NOVEL FILM IS SHOWN AT GRAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18643, 24 December 1928, Page 7

NOVEL FILM IS SHOWN AT GRAND.

To some people, the married state is a tragedy; to others a puzzle; to some others, a picnic. To the spectator of “The Honeymoon Express” it is all three, the picnic predominating. “Tne Honeymoon Express” will be presented at the Grand Theatre this week, corn mencing Monday, with the heads of the family represented by Irene Rich and Willard Louis, and their amazing collection of sons and daughters by Helene Costello, Virginia Lee Corbin, Jason Robards, Jane Winton, and John Patrick. Holmes Herbert lends a sympathetic ear to the wife’s angry outpourings, while the rest go through all the snappy paces that make matrimoney such a strange phenomenon, and incidentally weave a sound plot out of their activities.

The story concerns a woman who has allowed herself to become prematurely old, a woman who never sees a dressmaker or a beauty specialist, and as a consequence sees her husband drifting away to the bright lights and all the rest of it. Let it be said that Willard Louis, fat and smug, does this sort of thing supremely well, the drifting business, that is. But when the lady sees the whole family going the way of papa, her natural wit begins take charge. Then the fun starts. Papa never got such a shock in his life; the airy sons and daughters saw Mama competing with them; finally they saw her turn her back on the pack of them and start out afresh. But things can-

not, and do not, end in such an abrupt fashion. From being hitherto smart and frivolous comedy, “The Honeymoon Express” turns the bend into drama, which, fortunately is never overpowering nor sentimental. The story is unusual, but very convincing. Such a theme, in capable hands, must turn out well, and with such a good cast as this picture has, the result is extremely pleasing. Like no other film before it, it has marriage under the glass, modern marriage that is, and no playwright has ever penned a more merriless, ironic, nor cruelly witty story than

“The Honeymoon Express.” The acting is of the best, that of Irene Rich and Jane Winton being superlative at times. Jane Winton, as the force which lures the husband from home, is, as usual, thoroughly worldly and realistic. Holmes Herbert and Willard Louis provide a contrast. All in all, the picture, satisfies. Box plans are at the Bristol Piano Company, where seats may be reserved.