REALISM AND COMEDY AT GRAND THEATRE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17837, 4 May 1926, Page 5

REALISM AND COMEDY AT GRAND THEATRE.

MATT MOORE LEADS IN “ THE NARROW STREET.” Realism, the order of the day, is, perhaps, the greatest feature of the first picture on yesterday’s programme at the Grand Theatre. It is safe to say that on the screen at least, there has been nothing more realistic than “Wreckage.” Those who saw it yesterday soon lost all sense of pictures, cameras, art, and players, and took a live and personal interest in the stirring affairs of a man, and girl, a doctor, a jeweller, a bogus count, and a gang of jewellery smugglers. There is sufficient thrill in “Wreckage” to supply that element for three good pictures, yet it has been so artistically arranged th’at it does not crowd the screen in this single story, but comes and goes with every incident as naturally as in real life.

The principal incident, although not the climax to the stor}', represents a wreck in the Pacific Ocean. This has been marvellously produced. A small yacht chartered by the producers, was made to resemble a liner, and was sent into a gale, with the players on board. As the vessel founders, the hero discovers the villain robbing an old man of a string of pearls. The hero leaves the robber at his work in order to save the girl. He drops her overboard, and leaps into the sea after her. They spend long, anxious hours in a boat, until they are picked up by a passing vessel. Later, after many adventures, they meet again, misunderstandings are set at rest, and the wreckage of their lives is salvaged. All novels are not adapted to the screen,

but even the most hypercritical patron of the pictures must admit that Izola Forester’s “Salvage,” adapted with the title “Wreckage,” makes one of the best possible picture stories of its class. A great deal of its success on the screen is accounted for by the judicious selection of the players. Miss May Allison, the heroine, began her career in light musical entertainments. Her first appearance on the screen was in “David Harum.” She then charmed the public with her acting in “Marriage of William Asche,” “Big Game, 1 ’ “Extravagance,” and “The Woman Who Fooled Herself.” With her as the hero in “Wreckage” is Mr Holmes Herbert, a popular English actor, who became famous in an American patriotic story, “The Man Without a Country." Amongst his recent successes are “Wilderness” and “Up the Ladder.” Mr John Miljan is an admirahlei stage villain, and Miss Rosemary Theby, “the other girl” in “Wreckage,” makes one of a notable quartette. Supporting “Wreckage” was an agreeably contrasting comedy, which gave to the programme the requisite variety. People who wish to laugh for about half an hour should see “The Narrow Street” and watch Mr Matt Moore and Miss Dorothy Devore manufacture genuine and wholesome fun of the best type. Mr Moore is a bland actor. He is seen at his best in this picture as a bachelor who has a horror of girls, and who, to his consternation, finds that an unknown, attractive, and therefore dangerous girl has suddenly come int*? his household, and intends to remain there. All the situations are comical. Together they make an excellent picture of the lighter sort. The Grand Orchestra, as usual, provided a special programme ranging from the classics to popular refrains. Its efforts helped largely to make the entertainment at the Grand Theatre enjoyable in every way.