MAJESTIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 862, 4 January 1930, Page 13

MAJESTIC

“BROADWAY BABIES” Lilting strains of “Broadway Baby Dolls,” “Wishing and Waiting Love” and “Jig, Jig, Jigaloo”; the rhythmic tapping of the feet of 50 dancing girls; the wailing saxophone and the high notes of a grand opera tenor in a theatrical boarding-house; the staccato bark of gangsters’ guns, and the quiet “raise you five grand” in a poker game —these and many other high spots of “Broadway Babies,” are in the memories of those who have already attended the screening of this fine film at the Majestic Theatre. This picture, which stars the peppy young screen luminary Alice White, is thorough entertainment from first to last. It takes one behind the scenes in a big musical comedy theatre; into the night clubs of gay Broadway, and into a theatrical boarding-house just off the Big Street. It is a story of theatrical life, the experiences of three young hoofers who are fighting for recognition behind the footlights. Miss White, who was a humble stenographer in Hollywood less than three years ago, demonstrates that she can sing and dance as well as act. This young Apostle of Jazz is rapidly coming to the front as a cinema artist of the first water, and in “Broadway Babies” she demons itrates a versatility that will astouad her most ardent admirers. Charles Delaney plays opposite her again, as he did in “Show Girl,” and is very convincing as the love-smitten stage manager. Sally Eilers and Marion Byron are charming as the two hoofers. Fred Kohler, Louis Natheaux, Jocelyn Lee, Bodil Rosing, Tom Dugan and a host of others are included in the very fine cast. There are entertaining supports on the same programme. They include exclusive views of the English cricketers in action in the New South Wales match, an all-talking comedy sketch, “Acci-Dental Treatment.” a Fox Movietone News, and delightful new musical selections by Mr. White-ford.-Waugh's orchestra. “MADAME X” AT MT. EDEN One of the most famous figures on the American stage directed a cast of players whose names are traditional in theatredom when Lionel Barrymore directed “Madame X,” the all-talikng film version of the noted stage play, now at the Crystal Palace Theatre, Mount Eden. Ruth Chatterton, famous American stage actress, played the title role. Lewis Stone, famous stage actor and later a screen star; and Raymond Hackett, who played the lead in the stage play, “The Trial of Mary Dugan,” are among the players. Other stage and screen celebrities are Mitchell Lewis, Eugenie Beeserer, and Ullric Haupt. The picture is a vivid drama of a woman of Paris who, through her mistake, is exiled. It tells of her tragedy and her wanderings over the face of the earth. The great dramatic climax in the courtroom, where she finds that the attorney defending her on a murder charge is in reality her own son, is a powerful element in the . story.