“ROSE MARIE”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 253, 16 January 1928, Page 13

“ROSE MARIE”

RECORD PERFORMANCES “Rose Marie,” the brilliant play of love in the Canadian Rockies, finished its record run at His Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday evening. Scenes of enthusiasm marked, the final performance and after the last scene the entire company assembled on the stage to bid farewell. The whole theatre became crossed and crisscrossed with multi-coloured streamers stretching from th© gallery and the dress circle to the stage. Mr. Frederic Bentley, otherwise “Hard Boiled” Herman, spoke of the record that the play had established in Auckland, the previous record having been beaten by 10 performances. The company was delighted with Auckland and its environs and J. C. Williamson and Company had been petitioned for a return season before the New Zealand tour concluded. The company left for the South by special train yesterday. GRAND “PAID TO LOVE” George O’Brien has had many fights in his screen career, but it is doubtful whether he has ever had a more realistic encounter than that in which he figures with 'William Powell in “Paid to Love,” Fox Films’ version of an original story by Harry Carr, which is now being screened at the Grand Theatre 1 . In this production Powell, cast as the heavy, is called on by Director Howard Hawks to make certain uncomplimentary remarks about a girl friend of O’Brien, who is cast as Crown Prince Michael. This conversation, which takes place in a mess hall, is overheard by O’Brien. When the two princes fight there is a grand scramble on the part of 25 officers assembled in the mess. In the terrific encounter which follows, O’Brien and Powell completely wreck the quarters, smash innumerable bottles and glasses, and finish on the floor under a table. The scene was perfect and there were no retakes.