“THAT ROYLE GIRL” WILL BE ON BILL AT CRYSTAL SOON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17995, 4 November 1926, Page 7

“THAT ROYLE GIRL” WILL BE ON BILL AT CRYSTAL SOON.

FINE PRODUCTION DIRECTED BY GRIFFITH. Whether D. W. Griffith is handling drama or melodrama, tragedy or comedy, the result is always the same artistically—realism and beauty. It is thus with. “That: Royle Girl,” the picture to be shown at the Crystal Palace Theatre next week. The masterly hand of the man who mad*p “Intolerance” and “Broken Blossoms” is apparent in every deft, subtle touch, for this picture combines the drama of the first with the idyllic romance of the second, although being a typical story of to-day, it has none of the dreaminess and idealism of “Broken Blossoms.” Tt may be described as melodrama with Griffith’s restraining influence on it; he has taken the most discussed phase of modern life, the jazz question, and in his own inimitable style has developed from it what is at once a brilliant satire and a superb piece of entertainment. The purely dramatic angle and the romantic side proceed smoothly, balanced by intelligence and spiced with the delicious comedy of W. C. Eields. who plays an important role. Jt is so easy to become commonplace over the modern theme* to present the younger generation in their most lurid light, to dwell lovingly on their orgy-like festivities; it is easy to make of such a picture just, a moving lamentation, but Griffith is different. While not presenting his piquant facts with tender solicitude, he refrains from dressing youth in a coat of many colours. As ever, his production is life, anrl it is both pleasant and instructive to see how he can make su<-h an engrossing film out of so precarious a subject. Largely melodrama, and love melodrama at that. “The Royle Girl” has a. marvellously skilful blending of pure eensat.ion with deep pathos. Its comedy rubbing shoulders with human disaster, none of them ever clashing. but all quietly put together into a. convincing whole by the artist, Griffith. The picture contains many types, all drawn from the everyday world about us, all either delightfully comic or

plaintively captious. In either case they entertain; Griffith sees to that. Dealing with an age noted for its splendour, “That Royle Girl” is, naturally, presented on a large and magnificent scale, great sets testifying to Griffith’s love of the beautiful. Carol Dempster plays the title role, an appealing, vivacious heroine, who typifies youth, modern youth. Harrison Ford and James Kirkwood head the supporting cast:,. The box plans are now open at the Bristol Piano Company, where seats may be reserved.