ST. JAMES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 915, 7 March 1930, Page 15

ST. JAMES

“THE DESERT SONG” John Boles, who portrays the masterful glorious singing role of “The Red Shadow,” has won the highest critical praise for his work. One of the most affecting scenes in “The Desert Song,” Warner Brothers’ Vitaphone operetta, now at the St. James Theatre, is the leave-taking between the mysterious Red Shadow and his band of Riff followers, by whom he has been condemned to banishment into the desert, with neither food nor water, and no arms except his own broken sword. There is a great bond of affection between the leader and his men, but he has refused to meet the l-'rench general, Birabeau, in single combat —knowing him to be his father —and the law of the tribe is inexorable. The story of “The Desert Song” is full of heart throbs, many of which are based on the love of the Red Shadow for Margot, the French girl who is strangely attracted by the masked bandit chieftain, but has no eyes for his other self. Pierre Birabeau. John Boles and Carlotta King are seen as the Red Shadow and Margot respectively, and other important members of the all-star cast are Louise Fazenda, Mvrna Loy, John Miljan, Johnny Arthur. Marie Wells. Jack Pratt, Edward Martindel, Robert E. Guzman, and Otto Hoffman. The production was filmed under the direction of Roy Del Ruth. The programme at the St. James also includes two other talkie items, an orchestral overture. “Poet and Peasant.” and an all-talking comedy by George Jessel

Gary Cooper. who is starred in * Paramount's “Seven Days’ Leave,” is i the youngest artist in the production. | “Seven Days’ Leave,” which was rej centiy completed, was adapted from the stage plav. “The Old Lady Shows i Her Medals.” by Sir James M. Barrie.

Dr. Fu Manchu. of fiction fame, will return to menace the lives of the Boxer Rebellion commanders in “The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu.” Paramount's picturisation of the sequel to Sax Rohmer’s famous story. Warner Oland will again portray Dr. Fu