ALL-BRITISH PROGRAMME.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 145, 20 June 1931, Page 27 (Supplement)

ALL-BRITISH PROGRAMME.

The large and rapidly increasing number of people who like British pictures—and the success of “ The Middle Watch ” has shown that they are many ■ —should enjoy the new programme which commenced to-day at the Liberty, for it will consist of two features from British International Pictures, Ltd., one a hilarious comedy entitled “ Why Sailors Leave Home,” and the other an excellent drama, “ The Lady from the Sea.”

In “Why Sailors Leave Home,” Leslie Fuller, who scored such a success in Not so Quiet on the Western Front ” and Kiss me, Sergeant,” is a seaman who blunders into an Eastern harem, with the almost Inevitable result that he is mistaken for a great sheik and duly robbed. All that remains for him is to choose his wives from a choice selection of veiled beauties—one can imagine all the comedy which Fuller is able to extract from a situation such as this. One critic writes of this nautical musical melange as follows: “Full of broad comedy, farcical situations, some excellent dancing by women of the harem—Leslie Fuller fairly revels in a part full of good opportunities. The Leslie Fuller tradition of rubber-faced comedy Is fully maintained in this extravaganza of nautical naughtiness—he is good for plenty of laughs.” Supporting Fuller is a large cast of capable British stars, including Marika Rokk, who is responsible for some excellent dancing.

The second feature, “ The Lady of the Sea, has for its setting the famous and dreaded Goodwin Sands, and concerns a French girl who is cast ashore from a wreck and then does her best to wreck the lives of the hardy British family which shelters her. The film is from the story by Joseph Grossman, and has a very good cast. Box plans are at The Bristol.