STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 644, 22 April 1929, Page 15

STRAND

“STREET ANGEL” AND TALKIES Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell, fast-rising young screen players are the stars of the Fox Movietone picture, “Street Angel,” which heads the Talkie and Sound synchronised programme now at the Strand Theatre. “Street Angel” proved to be a masterpiece of beauty, charmingly acted and perfectly directed by Frank Borzage, who also made that other memorable Caynor-Farrell picture. “Seventh Heaven.” The story is laid against the colourful background of Naples and the beautiful, soft-toned photographic treatment of the many picturesque scenes is a conspicuous contribution to the art of the motion picture. Miss Gaynor, as a little waif of the Neapolitan waterfront, and Farrell as a vagabond artist who meets and falls in love with her, handle their roles with superb skill, and their many love scenes together held the audience enraptured. It recounts the story of Angelina’s desperate attempt to raise funds for her dying mother by taking to the streets, for which she is arrested and sentenced to prison. She escapes from the police and joins a small travelling circus in which she becomes a ballet performer. Here she meets Gino, the wandering painter, but their romance is shattered by the police, who track her down and take her away to prison. However, they are finally reunited and made happy again. “Street Angel” is a picture that ranks with the best of all time. The remainder of the Strand programme is of all-Talliie features. The first, and perhaps the most interesting, is the King’s speech at the opening of the Newcastle-on-Tyne Bridge, and in other pictures the audience sees and hears George Bernard Shaw, Gertrude Lawrence, and an American comedian, Chic Sale. Finally, there is a Fox Movietone News, with events of the day in sight and sound. . SUBURBAN THEATRES At the Prince Edward Theatre this eevning the pictures are “Tommy Atkins” (Walter Bulter and Lillian HallDa vis), also “Homesick” (Sammy Cohen). A musical programme will be presented by Eve Bentley and the members of the Strand Orchestra. The Capitol Theatre. Dominion Road, is to show “Take Me Home” (Bebe Daniels) and “Riley, the Cop” (Louise Fazenda and Farrell McDonald). The Empire Theatre. Dominion Road, is screening “Odds On” (an all-Australian cast, with Phyllis Gibbs) and “Prep, and Pep” (David Rollins). The Edendale Theatre will present “Champagne’ (Betty Balfour), and “Hoofbeats of Vengeance,” with “Rex, the Wild Horse. At the Grey Lynn Cinema the pictures are ‘“Tommy Atkins” (Lillian Hall-Davis) and “Red Wine” (Conrad Nagel). At the Parish Hall, Devonport, the pictures to be shown this evening are “Avalanche” (Jack Holt) and “Paradise” (Betty Balfour and Alexander D’Arcy).