PLAZA AND TIVOLI

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 561, 14 January 1929, Page 15

PLAZA AND TIVOLI

“HAS ANYONE HERE SEEN KELLY?” As thoroughly delightful and amusing as the old song from which the title is taken, "Andbody Here Seen Nelly?” is being shown to well pleased audiences at the Plaza and Tivoli Theatres this week. There is nothing deep or too dramatic about the story. Vet it is touened by an arresting quality of sincerity mat is particularly compelling in a lignt comedy of this sort. ft is a human theme and handled with a sense of humour and a deit touch that fits it perfectly. Universal has succeeded in making a type of novel and pleasant picture rarely given to him audiences. “Anybody Here Seen Kelly?” depicts a one-sided romance of a little French girl which began behind the lines during the war. She adores an American soldier who is anything but a onewoman man. Part of his line is to ask every girl he meets to marry him. Poor .Jeanette takes him at his word and follows him to New York. lie is now a traffic cop. She settles herself in his flat with the pathetic confidence of a girl who believes herself loved. At first Kelly is anything but hospitable and gently tries to rid himself of Jeanette. Through her mothering of him she finally wins his love. There is a climaxing scene during which Jeanette is about to be sent back to France by the immigration authorities, but Kelly, after a thrilling chase through traffic, catches her at the pier and obtains her release. Tom Moore is Kelly and Bessie Love is Jeanette. Moore is seen to great advantage in a characterisation for which he is ideally suited, with bis attractively homely features and irresistible grin. Miss Love hits ott exactly the shrinking timidity of the lovelorn Jeanette who finds herself unlived amid strangers in a new land. Sir Philip Gibbs, author of "Out of the Ruins” Richard Bartlielmess’s picture which is also being shown at these theatres, is one of the most noted British authors and war correspondents. Aside from several novels and manv short stories, he has written some of the most authoritative material on the great conflict. “Out of the Ruins” is highly dramatic and contains one of the most poignant love stories over conceived. Barthe!mess has pretty Marian Nixon as his leading woman in the picture and s>ne makes a decidedly beautiful French S 1 John Francis Dillon, who directed “Out of the Ruins.” paid particulai attention to the French atmosphere and the effect created is perfect especially in scenes in Paris and n the cafes and homes of the denizens 01 the great metropolis. \nother complete episode in tlie li .f----of the -Collegians,” is also being screened. “The Ring,” which will be releasee ea.rly in the new year by Cinema. Art Films, should put an end finally to the legend that “nothing of first rate quality can come from a British Filrr Studio.” For sheer technical efficiency this picture can hold its own with an> moving picture play of its class whatever its origin. Car! Brisson make? an unusually handsome and sym pathetic boxing champion, and tin suspense has been so graduated tha the final contest, which was actual!; staged in the Royal Albert Hall. London. with the famous Eugene Corri a: referee, will be followed by ever: member oC. tlie audience with breathless intere.jf.