NEW REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 753, 28 August 1929, Page 17

NEW REGENT

“THE BROADWAY MELODY” “The Broadway Melody/’ which is pronounced by Hollywood as the most brilliant talking film it has yet produced and pronounced by critics who viewed its New York premiere, as the most brilliant talking picture so far produced by any company, features a former musical comedy star, a popular favourite of both stage and screen, and a newcomer to the screen who has never appeared on any stage. They are: —Charles King, Bessie Love and Anita Page. The supporting cast is a large and noteworthy one, including Jed Prouty, Kenneth Thomson, Edward Dillon, Mary Doran, Eddie Kane, J. Emmett Beck, Marshall Ruth and Drew Demarest. Harry Beaumont, director of the sensational “Our Dancing Daughters,” handled the megaphone. Among the catchy tunes which permeate the production are its theme song, “Broadway Melody,” “Love Boat” and “You Were Meant for Me.” The dialogue was written by James Gleason and Norman Huston, popular i playwrights, the lyrics by Arthur Freed and the music by Nacio Herb Brown. “The Broadway Melody” is a story, vividly real in its drama, heartaches and humour, of the vaudevillian’s life. It tells the story of two sisters from the small time, who bring their act to Xew York. There it fails, and with its failure come other complications. One sister loses her life’s romance; The other finds hers. Harry Beaumont, the director, has turned out a masterly production. Aside from its highly dramatic qualities, it is an absorbing and entrancing eye and ear entertainment. A fulllength musical comedy revue appears as one of its episodes. A number of short talking and singing items is shown on the supporting programme, and new music played by Mr. Arthur G. Frost on the Wurlitzer organ. On Saturdaj- next the New Regent will present an entirely new programme of talking pictures, headed by the all-talkie “The Idle Rich.” This is the tale of the life of a typical American family, and is interpreted by a strong cast which includes Bessie Love. Leila Hyams and Conrad Nagel. William de Mille, brother of Cecil B. de Mille, was the director.