ZESTFUL ZANE GREY STORY SHOWING AT QUEEN’S THEATRE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18011, 23 November 1926, Page 7

ZESTFUL ZANE GREY STORY SHOWING AT QUEEN’S THEATRE.

RECKLESS THRILLS, TENSE DRAMA, DRY HUMOUR “ CODE OF THE WEST.” Zanc Grey loves to tell a zestful story of the mountains, rivers and plains, a story of the. old unfettered West of America.’ of primitive men whose lives are moulded by the primal danger of their surroundings. With his heroines he varies, but the love story is inevi-

tably charming.» “ Code of the West,” one. of the American novelist’s latest books, departs somewhat from the usual run of his stories in that the mam theme is not so much contests between man and man, though these have their place, as a contest between a liardriding and sincere cattleman and a charninig", carefully nurtured and dangerously flirtatious girl fi'om the east. She comes to the Thurman ranch to see her sister, staying there. The advent of so sophisticated a miss causes considerable emotion among the cattlemen of the district. As time goes on, though she does not know it, the girl's admirers divide into two classes, one of them respectful and the other the reverse. The riders in their wild land were accustomed to only two kinds of women, good and bad. They could not understand that a good woman could act- like a bad one. In truth, the girl played with five. Chief among the undesirables is Bid Hatfield, a decorative, handsome rancher of the neighbourhood. The girl is at first carried away by his romantic appearance and gallantry—until the awakening comes. Around story that grips. Reckless thrills, tense drama, dry humour, tender passages, combine in a story of intense interest. The man, Cal Thurman, may in his awakening love for the girl, be likened to an irresistible force. Later Hatfield realises the irresistibility of his rival. The girl for a long time remains an immovable object—but the problem of what happens when such force and ob-

ject meet, is happily solved by tlxp addition of a little sentiment, and both combine, as it were. An admirable •story, with something wholly new to it, something that make.s it a superior Western drama. It has its momonta of wild melodrama, but every incident is well, connected and the acting is at all times of the-highest order. Owen Moore surpasses himself in this picture, and plays with pleasing finish. Constance Bennett is irresistibly alluring as the spoiled child of New York who is tamed, and the supporting cast is excellent. Second on the programme is a screen version of Ouida’s classic, “A Dog of Flanders.” under the title of “ A Boy of Flanders,” staring Jackie Coogan. Beautiful in. its conception, brilliant in its handling, poignant and humorous by turns, this moving and stirring story is an ideal vehicle for the particular genius of this young star. It is one of the finest tales in literature, and translated to the screen is just as soul-stirring and faithful as the actual book. Jackie Coogan puts some of his cleverest work into this picture, which is a sincere reproductori of the celebrated novel. Teddy, a Great Dane, plays the lovable Petrasche of the story, and performs wth a sagacity and appeal that are marvellous. The supporting programme is good.