NEW REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 353, 14 May 1928, Page 15

NEW REGENT

“BEAU SABREUR” After taking a vow never to look at a woman and to devote his life to military missions for France, only to meet and fall in love with a beautiful girl while performing one of these duties, forms the basis of the story of “Beau Sabreur,” the sequel to the now famous “Beau Geste,” and which is now being shown at the New Regent Theatre. Wren’s story is laid in the quarters of the Foreign Legion at Algiers, then switches to the vast Sahara Desert, where treacherous tribal chieftains will kill anyone who interferes w T ith their plots. Gary Cooper has the role of Major Henri de Beaujolais, dashing young French officer who becomes embroiled in a series of thrilling adventures with a beautiful American girl. He becomes infatuated with her, despite his sacred vow. Evelyn Brent, for many years a star in her own name, plays the girl, Mary Vanbrugh. The role of the treacherous Becque, master mind of the Sahara desert tribes, is in the capable hands of William Powell, whose characterisation of Boldini in “Beau Geste” won him fame. Mitchell Lewis is his ch'ef cohort, Suleiman the Strong, a renegade of the desert, and Arnold Kent plays Raoul de Redon, a friend of Henri. While the main work falls upon Gary Cooper,playing the title role, the comedy end has been turned over to a pair of able actors —Noah Beery and Roscoe Karns. During the early scenes of the story, Beery is a hated desert terror, a fearless tribesman, and Karns is his grand vizier, until it is learned that they are former soldiers, deserters from the service. This gives not only a unique, but a perfect bit of comedy to the tale of “Beau Sabreur.” The Regent Review, a cartoon, a comedy, and the life of Michael Balfe in the Music Master series, complete the programme. Maurice Guttridge and his orchestra play as an overture “Orpheus” (Offenbach) and Leslie V. Harvey on the Wurlitzer plays “Barcarole” from The Tales of Hoffman,” and “The Blue Room.” The pupils of Miss O’Leary are presenting the pantomime, “Babes in the Wood,” at the afternoon sessions.