MAJESTIC DETECTIVE WALLACE LYRIC “VERY CONFIDENTIAL” AT ROYAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 580, 5 February 1929, Page 15

MAJESTIC

DETECTIVE WALLACE

LYRIC

“VERY CONFIDENTIAL” AT ROYAL

“THE FLEET’S IN” As a dance-hall hostess whose duty it is to induce sailors on shore leave to spend their pay on dance tickets, Clara Bow has a role well suited to her capabilities in “The Fleet’s In,” the comedy-drama now at the Majestic Theatre. As one of many of these paid partners in a large dance hall she becomes the subject of between two sailors of the American fleet, in port after a training cruise. Both men seek to win her favour and further establish their individual reputations in the held of romance. One of the men enters a dancing competition with the girl in the hall, and they are declared the winners. He makes little further progress with his suit and arranges with a friend to stage a fight with him, so that he may become a “hero” in the eyes of the girl. An atmosphere of moonlight and the old world is created at the Majestic this week when Yorke Gray unfolds another of his series of stage presentations in “The Cypress Grove.” A very fine ballet arranged by Miss P. Hall adds to the charm of the adazio dancing of Isobel Brooke and Cecil White. Another excellent musical programme is provided by Mr. Whiteford Waugh’s Majestic Orchestra, which plays the prologue to “Pagliacci.” On Friday the Majestic will present “Moulin Rouge,” with a fine cast, headed by Olga Tschehowe, as Parysia, the star of the Parisienne revue, “Paris-New York,” together with Eve Gray, the well known litle Australian actress who plays the biggest part of her film career as the daughter of Parysia. Jean Bradin is Camille’s affianced husband, who falls desperately in love with her mother on meeting her at the conclusion of her performance in the “Paris-New Xprk” revue, which they attend. This production is handled by one of the world’s greatest directors, E. A. Dupont, maker of “Variety.”

NEW ROLE AT ST. JAMES

George Wallace, as a detective, easily outrivals Sherlock. Holmes. One only* has to see him at the St James in “Bald Heads” to realise that. “Bald Heads” is a tale of the adventures of a bold band of brazen, baldheaded bandits running loose in the wilds of New York stealing gold and shooting its enemies by the dozen. George appears as “The Wizard,” dressed in the devil’s colours of black and gold, and with truly wonderful skill (and perhaps, wonderful luck) unmasks the bandits, and brings them all to prison in triumph. But all this is only the second half of the programme. At the beginning of the first part the entire company appears in “Spain, Spain, Spain,” and sing and dance delghtfully to the muse of Fuller’s Orchestra, led by Mr. Ernest Beecliam. Later the Six Rascals dance and George W'allace and his “Flaming Youths” play their saxophones and trombones and members of the company give solo dances and songs.

A JOHN BARRYMORE PICTURE A picture based on the famous opera “Manon Lescant,” is “Mis Lady,” which is the big attraction now at the Lyric Theatre. The well-known actor, John Barrymore, is the star of “Mis Lady.” A tremendous production includes fabulously beautiful scenes in the palaces of Louis XV of France; glimpses of Paris streets, idyllic rural landscapes, prisonship and sea storm sequences—and the supporting cast is headed by the lovely and beloved Dolores Costello. “His Lady” is acclaimed as one of the greatest motion pictures of the generation. Art excellent supporting programme is being screened.

Comedy-drama, augmented by legitimate thrills of the hair-raising variety, has been used to excellent advantage by James Tinling in directing Madge Bellamy in “Very Confidential.” now at the Royal Theatre, Kangsland. Tinling, formerly a stunt man and a comedy constructionist, has demonstrated that this combination is hard to beat. With Miss Bellamy’s beauty and her quick response to comedy he has developed a really fine picture which will rank with the most pretentious offerings of the year. Miss Bellamy has a lovely wardrobe but she does not have to depend upon this, for there are gripping sequences and many dramatic episodes. A high-class vaudeville attraction will bo provided on the same programme by The Daltons, “the wonder workers,” who lately appeared on the Fullers’ circuit.