MAJESTIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 747, 21 August 1929, Page 17

MAJESTIC

“THE AWAKENING” The radiant blonde Vilma Banky comes into her own as a full-fledged star in “The Awakening,” a dramatic love lyric of peace-time Alsace, the picture with sound synchronisation and musical accompaniment now at the Majestic Theatre. “The Awakening” is “The Scarlet Letter” retold in a modern setting of quaint beauty and'gorgeous colour. Vilma Banky reaches the topmost pinnacle of her art in a magnetic portrayal of great power and rare charm. As Marie Ducrot. the idolised saintly belle of a picturesque Alsatian village, who yields her heart to a fickle young officer of many loves, she has a role of fire, tenderness, passion, charm, gaiety and allure. The chilling drama of midnight warfare and wild rides through the gloom of battle-razed lands; the spectacular beauty of carnival day; the gleam and snap of courageous cavalry on a holiday; the biting tragedy of cruel tongues lashing innocence to shame and banishment; the calm majesty of cloistered peace; sweeping romance atingle with the joy of young love beneath moonlit skies—these are tlYe sights that will gladden everyone who sees “The Awakening.” Vilma Banky has a supporting cast eminently well qualified to appear in her first starring vehicle. Louis Wolheim, of the merry Bolsheviki in John Barrymore’s “The Tempest,” is the good, hard-natured, peasant suitor who dies that his rival may live. Walter Byron, the widely-heralded Goldwyn “find.” is magnificent as the dapper young officer who pays such ardent and fickle court to the fair Vilma. In addition to this sound-synchron-ised production, the programme includes a number of short all-talkie features. Chief among these is the clever Dickens characterisation by Bransby Williams, the noted English charactor actor, also a Fox Movietone News with events of the day in sight and sound, and items by the Waring Pennsylvania’s Jazz Band. Finally, the Majestic Orchestra plays some musical selections.