ST. JAMES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 865, 8 January 1930, Page 15

ST. JAMES

“GOLD DIGGERS OF BROADWAY” All-talking comedy, truly so named produced entirely in colour, quaint ballets, and fine music are some of the good things provided in “The Gold Diggers of Broadway,” starring Nancy Welford, Conway Tearle, Winnie Lightner and Albert Gran, now at the St. James Theatre. There are dresses that even the mere male must admire; there are catchy tunes which are introduced by Nick Lucas, known on gramophone records as “The Crooning Troubadour.” Among the most enjoyable of these are “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” and “Painting the Clouds-with Sunshine.” Winnie Lightner carries the whole of the comedy, and also sings a number of humorous songs. The story is a flimsy tale, concerning a boy who, wishing to marry a chorus girl, fears the refusal of his" uncle, upon whom he is entirely dependent. Another girl undertakes to persuade him that chorines are not so bad as most people would insist. The uncle’s reaction to this scheme is not what was bargained for, and through most of the story it seems that the little plan will fail miserably. There are entertaining supports on the same programme. Van and . Schenk contribute several humorous songs, and there is a clever Yiddish comedy. The Vitaphon© Orchestra of sixty instruments plays Offenbach’s “Orpheus” as an overture. Eddie Peabody, ban joist, contributes several enjoyable numbers, and some unusually good ballet and formation work is done by the Vitaphone girls in a presentation entitled “Serpentine.” Charles MacArthur, co-author of “Lulu Belle” and ‘“The Front Page,” both famous stage successes, has been placed under contract by Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer and will do original stories and adaptations for dialogue pictures at the Culver City studios. Following brilliant work in “Untamed,” “Road Show,” and other recent hits, Gwen Lee has been signed under a new long term contract by Metro-Gold wyn-Mayer. She is nowplaying the show girl in "Lord Byron of Broadway.”