PLAZA

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

PLAZA

ALL-TALKING THRILLER The creeps and quivers of a dozen ghost stories and detective yarns all rolled into one are in "The Terror,” Warner Bros.’ all-talking mystery picture, which, is still at the .Plaza Theatre. It all happens in a gruesome and dilapidated English manor house, which is supposed to house both loot of a bank robbery and also the looter. Here comes a collection of men and women such as is seldom seen outside of bedlam —crooks, cops, crazy folks, frightened seance-sitting women and horrible of the horrible, a veiled monster who makes life one long nightmare—“ The Terror.” Spooky as the play is, it has its amusing moments —in short it is just the sort of entertainment to drive away the blues. The all-star cast includes May McAvoy, Louise Fazenda. Edward Everett Horton, in the role played here by Maurice Moscovitch, Alec B. P'raneis, Holmes Herbert. John Miljan, Mathew Betz, Joseph Girard. Otto Hoffma.n and Frank Austin. Roy Bel Ruth directed “The Terror.” The specially-selected Vitaphone supports include such an excellent variety of concert and vaudeville items as would warrant a programme on their own. There are, for example, three fascinating folk-songs sung by Isa Kremer, the Russian prima donna: jazz by Roger Kahn’s New York jazz band; two solos by Spalding, the famous violinist from the concert platform: an hilarious all-talking comedy, “The P'alse Alarm P'ire Brigade,” and finally several items by a male vocal and instrumental quartet. “The Four Aristocrats.” There are addition, an Empire News and aU.F.A. gem of the Swiss Alps, both with musical synchronisation. FINE FILMS AT ROYAL Two widely different yet most interesting pictures will be screened at the Royal Theatre, Kingsland, this evening. The first is "The River Pirate,” an exciting story of the motor - boating thieves and pillagers on the New York waterfront. Victor McLaglen is the star and Nick Stuart appears with him. “Rolled Stockings,” which will also be shown, is a gay story of American college life starring a group of young players. including Louise Brooks and Richard Arlen. Carl Brisson, who ,won fame in a night by his performance as "Banilo” in the London revival of “The Merry Widow,” and has since become a popular musical comedy hero, seems likely to achieve even greater success on the screen. He is now on a long contract with a leading British firm, and his first picture, "The Ring,” was praised by all the critics. Mr. Brisson is a fine athlete. He was a light-weight amateur boxing champion when he was 17, and holds more than one award for saving life from drowning. Production has begun at the MetroGold wyn-flayer studios on "The Single Standard,” Greta Garbo’s first starring vehicle following her return from a [ vacation trip to Sweden, _ _