NEW REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 301, 12 March 1928, Page 15

NEW REGENT

“SHE’S A SHEIK” On© of the brightest and most spectacular programmes seen for many a day is being presented before crowded houses at the New Regent this week. The main pictorial attraction is “She’s a Sheik,” featuring Bebe Daniels. According to fiction, sheiks always carry their fair consorts far off into the desert. Well, Bebe was the granddaughter of a sheik, and the only way she could woo the man she loved, was to get him away from the little blonde he persisted in following around. In “She’s a Sheik” vivacious Bebe is more active and funny than ever. Richard Arlen is the lad who gets kidnapped, and Josephine Dunn the blonde. William Powell contributes another of his inimitable characterisations as a Sahara Arab, while Clarence Badger has rolled everything into what is said to be one of the year’s best farces. This riotous burlesque is preceded each evening by a magnificent and spectacular musical production, “In a Persian Market.” In a sumptuous and lavish Eastern setting, a cast of over 30 appear in a kaleidoscopic spectacle. Traders, beggars, beauteous maidens, little urchins all appear in the market place. There are jugglers and pedlars, snake charmers and women selling fruit, when the princess enters with her maids of honour bearers and slaves; then comes the caliph with his soldiers; even the inevitably Eastern donkey appears and, as night comes, the market place becomes gradually deserted. It is a splendid production and receives a round of enthusiastic applause at every performance.

An item of great interest to all New Zealanders is the short film “Black Magic.” This is a local production about the coal mines of Pukemiro, and gives some excellent shots taken right at the face of the coal. An interesting Regent News, a beautiful scenic of China and a yell of a comedy, “Hot Papa,” featuring Jack Duffy, are included in the strong programme. Leslie V. Harvey continues to score

a great popular success, his items this week being a selection from “High Jinks” and Beethoven’s “Minuet in G-.” The Regent Operatic Orchestra under the direction of Maurice Guttridge give a fine musical programme, including "Madame Butterfly,” “Maid of the Mountains” and “The Passing Show.”