CIVIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 920, 13 March 1930, Page 17

CIVIC

LAST DAYS OF “ROMANCE OF RIO” Theatre patrons at the Civic prefer their entertainment packed with unexpectancies and a pronounced note of romance, if the enthusiastic reception being accorded "Romance of Rio Grande" can be accepted as the sign of popular taste. The new all-'talking Fox movietone, featuring Warner Baxter, Mary Duncan and Antonio Moreno, proves a magnet to local fans. With its gripping incidents growing out of the conflict between early settlers of the western wastelands and the exploits of Baxter as the romantic caballero, "Romance of the Rio Grande,” which is an Alfred Santell production, is winning high praise as one of the outstanding western dramas to appear since the inception of talking pictures. Prominent in the support are Mona Maris and Robert Edeson. The remainder of the programme includes selections by Ted Henkel’s Symphony Orchestra and by Fred Scholl at the Civic grand organ, also a talkie item by the famous Kentucky Jubilee Singers. A real Italian street festival, of the sort frequently seen in Italian quarters of large cities in pre-war days, is one of the liigli-lights of "Love, Live and Laugh,” Fox Movietone all-talking Urania in which George Jesscl is rred. /illlam K. Howard drew upon the .-.hnical advice of several prominent Hollywood Italians and Henry Kolker. stage director and member of the cast who lived many years in Italy, to make the festival authentic in all its details. Consequently, it is presented with all the dash and colour and tuneful music characteristic of these affairs, with the Italians wearing the costumes of their country. In addition to .Tcssel and Kolker, other members of the cast include Lila Lee, Kenneth Mac Kenna, David Rollins, Marcia Manon, Dick Winslow Johnson and Heni-y Armetta. "Love. Live and Laugh" is coming to the Civic on Saturday.