“THE MONKEY TALKS”

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 108, 28 July 1927, Page 17

“THE MONKEY TALKS”

AT MAJESTIC TO-MORROW Another big and varied programme will be offered to-morow. Heading the bill is the big novelty picture, “The Monkey Talks,” which proved a sensation as a play in Paris, London, and New York. In the supporting programme are an excellent topical budget, an Eve’s Review, a New Zealand scenic, a comedy, and, on the stage, Mrs. Cyril Towsey, the leading Auckland soprano, will sing “A Castilian Lament” (Del Riego), and “It Is Not Because Your Heart is Mine” (Lohr). Mr. Cyril Towsey will accompany her at the piano. The Majestic’s new orchestra will play another superb musical programme. The overture will be the popular “Morning, Noon, Night” (Suppe). When Raoul Walsh, the maker of what is said to be the greatest epic motion picture of all times, “What Price Glory,” turns his attention to the making of a film in lighter vein, the result is sensational. “The Monkey Talks,” to be screened at the Majestic to-morrow, is entertainment, based on one of the greatest successes of the Paris, London and New York stages. It has for its foundation a story of absorbing interest, of which Walsh in his screen version has taken every advantageous angle and built up a mystery comedydrama that grips attention from first to last. In addition to story and direction, the beautiful Olive Borden gives a splendid portrayal of the principal feminine role, that of the dainty circus performer. Then Jacques Lerner, who created the role of the talking humanlike monkey on the Parisian stage, was brought to America by Fox to play the same part on the screen. His performance is convincing at all times. This is undoubtedly one of the strangest roles an actor was ever called upon to fill. Then there is Raymond Hitchcock, star of a dozen Broadway successes, who proves his versatility by his screen interpretation of the part of Lorenzo. Ted McNamara, the inimitable fun maker, creates innumerable laughs. Jane Winton as the siren is convincing, while the huge ape, who has a dramatic part in the picture, is truly terrifying. The story itself deals with a troup of circus performers and their talking monkey. The circus scenes are treated in an entirely new way. In fact, the whole picture is a novelty that is refreshingly entertaining.