RIALTO AND REGENT, EPSOM

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 113, 3 August 1927, Page 15

RIALTO AND REGENT, EPSOM

“DON JUAN” John Barrymore, peer of all living actors, whose splendid work in “Beau Brummell” and “The Sea Beast” caused so much eulogistic comment, is to be seen to-night at the Rialto and Regent Theatres in another exceptional Master picture, “Don Juan,” produced by Warner Bros. A splendid cast, including Mary Astor, Estelle Taylor, June Marlowe, Montague Love, John Roche, Phyllis Haver and Helene Costello, supports the star. Written about in almost every tongue —the inspiration of scores, nay hundreds, of artists, poets, musicians and dramatists—it is a moot question if a real Don Juan ever existed. Down through the centuries, the romantic figure of the greatest of all lovers has been surrounded with a virtual halo, so that to-day lie has become a type, a symbol, a glory—almost a divinity. The original story of “Don Juan” was written by a Spanish monk, Gabriel Tallez, 1570-1648, whose secular works were presented to the world under the pen name of “Tirso de Molina.” As conceived by de Molina, the story was intended to point a moral in favour of spiritual life. Subsequent attempts to create Don Juan have been more or less by de Molina’s conception of the character. Bess Meredyth, who scenurised “The Sea Beast,” was entrusted with the adaptation of “Don Juan” for the screen. How well she succeeded is borne out by the tremendous interest that the picture has created wherever shown.