NEW REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 652, 2 May 1929, Page 15

NEW REGENT

“THE BELLAMY TRIAL” The “talkie” programme, which continues to attract record houses at the New Regent Theatre, is headed by the outstanding production, “The Bellamy Trial.” This picture is a sensational murder trial mystery story, and the introduction of the talking and sound synchronised sequences has brought out a gripping atmosphere of realism. One of the largest and most talented casts ever assembled for a sound picture was brought together when Monta Bell filmed “The Bellamy Trial.” 1 I-^a.trie©-Joy, making her debut as a “talkie” star, heads the stellar cast of principal players as Sue Ives, the woman on trial, her first appearance since she made “Blue Danube” with Cecil B. de Mille. George Barraud. a distinguished British and American stage star, plays opposite Miss Joy as the husband, whose faith Js unshaken by the murder accusation. Kenneth Thompson, another product of the legitimate stage, is the second defendant as husband of the slain woman. As the woman whose killing supplies the motivation for the mystery plot, Margaret Livingstone is cast in another exotic role. Her most recent part was in “Sunrise.” Two of the most important roles, those of prosecuting and defence attorneys, whose voices are heard in the cross-examination, are in the capable hands of Charles B. Middleton and Charles H. Mailes, two sterling veterans of the stage who have firm footholds in the cinema world. Middleton played the lead in New York and Los Angeles stage productions. The remainder of the programme is composed of a number of short “talkie features, which include songs by Joseph Regan, the famous Irish-American tenor, and black-face comedy by Barnum and Bailey. Then there is a piano solo by Vincent Lopez, witli every note oerfectly recorded, and finally two songs by Lila Shields, the popular London comedienne, sung in her inimitable manner. She sings thCl One,” and “If You Knew Susie. An additional attraction is a gazette with all the latest world news, which is accompanied by a special sound effect- _____