“SYNCOPATION”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 832, 28 November 1929, Page 15

“SYNCOPATION”

A MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA

BIG HIT AT ROXY In the glowing, colourful extravaganza of Broadway lives and loves. “Syncopation,” now playing, singing and talking to overflowing audiences from the screen of the Roxy Theatre, a veritable riot of musical and singing numbers, have been included, many of them original. “Syncopation,” a Radio picture, in reality marks a new departure in film technique. It endeavours to tell the storv of a pair of Broadway dancers, married, and separated by ambition until both are reawakened in their love for one another by the resolving circumstances of the plot. The producers resolved to make the film with an eye to both plot and musical accompaniment, and the result was what is billed as a musical film extravaganza, designed to give the effect of a Broadway operetta. On this account “Syncopation” ripples with musical and song accompaniment. There are nine jazzy numbers by Waring’s famed Pennsylvanians, two song numbers by the Melody Bovs, three haunting songs by Morton Downey, a song by Dorothy Dee, a soprano solo by Gania Zielenska, radio artist, two numbers by a string orchestra, a piano selection by David Uttolph. Dast evening’s audience came away from this musical extravaganza just like other audiences who come away from musical stage shows, humming the refrains of such songs as “I’ll Always Be in Dove With You,” “Jericho,” “Do” Do Something,” and many others. Finally, to complete an excellent programme, the Roxy also presents a number of most entertaining short talkie features.