PLAZA

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 787, 7 October 1929, Page 15

PLAZA

“ABIE’S IRISH ROSE” The film version of the most successful play ever written is hems screened in this City. Anne Nichols ‘ Abie s Irish Lose, great and poignant story that it is, is now at the Plaza Theatre. and shows all evidence of scoring a tremendous success, even greater, possibly, than the original play itselt. Paramount has filmed "Abie on a big scale, building it into a mighty comedy-drama of love and tolerance, with frequent touches of clever humour, ;tnd a cast that is ideally suited to the various roles made famous on the stage for so many ' Irish Kose” teaches us that love can conquer all racial niisunderstanding, and that bigotry and tae Jealousy of creeds is all wrong. Neier before lias sucli a stirring tale so beautifully told been presented on a local silver sheet, but the picture does not preach—it amuses and entertains. We can see the fine hand of Anne Nichols throughout the picture The story has been well told, and the plot runs along as smoothly as the proverbial brook. Victor Fleming is responsible for the direction, and “Abie” will be placed as another feather in his cap, along -with “The Way of All Flesh,” and other big pictures. n . Jean Hersliolt’s performance is that of a master, to put it lightly. Once again has this actor scored in a role that he makes outstanding, that of Solomon Levy, the Jewish father who objects to his son’s marriage to an Irish girl, Rosemary Murphy. Charles Rogers, whose splendid work in “Wings” and others is well remembered, excels as Abie, and Nancy Garroll shows herself to be typically Irish as Rosemary. J- Farrell MacDonald is the father of the girl, Patrick Murphy. The comedy roles are in the hands "of Bernard Gorcey and Ida Kramer, who, as Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Cohen, have carried their parts from the stage to the screen. The programme also includes a number of entertaining short talkie features. Perhaps the most outstanding of these is a duet from the opera “Lucia,” sung by Talley and Gigli, the famous operatic stars. Other items are a singing cartoon, “Old Melodies, and a singing and dancing act by a famous Russian troupe entitled “Evening on the Don.”