“RIO RITA”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 896, 13 February 1930, Page 16

“RIO RITA”

FOR STRAND AND REGENT ‘•Rio Rita” comes to tlie Strand and Regent Theatres tomorrow. Musical comedy is eminently suited for transference to the silver sheet, and with “Rio Rita” the R.K.O. producers have no doubt lit a torch which will be handed down from company to company as the popularity of this phase of screenic entertainment grows. It was essential that the premiere of such a stupendous success in New Zealand should have been shown at two theatres simultaneously, owing to the huge crowds which are expected to witness the presentation. It takes a truly great entertainment to hold the interest and attention of an audience for two and a-half hours, but “Rio Rita” does more than merely hold interest. It literally enchanted its audiences overseas, and to such a degree that the majority heaved a sigh of regret when it was all over. The remark of London’s most carping film critic that “Rio Rita” was the finest production that has ever come out of Hollywood has found many supporters. The producers of talkie films have an unrivalled field in the production of musical comedy, such as this, and it was realised that the screenic phase of the picture must transcend any stage production, but nothing so utterly gorgeous, so redolent of humorous dialogue and sparkling music had been for a moment anticipated. The second act, filmed entirely in technicolour, literally left one breathless with the very immensity and magnificence of its backgrounds and settings. One had all the familiar ai?s, handled as they have never been handled before. The vocal work throughout is of the highest quality, the chorus work being unsurpassed. The comedy work is in the hands of two of the bright artists, and throughout their tenure of the screen these two had the audience convulsed with laughter. The Ziegfeld ballet girls are seen to advantage in the technicolour sequences, and the orchestral work is perfect. Through the medium of the Western Electric sound equipment the reproduction throughout is as near perfect as has yet been reached. It is all great entertainment o t a standard hitherto undreamed of. “Rio Rita” should play to capacity houses throughout its extended season, and it is safe to say that a good many will take the opportunity of seeing the picture more than once.