MAJESTIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 147, 12 September 1927, Page 15

MAJESTIC

“BARDELYS THE MAGNIFICENT”

There is little room for improvement in the sparkling programme being offered at the Majestic this week, screen and

orchestra both contributing to an excellent programme. Rafael Sabatini's “Bardelys the Magnificent,” the chief feature of the programme, is anothei Majestic triumph. Seldom do you set such an artistic and beautifully photo graphed film. Towered castle, rising hundreds ol

feet into the air, John Gilbert quaint old inns of the 17Lli century with their picturesque flagons, their mounted boars and other trophies of chase, beautiful estates of mediaeval noblemen, with stately gardens, pools and fountains. These are only a few of the settings of “Bardelys the Magnificent,” starring John Gilbert, King Vidor’s Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer production of Sabatini’s novel now at the Majestic, with Eleanor Boardman as leading woman. Thp production was staged with a most lavish hand and shows with authentic details the surroundings of the life of that period among the aristocrats. One of the most impressive sets is the castle of Roxalanne de Lavedan, the heroine, played by Miss Boardman. It is an exact reproduction of a famous French castle of the time, the 17th century. Cloth of gold and cloth of silver in which the actual metal' is worth a tidy sum, brocaded velvet trimmed in gold point d’Espagne, and ring silk velvet are among the fabrics used in the costumes. The names of the cast are as imposing as the settings, including as they do Roy D'Arcy, Karl Dane, George K. Arthur, Arthur Lubir., John T. Murray, Lionel Belmore and others. The supporting programme is every bit as good as the feature picture. There is the Majestic News showing among many scenes, King Emmanuel at Naples, and Queen Wilhelmina at the great Coliseum, in Rome, Sunny McKeen, the famous child actor, known as “Snookums,” and residents of Melville, Louisiana, trying to escape from the devastating flood waters. The Eve’s Review is particularly interesting in that it shows a beautifully coloured scenic of “The Rebuilding of Ypres,” showing the Cloth Hall and Cathedral and the famous Menin Gate. This should prove a great attraction to all those Agho are desirous of reviving memories of familiar scenes. Then, for the dancing enthusiasts, comes an exhibition dance of the Black Bottom, and last but not least, “A Novelty Orchestra on Motor Cycles,” at Sheerness, England. A highly diverting comedy, “Light Housekeeping,” concludes the supporting programme.

Mr. John Whiteford-Waugh’s famous Majestic Orchestra renders superbly an excellent musical programme. “Musical Gems’ from Gilbert and Sullivan Operas,” is plaj r ed as an interlude. Included in the incidental music are “Souvenir” (Drdla),

“Conqueror Overture” (Baron), “Minuet” from G minor Symphony (Mozart), Brahms’s “Hungarian Dance,” No. 10, and “Gavotte” (Gossec).

Louis Wolheim, who plays one of the featured roles in “Two Arabian Knights,” post war comedy which Lewis Milestone has directed for United Artists, is best known for renditions of two

“hard boiled” stage roles, Captain Flagg in the Stallings-Anderson pla} r , “TV hat Price Glory” and Eugene O'Neill’s ‘‘The Hairy Ape.”