NEW REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 716, 16 July 1929, Page 17

NEW REGENT

“CLOSE HARMONY” Auckland lias talkies, silent pictures made into talkies, and all-talking pictures, but the real musical comedy has just reached the screen. It is the jazzy all-talking, singing and dancing hit of Paramount, called “Close Harmony,” now in its second most successful week at the New Regent. Girls, gaiety, laughter and fun are all intermingled with jazz and harmony in this picture, which stars Nancy Carroll Buddy Rogers, both of whom are to be heard singing the latest numbers from Broadway. “Close Harmony” is a story of the stage, of a boy’s ambition and how he realised it. The intimate glimpses of the stage and the people who earn their living there make this one of the most interesting stories that have reached the screen. Nancy Carroll sings a song that will shortly be very popular, entitled “I Wanna Go Places and Do Things,” and in addition the audience hears Buddy Rogers play five different instruments while he sings and conducts a jazz band. One of the principal supporting parts is to be seen and heard in the person of Harry Green. Ho plays in the role of the theatre manager and his voice records excellently. In addition, Jack Oakie and “Skeets” Gallagher appear as a vaudeville comedy team. The supporting programme includes shorter talking pictures of interest and items on the mighty Wurlitzer, which will bo played by Mr. Arthur G. Frost, the well-known conductor and musician. There are songs by Ruth Etting, the Columbia recording artist; some clever humour by Smith and Dale, two Jewish comedians; musical selections by Borrah Minevitch and his Harmoni«a Band, and a gazette ■with full sound accompaniment. On Saturday the Regent management will present the Paramount picture. “Wolf Song.” starring Gary Cooper and Lupe Velez.