AMUSEMENTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17220, 11 December 1923, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE

LEAH BAIRD IN “ IS DIVORCE A FAILURE?” GLADYS WALTON IN IHE UNTAMEABLE .” Recent amendments to the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act, which opened wider the doors of the Divorce Court in New Zealand, give a peculiar interest to the first big picture shown at Greater Crystal Palace yesterday afternoon and last night. It deals with the divorce problem pictorially, dramatically and forcibly. It is one of the few movie picture productions that combine the essentials of a good story with a screen discussion of one of the profoundest questions of the day. It boldly asks iu its title “Is Divorce a Failure?” Like Frank Stockton’s admirable story ‘‘ The Lady or the Tiger” it tantalisingly leaves the question open ; hut if all couples had the same experience as Carol Lockwood and her husband there would be no divorce whatever. She is a butterfly wife, attractive but silly. She made her marriage vows lightly and lightly broke them. The final settlement hardlv had been made before she was look ing for another husband. As San Reno and its methods were close and handy she quickly took advantage of them to get »quit of her husband. David thinking that romance would never die

By one of those strange happenings allowed in fiction Carol David and Helcev Barton, the man she wishes for her second husband, are shipwrecked together on an island. In the party there is the ship’s steward, a thoroughly had lot. He adds complications to the situation by falling in love with Carol, who is confronted with no fewer thafri three lovers, for David, in spito of her conduct, loves her still. Tho stewards villainy is disclosed when. Barton being ill with fever, the ruen take the boat to another island to collect medicinal herbs. The steward contrives to leave the other men there and returns to Carol. David, braving the sharks, swims hack in time to protect her. In the primitive life on the island she discovers that David is the better man of the two. This conclusion is forced upon her by his behaviour when Barton and the steward make a joint attack on him. Safe at home again she and David are re-united and her craving for the brummagem romance that led her into the Divorce Court is lost for ever. Miss Leah Baird, who takes the part of Carol, adapted “ Ts Divorce a Failure?” from a story by Miss Dorian Neve. “All Mine.” ' The character suits Miss Baird so well that it might have been made for her. The whole production has the same strong dramatic plot that marks all Miss Baird’s pieces. In addition to that, it is highly spectacular. In the first place, there is the shipwreck, including the crash of the vessel, the panic, the bursting of the boilers and the sinking. Later, comes David’s fight with monstrous sharks in. tropical waters. While he is striving on the island with the other men there is a storm, through which a rescue vessel hatters it® way at night. Most appalling of all. there ia a terrifying volcanic eruption, which lights up the skies and sends streams of lava from the crater mouth. Mr P. Tucker takes the part ©f David, whose nobility he makes conspicuous. Mr IV. M*Grail is Barton, and Mr T. Hantschi is the wicked steward. Miss Baird in “Ts Divorce a Failure?” has departed from the custom of announcing the end w-ith the words “ The End.” She bids patrons “ Au Revoir.” a gracious promise to come again that the public appreciates.

“ Is Divorce a Failure?” was supported last night by “ The Untameable,” a story of a girl with an extraordinary dual personality. When one ►e.t of traits dominates her she is sweet and generous; when the other dominates. she is selfish and cruel. The bad trsits respond to the advances of a perfidious doctor, the good ones to the advances of her sweetheart. The story is highly sensational, often thrilling. It is an exposition of the practice of hypnotism. From the movie point of view it has an importance on account of the leading part being taken by Miss Gladys Walton. She made her pame m the “ flapper ” type of character. In “The Untameable,” which mils for a wide range of dramatic acting. she shows that she has great versatility, and can handle heavy work with the heat of them. She is remarkshlv good in rapid changes from the girl’s bad moods to her good ones ; they are «o convincing that it hardly seems to be the same actress. This is another successful adaptation, made up from Mr G- Burgess’s novel, “The Wild Cat.” The supporting items were a fresh chapter of “ The Eagle’s Talons.” a Century comedy, and an International News item. The Symphony Orchestra, under Mr A. J. Bunz’s conclurtorship, as usual gave a very delightful musical programme. opening with Eikel’s “ Hunyady Lasszlo,” and passing on to The first and second movements of Franck’s “ Symphony in D. Minor./’ Halt’s “Have You Paid Your Rent?” played by the orchestra for the first time, was so popular that it received n double encore, Mr W. Debenham’s effect being particularly well received. Amongst the other items in a wellarranged and brilliantly-played pro cramme were: Massenet’s “Le Roi de Lahore,” Verdi’s “ The Sicilian Vespers.” Ponchielli’s "La Gioeondo.” TCoven's “By Moonlight,” Vogrich’s 4 Arabian Song,” Coleridge-Taylor’s * Imaginary Ballet,” and Freml’s suite, M Melodique.”