ST. JAMES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 884, 30 January 1930, Page 17

ST. JAMES

FINE TALKIE PROGRAMME Well over half the citizens of Auckland have already visited the St. James Theatre to see the first talkie production to be shown at that theatre. 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 entirely in colour by the well-known teclmicolour 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, Lilyun Tashman, Albert Gran, Helen Foster, Gertrude Short, Neely Edwards, and Armand Kaliz, all of whom are artists with a number of sucesses 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. Van and Schenck, 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 Bane, complete the list. The programme, individually and collectively, has proved one of the most successful ever shown in this city.

Harold Lloyd, after witnessing the tremendous reception of his first talkie, “Welcome Danger,” in New York, returned to Hollywood, where he is at work preparing another all-talk-ing production. The new picture, which will be made with all the characteristic Lloyd thoroughness, will go into production this month.