MAJESTIC

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

MAJESTIC

“PARADISE” The perfect screen lover has been found —in a British film. Mr. Alexandre D’Arcy, who took the role of a Monte Carlo gigolo (professional dancer) in “Paradise,” the new Betty Balfour film to be shown at the Majestic Theatre this evening, is a young Frenchman who will soon achieve fame in all continents. Mr. D’Arcy makes love like a man, and not like a film star. Ilis grace puts one at ease. His manly good looks make him convincing. The only fault in his performance in “Paradise” is that he is the villain. Curiously enough, tho villain has all the sympathy. The story tells of Kitty Cranston, daughter of a poor East End clergyman, who helps the household ex-

chequer by workingl as a milliner. {She is tired of her surroundings and longs for the sunshine and to live a sunny, happy life. She is dismissed from her employment, but wins £SOO in a crossword puzzle competition, and her dreams become realities on the Riviera. The reality is not what she expected, however, and she passes through a lot of adventures before she is rescued by her doctor lover, and taken back to the drab surroundings and “squawking babies” of her East End suburb whore she finds happiness and peace. Denison Clift, the director, has made a very good film from an excellent story. lie has, of course, a cabaret scene, but it is most exciting. He lias a joke at the expense of English weather, but one cannot blame him when one sees the beautiful scenes in Monte Carlo.

Miss Balfour and Mr. D’Arcy were mobbed by enthusiastic fans after the trade-screening in London, and were unable to get away for half an hour. The supporting programme includes a Majestic Magazine, an Aesop fable and a lively film entitled “Sons of England,” which will be introduced by special orchestral numbers. Then there is another picturesque Yorke Grav stage presentation, “The Willow Pattern Plate.” The Avliole programme will be accompanied as usual by Mr. Whiteford Waugh’s Majestic Orchestra. Ono of the scenes in “The Innocents of Paris,” Maurice Chevalier's first picture for Paramount, depicts the famous Flea Market of Paris, where junk dealers dispose of their wares.