LOVE NEVER DIES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 720, 20 July 1929, Page 15

LOVE NEVER DIES

9 I PLAZAS GREAT AERIAL FILM COLLEEN MORE AT HER BEST Spectacular aerial \iiews, glorious romance, hectic days in rance in 1918, and Colleen lVloore—that is. ' “Love Never Dies,” which was shown to a lero‘zvded house at the Plaza. Theatre last evening. “Love Never Dies" is probably one of the most ou_tstanding productions seen in Auckland for some time. The views of aerial wartare, crashes and stunts are without a doubt the most sensational ever filmed—but they are not all. Colleen .Moore. as the wistful little French girl among the lilac blossoms, motheringa. group of young British pilots, is the cegtralrattraction of this fine 1311113“

The talkie programme opens with some breezy jazz music £som Abe Ly—man's Jazz Band, followed by banjo selections by Rex Schepp, and a. hu—morous sketch by Clyde Cook. The two best talkie features are the charm-. ing old Southern songs by Alary Lewis, leading soprano of the New York Mietropolitan Grand Opera. and the jokes. songs and imitations by Val and Ernie Stanton, English entertainers. , 7

Then comes “Love Never Dies.” which was originally entitlud "Lilac Time." There are one or two short talking sequences, but the whole film is accompanied by a synt-hronised musical and sound score. Thel sounds of airplane crashes, the roaring of the high-powered‘ engines, and so on.a.re vividly reproduced, and a fine tenor voice sings the theme song, “Jeannine, I Dream of Lilac Time.”

A: ucnxxxslllc. Luu ....ue L‘Lcucu gm xvho lives within hearing of the rumble of the great guns, who hides her tears behind a smile as her sweetheart goes away to almost certain death, Colleen )loore demonstrates supreme artistry that establishes her as a. consummate actress of dramatic strength and power. Gary Cooper, who acts the role of her war ace sweetheart, is an ideal leading man. Aside from good looks and a. likeable personality. he is an excellent actor and gives a brilliant performance. “Love Never Dies" is not a. war story. Jeannine would have no part in. a “war story.” at least no major part. Rather, “Love Never Dies” is a “heart story”——a. romance supreme, a poignant, human narrative that has the background of the VVorld \Var—a conflict that swirls and eddies behind this trail lass of Sunny France. The successful motion picture is the one that takes one bodily from the theatre seat and carries them to the locale of the story. "Love Never Dies” does just this. The spectator finds himself Living those hectic days over again with little Jeannine, thrilling to her joys and sympathising in her sorrows. Miss Moore’s clever portrayal of the little French girl is responsible tor this. Masterfully directed by George Fitzmaurice with Gary Cooper playing opposite the star; with a fine supporting cast and marvelous photography: with thrilling air battles done with unbelievable realism; with the true flavour of France in every sequence.

“Love Never Dies” comes very near to being the perfect picture. Certainly it is perfect entertainment and Colleen Moore is a revelation:

“Forty Ninth Streeg" which will be soon put into production as a. Radio Picture at. the RXO Studios, marks the nineteenth motion picture in which George O'Hara. author of the story, and Mal St. Clair, the director, have been associated. O‘Hara, who recently switched from acting ranks to take up a career as a. sore-on writer, made his histrionic debut under the direction of St. Clair at the Mack Sennett Studios several years ago.