PENDLETON ROUND UP COMES TO GRAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17865, 5 June 1926, Page 6

PENDLETON ROUND UP COMES TO GRAND.

PICTURE BRIMMING WITH ROMANCE AND VIVID ACTION. A First National picture, “The Splendid Road,” in which Anna Q. Nilsson, Lionel Barrymore and Robert Frazer star, is the main attraction at the Grand Theatre next week. This story, one of the many dealing with the historic California gold rush, has about it a virility, originality and natural easiness which are unusual in a film of this fighting, somewhat unscrupulous nature, and with its tinges of emotional drama it attains lofty heights as a motion picture. Gold has always had a sinister fascination for rpan, who will thrust aside the veneer of civilisation to possess it, and to what extremes a man will go to attain his purpose, and what responsibilities he will cast aside' are all faithfully portrayed in this stirring tale of the “ days of old, the days of gold, the days of ’49.” This craving, however, does not influence the picture unduly*, for there is an elevated tone about the accompanying story which sees only what is to be found at the end of the splendid road, from which the title is derived. The acting of the stars raises the picture above the average level that of Lionel Barry*nore being truly great. The other two leading artists also give sterling performances, but Barrymore commands first notice. The second feature is “Under Western skies,” a Universal production starring Norman Kerry and Anne Cornwall. As may be gathered from the cast, this is a distinctly superior type of Western film, what drama, romance and thrills there are that go to make up the theme being refined and original in an inordinate degree. An outstanding feature of this story is the Famous Pendleton Round-up, the greatest rodeo show in America, with its horse races, the free and easy race of the West, but which are won after a hard battle against the prevailing unscrupulous forces and untamed animals. Although Norman Kerry has been seen hitherto only in less rugged pictures, he exemplifies his ability to act in a typical Western picture, his portrayal being exceptionally pleasing. Anne Cornwall is equally good, and should go far in her newly*adopted profession. The Grand Quality Orchestra will play a special musical programme. The box plans are at The Bristol Piano Comijany, where seats may be reserved.