“HEARTS OF GOLD.”

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1496, 26 December 1918, Page 33

“HEARTS OF GOLD.”

One million fighting men in action, twenty thousand horses, miles of artillery, squadrons of aeroplanes, fleets of Zeppelins, the destruction of cities, and the charge of tanks, are, it is said, realistically presented during the unfolding of the delightful love story of “Hearts of the World” which is to be screened under the direction of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., at Christchurch on December 26, Dunedin /January 4, Wellington January 14, and Auckland January 23. “Hearts of the World” created a great sensation in London and New York, when as high as 10s. 6d. was paid for seats, and in Australia it has already broken all the records established in Sydney and Melbourne by “The Birth of a Nation” and “Intolerance.” In his usual thorough manner Mr. D. W. Griffith spared neither money or trouble in his effort to make “Hearts of the World” —which, by the way, cost over a million dollars to produce —the greatest and most wonderful spectacular film the moving picture world has yet known. He displayed the greatest care in selecting the artists required for the characters he created in the story, with the result that every part seems to have been written for the respective artists. “Perhaps,” said a New York critic, “the most distinctive character in the story is the Little Disturber, delightfully played by Dorothy Gish, who is revealed as a comedienne of the first water. Her characterisation of the little street singer, vixenish, but frank and good-hearted, is a positive delight. To her falls the greater part of the comedy, and she handles

it like a veteran. Lillian G'ish, as The Girl, is equal to every demand of her role, which is at times a highly emotional one, and gives a performance which clearly shows the progress she has made in characterisation. Robert Harron, as always, is highly satisfactory from every angle, and appears in this production not as a weak boy, but as a man of full stature —an American who gives his services to the cause of France. George Seigmann, as the brutal German secret agent, duplicates his success in “The Birth of a Nation,” as does also Mrs. Josephine Crowell, who forms the centre of a horrible tragic scene after she has been wounded by a German shell. Robert Enderson is fine as the simple Frenchman, Monsieur Cuckoo, and George Fawcett also has a deliciously humorous character part as the village carpenter. Kate Bruce should also be mentioned for exceptionally good work. Of the children, Ben Alexander comes to the fore as another worth-while discovery of D. Griffith —a cut e little chap who can act.”

Mr. Ray Fuller has gone to Wellington to take up a position at the head office of the Fuller Proprietary in Wellington.

Miss Violet Trevenyon made her last appearance in Auckland at the Opera House on Saturday, and had a flattering farewell. Her song “On the Day on Which Peace Was Declared,” with new topical verses, made a big hit. She left on Sunday for Wellington, where she will be one of the main attractions on the holiday bill at His Majesty’s Theatre.