EMPIRE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 296, 6 March 1928, Page 14

EMPIRE

“THE BLUE DANUBE” The principal item of a remarkably hne picture* programme to be screened at the Empire Theatre to-night is The Blue Danube,” a waltz romance based on the famous melody by Johann Strauss. Those of us who are old enough to look back to the days before the Charleston and the fox-trot existed will remember the lilting refrain of what is probably the most popular waltz ever written. That the Strauss family were gifted with genius there can be little doubt. Johann Strauss the elder and his even more famous son, composed in all 052 waltzes, of which “The Blue Danube” undoubtedly is the “ace.” The story, laid in Vienna, where the Blue Danube flows, concerns the love story of a count and a cabaret girl, and is excellently interpreted by Harry Leidtke as the Count. In “Painted Ponies,” starring Hoot Gibson, also to be shown to-night, Gibson a particularly appealing role as Bucky Simms, champion cowboy of the north, who blows into Toptown and trouble when he decides to compete with Pinto Pete for the southern trophy and for the heart of a pretty girl. The picture has proven to be thrilling as well as funny. The story is a dramatic one, and the background itself teems with excitement, for a great part of the film was made at the famous Saugus, California, rodeo, where the champion cowboy athletes of the world are seen in breath-taking stunts.