PLAZA AND TIVOLI

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 647, 26 April 1929, Page 17

PLAZA AND TIVOLI

“THE CASE OF LENA SMITH” Josef Von Sternberg broke all precedents at the Paramount Studios in Hollywood when he had assembled an unusual cast for his Viennese production, “The Case of Lena Smith,” the big attraction of the Plaza and Tivoli Theatres this evening. Esther Ralston plays her strongest dramatic role, James Hall has his first menacing part, and Fred Ivohler is in the sympathetic fade-out of the production. For the first time the director of Emil Jannings and George Bancroft featured a feminine player in one of his productions. For the first time in her career the celluloid will not record Esther Ralston’s beauty alone. One sequence shows her ns a tired, disappointed woman of 40.

In “The Case of Lena Smith,” the leading man and heavy have changed their/roles. James Hall has the heavy part of an Austrian officer, and Fred Kohler is acting his first sympathetic role as Stefan, a farmer who has given all his earnings to help Lena Smith. The fastest, gayest and most amusing story ever screened serves as the starring vehicle for Universal’s smartcracking affable star. Glenn Tryon. who will be seen in “The Gate Crasher,” to be the second attraction at both theatres. It is all for his love of a girl, who is again enacted by Patsy Ruth Miller. Miss Miller and Tryon have been teamed in some of the greatest comedy successes of the past year, including •‘Painting the Town,” “A Hero for a Night,” “Hot Heels” and now “The Gate Crasher.” Bright supporting pictures will be screened and new music played by Howard Moody’s Symphony Orchestra.