STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 625, 30 March 1929, Page 12

STRAND

“THE SPY” THIS EVENING Fritz Lang, the famous German producer, who made "Metropolis/” seems to have said, “Well, the criminal story has had a long innings on the screen. It is about time I showed them how this sort of thing ought to be done.’

So he set to work to make a drama wherein the master criminal would be a greater wonder than ever before, his methods more marvellous and comprehensive, and the scenes of hi*, operations more spectacular th a n any that has previously been revealed in this medium. He has succeeded beyond measure. Picturesgoers will have the opportunity of seeing Fritz Hang's masterpiece, -The Spy,” as it will be screened for the tirst time in Auckland at the Strand Theatre this evening. When reviewing this film, the London ‘‘Daily Mail” said: “Acting honours go to Mr. Lupu Pick, the film director who returned to his former profession of film actor in “The Spy,” in the role of the Japanese Ambassador. No more finished work than Mr. Pick’s has ever been seen, and although Mr. Pick’s part is hardly more than an episode, his acting outshines anything else. Pick himself has told his friends that he was so deeply impressed by the great up.r tunity the role offered him that he was simply transformed into the Japanese patriot.” lie felt that lie was no longer the actor, Lupu Pick, but simply and solely Mr. Matsimoto. In fact, he was so imbued with the spirit of the part, that he actually wounded himself when he committed “hari-kari” in the final scene, not noticing that he avails bleeding until Director Dang blew his whistle and called the rehearsal off. A notable cast of European film players appears in the film, headed by Willy Fritsch, as "No. 32 6 of the Secret Service,” also Rudolph KleiriRogge, as the “Spy,” and Gerde Maurus. The usual high standard of supporting pictures will also be shown, and new music played by the Strand Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Eve Bentley. An outstanding feature of the evening will be a colourful Yorke Gray stage presentation, "The Grecian Temple,” with Miss Isobel Brooks and the pupils of Miss Cecil Hall. ROYAL SHOWS “RED HOT SPEED” The idea of Reginald Denny’s picture. “Red Hot Speed,” now at the Royal Theatre, Kingsland. is ingenI ious. The story concerns the misadventures of a young prosecuting lawyer attached to the speeders’ court. He gets into trouble as a result of his public denunciation of a beautiful young speeder. The judge, possessed of a rare judicial sense of humour, paroles the young lady in his custody. There are lots of reasons why she does not want her father, a newspaper editor, to know that she was arrested, so she gives a false name. Well, anyway, that gives the idea around which the director has constructed a delightful romantic farce comedy. Reginald Denny is perfect in | the part, and Alice Day, us the youth--1 tul speeder, adds greatly to the ut--1 tractiveness and humour of the photoplay. “Tlio News Parade,” which is also I being shown, is a romantic story I written around the adventures of a I movie gazette cameraman. William Austin, the English comedian who was recently seen in “It” and “Red Hair,” has been assigned the role of lludkins. the butler, in support of Marion Davies in "The Five O’clock Girl.” A 1 Green is directing this screen version of the famous musical play as an all-talking and singing production for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The cast includes Charles King, George K. Arthur. Aileen Pringle. Carmelitu Geraghty and Polly Moran. Another bright Clara Bow picture which will be released in New Zealand is "Three Week-Ends,” from the story by Elinor Glyn. Neil Hamilton has the male lead opposite Miss Bow, and comedy parts arc played by Harrison Ford and Jack Raymond. “Three Week-Ends” is> a Paramount production.