YOUTH’S LESSON

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 630, 5 April 1929, Page 15

YOUTH’S LESSON

“OUR DANCING DAUGHTERS” REGENTS NEW PROGRAMME In a fashionable American set were three dancing daughters. One was a cheat with a mercenary mother; the second had been indiscreet but was loyal and was living the past down; the third was a wise, wholesome Diana, whose only fault was her frankness. Yet Diana lost her man to the cheat. Even her loyal but erring friend married the man she loved. Because of her past lier husband was jealous and the marriage was not idyllic—but it was marriage. Diana had nothing. Thus one is faced with a distinctly original and highly intriguing situation in “Our Dancing Daughters,” the Regent’s star film for the comng week, which was screened for the first time last evening. -Let it be said at once that a better or more completely entertaining production of its kind could not be found in a day’s march through picturedom. In a sense “Our Dancing Daughters” is a “problem” picture in that it presents and elaborates a social puzzle, afterwards pointing a moral which supports a slogan of “Freedom but Purity for Modern Youth.” But there is nothing of the smug nonsense or boring action usually associated with such films. On the contrary, “Our Dancing Daughters” is the essence of snap, colour and syncopated life. It begins with a shot showing silk-clad, twinkling legs dancing before a mirror and carries one into an infectious atmosphero of luxury, gaiety, pretty girls, and fast music. Gradually an excellent story of youth and its lesson unfolds, while tragedy rears an unwelcome head, but, throughout, the speed never slackens, and the spicing lias all the tang of a Manhattan cocktail. „ Stars there are none. Joan Crawford leads a trio of beautiful girls, her colleagues being Dorothy Sebastian, as Beatrice, tlio loyal friend, and Anita Page as Anne, the “cat.” Opposite them are John Mack Brown and Nils Asther. A more attractive bUncli of young players could not be grouped in a single picture, yet many wellknown faces appear in lesser circumstances. For instance, there is Kathrvn McDonald, once a noted leading woman, in the part of the enterprising mama. , . ‘ .. Photographically and artistically this M.-G.-M. production is excellent. Next*on the Regent programme was “The Taming of the Shrew,” brought right up to date in “Midnight Madness,” another admirable featurelength picture starring Jacqueline Logan, and with Clive Brook in support. It tells most convincingly and delightfully the story of a man who finds that a girl is marrying him for his money. He keeps his promise, but the lady learns better ...” A good news budget was screened, and Gautier’s wonder dogs began their second successful week. The Regent Orchestra under Mr. Maurice Gutt ridge played an exceptionally attractive programme of suitable numbers.