“BEHIND THE MAKE-UP”

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 940, 5 April 1930, Page 14

“BEHIND THE MAKE-UP”

CHANGE AT MAJESTIC FASCINATING PRODUCTION Melodrama behind the stage has its host of lovers, and these will seek and appreciate “Behind the Make-up,” a Tascinating production which was screened tor the first time in Auckland at the Majestic Theatre last evening. It shows life behind the scenes and illustrates all that mockery in the life of a clown who, hidden in a camouflage of make-up and dress, tricks the world into laughter. But clowns are human beings, and there lies much beneath their superficial laughter and foolish antics. Lacking those qualities which would make him the hero-type of actor, Hal Skelly in the first of liis pictures released in the Dominion has other qualities which are appealing. lie is clumsy in manner, but he is genial and big-hearted. As Hap Brown, a vaudeville artist, lie has a comparative amount of success in just ordinary comedy. In this part he is a happy-go-lucky fellow with a head chock-full of ideas.

Finding liis way home late one evening, he comes across a brokendown foreigner on the verge of collapse through lack of food, whom he helps and takes to his apartment. His find in the street in Gardoni, one of a family of clowns well known throughout Europe. The part of Gardoni, who speaks with a strong but pleasing foreign accent, is indeed rendered most effectively by William Powell, who takes a new role, unlike his usual part of a cold, casual lover or detective.

Ilap Brown and Gardoni become friends and the latter eventually induces the modern clown to join him in forces in an endeavour to restore the old art of the clown, and to become artists of a higher class. But the first night their performance is a miserable failure, and once more they find themselves in the street, “fed up.” In the absence for a few minutes of Hap Brown, Gardoni disappears. lie could not be found, and Hap Brown obtains a job in a restaurant’as a dishwasher. There he falls in love with a waitress (Fay Wray), and during their meanderings as lovers they one night find themselves in a theatre. To their surprise they discover Gardoni on the stage, playing the part of a clown and making a great hit. The two friends join forces again; Gardoni falls in love with the waitress, and from there on are many intrigues, failures and successes, but the friends do not part in spite of Gardoni winning over Hap Brown’s girl. A first-class supporting programme which is long and varied, makes the Majestic bill-of-fare a most enjoyable one. “Don’t Believe It” is an alltalking comedy full of amusing situations, while a short feature which attracted much applause was “Mountain Melodies,” a selection of old-time songs' sung in an attractive setting There is a novelty sound cartoon. “I’m Afraid to Go Home in the Dark,” and two interesting news reels.