IBANEZ’S “ TORRENT ” COMES TO LIBERTY THEATRE, MONDAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18015, 27 November 1926, Page 6

IBANEZ’S “ TORRENT ” COMES TO LIBERTY THEATRE, MONDAY.

LOVE DRAMA HAS POWERFUL APPEAL.

The story by Ibanez, the. direction by Monta Bel), the stars Greta- Garbo and Ricardo Cortes—that is the outward essence of "Torrent,” the Metro-Gold-wyn production opening a season a I the Liberty Theatre, on Monday. Ibanez is alone to-day in the field of emotiouui fiction, and his presentation and treatment of emotion are fundamentally different from those of other novelists, lie is, at all times, supremely daring, venomous, always fatalistic. He has discarded the time-worn creed that Woman is the personification of fidelity and patience, and with something that savours of personal disillusion, he rails against woman with a wit and sparkle that are always brilliant, always onterscinded his former contentions. For once his feminine character is gresrt and noble, .and everything that one has bo-as-—in fiction, at all events —and the consequences of this is a story of such powerful appeal, such burning drama every** phase and aspect of its development it merits the eloquent title of "Torrent.” Procrastination is the thief of Love, and one character in this story forever procrastinated. Ibanez will never write a "happy comedy.” Some emotion must give way to him in the interests of truthful, honest literature, and so one finds in his novels a quality or a sentiment that approaches tragedy; huppihess, the cheap happiness of the mediocre novelist, will always l.e the force that is displaced by realism and reality, and the reading public knows the results. Ibanez run write of love with an understanding that is Infinitely greater than his sympathy. What few writers trouble to do, hc-prys Into the psychology of love,, and thus he attains what is a literary rarity—an intellectual yet purely emotional romance. Despite its difference in sentiment, “Torrent.” possesses all these admirable attributes. It is, like a torrent, mercurial. Passionate and frigid by turns, the story intrigues as well as delights, a story that commands an inherent ro-

spect for its literary value as well as its story-telling aspect. It is full of vitality, and some sequences amount to the epic. The director, Monta Bell, learned from Charles Chaplin the greater secrets of the art. of motion picture production, and In applying them in “Torrent” ho paraphrases' life to a.n incredible degree of realism. Of all the famous artists participating in the picture, Greta Garbo, the celebrated Swedish star, is the one who, by her beauty, personality and talent, demands the greatest admiration. She reveals a typically European, grasp of drama, and presents a sympathetic and accurate portrayal of Leonora, the peasant girl prima donna. Ricardo Cortez, in the chief male role, gives one of ' the most interesting portrayals of his brilliant career. Other artists in the cast are Edward Connelly, Arthur Edmund Carew and Gertrude Olmstead. Rex Beach's famous story, “The Auction Block,” is the second picture bn the bill, starring Eleanor Boardinan. Nearly everyone has read this popular book, which efficaciously exposed the modern marriage market, and on the screen it becomes an even more interesting and dramatic story. It is ideally directed and presented with a careful regard to detail. Sally O’Neil plays an important role, and Charles Ray . and Ernest Torrence also figure prominently in the cast. The Liberty Concert Orchestra, under Mr Ernest Jamieson, will play a special programme of orchestral music, including the following:—Overture, “Dante Auk Infers” (Uroaiij); suite, “Cobweb Castle ” (Lehmann) ; “ Aragonaise ” (Massenet): selections, “Betty” (Jacobi). “Carmen” ( Bizet), “II Traviata” (Verdi), "Mignon” (Thomas), “Lilac Time” (Clutsam); entr’acte, "Barcelona” (Evans); light numbers. "Where’d You Get Those Eyes,” "Wipers,” “There Was Never a Pal Like You," etc. The box plans are now on view at The Bristol Piano Company, where patrons are counselled to book their seats.