MAJESTIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 922, 15 March 1930, Page 14

MAJESTIC

“HER PRIVATE LIFE” The beautiful Billie Dove, known as the screen’s most charming actress, demonstrated in her newest First National picture, “Her Private Life” that she is also one of the screen's most talented talkie stars. “Her Private Life,” which is now at the Majestic Theatre, is a story of great dramatic intensity ,and one that calls for the utmost artistry in the portrayal of the title role. Miss Dove appears as an English noblewoman, aristocratic, proud and extravagant. She incurs the displeasure of her drunken husband by her defence of a young man accused of cheating at cards. She is divorced, and goes to America, where we see her pawning her last jewel to buy food. The unexpected ending provides a further dramatic punch, and through the whole story Miss Dove fairly lives the »’ole site is portraying, enacting the various transitions with ease and naturalness, and giving a convincing and sincere portrayal throughoutWalter Pidgeon, the talented young leading man. plays opposite Miss Dove for the first time, and his work as the suspected young man is especially well done. Montagu Love enacts the drunken husband with his usual ability, and others of the cast, including Holmes Herbert, Thelma Todd, Roland Young and Zasu Pitts, • are hahppily cas*t. “Her Private Life” was adapted from the novel by Zoe Akins, and is one of the best vehicles that has yet been provided for the talented Miss Dove. That she exceeds the expectations of even her most ardent admirers is a tribute to her artistry. The beautiful Billie again demonstrated that she has genuine acting taleht for the talkies as well as a beautiful face and figure, and her portrayal in “Her Private Life” is another triumph for this popular star. A particularly interesting programme of music shorter talkies is also presented. It includes a Paramount talking playette “Weak But Willing,” a talkie comedy “Jed’s Vacation,” and a potpourri of English events.