NEW REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 302, 13 March 1928, Page 17

NEW REGENT

“SHE’S A SHEIK” The chief pictorial attraction at the New Regent Theatre this week is the Paramount picture, “She’s A Sheik,” starring Bebe Daniels. In “She’s a Sheik,” Bebe Daniels appears as Zaida, the daughter of an Arab chieftain, the head of a tribe which is menaced by a nomadic band of desperadoes led by a dangerous renegade who wishes to marry Zaida. She has been educated in a ladies’ finishing school in America, however, and has other plans for her future, in furtherance of which she kidnaps the commander of a nearby fort held by the Foreign Legion. The leading male role is filled by Richard Arlen, one of Paramount’s junior stars, while William Powell is the villainous bandit leader. Other well-known players in the cast are Josephine Dunn, James Bradbury and Billy Franey. A magnificent musical production is being staged. The story of “In a Persian Market,” which played by organ and orchestra combined, is depicted on the stage by a cast of 30. In a sumptuous Eastern setting the whole story of this popular musical number is realistically portrayed-. Through a massive stone arch into the market place, where children are playing and beggars ply their wares equally with legitimate traders and .jugglers and snake charmers, files the Persian caracan; then comes the princess with her slaves and bearers. Later comes the Caliph on business bent; all is life and animation in the market place, but as night comes, and the desert moon lights up the winding street, the place is gradually left to the quietness and solitude of an Eastern night. 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 tine musical programme, including “Madame Butterfly,” “Maid of the Mountains,” and “The Passing Show.” Lawrence Gray, a San Francisco boy who became an actor under protest, has the masculine lead opposite Virginia Valli in “Ladies Must Dress.” Gray, who has appeared in several Fox pictures in recent months, wanted to be a film executive. He was making excellent progress as a production manager, when Bebe Daniels saw histrionic possibilities in him. She induced him to take a screen test. It was more than satisfactory and Gray soon became one of the most popular leading men in Hollywood. In “Ladies Must Dress” Gray has the part of Miss Valli’s fiance, whom she wins by her economic ways and nearly loses by her dowdy way of dressing. A lesson in laughs for women is the way the producers herald this latest comedy romance.