PLAZA

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 667, 20 May 1929, Page 15

PLAZA

“THE SINGING FOOL” Today marks the beginning of the third week of the Auckland season of the Plaza’s sensational “talkie” success, “The Singing Fool.” The film stars A 1 Jolson, America’s leading vaudeville artist. Jolson appears as A 1 Stone, a waiter at a night club, who earns a little extra money by singing songs which he has written himself. He is in love with one of the girls at the night club, but she will have nothing to do with him until he wins the favour of a Broadway theatrical producer and is given a contract. Returning to the theatre, he is just about to make his appearance when he finds that the number which has been chosen for him is “Sonny Boy.” It is a great climax to one of the most appealing stories that has yet been presented on an Auckland screen.

Jolson is supported by Josephine Dunn, as the faithless wife, Betty Bronson as the other girl, and little David Lee as the child. The reproduction, which is by Vitaphone, is consistently clear.

A really excellent supporting programme of short “talkie” features is also presented, opening with the “Tannhauser” overture, played by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Then there are two beautiful violin solos by the famous Misclia Elman. Solos from the popular opera, “I Pagliac.ci” are heard as sung by Giovanni Martinelli, the leading dramatic tenor of the Metropolitan Opera Company, and a number of well-known songs by popular artists are provided by “In a Monastery Cellar,” which depicts the recreation of the monk after his day’s labour.