MAJESTIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 838, 5 December 1929, Page 17

MAJESTIC

“THE GHOST TALKS”

UNIQUE PRODUCTION Colleen Moore’s delightful tale of Ireland, “Smiling Irish Eyes,” will have its final screening at the Majestic Theatre this evening. This is an alltalkie with James Mall in the leading male role, and is supported by an enjoyable collection of short talkie films. • The Ghost Talks,” a Fox Movietone all-talking special farce comedy of feature length, the first film of its type so far produced, is announced for showing at the Majestic Theatre, where it will open a week's engagement starting tomorrow. Directed by Mew Seiler, who, in addition to his own capabilities as a screen humorist, has had at his command the services of a remarkably well-suited cast and an outstanding staff of technical men and writers, including the authors of the sparkling dialogue, “The Ghost Talks,” is held by those who have witnessed previews to be an entermainemnt unique among productions in which the lines are spoke from beginning to end. The picture derives this uniqueness, it is said, partly from the fact that it represents the greatest elasticity in techinque that the talkies have demonstrated so far. Speedy in its action, with one laugh-provoking situation racing on the heels of another, the picture proves that every subtlety which can be captured by the camera for a silent drama can be caught also for a spoken one. The story centres around the ludicrous antics of Franklyn Green, a six-teen-year-old youth who believes he is a detective because he holds the diploma from the Correspondence School of Scientific Uetection of Dubuque, lowa. However, Franklyn’s real vocation is room -clerk and official greeter at a suburban hotel. All guests,, therefore, are subject to suspicion and “scientific analysis.” There comes to the hotel one night an attractive young woman, Miriam Holt, asking accommodation. Questioned by Green, she confides that her uncle had taken part in the robbery oL a post office truck and hidden a number of share certificates in a haunted house. A succession of highly comic adventures ensue, involving' two lioneymooners —Christopher C. Lee (Stepin Fetchit) and his bride (Baby Mack). Of course, crooks also go to the house. And the negro bridegroom, in a mad scramble downstairs to escape a moaning, wailing ghost, jumps in a frantic effort to escape and seized a chandelier, which he accidentally wrenches and thus makes a secret panel slide back, exposing the bond cache. The crooks take possession of the .money chamber. They manhandle “Camera Eye” Green and seem on the verge of succeeding in their designs when the amateur detective has his final and greatest inspiration. With the assistance of Miriam he brings about the imprisonment of the crooks. And Christopher C. Lee. in a street marathon which he runs because of

fright, brings police and firemen for another reason than to help the girl and Franklyn. Right to the very end the action provokes an uproar of mirth, and a clever ending increases the regret that there has to be a last scene—and a last word. One of the most interesting features of the Majestic’s new programme tomorrow will be the first appearance of Mr. Whiteford Waugh’s stage band.

GRAND AND LYRIC

NEW PICTURES TOMORROW The two pictures which have been entertaining audiences at both the Grand and Lyric Theatres during the past week, will have their final presentation this evening. They are “The Big Hop,” a thrilling tale of a transoceanic airplane contest, starring Buck Jones; also “East Side. West Side,” the story of an immigrant boy’s rise to fame in XeW York, starring George O’Brien. The entirely new programme to be screened at both theatres tomorrow will include the films 'Love Hungry,” a society comedy-drama. starring Madge Bellamy; also "The Devil Horse.” featuring the remarkablytrained horse, Rex.

CRYSTAL PALACE, MT. EDEN

D’Artagnan and his merry companions, "The Three Musketeers” ride across the screen in more exciting adventures in “The Iron Mask.” the film now at the Crystal Palace Theatre, Mount Eden. This is the latest picture by that virile actor Douglas Fairbanks, and it is enacted against the colourful background of the days of the French court. As with old the romantic novels of Alexander Dumas, the story is chock-full of adventure and action. In addition the Crystal Palace is showing a special collection of short talkie featurettes.

PADDY'S MARKET TOMORROW

Bargains and articles of every description will be available at the bL jumble sale and Paddy’s market to Ik opened by the Mayoress in the Sunshine School, Xelson Street, tomorrow

Recently Josephine Dunn, who took to sporting a rabbit’s foot while playing outside Lee Tracy in "Big Time,” went with a party to Tia Juana, where not a single person in the crowd picked i a winner at the race-track, and now j Miss Dunn is wondering if the rabbit * was not really a polecat.