FOX TALKIE STUDIOS BUSY VANBRUGH-BOUCICAULT PLAYS TIVOLI AND EVERYBODY’S PLAZA ALFRED O’SHEA

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

FOX TALKIE STUDIOS BUSY

VANBRUGH-BOUCICAULT PLAYS

TIVOLI AND EVERYBODY’S

PLAZA

ALFRED O’SHEA

“FOUR SONS” The screen, in its time, has seen the coming; and going of many excellent productions based on that ever-popu-lar theme, the abiding: love and sacrifices of a mother. These films sandwiched in between romance and pure comedy and melodrama, while permitting these other types to retain their allure, are always most eagerly welcomed, having about them a sincerity, a purity, that is irresistible. From among this distinguished galaxy, the Fox picture, “Four Sons,” stands out pre-eminently, and this picture is now in its second successful week at the Strand Theatre. The director of “Four Sons” has resolutely set his face against anything savouring at the artificial, the sentimental; even at the expense of antagonising that portion of the public which demands the honey of life laid on with a trowel, he has guided his picture along the paths of nothing but exquisitely sensitive drama. In a brief foreword to the exhibitors, he has intimated that his picture is dedicated *o the mothers of the world, the mother 9'ho gives royally and does not count i the cost. There is nothing extraordinary about this story; no enormous stagings catch the eye, no elegant costumes delight the senses, no panorama of worldly beauty or wealth. But put “Four Sons” beside some of these films that rest on such laurels, and this simple and true story of a mother, four sons and one girl, carries all before it. Margaret Mann has won great praise by her playing of Mother Bernle, June Collyer scarcely less praise as the girl, while the four sons are played by Francis X. Bushman, jun., James Hall, Charles Morton and George Meeker.

Music by Eve Bentley’s Strand Symphony Orchestra adds greatly to the enjoyment.

"With 12 talking pictures in production at its two studios in California, Fox Films now has the most ambitious schedule of talking pictures ever undertaken since tlie development of movietone disturbed the placid routine of silent pictures.

According to an annuonement by Winfield Sheehan, vice-president and general manager, six dialogue features and six talking shorts are now being produced. They are counted up to keep the movietone city equipment, with its eight stages devoted to sound pictures, entirely busy from now on. The cast forms an unsurpassed roster of stage and screen stars.

LAST WEEK OF SEASON The success of the Vanbrugh-Bouci-cault production, ‘*All the King’s Hores,” continues at His Majesty’s Theatre, Auckland, where big audiences are enjoying nightly the fine acting combination of two great artists. Three more performances only of this play are to be staged, and then the company will appear for the last time in Auckland, on Friday and Saturday evenings, in “Nell o’ New Orleans.” This play is being staged at the request of many playgoers who failed to see it during its recent brief revival here. “All the King’s' Horses,” a light comedy in three acts, which has been described as the best that Vanbrugh and Boucicault have played, portrays a man so wrapped up in himself, his responsibilities and his political ambitions, that his wife and grown-up family are robbed of all possibility of happiness. The wife has suffered his arrogance and his pious moans for 24 years, but the breaking-point is reached by a set of family circumstances and a sharp reminder of his indiscreet past. Without strain, but with delicately attuned emotion and humour, Miss Irene Vanbrugh sat through the years as the long-suffering wife. Her work was very fine. The sanctimonious, and unconsciously arrogant Everett was played by Dion Boucicault, as only he could fill the role. His perpetual groaning and liis never -happy-unless-miserable attitude was played to perfection, and gave him wide scope to interpret the conceited old man with ambitions clouding his own happiness and that of his family. The minor roles in the cast were admirably chosen and creditably filled. Miss Rowena Ronald, as Jill, the ultramodern daughter of Everett, Avas excellent, while Mr. Leslie Victor, as the well-meaning Uncle Richard, was particularly well cast. Saturday’s farewell performance is likely to be a memorable one, as Miss Vanbrugh and Mr. Boucicault are considered to be the most popular comedy artists who have appeared in New Zealand.

GOOD PROGRAMMES

An unusually fine picture entitled “The Ladybird” is Betty Compson’s latest production, and is still being shown at both the Tivoli and Everybody’s Theatre.

This beautiful actress is seen in the role of a 'spoiled society girl who becomes embroiled in the affairs of a powerful gang of crooks gathered in New Orleans to fleece the crowds attending the famous Mardi Gras. The girl meets the thieVes accidentally, hears of their plans and informs the police* but the authorities suggest that she remain in the confidence of the gang to learn its secrets. Many exciting incidents follow and the girl returns to her home and society with enough excitement to satisfy her for ever.

At the Tivoli Theatre a second attraction is provided in episodes of tlie lives of the popular “Collegians,” while at the Everybody’s Theatre the second attraction is “Forgotten Faces,” an exceptionally dramatic story of a gentleman crook who did not spare himself to save the honour of his daughter. Olga Baclanova. William Powell and Clive Brook have the lea.ding roles.

The first section of a new series of pictures entitled “Tarzan, the Mighty,” is also being shown.

Paramount’s first all-dialogue picture, “Interference,” had its world premiere on Broadway recently. It was released at the Criterion Theatre for a long run, following on the conclusion of the record-breaking “Wings” season. Clive Brook, William Powell, Doris Kenyon, and Evelyn Brent are featured.

LAST DAYS OF “FOREIGN LEGION"

‘’The Foreign Legion,” which, is the current attraction at the Plaza Theatre, is based on the well-known story, “The Red Mirage,” by Miss I. A. R. Wylie, and is a gripping story of love and duty, with Algiers, as the principal setting. The story is of an army officer who becomes infatuated with an unscrupulous woman of great beauty. His love for her spells disaster, and dismissed from the army he disappears. He joins the French Foreign Legion as a private under the command of his own father, who had similarly disappeared before him. “Do Your Duty,” the iHrst National picture which comes on Thursdaj- to the Plaza Theatre, is one of those laugh pictures which depends upon its human comedy for its appeal. Charlie Murray, the star of the film, is noted for the naturalness of his work even -when it is on the verge of burlesque. His long experience in all forms of comedy from burnt cork to straight roles, makes it possible for him to take a leaf out of his long list of parts and apply it to any role he may be given. In this film he is a police officer and is framed by crooks. He wins in the end by luck, determination and the aid of a Scotch tailor played by Lucien Littlefield. The second feature on Thursday will be Billie Hove’s picture, “Love at Midnight,” the story of a girl trapped in the watchhouse of a French cruiser at sea.

SECOND CONCERT THIS EVENING

The second of the four concerts to he given in Auckland by the worldfamous Irish tenor, Alfred O’Shea, will be presented at the Town Hall this evening.

Mr. o ; Shea is now at the height of his career and Saturday evening’s audience gave him a wonderful reception. . The items for to-night s concert will include: —“A Leve Toil,” from “Romeo and Juliet,” Gounod; ‘‘Sleep, Why Dost Thou Leave Me,” Semele; “Where’er You Walk,” Handel; “O, Cease Thy Singing, Maiden Fair,” with violin obbligato, Rachmaninoff; “Eleanore,” Coleridge Taylor; “Had I the Voice of Morveen,” Colin McLeod Campbell. Mr. O’Shea is inundated with requests for special songs. He asks that written requests be forwarded to him at Lewis Eady, Ltd., or at the Town Hall, when he will endeavour to meet the needs of everyone. Mr. O’Shea’s repertoire includes grand opera numbers as well as folk songs of the Homeland.

To show his appreciation of New Zealand musical talent, Mr. O’Shea has associated with him on this occasion three local artistes in Ina Bosworth, violiniste, Mavis Grevatt, liarpiste, and Theo Halpin, solo pianiste and accompaniste.

The final concerts of the Auckland season will be given on Thursday and Saturday evenings. Country concerts are advertised.

Lois Moran plays two extremely contrasting personalities in “Blindfold/* new Fox production, in which she costars with George O’Brien. In the beginning of the story she is a demure little newspaper writer. Later she suffers amnesia and is made into a duep for a gang of high-class jewellery thieves. She glitters in the finery and jewels provided for decop purposes.