NEW REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 161, 28 September 1927, Page 15

NEW REGENT

“CAMILLE” Shades of Sarah Bernhardt and Duse! A bobbed-hair “Camille!” Yet, if the famous stage actresses were alive to-day they would sanction the radical step, in the opinion of representative motion picture fans who have attended the current showing of Norma Talmadge’s latest picture, a modernised version of “Camille,” at the New Regent Theatre. In “Camille,” which was directed by Fred tfiblo, whose name in connection with a new picture is in itself a promise of worthwhile entertainment, there are many points of interest. Miss Talmadge’s characterisation of the “Lady of the Camellias” as an ultra-modern, Parisian heartbreaker is, in the first place, perhaps the most colourful, emotional role she has ever attempted and one that promises to remain a,n indelible impression in the memorjr.

The picture also serves to introduce a new screen lover —Gilbert Roland, a young Spaniard unknown a few months ago, but in whom Joseph M. Schenck organisation has such faith that they gave him as his first role one of the season’s choicest opportunities.

Miss Talmadge has surrounded herself with supporting players of established popularity and capability, even the “bits” being filled by widely known screen figures. The cast includes Lilyan Tashman, Rose Dione, Harvey Clark, Alec Francis, Helen Jerome Eddy and Etta Lee and others. The costuming of the star and other members of the cast is particularly lavish and, of interest to the women, just a step in advance of the Parisian mode. The settings, similarly, are elaborate and luxurious, being the work of William Cameron Menzies, who has been art director of some of the screen’s most notable pictures. “Camille” was produced by Joseph M. Schenck for First National release.