NEW REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 288, 25 February 1928, Page 15

NEW REGENT

AN EXCELLENT PROGRAMME In spite of the fact that there is no vaudeville in the programme at the New Regent Theatre, the all-picture offering is one that amply compensates for this omission. With its usual discrimination the management has : chosen a bill of fare that will be diffi- , cult to better this week. Variety is uppermost, and the large attendances at the initial screenings ; yesterday were fully repaid for their , journey out in the rain. Unusual in theme, setting and treatment, “Stark Love,” a story of primitive life in the Californian Mountains, comes as a forcible reminder that the : age of chivalry is yet to be born in < these mountain towns, buried from all civilsation by the towering hills and mountains of pine and bush. The actors are the people themselves, and the picture possesses an undoubted interest that grips from start to finish. ; Men of to-day will wonder how it is still possible for the men to sit back and watch the women do the hard work, slaving from daybreak to dusk, and the modern girl will probably smile pityingly at the frailty of her own sex in being dominated by mere man. This is a remarkable picture that is an education in itself. It is brimful of action, too. A man loses his wife, and proceeds to take a young girl for his woman, until his son steps in and takes her away. The settings are wonderful, and this marks a new epoch in pic-ture-making. That vivacious and charming young lady, Clara Bow, then entertains everyone in her latest production “Hula.” As the name suggests, the story concerns the tropical islands, but Clara Bow is a white girl brought up among the natives and possessing all their naturalness and impetuosity. Clive Brook makes an excellent leading man, and a picked cast ensures the success of this delightful picture. Hula Calhoun, meets Anthony Haldane at her father’s house. A charming widow also meets him, and in spite of the fact that he is a married man, they both set their minds on getting him. Hula really loves this Englishman, and when he tells her his wife only wanted his money, she determines to get him, and she does. The etxraordinary pranks Hula gets up to in her attempt to keep the gay widow from Anthony are delightful. Clara Bow gives an excellent account of herself and makes a charming young girl in love. The settings of this picture have just the right atmosphere, and there can be no complaint of the acting. There are many clever “stunts” put over in this production which should prove a big success all the coming week. Incidents in the life of Guiseppe Verdi, the famous composer of “Aida,” is an undoubted attraction to the programme. This man of sorrow' who was born in Rancole, Italy, on October 10. 1813, and who died in 1901, gave to j the world some immortal compositions. His life from boyhood to manhood, the j successive loss of his two children, and j then of his wife, are told with true I respect for a great man. Selections from his operas were j played by the orchestra and organ. j

The Regent Review and a Krazv Kat cartoon completed an excellent picture, programme. At the mighty* Wurlitzer, Mr. Leslie V. Harvey won instant approbation for his delightful rendering of “Pale Moon,” and “My Blue Heaven.” Mr. Harvey infuses a definite feeling into his playing and gives of his best. Such music as he play’s, and the manner in which he plays it, has yet to be equalled in this theatre. The Regent orchestra under the baton of Mr. Maurice Guttridge, played a specially selected programme of musical gems, the entr’acte being “Masaniello” (Auber). The music was a feature and added greatly to the success of the evening’s entertainment.