"FOUR DEVILS" AND TALKIE SHORTS—MAJESTIC SATURDAY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 179, 30 August 1929, Page 2

"FOUR DEVILS" AND TALKIE SHORTS—MAJESTIC SATURDAY.

With deft, characteristie subtlety applied to a story that will have a wide popular appcal, Director E. W. Murnau lias brought to tlie screen in the Fox production "Four Devils," xvhicli opens at tlie popular Majestic Theatre on Saturday, a motion pu.ture that will stand hcad and sliouhlcrs above the mass of picturcs usually offered to the iiublic. The film succcsvfully combines art and entertainment — the result of a. huinan. logical story, perfect performanco and fiawlcss dircction. ICtclied upon a background of circus life, the picture toi Is with mingled pathos, comedy and drama of the lives of four acrobats, two giiis and two boys — wlio helped by a kindlx ohl clown to astend to fame and liappiness from the squalid. heart-breaking life of a waggon circus only to find their deepest sorrow* in tlie midst oi success. Wliile the acting of all in this appealing and deftlv told narrative is bej-ond reproacli, it is perhaps the performance of Janet Gaynor, who enacts a Parisian circus performer with fire in her being, and soulfulness in licr orbs, that is the outstanding individual effort. Mary Duncan gives a dashing and magnetic portrayal as the temptress who iures Charles from the love of Marion. Morton is fine as tlie elder brother, and Barry Norton is satisfactoxy. as the. youn.ger.malG acfobat. Nancy Drexol gives an excelleut perforniance as .the second girl and Farrell Macdonald gains, mucli svmpathy as the old clown who watches over them in their trials and tribulations. • "Four Devils" should have a wider and greater success than any of Murnau's preceeding achivements. "Four Devils is accompanied by tlie famous New York Roxy Theatre Orchestra, and this will be the. first time that fhe great orchestra has been heard in Napier. The talkie shorts include Fox Movietone news all you see you hear, and the funniest all talkie comedy that was ever made "A Bath Between."_ Seats should be reserved at the Bristol Piano Company or by Theatre 'Phone 2708. To-night will be the last occasion on which patrons will have the opportunity of seeing "The Donovah Affair," quite the xnost thrilling film. and an all-talkie one, ever shown in Napier. Excellent supports complete a fine programme.