“TOPSY AND EVA”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 184, 25 October 1927, Page 15

“TOPSY AND EVA”

AT MAJESTIC ON FRIDAY The Duncan Sisters, Rosetta and Vivian, make their serene debut in “Topsy and Eva,” film version of their own musical comedy stage success, at the Majestic Theatre on Friday. United Artists present the first Duncan Sisters’ film, which Del Lord directed from the cintinuity of Scott Darling. The film is based on the play by Catherine Chisholm Cushing. A comedy filmed on a scale unusual for that type of picture. “Topsy and Eva” is a black and white study in laughter, possessing that colourful handful of characters which Harriet Beecher Stowe drew in “Uncle Tom's Cabin” but serfding those characters through adventures that have never been imprisoned in the covers of a book. Noble Johnson is “Uncle Tom” and Gibson Gowland is “Simon Degree.’ Gowland was Von Stroheim’s "McTeague” in “Greed.” Nils Astlier. Swedish “find” of director Mauritz Stiller, makes his American screen debut as “George Shelby.” Marjorie Daw. Myrtle Ferguson and Henry Victor are also prominent in the cast.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s film success “The Merry Widow” will make its first New Zealand appearance shortly. The gloriously intoxicating love story of The Merry Widow and her Prince Charming is revealed at last in a picture production. John Gilbert, one of the screen’s most popular stars, has the role of Prince Danilo, and Mae Murray plays the part of the Merry Widow. Roy D’Arcy, George Fawcett, Tully Marshall and a host of other well-known players make up the cast of this production. The picture was directed by Erich Von Stroheim, who has excelled any of his previous efforts.