“THE WILD PARTY”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 769, 16 September 1929, Page 15

“THE WILD PARTY”

CLARA BOW’S FIRST TALKING | PICTURE NEW PROGRAMME AT REGENT In her first talking picture, “The Wild Party” which commenced its Auckland season at the New Regent Theatre on Saturday evening, Clara Bow adds further to her reputation. Hitherto the “It” girl has had numbers of roles which have given her opportunities to prove her worth as an actress of the merry and gay variety. In “The Wild Party” she has an opportunity to demonstrate her prowess as a speaking star and she makes the most of her chances. Every word she speaks is clear and it comes as an agreeable surprise that she will hold her own in the speaking picture as well as she has done in the past in the silent play. The story of “The Wild Part}*” was written by Warner Fabian, of “Flaming Youth” fame and it is essentially a story of the youth of today, revelling in madcap escapades. The scene is laid at an exclusive girls’ school. A new professor arrives, young, handsome, and full of the importance of his job, and naturally the girls “fall” for him. Some time later a feminine conterpart of a “stag” party is held and Stella Ames (Clara Bow) and her gang of wild girls are barred from entering because of the brevity of their costumes. The girls leave and go to a roadhouse where they get mixed up in a rough-and-tumble. Stella is abducted by three men but the professor has heard of her predicament and rushes to the rescue. He is successful in getting Stella away from the men and takes the opportunity not only of delivering a stern lecture on the follies of youth but also to confess his love for her. The next day Stella finds that love does not exclude her from doing her college work. An essay of her’s is the cause of the trouble, and her professor tells her a few home truths in front of the class. With her gang she goes away for a party and there are wild and merry doings. 'While she is away the professor is wounded by the gang of abductors for revenge. On her return she goes to the professor’s study and is caught by the sneak of the school. Events move fast from then on. There are misunderstandings and mix-ups which are only partly solved when the story ends, Stella having taken the blame for a friend’s folly. However the final scene finds her happy. Miss Bow has a role which suits her admirably. As the leader of the college gang she is full of life and her dialogue is vivid. The thousands of picture lovers who have come to look forward to her characterisations will find plenty to satisfy them in*her first talking picture. The role of the professor is in the hands of Fredric March, a new comer to the «reen but his performance is entirely Satisfactory. His characterisation of a man in love but true to his conscience is excellent. Other good performances are made by Shirley O’Hara and Marceline Day. The supporting programme is excellent. The Pathe Sound News is full of interesting incidents and Smith and Dale proves an amusing comedy sketch. The scene is a classroom in which are impossible scholars whose learning leaves much to be desired. But it is tremendously amusing and an im-

promptu concert given by “pupils” is excellent. Some time ago the New Regent screened “Kid Boots” with Eddie Cantor in the title role. On this week’s programme audiences will have the opportunity of seeing the clever comedian in “Zeigfeld’s Midnight Frolic.” In this Cantor is a blackfaced humorist and singer, and his performance will find much appreciation. The programme is completed by Arthur G. Frost at the Wurlitzer Organ playing “Roses of Picardy” and “If You’re in Love You’ll Waltz.” He also plays the overture and entr’acte.