NEW REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 743, 16 August 1929, Page 15

NEW REGENT

“THE BROADWAY MELODY” The plot of "The Broadway Melody” the talking and singing picture now at the New Regent Theatre, is direct, forceful and tells a rattling dramatic story. The “Mahoney Sisters,” a small-time sister act from the sticks, arrive in New York prepared for success. “Hank” (Bessie Love) is engaged to Eddie (Charles King) a song-writer for Zanlield, the big musical comedy producer. Their act is not so “hot,” but Mr. Zanfield picks the beautiful “Queenie” (Anita Page) to stand on top of a pillar and hold a square yard of gauze to her bosom for sweet modesty’s sake. “Hank” also works in the revue. During the rehearsals Eddie and Queenie fall in love with each other. Feeling very guilty, Queenie pretends to be taken in by a gentleman who wants to snap diamond bracelets on her arm, and who whispers to her about Rolls Royces and apartments on Park Avenue. Meanwhile Hank and Eddie are trying frantically to prevent her from listening to this tale. At last Hank sees that Eddie’s anxiety to keep Queenie from her millionaire friend is merely jealousy. So Hank picks him up, tosses him lightly at her sister, and then goes off and weeps. When Queenie and Eddie marry, Hank returns bravely to the tall timber with a new blonde partner for her Mahoney Sisters act. _ Jed Frouty, as Uncle Berme, the stuttering, small-time booking agent, furnishes a lot of comedy. During the course of this sound picture, three theme songs are sung by the various members of the cast. All three should be popular, as they have every element of appeal that could possibly be put into a song. “The Wedding of the Painted Doll,’ one of the songs, is given a true musical comedy presentation. ■ „ . A. number of enjoyable short talkie features are presented on the same programme. “ROSE MARIE” AT ROYAL “Rose Marie,” the film version of the colourful musical comedy, will be screened at the Royal Theatre, Kingsland. this evening. This film was actually photographed in the picturesque surroundings of the original story—the Canadian Rockies. All the glamour of the famous story of the fur-traders and of the Royal North-AVest Police has been captured and portrayed by the cast, which, by the way, is headed bv Joan Crawford and House Peters. "The remainder of the programme includes the first episode of a new serial. "Blake, of Scotland Yard,” and an exciting Western picture. “The Californian Mail,” starring Ken Maynard. Richard Dix’s first talking picture for Paramount, “Nothing But the Truth." will be released this year in New Zealand. “Nothing But the Truth” Is a story of a man who made a bet to tell nothing but the truth for 24 hours.