STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 497, 29 October 1928, Page 15

STRAND

“STUDENT PRINCE” ON f WEDNESDAY Only to-day and to-morrow remain for Aucklanders to view the thrilling film of “The Battles of Coronel and Falkland Islands,” which.is now screening at tlae Strand Theatre. A prologue in which the Clarion Quartet, and Madame Valeska’s Tiny Tots are featured, precedes the photoplay. Eve Bentley’s Strand Symphony Orchestra plays a special musical programme. On Wednesday “The Student Prince,” the most glorious romance of the stage brought to the screen while it is still fresh, in thq public memory, its love story and its catchy airs still lingering in the ears, will have its initial presentation in New Zealand. Ramon Novarro, hero of “Ben-Hur,” plays the role of Karl Heinrich, the unhappy prince, Mansfield’s role on the stage, and Norma Shearer his pathetic sweetheart Kathie. One of the biggest casts ever assembled support them, with thousands of people in the crowd scenes, court ceremonies and other spectacular details. Entire towns were built, as well as reproductions of huge German castles in the massive filmisation. -The Student Prince” first saw the light as a novel by Meyer Forster, a noted German author of three decades ago. When Richard Mansfield was looking for a new vehicle it was placed before him, and its dramatised version took the world by storm. It has been played in every country in the world; almost every famous actor has played in it at some time or other in his career. Recently it saw a revival in musical form as “The Student Prince” when the play was adapted to comic opera form.