GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17219, 10 December 1923, Page 5

GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE.

LEAH BAIRD IN' *• IS DIVORCE A FAILURE.” GLADYS WALTON IN “THE UNTAMEABLE.” Tf the many interesting situations and thrills in “ Ts Divorce a Failure?” the Associated Exhibitors’ masterpiece by and with Leah Baird, which heads the new programme at Greater Crystal I alace, commencing to-day, happened in real life their stories would be flashed thousands of miles over the news wire and would find their way on to the cable pagfs of every newspaper in the country. Divorce is what starts the drama in “Is Divorce a Failure?” and at present divorce is a, live-wire subject all over the world, because of the many proposals for a uniform marriage and divorce law’. This Reno divorce, sought by a woman whose husband agreed to. the divorce, then changed his mind and fought the case, caused a lot of comment and notorietv. Extra editions have been run off to tell the news of a terrible shipwreck suck as this, in which a passenger steamer collides with a derelict and sinks, hundreds of people peushing. A volcanic eruption w’ould be news for the world and camera artists, who would tell of and picture clouds of smoke and flame bursting from a huge crater, steaming lava streaming down the mountainside. Of world interest would be the typhoon, on land sweeping everything before it; on sea tossing big boats about like toys. And through the storm coming a rescue ship to bring back to civilisation three prominent members of society given up for dead! There >is said to be a throb in every minute of “Is Divorce a Failure?” which Miss Baird adapted for the screen from Dorian Neve’s great stage play “ All Mine.”

The extraordinary experiences of a girl who possessed a dual personality, a nature that amounted virtually to a dual identity, are presented in “ The Untameable,” the "Universal attraction starring Gladys "Walton, which is the second big picture on the new programme. The girl’s character existed in two distinct realms, one good, the other evil. In a way, her life was that of a feminine “ Jekyll and Hyde ” existence. Her more natural self was that of a sweet, charming and generous girl, but she was afflicted with a terrible temper that occasionally got beyond the grip of her control. In this state of mind she was cruel, selfish and overbearing. Through the hypnotic influence of a skilful and unscrupulous doctor the vicious side of her nature was accentuated and her nature became virtually the subject of his will. Her real personality became distorted and was eventually almost entirely masked through the strength of the doctor’s mental power over her. “The Untameable ” is a screen version of Gelett Burgess’s famous novel “ The White Cat,” and presents a question that is distinctly unusual and dramatically interesting. Herbert Blache directed this fine picture. The supporting films are the sixth big chapter of “The Eagle’s Talons,” a very funny Century comedy and the latest International News film.

Incidental to and in conjunction with the screening of the various motion pictures the big Symphony Orchestra, under the distinguished conductorship of Mr Alfred J. Bunz, will present a magnificent musical programme, which includes the following classical and popular numbers:—Overture, “ Hunyady Lasszlo ” (Eikel); “Symphony D Minor,” first and second movements (Franck); “Le Roi de Lahore” (Massenet); “The Sicilian Vespers” (Verdi); “ Imaginary Ballet” (Cole-ridge-Taylor) ; “La Giocondo ” (Pon. cbielli); “By Moonlight” (Koven); “Suite Melodique ’* (Friml) ; “Have You Paid the Rent ” (Hall), effects by Mr Debenbam ; “ State Street Blues” (Thompson); ‘‘Arabian Song” (Vogrich). The box plan is at The Bristol, or seats may be reserved by telephoning Greater Crystal Palace, number 3758.