King George Theatre

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 7, 10 July 1930, Page 5

King George Theatre

"IT'S A GEBATUFE." We have had a number of technicolor pictures, or part technicolor pictures, of late,-but local moviegoers aTe in for something exceptionally brilliant when Metro-GolbVwyn-Mayer the originatora of this fashion in talking pictures with. '' The Broadway Melody now display their lead again with "It's a Great Life." This picture, which opens on SattiTday &t the Kin£ George Theatre for a special engagement, co-stars the world famous Duncan Sisters, musical comedy daTlings of the New York and London stage, where tho Prince ofWales joined -in praise of their work... "THE VAGABOND LOVEB" A new star, Budee Vallee, who has reached the talking screen from the microphone >£he^ loisdspeakerj heads the cast of "The Vagabond Loyer," which appears at King George Theatre • on Wednesdays Thursday and Friday, July 16th, 17th, and 18th. Along with the attraction of his voice he is handsome, and has acting ability /sufficient to play the part -foe has been-allotted successfully. Also appearing in the cast are Sally Blanc and Marie Nugent, In the character of a jazz band leader Vadlee is heard ij^ all the catching, melodies t&at have spread his name and fame abroad. His band is endeavouring .to win notice for itself and attempts are made to gain an interview with a big man in the jazz world, but to.no purpose. When they have forced into his house,-only to find the place empty, Valle is mistaken for the big man himself. The result is t&at the amateurs are thrown into society "where they make a great hit. Their masquerade is discovered, and they are faced ( with exposure -and prison. However, ] events. tUTn out satisfactorily to all. Sally Blanc is excellent in the character of t&e excitable - aunt, and Vallee tSa particular proves himself a capable aator. ' Prom many points of view "The Vagabond Lover*' is well worth seeing and hearing. Good , supports aTe ] i&oiwing.

"THE 13th CHAIR." * " The 13th Chair which comes to the "King George Theatre on Saturday 19t& July, has talcen the original stage -play and its original star, Margaret Wycih«rly and decked them in mysterious effects and fantastic ideas impossible within tie limitations of the stage Uncanny photograph effects, augmented with ©creams in the dark and a 'brooding sense of the mysterious in the dialogue, have made this talking picture an entirely new form of mystery entertainment.

The story is laid in Calcutta, with tihe mysteries of old India contrasted vividly with the mysteries of modern spiritualism. Favourite tricks of mediums, such as spirit rapping and table tilting, circles and such adjuncts to the modern "txlack fart" are exposed, in order to heighten the effect of other mysteries in which tihe wits of the detective in the play are baffled;

Margaret Wyehely plays the role of "Rosalie La Grange/ which, she made famous on the stage, and plays it in Hie same costume and in exactly "the same manner as in her triumph before th.c footlights.

The mysterious police inspector is played by Bela Lugosi, famous as the creator of the role of "Dracula" on the stage, and Conrad Nagel, Leila Hyanis, Holmes Herbert, John David4ttnif Mary Forbes, Helene Millaxd, Moon Carroll, Clarence Geldext; Lai 43hand 7 Mehra and other screen and stage players -have paTts in the vivid asyatgry. Among the dramatic highfights ate the grim duel of wits between Miss Wychely, playing the medium, and

Lugosi as the detective, when the medium frees »her daughter fromTarrest ■as a murderess, and the uncanny denouement wlhen in. the midst of the spirit seance, the hand of the murder victim points the way to the rmsusj>ected oulprit.

.Tie central love theme of the story id between Nagel and Miss Hyams, and this romance runs entirely through the .structure of mystery, of plot and counterplot, as tho play progresses.

The settings are elaborate, with, weird -teak/wood carvings of India, the strange" shutters of an Indian bungalow and t&e vivid moonlight of a Calcutta summer. •„-,..' \ ■■;