SPLENDID DRAMA TO BE SHOWN AT CRYSTAL PALACE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18467, 19 May 1928, Page 10

SPLENDID DRAMA TO BE SHOWN AT CRYSTAL PALACE.

“ The Valley of the Giants ” is, with the possible exception of “ The Pride of Palomar,” the very best book Peter B. Kyne has written. A few years before his death the late Wallace Reid produced the picture, he himself playing the role of Bryce Cardigan, and now comes Milton Sills’s version, and next week at Crystal Palace Theatre followers of films will have the opportunity of comparing technique, production and other issues of the business. The story which is unfolded in “ The Valley of the Giants ” is a strong and forceful one. The seeker after the light things of the world, he or she who rejoices in the tinkle of inane laughter, the shadow-show of beauty and re‘Velry, the tea-cup dramas of fashionable drawing-rooms may not look for his or her favourite entertainment in this story. It is a stern and uncompromising libretto set to the music of Nature, the murmuring of giant trees, the thunder of great rivers, and for plot it has the struggle of a father and son against unscrupulous neighbours, for romance it has the love of man for Nature, as well as the love of a man for a maid. An excellent cast has been assembled. Milton Sills is supported by George Fawcett, Arthur Stone and Doris Kenyon in the immediate auxiliary roles, but all characters are always subservient to the great drama, which is played out by them; man is dwarfed by the valley of the giants, and the signifi cance that valley plays in the tale su well told. It is a beautiful story that is told, as well as being a thoroughly masculine and virile one; Peter B. Kyne, Irish and romantic and idealist, can as easily switch over to humour and love as he can describe a glorious fight or some dark plot hatched by a favourite character. For he has favourite characters. From the first .time that the two Cardigans appear on the scene you know that all is going to go well with them, even through dirty villains and shifty financiers fiom “ the city" may darken the stage and try to mar the virginity of those forests. The old man will keep his wife’s grave, the young man will win his reluctant love, and both wiil keep their valley intact. But before this happy consummation is effected the whimsical Peter has his people in many a tight corner; has his hero bruised and hip hetoine in haughty mood; has the old man stymied and the shifty financiers smiling. But, of course, not for long. Milton Sills has a handy pair of fists, and George Fawcett has a brain behind that grouchy and lovable countenance, and Doris Kenyon is really adorable all the time. In “The Valley of the Giants” the lover of genuine, healthy entertainment has found his grail; before anything else, it gives the impression of being unfettered, wind-swept, and it says much for it that it sustains that throughout. It is a great story made into a splendid picture. The supporting picture on the bill is “ East of Broadway,” a delicious sort of comedy adapted, from the “Saturday Evening Post ” story “ The Tropic of Capricorn,” by Richard Connell. Owen Moore and Marguerite de la Motte have the leads, and in the energetic story of a budding policeman they both do good work. The Symphony Orchestra, under Mr Alfred Bunz, plays the following musical programme:— Overture, “ The Dance of the Hours ” (Ponchielli), “Suite Lyrique ” (Tschailcowsky), “Figaro” (Mozart), “Children’s Piece” (Jessel), “The Golden Mask” (Staz), “Merrie England” (German), “Pasquinade” (Gottschalk), “Hymn to Saint Cecilia” (Gounod), “ Elevation ” (Farman), “ Poem ” Fibisch). The box plans are at The Bristol Piano Company, where seats should be reserved.