NEW REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 594, 21 February 1929, Page 15

NEW REGENT

“LAUGH, CLOWN, LAUGH” Before an audience of more than seven hundred people in a huge replica of a European theatre, Lon Chaney mad® his bow, for the first time in many years, as a vaudeville performer, playing a clown as a headline attraction. The vaudeville performance takes place in his newest picture, “Laugh, Clown, Laugh/’ which will be shown for the first time in Auckland at the New Regent Theatre this evening. Chaney, as the tragic clown of the noted play, the role Lionel Barrymore created on the stage, presents a com-

plete vaudeville act, and proves himself a clever comedian in this detail of the new Herbert Brenon production. Later in the play, in the episodes, behind the scene, he plumbs the very depths of tragedy. The new picture was staged on a sumptuous

scale at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios. The huge theatre scene, in which hundreds of people took part; a vaudeville bill of professional players; majestic Italian palaces and other huge details, marked the making of the picture.

Chaney plays a clown who becomes a star of the theatre, and then makes a tragic sacrifice on the altar of the happiness of his beloved. The cast is a notable one, including Loretta y oung, latest Cinderella of the screen and hailed as one of the year’s “discoveries.” Nils Asther, the clever Swedish actor of “Sorrell and Son” and others; Bernard Siegel, noted character actor of stage and screen; and Gwen Lee.

The thrilling slide of the clown, on a cable over the heads of the audience, the comedy antics of the clown hero, the tragic sacrifice and a

charming love story running through the picture, lend infinite variety, Gorgeous costuming and settings add to the spectacle.

Herbert Brenon. who directed “Beau Geste,” “Peter Pan,” “Sorrell and Son” and others, is the director.

Another special stage attraction will be a feature of this week’s programme., when Alec Regan, vaudeville’s king of light comedians, will sing “Laugh, Clown, Laugh,” the theme song of the picture.

New music will be played by the Regent Operatic Orchestra under the baton of Mr. Maurice Guttridge.