RIALTO, AND REGENT, EPSOM

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 575, 30 January 1929, Page 16

RIALTO, AND REGENT, EPSOM

“OLD SAN FRANCISCO” ‘‘Old San Francisco,"' now at the Rialto and Resent (Epsom) Theatres, tells of a beautiful young Spanish girl pursued by a half-Chinese political boss. Just then comes the terrific upheaval which is known as “The Great Fire.” Rightn i n g flashes through rents in the walls, the boss is crushed under a falling beam, the girl is rescued by her lover and out of the ruins of old San Francisco, they flee to a happiness in the new. This is a bare outline of a story which flames with passionate reality, and with terror and and beauty. The photography is marvellous and the impression one takes away from the theatre is that of having really been an eye-witness of the last days of San Francisco’s vanished underworld. Dolores Costello is exquisitely beautiful. as she always is, and interprets the great emotional role with consummate art. Dorothy Arzner has the distinction of being the first woman to direct a sound-synchronised motion picture. “Manhattan Cocktail” was recently completed at the Paramount studios, with Nancy Carroll and Richard Arlen in the main roles. Several songs ar«i dialogue sequences were included in tile production. Buster Keaton’s new Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer picture following “The Cameraman,” entitled “Spite Marriage,” will have dorothy Sebastian in the leading feminine role, and will be directed by Edwards Sedgwick, who has made more successful comedy features than any other director.

“VANISHING PIONEER” AT ROYAL A tremendous drama of the k* l days of. the colourful West, and die | clash between settlers and the growj ing cities, is the theme of the picturI to be shown this evening at the Bjy*j Theatre, Kingsland. This is ; Vanishing Pioneer,” from the wt-L- ---| known Zane Grey story, with J aCi Holt in the leading role. Across an endless desert plod? covered wagon train. Anthony Ba--lard (Jack Holt) and his son, Jo£”_ lead the thirsty, weary caravan. they seek —and find. Twenty-five yeatlater. Jack Holt. the son. owes thriving ranch in Happy t , water-created paradise in the aes The well-known comedian. Kay™?;"' Griffith, is the star of “Wedding the second picture. GRAND “DRESSED TO KILL” From tjie gutter to a palace. Jr- : the peaked cap to the . silk ! Gangdom and gangsters have un^. I gone striking changes during tne *• | few years. In only one respect does the tf • world figure of to-day resernpie of yesterday—that is in a disrega of human life. . - All this is strikingly emphasuea j in “Dressed to Kill,” now being , tat the Grand Theatre. Edmunau; i and Mary Astor have the leading The delightfully amusing 9 \ Chaplin comedy. “The * | Hunter,” will also be shown. Steady progress is reported i Broadway Melody." Metro-Go]"> • Mayer's first all-talking pictu !in production at the Culver studios under the direction ot ~t = j Beaumont. The cast includes > - • | Page, Bessie hove and cha [ le ® m Vdl I a famous Broadway musical l star.