SYD. CHAPLIN IN FARCE COMEDY AT LIBERTY THEATRE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18640, 18 December 1928, Page 7

SYD. CHAPLIN IN FARCE COMEDY AT LIBERTY THEATRE.

It cannot, perhaps, be said that Syd Chaplin is as great a comedy star as his famous brother Charles, but it has to be admitted that if a poll of the picture-going public were to be taken, he would be very close to his older brother in order of popularity. There

is no resemblance between the two on the screen, for the simple reason that Charlie Chaplin always wears the one and only apparel. Syd, on the other hand, plays a part in lifelike manner, although he manages to infuse into his acting a great amount of mirth-provok-ing effort. Through three or four really big comedies during the past two years, he has become well known to the public, and consequently his appearance in "The F A ortune Hunter” was keenly looked for. This picture was shown for the first time at Liberty Theatre yesterday. The story of “ The Fortune Hunter ” is one that has been specially prepared for a player of the calibre of Syd Chaplin. It tells of the adventures of a

“ gold digger,” but not, as is usually the case on the screen, of a female “ gold digger.” In this film, the person who is after the necessary money on which to live in idleness is a man, whose aim in life is to find a woman wealthy enough to keep him without the necessity of toiling. To this end he beedmes a citizen of a small town, living a life that is eminently respectable. and is chased by every eligible woman, from an ancient and fat cook to the daughter of the wealthy banker. Through his association with respecable people, his outlook on life changes, and he tries to live up to the life which he has been assuming. However, his past crops up in the shape of a one-time companion who was the person who set in the “gold digger’s” mind the idea of obtaining a wealthy wife. It seems as if the whole atmosphere that he has created is'to be shattered, but through an exciting set of circumstances he manages to retain his position in the community and takes to himself a wife, not the daughter of the wealthiest man in the place, but the sweet and handsome daughter of the poorest member of the community. Of course, all this does not happen so simply in the picture. There are plots and counter-plots, but the whole thing is worked out admirably, and the main story never becomes lost in the side issues.

The picture was produced by the well-known firm of Warner Bros., whose products are always of a high standard, and in this film they have not lowered their standard one iota. The cast has been carefully selected. In the first place, there is the star, Syd Chaplin, who distinguishes himself by his clever characterisation. To him, the picture is not a comedy, but a really serious business. But it is by being so serious that he obtains his best laughs. Flelene Costello, beautiful and talented, has a suitable part in the role of the rich girl. Clara Horton is the poor maiden of the story. She never overdoes her part and does not become sentimental, but at the same time she is able to “ put over ” an appeal which the audience cannot help but accept. Then there is the villain of the piece, a one-time rough, who marries money, but quickly gets through it. Duke Martin has this part, and he does it to perfection. The whole of the supporting cast has been as carefully selected as the principals have been, and as a result the picture is of a standard that is indeed high. There is an excellent supporting programme, consisting of “ shorts ” of a varied and interesting nature. The Liberty Concert Orchestra, under the baton of Mr Ernest Jamieson, played a popular programme of music. Included in their repertoire were: “The Girl Friend” (Rodgers), “Unfinished Symphony” (Schubert), “Blue Danube Waltz” (Strauss) and "Dew-Dew-Dewy Day” (Sherman).