FOX PRODUCTIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18946, 17 December 1929, Page 21 (Supplement)

FOX PRODUCTIONS.

FEATURES OF; 1930 PROGRAMME.

Amongst the high-grade productions of the William Fox 1930 programme are: “The Cockeyed World,” “Frozen Justice,” “Why Leave Home?” “Big Time” and “The Girl From Havana.” In “The Cockeyed World,” we again have Top Sergeant Flagg and Sergeant Quirt, of “What Price Glory,” bumping against each other in affairs of love and other things. An outfit of marines is in Russia, and Flagg and Quirt are slightly reduced in. rank. There has been no change, however, in their pursuit of women. The inevitable “battles” still follow, for each believes that the girl he most wants is the one the other fellow wants, too. Orders arrive, which means that the outfit has accomplished its mission, and is to leave the following morn, destination, Brooklyn Navy Yard, New [York. Before it leaves, however, both Flagg and Quirt are involved in numerous scrapes, in which Sanovitch, a Russian wrestler, and lover of a young woman who has vast attractions for the two Americans, a prominent part. Returning home, Quirt retires from the service, but in spite of this he frequently comes in conflict with Flagg, under circumstances which are both amusing and exciting. As usual, both have eyes upon the same woman who fools them as other women had done. Victor M’Laglan is Flagg and Edmund Lowe is Quirt. In many respects “The Cockeyed World” is quite the equal of “What Price Glory” in entertainment value.

“Frozen Justice” is an all-talking dramatic epic of the frozen north, with Lenore Ulric, as Talu, a half-caste Alaskan belle, wife of Lanak, an Eskimo chief, a part ably enacted by Robert Frazer. Miss Ulric gives, a screen portrayal of the most difficult kind of character—a woman whose very heart is tom by the conflict of a dual racial inheritance. The arrival of a trading

schooner brings matters to a head. Ullrich Haupt, captain of the schooner, induces Talu to leave with him for southern regions. The action then switches to Nome and the Yukon. Here, as a cafe girl, Talu meets with disillusion and black despair of her blood inheritance. Satisfied that she is out of her environment, Talu decides to return to her people. Haupt pursues her, and the end comes in a sensational climax. “Why Leave Home,” a most entertaining all-talking, singing and dancing picture, is an adaption of the well known stage success, “Cradle Snatchers,” and is even funnier in the screen version than it was in the footlight production. A melange of college youths, chorus girls, “two timing” business men and indignant wives compose the cast. Excellent direction and staging combine with the hilarious situations and snappy repartee to constitute a fascinating and always enjoyable picture. Walter Catlett repeats bis stage success, sharing the leading honours with Sue Carol and Nick Stuart. Notable performances are given by the other celebrities in the cast, David Rollins, Richard Keene, Dixie •Fee, Jean Bary and Dot Farley.