Round the Shows

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 660, 11 May 1929, Page 14

Round the Shows

NEW REGENT EXCELLENT PROGRAMME The last picture of a dying race—a story that never can be filmed again. Far away on lonely islands of the South Seas, the natives of the Polynesian race are rapidly dying away before the pleasui'es and vices of a white civilisation. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has sought them out and engraved their story eternally on a motion picture film for “White Shadows in the South Seas,” the stirring emotional story that is now at the New Regent Theatre, with full sound synchronisation. It is the white man’s shadow that is the cause of their destruction. It is a picture that points a moral that can never be remedied; but a lesson which is nevertheless poignant. Before the onrush of the white civilisa-

tion these natives are easy victims to the white man’s greed and his vices. Gin and the lure of bright baubles are enough to cause their ruin. On this theme, Director W. S. Van Dyke has built a real and human motion picture. After picturing the

present status of these natives under white civilisation, he takes his leading character, Dr. Lloyd (Monte Blue), and throws him on an undiscovered island where the natives still live in their primal beauty. He makes this Dr. Lloyd a man who loves and pities natives, and he gives him a yet stronger motive by his beautiful love affair, and finally marriage to tho island princess (Raquel Torres). Then he introduces untold wealth in pearls, and shows how Lloyd, in spite of his intentions, is bound to run true to form and cause—practically without his own volition —the destruction of the people he loves. Monte Blue, as the doctor torn by conflicting passions, has the best screen role of his career. He has hitherto shown himself an actor of feeling—now ho adds a sense of mastery. Raquel Torres as the island princess is equally perfect. Robert Anderson, as the villain, is likewise perfect, while the camera work of Clyde De Vinna is the best island photography yet brought to tho screen. No less remarkable is the high standard of the short “talkie” features in the earlier part of the. programme. They include the inaugural presidential speech by Herbert Hoover, an address by Dr. Nansen, the Arctic explorer, and songs by Marion Harris, the notable Columbia artist. Then there is a short talking film, “Confessions,” a war-time military camp story starring Eddie Nugent, the boy reporter of “The Bellamy Trial.” Finally there are Paramount and Rathe sound gazettes.

GRAND OPERA IN ENGLISH WILL PRESENT “IL TROVATORE” The Irene Ainsley grand opera company, which has been formed for the purpose of furthering interest in grand opera in English, will shortly present its first production for this year. Verdi’s “11 Trovatore” has been selected. In addition a repetition will be given of the very successful initial performance of Bizet’s "Carmen.” Active and honorary membership is invited, and there are vacancies for all voices. The first rehearsal will be held on May 23.

The murder of a famous motion picture star forms the basis of “The Studio Murder Mystery,” a Paramount all-talking picture which has gone into production at Hollywood.