STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 363, 25 May 1928, Page 15

STRAND

“THE MERRY WIDOW” To-day at the Strand Theatre, “The Merry Widow,” a magnificent spectacle, will begin its second week of screening, for during the last week many thousands of picturegoers have expressed rare delight at this wonderful photoplay. “The Merry Widow,” a Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer production from the famous stage success by the same name, tells the story of a prince who loves a chorus girl, but who is forbidden to marry because of the social barrier between them. Later she inherits a fortune and to punish the prince in her own way for the manner in which he treated her, she humiliates him in public and precipitates a duel between him and his brother. Realising then, that she has only been deceiving herself, and that she still loves the gay Prince Danilo, “The Merry Widow” tries to undo the mischief she has already done, with alarming results. A very attractive prologue precedes the screening of “The Merry Widow.” in which Miss Ina Bos worth is the solo violinist, and Mile. Va’eska and Mr. Len Wilson the dancers. The entrancingly beautiful “Merry Widow” waltz is presented by these two dancers. Eve Bentley and her Strand Symphony Orchestra provide a very beautiful musical programme, including in the incidental music, selections from the original “Merry Widow” orchestral score. The experiences of Miss Bale Austen are depicted in a very interesting film, “ ‘Miss Xew Zealand’ in Movieland,” while Miss Austen also appears on the stage in conjunction with her film. Some idea of the vast matter relating to pictures being broadcast from Hollywood may be gleaned from the fact that, at a studio party given by Janet Gaynor, 110 accredited picture writers were in attendance.