LON CHANEY IN "WEST OF ZAN ZIBAR," MAJESTIC. TO-NIGHT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 70, 24 April 1929, Page 2

LON CHANEY IN "WEST OF ZAN ZIBAR," MAJESTIC. TO-NIGHT.

"West of Zair/ihar," a AleLro-Gold-wyn-Alayer production, with Lon C'lianey as the sinister "Dead Lcgs Flint,'' paralysed "wliite voodoo'' of a savage Afriean trihe3 is the nttraction Avliieh will be shown to-night at Iiopulai" Alajestie Theatre. The new .Metro-Goldwvii-Alayer production, a grim draina of primitive emotions in a wild iungle, shows Chaney in one of Ihe most retnarkablc of liis roles, that of a fonner stage lnagieian who, paralysed in a fight with the man who stole liis wife's love. follows liis ene.nv inlo the Dark Continent, using his niagic to torrorise and rule savagcs and to wreak a tevrible revenge. The draniatie ciimax of the niost gripping denoueineiits literature has ever produeed. and through it all runs a delieate roma nce, this heing enacted by Afary Xolan, as the magieian's daughter, and Warner Baxter, a renegade phy.sieian in the jungles, who fnnls regeneration in hcr love. Lionel Barrymore plavs the ciiemv wliom Chaney relentlessly ]Hirsues. and Ivalla Pasha, Roseoe Ward, .Tane Dalv and others of note are in the supporting cast. Tod Browning. responsihle for "The Unholy Thrce," "The Road to Mandalay" ana other ontstanding Chaney hits. direeted the new production. "The Deserfc Brido.'' the Columhia production, is a eolourful drama of the Xear East with thrilling serpienees in Arahian palaces, hazaars and market places. The glaniorous hfo of a Afohammeda n citv. with its suhtle undercurrents, is faithfnlly portrayed on the sereen. Betty Comp-so-n has a powerful dramatic role amid the sandstorms of the desert, the intriguc and rehellions of Arabs. She is ealled n])on to exert everv ounce of hor liistrionic ahilitv. Aliss Compson is cajiahly supporied hy Allan Forrest. who docs some cxeeltent work in the rolc of a Frcncli seerct scrvice agont. Otto ATaliesen is east as ihe suave Arahian. who po.ses as a friend to the Freni-h while he ^eercllv f'oments the I naiivcs inlo rehellion. Tiiore are. tense 1 • "(pienccs reqniring massivo sets and '•undrods of extra players. as easlles ••'•e sfnnued . a heaiitiful girl sold in * 'he market pbuo and thrilling resucs f-taged. Tiie sand.-torm 011 the 'ot-crh is parf ieularly well done. "The Mceert Bride" is a nirlure whieli will : h ohl any aiidienee li was made niirler ihe dirrdion of Wnlter Lang from a sfory hv Ewart Adamson. 1'lan at the Brisiol Piano Co. Theatre 'phone 270'^.