TIP-TOP COMEDY SHOWS AT CRYSTAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18063, 25 January 1927, Page 7

TIP-TOP COMEDY SHOWS AT CRYSTAL.

FORD STERLING PLAYS WELL IN “ THE SHOW OFF.” There is a delightful vein of a- fresh style of comedy in “ The Show-off.” It is a study of a type of man that is absolutely cosmopolitan. Every village and town has its Aubrey Piper, always showing off, always posing, always making stale jokes, always egotistical, j always craving for the limelight, always an intolej’uble nuisance. This particular “show-off” tells liis wife that he has I bought a car for her. Like most of his boasts, this is untrue, as he won it in a raffle. He told the salesman that he | was a wonderful driver, but ho could not at first even make it start. When he did get it going, the only thing that stopped him was the post office. He is a millionaire in ostentation, but is sufficiently Impudent to marry on 16 10s a week. His wife is so trusting and affectionate that she believes him, and thinks that everybody else is jealous of him. It is another case of love beingblind. This young egotist, however, has a personality that is far from unpleasant. With all his foibles, he is not a bad sort. When he is down and out as a discredited “ show-off,” and the family is tottering on the brink of financial ruin, he lias a genuinely brilliant idea. He sells an invention to a railroad company for a cool £25,000. The family scoff at his news as another of his jokes, a particularly inept one In the circumstances, but lhn truth is 50..,, borne in on them, and they then tolerate as much of his "showing off” as ho chooses to give them. Mr Ford Sterling, who was at. Crystal Palace only a few weeks ago in “Good and Naughty,” and before that was in “Trouble with Wives,” takes the ability. Jt suits him down to the ground, j He is a pantomimist in the pictures, and I now. for the first, time, is starring it. I His screen sweetheart in this comedy is Miss Lois Wilson, a fixed star in the movie firmament. Mr Gregory Kelly, who plays the “show-off's” brother-in-law, stepped from the New York stage

to a prominent place in front of the camera. Miss Louise Brooks, another player in this charming comedy, was in •• The Ajnerican Venus.” There are 6200 feet, of film in “The Show-off,” and every foot is a laugh. Starting a theatrical career in a London chorus, Miss Dorothy MacKaill had to go to New York and join the ally recognised. She' is a blonde, quite the Anglo-Saxon type of beauty, with sufficient, versatility to shine in both drama and comedy. For those reasons, nobody, probably, could represent better than she does Subway Sadie, a. lovely, quick-tempered, warm-hearted girl, who has to work for a living Jn New York city, whose ambition is a trip to Paris, and who falls in love with the guard on a subway. An opportunity arriving to gratify her life’s ambition, she has to choose between it and her sweetheart. With commendable self-sacrifice, she promptly decides in his favour, orders her luggage back to the fur store in which she works, finds her sweetheart injured in the hospital, and discovers that he is the son of the owner of the subway. She wins a good husband, and ■ the trip to Paris is made under the best auspices, as part of the honeymoon. The plot is well worked out, and the characterisation is effective. Sadie is a very likable girl, and very feminine. Miss MacKaill makes her attractive in every incident in the story. Air Jack Alullia 11, who is the subway guard, has appeared often at Crystal Palace, always with much acceptance. These two are supported by Mr Charles Murray, a screen comedian; Air Gaston Glass, Mr Bernard Randall and Alias Peggy Shaw. In addition to their individual efforts, they do good team work, making ” Subway .Sadie ” one of the best comedies produced by the First National Pic--lUSome of the greatest composers were represented in the Symphony Orchestra special programme this week. As usual, the orchestra, last night provided a delightful musical evening, which added to the enjoyment of the entertainment. Mozart’s “The Magic Flute was the overture. This was followed by .Schubert’s “Adagio and Allegro." Other items were Delibes’s “ Lo Uoi s’Amuse,” Verdi's ”be Bal Masque,” binding's “Rustle of Spring” and Haynes's “Ballad Memories.” In addition there were lighter items.