from iv front seat among the "gods." This little feature of the subject is, a clever bit of woik by both principals Tlie young couple's first-born d ! «»«, but us time passes another child apnears, and their joy is increased by the news that, (Sal has inherited £SOOO. Jen. and Sal =:-Ule the money on their son, so that he. shall be brought up a "gentleman." ''he is cent away, and eventually is launched into the world an educated young "blood." He dissipates his fortune. but decides to commence life afresh on the gold fields in a distant land. Poverty overtake Joe and Sal and they are sent to the workhouse. The son striken a fortune, returns and rescues Ills parents from tlie workhouse and makes '"'ii" old age happy and comfortable. The whole production is perfect in every detail and it is a film that will not soon be forgotten. "My Old Dutch" will be repeated again to-night and to-morrow night. A special matinee is to be given to-morrow (Wednesday) afternooii at 2.30 p.m.