ST. JAMES THEATRE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 858, 30 December 1929, Page 13

ST. JAMES THEATRE

“THE GOLD DIGGERS OF BROADWAY” The management of the St. James Theatre has made a happy choice in the first talkie production to be shown. This is “Gold Diggers of Broadway,” a sensational Warner Brothers’ and Vitaphone special all-talkie, which has merited unstinted praise from critics wherever it has been shown, and which has been described in America as one of the few best films of the year.

The production has been filmed netirely in colour by the well-known technicolour process, and the success achieved in this direction surpasses anything yet attempted. The stars are Winnie Lightner, Conway Tearle, and Ann Pennington, and also included in the list of talented players are William Bakewell, Lilyan Tashman, Albert Gran, Helen Foster, Gertrude Short, Neely Edwards, and Armand Kaliz, all of whom are artists with a number of successes to their credit. The large and diverse programme of supporting features is also exceptionally popular. The Vitaphone varieties include the overture from “Orpheus,” played by the famous Vitaphone Symphony Orchestra, which needs no introduction to Auckland picturegoers. Van and Shenck, entertainers at the piano, also offer selections, the catching melody, “Bridget O’Flynn,” being featured. “Realisation,” a splendid comedy drama, produced in sketch form, items by Eddie Peabody, the eminent syncopating banjoist, and “The Serpentine,” a novel dance creation by the Vitaphone Girls, a versatile combination featuring Elmira Lane, complete the list. The programme, individually and collectively, should prove one of the most successful ever shown in this city. When gangsters and chorus girls get together, something exciting is just bound to happen! They do in “Broadway Babies,” the all-talking and singing picture starring petite Alice White, which comes to the Majestic Theatre next Thursday, and as a result the picture has a lot of action, suspense and colour. The big cast is headed by Charles Delaney, the leading man, Fred Kohler, Louis Xatheaux, Sally Eilers, Marion Byron, Tom Dugan, Jocelyn Lee, Bodil Rosing and many others.

The playgrounds of the stars in Hollywood, their favourite haunts, their customs and social activities will be the background of a screen musical revue being prepared by Fox Movietone Films. It is to be called, “Hollywood Nights.” Frank Strayer has been assigned to direct the picture. Scheduled for the leads are Lola Lane, Stuart Erwin, Dixie Lee, Sharon Lynn, David Rollins and Whispering Jack Smith, the baritone of radio fame.