THE REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 38, 7 May 1927, Page 17

THE REGENT

“THE WALTZ DREAM” A delightfully-told fairy story in a modern setting of kings, counts and castles, a beautiful princess and her handsome prince, with pleasure-mad Vienna of pre-war days for a background— In the moving picture world, more so than anywhere else, the ambition is always to produce something different, something that will find public favour in a new way. In this U.F.A., the producers of “The Waltz Bream,” which opened at the Regent last night, can be said to have succeeded beyond all possible expectations. Being modern, the story differs in some essentials from the old-world fairy tale. There is no wicked ogre or other terrifying villain—unless the sleek and monocled Court Chamberlain can be regarded as such.

The prince and princess live happily ever after —we presume—but there is a touch of tragedy in the ending. The happiness of Franzi, the vivacious Viennese fiddle player, who also loves the prince, has to *be sacrificed. How Mady Christian, who makes a charming, if somewhat unconventional, princess, is brought from stiff and

stately Flausenberg to Vienna by her father, to find a husband, how she marries the archduke’s aide -decamp—to her royal parent’s chagrin—and then, how the chilly northern princess is transformed by Franzi into the charming being that finally

. . „ wins her husband’s love—from Franzi herself—makes a story that must appeal to even the most blase picture-goer. The comedy touches are delightful and are woven into “The Waltz Bream” as skilfully and artistically as the haunting strains of Strauss’s immortal “Blue Banube.”

The audience at The Regent last night quite dispelled the idea that “a prophet has no honour in his, or her, own country,” in its reception of Miss Etta Field, Auckland’s own soprano. Twice she sang, and yet two more songs were not sufficient to satisfy the crowded house. It wanted still more. A novel feature of the programme is the cabaret film, which is a vivid portrayal of night life in London.

Kadoma, the clever Ijttle Jap, bows in his unassuming way after performing juggling feats with his feet that make everyone hold their breath. “Light Cavalry” and Beethoven’s “Minuet in G,” played by Eddie Horton on the Mighty Wurlitzer, are two more additions to the splendid programme. His “Popular Medley” turns one’s thoughts to the cabaret upstairs. Seekers after pleasure would be hard to satisfy if they could not find as much as they can conveniently fit into four hours at The Regent. The novelty of an hour or more’s dancing over a perfect floor “after the show is over,” apparently appeals to Aucklanders, to judge from the obvious enjoyment of those who were there last night.