“THE SINGING FOOL”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 653, 3 May 1929, Page 15

“THE SINGING FOOL”

AT PLAZA TO-MORROW Tg-morrow will see tho presentation of tho first talkie programme at the popular Plaza Theatre, tho third Auckland entertainment house to be equipped by tho Western Electric for this no wand wonderful invention. For the initial programme the O’Brien management will present a varied and well-balanced programme of outstanding merit. The short “talkie” features are all of unusual interest, but the chief attraction is, of course, the alltalking picture, “The Singing F.ool,” starring the wonderful actor, singer and comedian, A 1 Jolson. The release of the wonderful alltalking picture, “The Singing Fool,” is indeed an event for the picture-going public of Auckland. “The Singing Fool,” in which Warner Brothers presents the famous comedian as a screen star, tells the story of the joys and heartaches of the people of the cabarets, introducing Jolson as the proprietor and master of ceremonies of a hectic night club. The film reveals a new A 1 Jolson—an artist who has become so much the master of the talking screen as though it has always been his chosen medium—an actor who carries himself with the poise of a veteran. It is a sensation. Among the supporting cast of players are Betty Bronson, Josephine Dunn, while Davey Lee who was chosen from nearly 200 applicants, plays the part of “Sunny Boy.” Tho programme to-morrow evening will be opened by the “Tannhauser” overture, played by the New York Philharmonic Society orchestra. Tho Tannhauser overture is constructed from themes in the opera that are familiar to all —“The Pilgrim’s Chorus” (with which the overture begins), Tannhauser’s song to Venus, and the Bacchante motive form the principal material. The magnificent climax toward the end, when the Pilgrim’s Chorus is heard in fortissimo on the bass accompanied by brilliant figures for the violins, is perhaps, the greatest moment in the overture. Other features are songs by Giovanni Martinelli, the leading tenor of the Metropolitan Opera Company; also an imitation of opera players by the Howard Brothers; a series of songs, “In a Monastery Cell,” by Gus Reed, Oscar Wahl, Otto Ploetz and Charles Hamilton, and the first appearance on the screen of Mischa Elman, the worldfamous violinist. His numbers will include “Humoresque” and tho Gossec “Gavotte.” The box office plans are now open at the theatre and there is a large demand for seats. One of the most dramatic incidents in “Chinatown Nights,” the Paramount picturo previously titled “Tong War.” is a firework riot in a Chinese theatre. The riot is an historical fact. Under cover of the noise five notorious “Tong men” were killed. Wallace Beery, Florence Vidor and Warned Oland play the leading roles in the picture, which has talking and silent versions.