MAJESTIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 852, 21 December 1929, Page 19

MAJESTIC

“THE VALIANT” “The Valiant,” a Fox Movietone production, is being shown at the Majestic Theatre. It has been said that this all-talking drama eclipses anything so far screened in Auckland since the advent of sound entertainment, in point of powerful dramatic situations and correspondingly gripping dialogue. Its theme is vaguely reminiscent of “Over the Hill,” and is, comparing the silent values, of equal strength. Add the clearly recorded dialogue which runs throughout, and the result is, according to reviewers, nothing short of amazing, making “The Valiant” An example of what stage and screen can achieve.

A. brilliant cast of players is headed by Paul Muni and Marguerite Churchill, both new and famous artists from the legitimate stage. Muni makes his debut in talking pictures, while Marguerite Churchill has only one other important role to her credit, in “Pleasure Crazed.” The work of these two players is a revelation. Great credit is also paid the selected supporting cast:. Revealing a heart-moving story, tense with human interest, and portrayed by a cast of stellar excellence, “The Valiant” may be classed among the best pictures of the year. Paul Muni and Marguerite Churchill, cofeatured in the leading roles, the former as a confessed murderer sentenced to electrocution, and the latter as a girl who seeks to discover whether the convict is hex long-missing brother, give characterisations that reflect their varied stage experience. “The Valiant” proves an ideal medium for the delineation through Fox Movietone of the tragic situation in which an errant youth finds himself at the end of the trial, and of his rigid determination to guard his family from pain and disgrace by concealing his identity to the end. Also in the cast are Johnny Mack Brown, Edith T'orke, Be Witt Jennings, Don Terry, and George Pearce.

“Forget Me Xat” is the second attraction. This is a Christmas pantomime, but produced as a talking, musical, and dancing film. A charming and altogether unconventional picture in an early eighteenth century setting, with David Rollins, who might well be described as a second Peter Pan, and dainty little Kancy Drexel in the main roles.

So one who saw these two charming players together in “Prep and Pep” will ever forget them. The story is based on an old fairy tale, and tells of a waif who is picked up in the snow outside a great cathedral on Christmas Eve, and who is adopted by a dear old toymaker. Years pass, and time, represented by a fine old grandfather’s clock, sees the girl fall in love with the old gentleman’s son. His attentions for a time are distracted by the visit of a professional dancer, but on learning her true character he returns to his former love —and happiness. The simplicity, humanity. sweet-

Lily an Tashman, hitherto known as a “blond© vampire” of the screen, will play the mother role in “The Marriage Playground,” in which Mary Brian and Fredric March are featured. “The Marriage Playground” was adapted from Edith Wharton’s famous novel, “The Children.” ness, and Old World air of the little fantasy, is charmingly unconventional in production. Excellent supporting pictures are being shown, and at the matinees a picture specially for the children. This is “The Circus Kid,” starring little Frankie Darro.