NEW REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 648, 27 April 1929, Page 18

NEW REGENT

“THE BELLAMY TRIAL” The full “talkie” programme at the New Regent Theatre is still attracting crowded houses at every session. Such a wealth of musical gems by famous artists, which constitutes the first part of the programme, would in itself be ample entertainment. There is also an outstanding picture, making in all an exceptional evening’s entertainment. Perhaps the best of the short “talkie” features is an item by the delightful : London comedienne, Ella Shields, who sings “Just Another One” and “If You Knew Susie.” Then there are songs by Joseph Regan, also songs by two American black-face comedians, Barnum and Bailey, and piano solos by Vincent Lopez. In every case the music is reproduced as clearly as though the artists were in the room. There is also a gazette, which is accompanied by a synchronised musical score. Then comes the big picture, “The Bellamy Trial,” a mystery murder story with many of the court-room evidence actually heard. The result is the realisation of the full effect of spoken dialogue, particularly in the dramatic scenes near the close, which are truly remarkable. In the film, which is particularly engrossing, the mystery is skilfully unfolded in a court-room, and as sucli is specially adapted to sound dialogue. A man and a woman are on trial for their lives, accused of having slain the wife of the man. The weight of the evidence is against them, but a last minute surprise turns the Court in their favour. Taken from the novel by Frances Noyes Hart, the story has been skilfully handled, both with respect to screen and dialogue, by the director, Monte Bell. The leading player, Leatrice Joy, is the woman accused, and she is "surrounded by a very capable cast, including Margaret Livingstone, George Barraud, Betty Bronson, Kenneth Thompson and many others well-known to Auckland picture-goers previously only for their work on the purely silent screen. The secret of the crime is cleverly concealed until the close of the production. There is a tense atmosphere during the trial, where the death penalty hovers over the two accused. This is caught and is aided by the spoken dialogue in the dramatic moments. Production of Maurice Chevalier’s first picture for Paramount, “The Innocents of Paris,” is now well under way. The famous French vaudeville and musical comedy artist will be heard in a number of songs, and there will also be dialogue throughout the sound version of the picture. A complete silent picture will also be released.