“CAPTAIN LASH” IS COLOURFUL DRAMA AT CRYSTAL PALACE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18830, 6 August 1929, Page 7

“CAPTAIN LASH” IS COLOURFUL DRAMA AT CRYSTAL PALACE.

Captain Lasli is called Captain Lash because, like Simon Legree. he is a driver of men. He is fifth engineer on an ocean liner, a hard-bitten sea-dog, who gives the stokers a rough time He has lived a rough life amongst rough people, and when he meets pretty, blonde Cora Nevins, so different from the girls he knew before, so refined and intellectual and simple and beautiful, he Is surprised beyond measure. He had not believed that such a creature

existed, or could exist, in the world as it bad been disclosed to him. She seemed to him to be an angel without wings, a creature to be worshipped, and even that at a respectful distance. It is not long before the driver is driven—driven hard and remorselessly bv this little chit of a girl. In spite of her slight figure, simplicity, innocence and all that, she is on board the vessel to possess jewels of fabulous value. This she does with the skilful, clear-cut workmanship of an old hand, substituting paste jewels for the real thing. She i? suspected by unsentimental police officers, and is searched. Too cunning to be

caught, she induces Captain Lash* to take the jewels to her home in Singapore, to find that the parcel contains nothing but pieces of coal. This is an outline of the story. Worked into the lights and shades are terrific fights with bare fists, colourful scenes in the night life of a Singapore cafe, intrigue,. love and romance. Captain Lash is the out-

standing character. He is a decidedly strong character, very human, and, off ship, not at all a bad sort, quite likeable and attractive, in fact. He is represented ably by Mr Victor M’Laglen, who starred in ‘ Loves of Carmen ” and “ What Price Glory?” With him, as the bewitching Cora, is Miss Claire Windsor, as dainty as ever, to whom Mr M’Laglen makes love furiously. Mr Arthur Stone, another popular player, is in the cast, which the Fox Pictures have selected with their usual judgment. “ Captain Lash ” is exciting, not to say thrilling. It is as good as any picture in its class shown at Crystal Palace, which has the best the world offers. “ The Silent House ” is a mystery drama, which ran for a year in London and for ten months in New York. The sinister Oriental villain. Dr Chan Fu, Is represented by an English player, Mr Gibb M’Laughlin, who has with him Miss Mabel Poulton (T’Mala), Mr Arthur Pusey (George Winsford), Mr Gerald Rawlinson (Captain Barty) and Kyoshi Takase (Ho Fang). The plot changes from China to London, and is so cleverly worked out that' every inci dent and every development, from the beginning to the highly artistic climax, are watched with unflagging and intense interest. This picture may be described as, in acting and production, the best British film shown in Christchurch. Its standard is the highest, and it is well worth seeing. Last evening’s supports were as good as ever. The Symphony Orchestra, under Mr A. J- Bunz, opened with Thomas’s Mignon. The best item, perhaps, was Debussy s “ Petite Suite.” Amongst other items were:—Borodine’s “ Cen*ral. f s i a * Ansell’s “Pekin,” Nieman's Rickshaw Ride.” Holst’s “ Japanese Suite, Leigh s “ The Gob Ashore ” and Coates’s “Four Ways.”