MAJESTIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 18, 12 April 1927, Page 12

MAJESTIC

BARRYMORE’S DON JUAN Thursday will be an eventful day in the history of the Majestic, when John Barrymore’s greatest picture, “ Bon Juan,” will be screened. This is undoubtedly one of the greatest photoplays that has even been produced. “Don Juan” is an immortal character in poetry and fiction, while John Barrymore is known the whole world over as one of the greatest romantic actors the stage has ever known. In keeping with the subject, and the leading actor is the whole production. No money has been spared to make this one of the greatest pictures ever produced. A cast of thousands includes Mary Astor, Estelle Taylor, Warner Oland, Montague Love, Helene Costello, Jane Winton, Myrna Loy, June Marlowe, John Roche, Josef Swickard, Helena B’Algy, Lionel Brahm, Nigel de Brulier, Helen Lee Worthing, Phyllis Haver, Sheldon Lewis and Hedda Hopper. One film critic, reviewing this picture, says: ‘‘The king is dead; long live the king! The glory that was Don Juan’s is now John Barrymore’s, for in making this dashing hero of the agelong legend live again and love again, Barrymore has made himself Don Juan’s successor! The epitome of all that made Don Juan immortal, Barrymore becomes an even greater Don Juan. For in this vibrant pictureisation if innumerable love feasts, he ravishes womanly beauty as only a Don Juan at heart could. Clandestine rendezvous, piratical passion, endless amours, thrills of which every woman dreams, adventures that every man desires, all these Barrymore enacts with a fiery emotion that stamps him indelibly as * the greatest lover of all ages!’ ” In the screen version, a Don Juan has been created possessing the strength and fearlessness of “ Don Juan de Tenorio,” the original legend, but with the romantic beauty and haunting whimsicality of Mozart’s “ Don Giovanni.” As interpreted by John Barrymore, the

character is graceful, clever, cheerful and biting, sincere and false, passionate and cold, wise and a madcap, fluent and insolent, brave, bold and important, a witty, resourceful, impulsive and slightly egotistical figure. The photoplay crystallises all the Don Juans that have gone before. It reincarnates and gives substance to all the spirit of romance and adventure that the name of Don Juan represents to every lover of literature, the stage and the screen. A special musical score wUI be played by the All Soloists Orchestra for “ Don Juan.” The Majestic management has arranged for a special stage production for the children as an Easter attraction on the “Don Juan” programme. On the stage will be a gigantic Easter egg and 15 of Auckland’s tiniest little “ chicks ” will appear as “ The Chicken Ballet.” The ballet includes Essie Pellola, Doreen Davis, Dorothy Weller, Dorothy Gill, June Dyer, Betty Adams, and the lonesome chicken. Dorothy Katipo. The grown-up chickens are Mavis Healdon, Koanui Simeon, and June Fowler, while the rooster is played by Gladys Brown and the hen by Joyce Phillips. Mr. George Tarr plays the part of the farmer. This attractive Easter ballet has been produced by Mile. Valeska.