MAJESTIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 148, 13 September 1927, Page 17

MAJESTIC

“BARDELYS THE MAGNIFICENT” One of the most brilliant photoplays shown in Auckland for some time is “Bardelys the Magnificent,” now screening at the Majestic with great success. The genius of King Vidor, famous screen director, in making his characters human, appearing real and not as actors, is exemplified again in “Bardelys the Magnificent,” his Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer production starring John Gilbert, which is now playing at the Majestic Theatre. ‘ Bardelys” deals largely with figures of ancient royalty and even the most casual student of the drama realises the difficulty of making this species of character appear human, and the difficulty is aggrandised when it is a costume picture as is this opus. Von Stroheim, in “The Merry Widow,” put the royal family into a petty, middle-class squabble, with the prince and crown prince having their ears soundly boxed by the queen. It was a touch that made them at once real human beings. In “Bardelys.” as the royal train moves through France, the king spies a beautiful winding river. Halting the train he takes everybody in. wading. Royal ladies in waiting, courtiers, knights, minstrels and all bare their legs to the knees and splash around in the water. It is a delightful touch and entirely plausible because at the time of the story, the 17th century, King Louis XIH was a very young man and still of unreserved and boyish bearing. The supporting programme is in accord with the principal film. The Majestic News contains scenes from all corners of the world, including peace precautions in Shanghai and Nanking, King Victor Emmanuel at Naples, Queen Wilhelmina at the great Coliseum, Rome, and relief work at the levees during the recent American floods. A diverting Eve’s Review contains an exhibition of the Black Bottom Dance, Handy Inventions, a novelty orchestra on motor-cycles at Sheer - ness, England, and last but not least a beautifully coloured scenic of Ypres, showing the reconstruction of the city since the Great War. Scenes include Cloth Hall, the cathedral, and the famous Menin Gate. Then there is an excellent comedy, “Light Housekeeping,” which delights both young and old. The Majestic’s New Orchestra provides one of its best programmes of incidental music to date, and under the conductorship of Mr. Whiteford-Waugh it renders among many, “Conqueror Overture” (Baron), “Minuet” from G Minor Symphony (Mozart), and Brahm’s “Hungarian Dance No. 10.” “Musical Gems” from Gilbert and Sullivan operas is played as an interlude. Eleanor Boardman is leading woman of the picture, and the cast includes George K. Arthur, Arthur Lubin and D’Arcy.