IN OLD MEXICO

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 917, 10 March 1930, Page 14

IN OLD MEXICO

“ROMANCE OF THE RIO GRANDE” SPLENDID SHOW AT CIVIC The glamorous romance of old Mexico, with its loves and feuds, romantic melodies, wealthy rancheros, and shady haciendas, has often been exploited by the films, but its charm has never been captured so faithfully as in the picture, “Romance of the Rio Grande,” which heads the fine programme presented at the Civic Theatre on Saturday. The whole programme was one of undeniable freshness—of music and song, as much by the Civic’s own musicians as by the film, and all blended into a sparkling entertainment. “The Romance of the Rio Grande” is one of those pictures which are only too rare, a romantic melodrama. From the first ten minutes, no one in the theatre really doubted that the dashingly brave Pablo was going to marry the fascinating little senorita, Manuelita. There was the villain, of course, and he took quite a lot of disposing of, but the end found Pablo installed as owner of the prosperous Santa Margarhlta ranch, and singing the love song with his bride-to-be. And all this against the background of the beautiful Santa Margarliita, under the wise hand of old Don Ferdinand Alvarez, with the tinkle of guitars and seductive Spanish melodies wafting through the open windows, the fiestas, ttqe throngs of peons going about their work, or dancing or squabbling in their voluble Spanish. What a setting for passionate love —or deep hate. Next to the charm of the story, the most outstanding thing about this picture was the acting of the two principals. Warner Baxter, as a captivating caballero, more than lives up to liis splendid reputation as a dashing young hero, as ready with a pistol as he is with a gleaming smile. He has the role of a young engineer, who, when wounded in a fight with bandits, is taken -to the hacienda of hi:? grandfather, Don Ferdinand. He quickly becomes the old man’s favourite, to the eclipse of his cousin Juan (Antonio Moreno), who would have been the heir, and to the consternation of Juan’s fiancee, Carlotto (played by Mary Duncan).

During his convalescence Pablo was nursed by little Manuelita, Don Ferdinand’s protege, who sings to him melodious old Spanish love sopgs. This role is played by Mona Maris, who gives a wonderful performance. Her voice is sweet and sympathetic, her acting and singing charming. She is almost the central figure of the story. Warner Baxter also sings, leading a rousing chorus of deep men’s voices in “Oh, Vaquero.” MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT Ted Henkel’s fine symphony orchestra opens the programme with an overture which embraces selections from “Carmen,” “Faust,” “Cavalleria Rusticana,” “Liebestraum,” and “William Tell.” These varied excerpts were played with that delightful smoothness and finish that one has learned to associate with his wellbalanced orchestra. Then Fred Scholl tests the preference of the audience for classical music over the rival claims of jazz. He played a great piece from “1 Pagliacei,” followed by “A Precious Little Thing Called Love,” and asked for applause for €:ach. Then two more pieces were played. So far as one could tell, the supporters for the classics won by a narrow—very narrow—margin. The remaining items on a long and enjoyable programme included a Fox Movietone News, with world events from near and far, also a talking comedy sketch, “Rubeville,” a very clever skit on an American small-town hotel and store, and finally, a talkie featurette introducing the famous Kentucky Jubilee Singers. They sing some of the numbers they presented in Auckland a few months ago. There were old negro songs, spirituals such as Going Home,” part songs, and plantation songs, and they were applauded as warmly as though they were actually on the stage. GREY LYNN CINEMA A splendid programme of silent and talking pictures "will be presented at the Grey Lynn Cinema this evening. Jlie chief attraction will be the big taikie comedy, “Three Live Ghosts,” which has caused roars of laughter wherever it has been shown. Beryl Mercer, Joan Bennett and Claud* Allister are among the stars. Among 5, supporting items is the mysterv fiTo i?r ?? a haunted house entitled 16 Washington Square.”