STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 423, 3 August 1928, Page 14

STRAND

“LOVES OF CARMEN” “Loves of Carmen,” the brilliant photo-play taken from the famous opera "Carmen,” commences its second week at the Strand Theatre this evening. Glamorous Spain is shown at the height of its picturesque beauty in "Loves of Carmen,” with Victor McLaglen, Dolores Del Rio, and Don Alvarado in tlie principal roles. Aside from the great dramatic quality of the narrative, the background is one of unusual colour. The Spanish town on a fete day presents a most curious and interesting spectacle. The extraordinary animation contrasts strongly with the habitual cairn of the place. The whole city is brilliantly attired in its fiesta garb. Striped hangings droop from every window. Peasants crowd about in dense masses, some on foot, others on their ponies or on mules, covered with graceful mantles in place of saddles. In "Loves of Carmen," Raoul Walsh has obtained the genuine fiesta spirit. It is interesting to know that in all of the big scenes actors and actresses of Spanish descent were used. A picturesque prologue by Miss Bettina Edwards, the talented Auckland dancer, is the inn scene from "Carmen.” Beautiful dancing, and a magnificent musical accompaniment, mark this stage scena as one of the most beautiful and daring yet presented at the Strand. Special “Carmen” music is played throughout the picture by the Strand Symphony Orchestra, under the cunductorship of Eve Bentley. Selections from “Carmen” are featured as the overture, while included in the incidental music are “Lucrezia Borgia” (Donizetti), “Serenata” (D’Autalffy ), “Verbena de la Paloma” (Breton), “Maid of the Mountains” (FraserSimson), “La Source” Ballet Suite (Delibes), “Per Omnes” (Chomel), and “Genevieve de Brabant” (Offenbach!. “TRIAL OF MARY DUGAN” HIS MAJESTY’S ON WEDNESDAY The approaching season of Leon Gordon and the J. C. Williamson Dramatic Company, which begins on Wednesday next, must positively be limited to six nights, four of which will bo devoted to presentations of “The Trial of Mary Dugan.” Two revivals of “Scandal” will be staged. It is unfortunate that the season must be limited to six nights, as it is likely that numbers of play-goers will be unable to obtain admission. “The Trial of Mary Dugan” ran for six nights in Wellington, and attracted record audiences there. “The Trial of Mary Dugan” takes the audience to the inside of an American courthouse, and all will have additional cause to maintain a deep interest in this drama, for they are actually the jury. Leon Gordon, whose acting in “White Cargo” was such a revelation to Dominion audiences, is yet more splendid as the prosecuting attorney. Miss May Collins, who is making her first appearance, is said to be a fascinating Mary Dugan. The other members of the cast all give substantial support to the principals. The play was a huge success in Sydney and Melbourne. A leading critic says: “It is the world’s most sensational dramatic success. It is different from anything ever staged hero before. It is a throbbing, realistic, tremendous life drama—a remarkable dramatic novelty that has taken the world by storm.” The box plans will be opened at Lewis Eady, Ltd., on Monday morning at Si o’clock. A queue will be formed from 8 a.m. CAPITOL AND EDENDALE “COHENS AND KELLYS IN PARIS” "The Cohens and Kellys in Paris,’* a highly amusing story of racial animosity and estrangement between two fathers-in-law, will be shown this evening at the Capitol and Edendale Theatres, with J. Farrell McDonald and George Sidney in the leading roles. Charles Delaney is appealing as young Mr. who marries the pretty Cohen girl, arid thereby engages the two families in a mad rush to Paris to break up the racial mistake, so that the Cohen grandchildren will not be little Kellys. Everything that can happen in Paris happens to the Cohens and Kellys, including an apache dance and a duel. The film ends with one of the most exciting and hysterical sequences ever screened. The second feature will be “The Gay Defender,” an historical romance of the early days W California. Richard Dix in the role of a Spanish land-owner. “THE CLIMBERS” AT EMPIRE Irene Rich, supported by a large and distinguished cast, appears in “The Climbers,” which will be shown at the Empire Theatre this evening. “Square Crooks,” which will also be shown, is a story of two young burglars who tried hard to reform. John Mack Brown and Robert Armstrong are the youthful criminals. An added attraction this evening will be the appearance of Jerry, the fighting kangaroo, who will compete in a boxing match on the Empire stage*