NEW REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 663, 15 May 1929, Page 15

NEW REGENT

A WONDERFUL PICTURE Down in the South Seas where nights are long and languorous and days sun-kissed and climate-blest; where stately palms stand out invitingly against a heavenly blue sky and riotous flowers grow in gorgeous profusion; where love comes with the suddenness and fierceness of a tropical hurricane. . . . That’s where the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Company actually filmed its latest and most unusual picture, “White Shadows in the South Seas,” a sound-synchronised production which is still at the New Regent Theatre. This picture, which is specially sound-synchronised, presents a rare opportunity to take a glamorous motion picture voyage through the South Sea Islands, the garden spot of the world. The audience sees not only nature in her most gorgeous and lavishlybeautitul moods, but the thrilling, tempestuous romance of a derelict white beachcomber and a dusky, alluring and provocative native maiden, and hear the sounds of life on a South Seas isle. Monte Blue and Racquel Torres have the leading roles in a cast which includes thousands of natives. Aside from its scenic splendour and delineataion of tribal customs and dances, pearl-div-ing and the ruthless greed of white traders, there is unfolded a drama of love, sacrifice and devotion so rare that it will grip right to the heart. The short and dangerous career of the Polynesian pearl-diver who traces the elusive mussel to his lair far beneath the waters of the South Seas, furnishes one of the many interesting scenes in this picture. The programme also includes a short all-talking drama entitled “Confession.’’ It is a wartime story, directed by Lionel Barrymore. Other features are the songs by Marion Harris, the notable Columbia artist, and the speeches bv Dr. Fridtjof Nansen, the famous Arctic explorer, and also by President Hoover. A war-time wedding in dialogue is one of the features of the Paramount ►Sound picture, “The Shopworn Angel,” starring Gary Cooper and Nancv Carroll, which comes to the New Regent next Monday. The solemn words of the minister, the reply of the groom. Gary Cooper, and the choked sob of the bride, Nancy Carroll, as she faints, abruptly ending the ceremony, are heard by the audience. During the spectacular stage revue scenes in the picture, Roscoe Karns, playing the part of the stage manager, is heard in some funny and caustic remarks to the ballet girls. He provides many laughs. Outstanding in “The Shopworn Angel” is Nancy Carroll singing the popular love theme, “A Precious Little Thing Called Love.”