CIVIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 856, 27 December 1929, Page 15

CIVIC

CONTINUED SUCCESS With the steady flow of Aucklanders and visitors to the Civic Theatre during the holidays, many thousands have seem and admired the gorgeous decorations of this fine atmospheric theatre. Equally attractive is the splendidlyvaried programme which is being presented. There are colourful dances by the Civic’s own ballet, acrobatic work by the continental trio Ramon, Madeline and Pedro, organ solos by P'red Scholl and, an attraction in itself, the orchestra music under the able direction of Tetf* Henkel. The success of a picture—especiallv a talking film—depends more* upon the quality of the acting than on the actual plot, and often the qiiality of the acting alone will make a good film out of a weak story. But it is not good acting alone that is making “Three Live Ghosts.” the principal feature at the Civic Theatre, such a popular draw. It is the combination of a thrilling and humorous story with a very strong cast. On either the performances of the leading players, or the strength of the story, “Three Live Ghosts” would be a distinct success, but the combination of the two makes it a super feature.

Though the picture was produced in America, it is English in every other respect, the setting being in London at armistice time. The plot revolves round the adventures of three British soldiers who return from a German prison camp after being officially declared “dead.” Every character is well portrayed, whether it is a Cockney, a belted earl, or a Yankee visitor. Each part is made to live, and the speech of each actor is utterly true to type. The reproduction is practically perfect—all the speech is easily distinguishable and understood.

Chief honours of the film go to Beryl Mercer, who plays the part of a talkative Cockney washerwoman. Claude Alister, who made such a reputation for. himself as “Algie” in “Bulldog Drummond,” takes the part of a shellshocked soldier, and makes even a greater success of it than he did of that of “Algie.” Others in an exceptionally well-chosen cast are Claude McNaughton, Robert Montgomery, Hilda Vaughan and Jean Bennett.