WITH THE GLOVES ON

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 560, 12 January 1929, Page 13

WITH THE GLOVES ON

BIG BILL AT MAJESTIC HEADED BY FIGHTING STORY Furious fights and good, redblooded drama are not new in the movie world, but “The King,” which is the big offering on the new programme at the Majestic Theatre, is a novel appraoach to the romantic and ancient story of boxing. It is British in flavour, like the annals of the squared circle before our cousins, the citizens of the United States, started collecting heavy-weight titles. Moreover, it is a British film, the first to reach New Zealand from the Els tree studios, which recently converted a village into the Hollywood of England. In detail of production it is perfect, the best English film which has yet come abroad. Balancing the fight picture is another sporting' film, this time of a gentler pastime, the Royal and Ancient game of golf. “Golf Widows” is its intriguing title, and it scampers along over a fast fairway, against a background of high society. Vera Reynolds and Harrison Ford are the capable fun-makers in one of the snap pi - e s t comedies screened here for months. Splendid music, both featured and incidental, is played by the Majestic Orchestra, under . . the conductorship of Mr. Whiteford Waugh. The big number is a novelty entitled “The Band Comes Back,” in which each instrumentalist gets a share of the limelight. To revert to the praises of “The Ring”; one must give the producer credit for the assembly of a perfeer cast. Carl Brisson, a new discovery, has the hero’s role, and he looks a fighting man, though he has not yet acquired the cauliflower ears and broken nose of the veterans of the squared circle; that is, before they make enough money tfo get synthetic features. Brisson is the goods. He was champion of the Banish Navy before he made a name for himself on the legitimate stage. This is his tiist picture, and a promise of good things to follow. The champion, defending his title against the hero, is lan Hamilton, another good fighter. The third important role falls to Lillian HallDavis, one of the typically English beauties, of whom one hears so often and sees so seldom. Full of thrills, th§ story rings true as the tale of a young challenger of all-comers, Ravelling the country in a boxing-booth, who fights the greal fight for love of his beautiful*wife. The wife likes both men, champion and challenger, and in the most thrilling moment of the big fight, she makes her decision. One© upon g, time there was a Lady Godiva who caused a sensation in her mediaeval village. It is harder —much harder—to cause a sensation at Hollywood in the 20th century, but it can be done. Vera Reynolds does it in “Golf Widows,” and she adopts some of the tactics of the fair and indiscreet Godiva. The latest news pictures collected from all parts of the world are presented in the Majestic News.