NEW REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 795, 16 October 1929, Page 17

NEW REGENT

“THE LETTER” ON FRIDAY The screen version of a famous play, j “Madame X,” heads the programme at : the Regent Theatre. As an all-talkie j the film is interpreted by a large cast | of notable players, headed by Ruth Chatterton, who gives a performance of outstanding merit in the title role. The story deals with the career of Jacqueline, a beautiful young woman who is loved by two men, Noel and Louis. Noel, who believes Louis to be the better man, leaves town and later hears that Louis and Jacqueline aro married and have a young son, Raymond. Louis soon rises in his profession and neglects his wife, who runs away with another man, only to he deserted after a few years. She returns to Paris and begs Louis to allow her to see Raymond, but her former' husband is disgusted with her and j sends her away. Jacqueline, spurned by her husband, goes to South America, where j she is ill-treated by a scoundrel named ' Larocque, whom she ultimately shoots. ' Meanwhile, Raympnd has become a j promising young solicitor, and his first case is the defence of his mother,'whom he does not know. The trial is the climax of the film and is one of the most dramatic scenes ever made. The heavy scent of the tropical oleanders; sunlight gleaming on fresh raindrops on the palm leaves; Malays improvising a strange melody on the marimba or guitar; the swish of a fan coming from beyond the verandah: white people lolling languidly in duck costumes—all the atmosphere of the tropics blossomed in New York recently while the mercury hovered near the zero mark. Filling the largest stage at the Paramount Long Island studio, the “set” described was used in filming “The Letter,” starring Jeanne Eagels, the famous stage and screen actress. Miss Eagels is supported by a cast of stage players including O. P. Heggie. Reginald Owen, Herbert Marshall and others. The story was adapted from a successful play by W. Somerset Maugham, famous playwright.. It is full of drama and is an excellent screen entertainment. The film will be presented at the Regent on Friday as an all-talking picture. “Weary River,” the First National feature starring Richard Barthel- ■ mess, is based upon a short magazine story by Courtney Riley Cooper, which j in turn was based upon a true life ; incident which occupied the front of i the newspapers throughout the United States. i i