CIVIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 960, 1 May 1930, Page 15

CIVIC

“PUTTIN’ ON THE RITZ” COMING Seldom has an all-talking: picture been accorded the enthusiastic reception that greeted “Such Men Are Dangerous,” Fox Movietone talking drama, based on Elinor Glyn’s intriguing story, which is now in its last days at the Civic Theatre. Warner Baxter of “In Old Arizona” fame and Catherin Dale Owen, portray the leading roles and both splendid performances. The supporting cast has such sterling artists as Hedda Hopper, Albert Conti, Claude Allister and Bela Lugosi. For suspense and sheer drama “Such j Men Are Dangerous” has scarcely been | equalled by any previous all-talking film. Splendid musical selections from j Ted Henkel’s Orchestra and from Fred j Scholl at the Grand Organ complete j the programme. In prominence of cast, and the authentic atmosphere of Broadway, “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” the United Artists’ all-dialogue musical spectacle starring Harry Richman, coming to the Civic Theatre tomorrow, promises to be the foremost offering in the record of talking, singing pictures. T'lie presence in the cast of Richman | alone is sufficient to assure plenty of entertainment, for Richman has been one of New York’s greatest attractions in musical comedy and night clubs for several years. Second only to Richman and Joan Bennett, leading lady, is James Gleason, an outstanding figure in the ' theatrical business. He is the author of “Is Zat So?” and “The Shannons of Broadway.” In addition to writing these plays, he starred in them as well. He writes original screen stories and dialogue, acts in pictures and does odd jobs of directing on the side. Purnell Pratt and Eddie Kane, also prominent in the cast, are favourites of the stage and consequently old hands at the business of entertainment. Miss Bennett, who played on the stage in “Jarnegan” with her distinguished father, Rich ard Bennett, plays the lead opposite Richman. It is her fifth consecutive talking picture, and in all of them she has scored outstanding success. Aileen Pringle and Lilyan Tashman, two of Hollywood’s outstanding personalities, play prominent roles in the picture, and demonstrate that the western show centre can hold its own with Broadway in providing entertainments. “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” the story of which almost parallels Richman's actual career as vaudeville performer, musical comedy star and night club king, was written by John W. Considine, Jun. Mary Pickford has chosen a story by Benjamin Glazer. scenario of “Seventh Heaven,” an original screen drama entitled “Forever Yours,” which tells of a woman’s devotion through the years, girlhood to old age.