MAJESTIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 166, 4 October 1927, Page 15

MAJESTIC

EMPIRE WEEK There is no doubt that Aucklanders have excellent taste in picture enters tainment. Crowded houses nightly at the Majestic prove that ’Empire Week” is a very popular A tribute to the mighty British Empire, is a great Empire festival entitled “Rule Britannia.” Over 60 performers take part in this tableau presented on a most lavish and elaborate scale. The pageant opens with a spectacular film, “Trooping tfiq Colours,” a very colourful procedure filmed in London on the King’s Birthday. Then follow fragments of gazettes and scenics which take the audience to Cankdax India. Australia, South Africa# our own Dominion, and other smaller and less important parts of the Empire. Intermixed with these interesting scenes are national dances by Valeska and the Majestic Ballet. An inspiring musical programme is rendered by the Auckland Artillery Band, the Scottish Pipers and the Majestic’s New Orchestra.

A musical programme of a very high standard is rendered by the Majestic’s New Orchestra throughout the main pictorial programme. The overture, “Sicilian Vespers” (Verdi) is excellently played and much appreciated by music-lovers* Other gems included in the incidental music rendered are seK ections from “The Blue Mazurka” (Lehar), and “The Demon” (Rubenstein), “Lyric Suite” (Brahms), “Berceuse” (Greig) and “The Famous Piq.tures” (Haydn Wood).

The supporting programme includes the Majestic Nows, wlyqh contains the latest topical budgets and world news, the Eve’s Review, with scenes of Harlech Castle, perhaps one of the most famous of England’s historical ruins. London’s leading comedian, Lupino Lane, banishes all dull cares when he appears in “The Fighting Dude,” a comedy which causes people to laugh and gasp in the same breath. “Lady Windermere’s Fan,” the Ernst Libitsch production for Warner Bros,, is the chief pictorial attraction at the

Majestic Theatre. This picture has one of the most brilliant casts of the season, and proof that, Lubitsch can make the famous epigrams of Oscar Wilde sparkle in. terms of screen production. Irene Rich, a beautiful. new. sophisticated, sirenish Irene Rich, plays Mrs. Erlynne, and her remark-

able performance is a credit to both Miss Rich and the masterly direction of Lubitseh. May McAvoy is proudly lovely as Lady Windermere, Bert Lytell is a decidedly likeable hero as Lord Windermere, while Ronald Colman (loaned to the Warners by Samuel Goldwyn) makes a most ardently irresistible Lord Darlington. Lord Augustus, gay susceptible Lord Augustus, is in the capable hands of Edward Martindel, and there are three delightful duchesses played by Helen Dunbar, Carrie Daumery and Billie Bennett.