“THE TELEPHONE GIRL”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 150, 15 September 1927, Page 17

“THE TELEPHONE GIRL”

REGENT TO-MORROW Another splendid Regent programme has been arranged for at the “theatre magnificent” during the week commencing to-morrow. “The Telephone Girl.” the principal film, a Paramount production, is regarded as the biggest drama of the year, and its standard can well be judged by the fact that it was made by the master-producer. Herbert Brenon, who was responsible for the masterpiece, “Beau Geste.” A wonderful cast is featured, including Madge Bellamy, Holbrook Blinn, Warner Baxter, May Allison, Lawrence Gray, and Hale Hamilton. The story opens in Atlantic City, where a man and woman are indiscreetly spending a vacation together. Five years pass, and the incident is forgotten. Matthew Standish, candidate for governor, is married to another woman. On election eve, his opponent, Governor Mark Robinson, faces certain defeat. This means the downfall of “Boss” Jim Blake, Robinson’s father-in-law. Nothing has been found with which to damage Standish’s reputation except the seaside episode. Without the second party’s name, this remains useless. Van Dyke, owner of the party’s newspaper, suggests a plan for getting the needed information. A dinner is given at Standish’s hotel. Blake threatens Standish with exposure, saying that his forgotten holiday will look bad when headlined in print. He then tries to bribe Kitty O’Brien, the telephone girl, into promising to tell him a number he knows Standish will surely call. It happens that Kitty has refused to marry Tom Blake, because of his father’s opposition. Frightened, Standish rings Prosper 1001. Kitty ref Lises Blake’s demand. A few minutes later, the governor calls Prosper 1001 and asks for his wife. He asks her to come to the hotel, where she is warned by Kitty, but refuses to take any notice. The net draws closer and her name has not been suspected. Blake, however, has decided to run the story without the woman’s name in the first edition. In this he is frustrated by Kitty, who disconnects the line. She is caught, however, by a detective and taken to Blake’s rooms, where they try to force her to tell. She will not tell the name and is being arrested when, in a great climax, all comes right. Colin Crane, eminent baritone, of J. C. Williamson Celebrity Vaudeville, is assured of a warm “welcome back” to Auckland. He will sing a number of old and new favourites. A noVely song film, “Marcheta,” will be one of the big features of the bill, while Eddie Horton will play request numbers and new novelties at the Mighty Wurlitzer. Another “Scream Comedy” will be shown, also a gazette of the world’s most interesting events. A special musical programme has been arranged for the New Operatic Orchestra by Maurice Guttridge.