NEW REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 602, 2 March 1929, Page 15

NEW REGENT

“EXCESS BAGGAGE” Found, a new William liaines, and the audience which viewed ‘‘Bxcess Baggage” at the New Regent Theatre attested that it was a discovery indeed. For the past two years William Haines, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's star, has brought to the screen a personality of a cheeky youngster whose eternal youth and high spirits constantly get him into difficulties. At the end of his pictures this sport-loving youth has agreed to reform —for at least ten minutes. But in “Excess Baggage,” this funloving youth has vanished and we have a new Haines; a finished actor who has succeeded in developing the most human personality on the screen today. The laughter and fun-loving is there, but it is masked at times by a screen of tears.

There is something about this young man which makes the audience feel that his problems are their problems and when—as he does in "Excess Baggage”—he surrenders his wife to the motion picture industry to achieve her ambition and goes on alone to almost certain

death in liis dangerous vaudeville act, he had half the women in the house in tears. Josephine Dunn as the vaudeville star in “Excess Haggage” who becomes a movie star, is a newcomer who should go a long way. She handles her part in a capable manner and films beautifully. Kathleen Clifford, Ricardo Cortez, Greta Granstedt and Cyril Chadwick arc also excellent in their roles. The rest of the programme maintains the high standard. There is another fine picture, “Honour Above All,” starring Kils Asther and Heat-

rice Joy, a gazette and comedy. The musical side of the programme is headed by Alec Regan, a most pleasing personality, who sings a number of catchy songs. Then there is the Regent Operatic Orchestra under Mr. Maurice Guttridge, which features “The Blue Danube Waltz.” “From Broadway to Heaven,” said to be the most elaborate of the novelty all-talking and singing pictures in natural colours, has gone into production at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios under the direction of Gus Bdwards, the famous song writer and vaudeville impressario, who is now at ! work on new singing acts and musical numbers which are to be pictured and I recorded with colour process film. J Charles King, famous Broadway musical comedy star, is featured throughout the revue, and Grace Nelson and other popular stage artists are included in the supporting cast. Nina May McKenny, late star in “Blackbirds of 1928,” a Broadway musical hit. has been given the leading feminine role in King Vidor’s all-, coloured picture, “Hallelujah,” which is now in production at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios. The cast of j this all-talking picture now includes j Honey Brown. Victoria Spivey, Harry j Gray,” Fanny Belle De Knight. Everett j j McGarrity and William Garrison. i

Margaret Livingston. exotic lilm beauty, played the most difficult role of her career in “The Bellamy Trial,” which opens in Auckland shortly, as a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer feature. Miss Livingston enacted the part of the murdered woman, some of the scenes demanding that she remain hunched up on the floor for more than half an hour. Leatrice Joy appears in the leading role and the elaborate supporting cast includes Betty Bronson. George Berraud, Kenneth Thompson. Margaret Seddon, Eddie Nugent, Polly Moran and Kalla Pasha.