ST. JAMES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 935, 31 March 1930, Page 17

ST. JAMES

'"THE DESERT SONG” The largest snzTttrtg «ver built for a talking picture was constructed at the Warner Bros’. Studio in Hollywood for the current Vitaphone productioii at the St .James Theatre, “The Desert Song,” the first operetta adapted in its entirety to the motion picture screen. Only at this studio, in fact, could such an extensive set have been constructed, since it entirely filled a new sound stage which had just been completed, and which is by far the largest structure of its kind in the world. This magnificent setting represents a rocky mountain pass on the edge of the Moroccan desert, and it is here that the band oC Riffs headed by the mysterious Red Shadow make camp when they are in hiding from the French cavalry. The cast appearing in “The Desert Song” includes John Boles, Carlotta King, Louise Fazenda, Johnny Arthur, John Miljan, Myrna Loy, Marie Wells, Jack Pratt, Edward Martindel, Robert K. Guzman, Otto Hoffman, Del Elliott and others, and a magnificent chorus of one hundred voices. Roy del Ruth directed this screen adaptation of the original stage play by Otto Harbach, Oscar Hammerstein, junr., Lawrence Schwab and Frank Mandel, with music by Sigmund Romberg.