MAJESTIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 377, 11 June 1928, Page 15

MAJESTIC

“LA BQHEME” A DRAW One of the greatest pictures of recent years, “La Boheme,” which has captured all the love, the pathos and the carefree bohemian spirit of the Paris Latin Quarter, is being presented the Majestic Theatre, as the chief of its many attractions. “La Boheme” in the film is a poignant drama of human souls; it is a story of love and jealousy; of faith and hope, of woe and despair, of humour and pathos. One is carried away by the hitherto-unsuspected immensity of the theme. But never for an instant does it lose that vital factor of a great film play—entertainment. It enthralls and charms —but it entertains always Lillian Gish as “Mimi” caps the climax of her career. Probably no one else in the entire world fits the role as she does; she is a veritable reincarnation of the author's brainchild. A wistful wisp of humanity, buffeted by the world, whose love can fire a man to genius; she is the spokeswoman of many a charmer of the Latin Quarter; an echo of the tragedy of the women of the art colony. She does it with an artistry that is superlative. John Gilbert, as the romantic poet, Rodolphe, with his ardent love, his fits of jealousy, despair and flights on Pegasus, has a role he handles with a skill that is veritably genius. As the vivacious Musetta, Renee Adoree is genuinely French, charming and convincing, and Edward Everett Horton as the humorous Colline is a wonderful foil. . There is a very interesting JNew Zealand scenic, graphically told by an old gold dagger, and depicting their old diggings in the Wakatipu region. The film graphically describes the change from pioneering methods to the scientific apparatus in present-day gold mining. As usual, the Majestic Magazine contains items of world-wide interest, and among the many scenes included are those of animals of the Zoo posing for youthful artists; Spanish dancers demonstrating the famous old dances, the River Thames in flood, and bombing derelict ships from the air in the Atlantic. Concluding the pictorial programme is a most amusing comedy, “Somewhere in Somewhere. ’ Miss Etta Field. the well-known soprano, very charmingly sings during the musical prologue, •'Alusett s Song ” while Mr. Wliiteford-Waugh and his Majestic Orchestra play a special musical score.

Among the cast assembled for the Universal production of circus Wild West Show” are The Three Degarros, celebrated airial trapeze artists. They perform some hair-raising stunts during the circus ring sequences of the picture. Hoot Gibson is the hero of the story and the feminine lead is played by Dorothy Gulliver.