CIVIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 925, 19 March 1930, Page 14

CIVIC

FINE PROGRAMMES ‘Love. Live and Laugh.” Fox Movietone all-talking drama starring George Jessel, continues to be shown at the Civic Theatre. Jessel . makes a powerful bid for fame on the audible screen and judging' from the reaction of the audience, he was little short of a sensation. The star plays a role, highly sympathetic, and dominates the production at all times. His is a very definite personality, one that piques your interest from the start and holds it to the final fade-out. ‘Love. Live and Laugh.’ while classified as a drama, has some highly amusing comedy situations cleverly interwoven, and the skilful hand of the director is seen in working out this difficult story to a satisfactory conclusion. In addition to his all-talking role, Jessel contributes two song numbers, especially written for this production. They are “A Song of Margharita" and “Two Little Baby Arms." They have cleverly captured the Italian theme which motivates “Love, Live and Laugh" and the songs add much to the success of the picture. In addition there is considerable incidental music, introducing Italian folk songs and some of the more familiar Neapolitan operatic arias. The Civic’s programme includes a number of musical selections and supporting pictures. Ted Henkel’s Civic Symphony Orchestra features “A Shamrock Fantasy,” with Desmond Casey, the wonder boy singer. Fred Scholl at the grand organ plays “Chanson Indoue" and “Romantic Nights.” The talkie featurettes are a comedy, “His Birthday Suit,” and a Fox Movietone News. Fashionable London in action —a cafe glittering with uniforms and brilliant gowns—the forced, hectic gaiety of Piccadilly—the sinister wail of the Maron, the air raid warning* siren—out to the streets —crowds rushing in terror through the darkness —the wavering pencils of searchlights feeling through the clouds —the distant crack of shrapnel and the oncoming roar of Zeppelin bombs and crashing buildings—such is the beginning of one of the many spectacular scenes in “The Sky Hawk," Fox Movietone alltalking picture, opening on Saturday at the Civic Theatre. The noted John Garrick (Reginald Dandy), Helen Chandler and Gilbert Emery head the cast of stage and screen celebrities which includes Joyce Compton, Billy Bevan, Lennox Pawle. Lumsden Hare, Daphne Pollard and Percy Challenger. John G. Blystone. who has given the screen such hits as “Mother Knows Best.” “Through Different Eyes" and 44 other productions for Fox Films, directed.

EMPRESS, NEWTON

Jo© E. Brown, in the part of a vaudeville clown, has the leading role in “Painted Faces,” the talkie now at the Empress Theatre, Newton. He is elected to a jury to try a fellow-artist. Buddy Barton, on a charge of murder. He persistently votes the prisoner innocent, and it subsequently transpires that the prisoner is really innocent. The crime is morally justified, however, and he escapes punishment on a technicality of law. A charming romance has been woven into the story. Subordinate roles are enacted by Helen Foster, one of the principals of “Gold Diggers of Broadway.”

"On The Level,” with Lee Tracy, Mae Clarke, and William Harrigan, will be directed by Irving Cummings. ‘•On The Level” is an original story by George Brooks and Frank Gray, with Tracy playing the part of a concessionnaire at an amusement park.