MARY PICKFORD FILM AT QUEEN’S

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18546, 21 August 1928, Page 7

MARY PICKFORD FILM AT QUEEN’S

The ever-popular Mary Pickford appears at the Queen s Theatre this weel. in a film which is one of her best efforts. Being a Mary Pickford film, it, of course, is mainly comedy, but there are parts which are more than mere cornedv. There is pathos and an occasional touch of real drama in a picture which is altogether happy in conception and interpretation. By very many people qualified to judge, “ My Best Girl ” has been hailed as the greatest film of Mary Pickford’s career, and ail who see the picture will agree that this is not a far-fetched claim. Laughter and romance are the main ingredients of a pretty story in which a young shop girl marries a wealthy man and finds happiness. The picture was a very expensive one to produce, and many of the sets yere a long time in the making. The result is a completely convincing film story which it is hard to believe was entirely made in a studio. The story is of Maggie Johnson. a hard-working little stock girl in a five-and-ten cent store. She is given an assistant in the shape of Joe Merrill. the son of the boss, who, however, works under an assumed name as he wants to make his way in the world without the assistance of his name. As the pair work together a romance springs up without either realising what is happening. When Maggie takes Joe home for the first time she is forced to send him away, on account of a row between her sister and her flash lover. To please his mother Joe has become engaged to a society girl, for whom he has plenty of affection but no real love. Mrs Merrill plans a sur prise dinner at a fashionable restaurant to announce Joe’s engagement, but he does not turn up. He takes Maggie to his home for dinner. During the meal the Merrills return, worried at Joe’s absence, and. to her complete consternation, Maggie learns who Joe is. She hurries home filled with shame. Joe’s fiancee realises that he can never care for her. and gamely gives him up and sends him after Maggie. Through some trouble in the family, Maggie is taken to the Police Court, and there Toe finds her pleading for her wayward sister. A bystander makes an insulting remark to Maggie, and Joe thrashes him. The story of the row gets into all the newspapers. The following morning Merrill senior decides to send the boy to Japan till the scandal has died down, and Joe, unknown to his father, buys two tickets, intending to take Maggie with him. Merrill, learn mg of the two tickets, goes to Maggie’s home and offers her a cheque to forget the boy. At that moment Joe arrives, and Maggie adopts the air of a “golddigger.” pretending to take the money. Joe does not believe her, and begs Maggie to marry him. The girl desperately tries to send him away, as she

cannot leave her family, who depend on her for their living. Maggie’s father steps in and orders her to marry the young man, and the two leave on a steamer for their trip. The second feature is another screaming comedy, entitled “ Partners Again,” featuring Potash and Perlmutter in a motor-car selling film. They have a series of most ludicrous adventures.