REGINALD DENNY SCORES ANOTHER HIT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18575, 25 September 1928, Page 7

REGINALD DENNY SCORES ANOTHER HIT.

This week, one picture comprises the major portion of the programme at Liberty Theatre. That film “ Good Morning, Judge ” is a real entertainment in itself, and as a comedy it is one of the best that has ever been shown in Liberty Theatre. Reginald Denny is the star of “Good Morning, Judge,” and this, his latest, production shows that he is still improving as a comedy actor. In fact, he can now be honestly classed as one of the leading motion picture comedy stars of the world. Back in the days when he was star in the “ Leather Pusher ” series, Denny, although a trier, was rather of the ordinary type of actor, although he was. a real boxer. Since then, however, he has become an individual actor, with a manner that is all his own. All his life, he has been an actor or a boxer, alternating these professions for various reasons. chiefly economic, with the exception of the war years. When the Great War broke out he was playing on the stage in New Y’ork. He immediately cancelled his contract and sailed for England, joining the Royal Flying Corps, now the Royal Air Force. That his boxing capabilities, which are displayed incidentally in “ Good Morning, Judge,” are not mere-

ly stage affairs was proved during the war, when he became champion boxer of the whole of the British Flying Corps. The war, however, has nothing to do with “ Good Morning, Judge,” for in it Denny is seen as a young blade of the town, who becomes mixed up in a brawl and finds himself cooling his heels in a police cell. In the morning, he makes his bow to the presiding judge and hears that personage convict him and order him to pay a heavy fine, the alternative being gaol. During the brawl he has lost his wallet and he is refused any opportunity of sending out for the money. When it looks like a certainty that he will have to do time in prison for his offence a wealthy and pretty social worker, who conducts a home for men who are without homes and friends, steps forward and pays the fine. She takes him to her mission house and as he has fallen madly in love with her, he confesses to an appalling list of crime-s in order that he may stay as an occupant of the mission. He is allowed to stay and work so that he may pay her back the amount of his fine. While there he suspects that the manager of the home, a reformed “ crook,” is not as honest as he might

be and that he is stealing the mission funds. As times goes on, suspicion ripens into certainty. Then, at a dance in aid of the mission, the manager and two of his criminal friends make a big haul, which Donny is in the act of removing from the hiding place selected by the crooks when he is detected by them. A battle royal ensues, with Denny and a friend vic : torious. Of course the lady who conducts the mission arrives during the climax and in an effective manner a happy solution is reached. Playing opposite Denny is Mary Nolan, an actress of charm and ability. Her work in “ Good Morning, Judge ” is all that could be wished for. Dorothy Gulliver also has a good opportunity of showing her capabilities as an actress. Otis Harlan, a veteran of the comedy screen, is again seen in action, along with others who are well known to Christchurch audiences. Mr Ernest Jamieson and his orchestra were in great form last night a nr' gave some of their best popular num bers. The entr’acte was “La Paloma ” (Yradier) charmingly played and it earned a unanimous recall. Other pieces included “ Symphony No. 6 ’ (Haydn), “ Symphony No. 2” (Beethoven), “ Summer Widowers ” (Sloane) and “Skeleton Dance” (Jacobs).