“LONDON” IS MADE BY HERBERT WILCOX, MAKER OF “NELL GWYN.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18186, 20 June 1927, Page 7

“LONDON” IS MADE BY HERBERT WILCOX, MAKER OF “NELL GWYN.”

It is not’ often Thomas Burke, of ••Limehouse Nights” fame, is seen on the screen. His stories, the average ones, are necessarily a source of keenest deligftt to the reader who dellgnts in deep-dyed mystery and equally deepdyed villains, exotic drama, and fantastic romance. But when Thomas Burke so chooses, he can be a writer of graceful and fanciful light drama, With a dash of Limehousc it is true, but not the Limehouse of the Cantonese hordes, but rather the suave and polished Limehouse of the Chen type, and all the more subtle and dangerous for that. Such a story is “London,'’ which opens its season at Everybody’s Theatre today, a fascinating atnd kaleidoscopic drama of modern London, in which the action takes place in Limehouse and the hypothesis thereof, Mayfair, a brilliant, romantic and highly dramatic opus, in which the acting of Dorothy Gish in the leading role stands out most prominently, and in which the wizardry of Herbert Wilcox’s direction is at all times almost visible and certainly effective. With such masterpieces to his credit as “The Only Wav,” “Carnival” and “Nell Gwyn,” Herbert Wilcox has set his sign and seal on yet another canvas of power and beauty, and in ■“London” has instilled a vague sense of mystery, of Oriental urbanity and passive silence which make the spectator grip the handle of his chair, or catch his breath, as some slinking shadow crofeses the screen, or Influences him to laughter with its spontaneous comedy, or moves him with its faint pathos and intense drama. Apart from its gay and now' sombre story, “London” has the added advantage of being photographed on the actual sites of the taie. It is like a personal tour of the great metropolis, with such places as St James Palace, Rotten Row, the Houses of Parliament at Westmintser, Charlie’s Bar, Henley Regatta, the National Sporting Club, the Kit-Kat Club and a dozen other places and parts and events that go unpassed in London, but are as the nectar and ambrosia of the gods to those in the Southern "Seas. Famous personages and the changing of the Guard are skillfully «nd naturally incorporated into the action of the story, and the famous Paul Whiteman and his band appear almost as though they were playing leads. Dorothy Gish, in the leading part, goes through the movements with all the grace and humour and finely-etched drama which she has so easily at her command, and Afelqui Millar, famous dramatic actor, is seen to advantage opposite her. Alma Rubens and Bert Lyttel are the stars in “The Gilded Butterfly.” Miss Rubens invests any picture with an added attraction by the grace and charming vivacity with which she acts, und in this society drama, with its moments of unalloyed thrills and scenes of gravity and gaiety, she has a part which she endows with all the dramatic strength at her disposal. Huntley Gordon and Herbert Rawlinson are two other well-known actors who appear ir. the picture, so the story is interpreted by an exceptionally brilliant cast. Everybody’s Select Orchestra, under the direction of Mr W. J. Bellingham, F.S.M., ■will play a specially arranged musical score, in which the classical and modern schools will receive impartial consideration. The box plans are now open at the Bristol Piano Company, where seats may be reserved.