GRAND THEATRE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16987, 10 March 1923, Page 8 (Supplement)

GRAND THEATRE.

“ FLESH AND BLOOD.” Love, hate, revenge, a transition of soul in a man who hates mankind, but who conquers himself—these form the motif of on© of the greatest motion pictures of the year—“ Flesh and Blood,” j which will be shown at- the Grand The- | at re to-day. Lon Chaney, aptly described as the man “of a thousand faces,” plays the leading rol© of an escaped convict, whose determination to have liberty so that he might look upon the faces of his loved ones, and to mete out vengeance upon the man who brought him such anguish of soul, in a manner which will earn him instant recognition ns the screen’s greatest character actor. It is an inspired performance in a story throbbing with human emotions. The pathos of this buffeted creature —this pitiful figure who is hunted by the law for n crime of which | ho is innocent will be caught by every spectator—no matter whether he is endowed with sentiment or not. You see him break gaol and your sympathy is acute. Will be make a successful get-away? But the eager eye of the law is on his track. And to avoid detection. he is forced to piny the port of a helpless cripple-—a part which stamps Chaney as a superb artist. He stumps through Chinatown, ever careful to avoid arrest, though fully determined to look upon the fair beauty of bis daughter- a girl he cannot even touch, much less admit bis. relationship with her. lie finds his enemy, but at the moment that he triumphs lie is brought up sharp with the fact that his daughter loves the financier’s son. | Rather than bring any disillusionment j to her he forgives his enemy and calmly returns to prison. It is a picture j which soars with inspiration a pkI tore to make people think—a picture ! certain in its appeal because it shows ■ the greatest forces in life —love and I faith. The story has been ideally cast. ; It carries such well-known and popu- | Inr players ns Edith Roberts. Noah Beery. Ralph. Lewis and Jack "Mulhall, i Tho ’offering makes you forget your- ; self and any silent drama that c-r-n do | that truly deserves the designation of “ masterpiece.” Irving Cummings directed and produced the feature from a storv bv Louis Duryen. Light-on. The second film on the same programme is “ A Great Coup, an English racing picture featuring Stewart