“PUTTIN’ ON THE RTTZ"

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 962, 3 May 1930, Page 18

“PUTTIN’ ON THE RTTZ"

| BRILLIANT HARRY RICHMak CIVIC’S MIDNIGHT SHOW A bright new star has app earM in the motion picture firman^* 1 It is Harry Richman, gol<£p voiced singer, of Broadway f a ’ who makes his bow to the id the United Artists’ all-dialoo* musical spectacle, ‘•Puttin’ on th Rita.” which opened its engag.* ; ment at the Civic Theatre with i midnight premiere last evening. * That Richman will duplicate on | screen his sensational American } cesses of the stage, at night club* 1 on phonograph records, is almost e? i tain. _ . . " C *

; This lavish | United Artists’ picture. richly ! set and cosI turned, with ifeany spect a c u 1 a r ■ scenes, and several original songs ?y Irving Berlin, ■nukes an Seal vehicle :o introluce Richnan to the screen.

Its ever-glamorous locale of btei. I stage life, night clubs, vaudeville, * i theatrical hotels, has never been j picted with more colour and movesMe than in this story. Some of the numbers, several * which are done in technicolour, *.*. breath-taking in their dazling effecu Particularly did the “Alice in Wonoe land’ scene, supposedly taking pfet in a Broadway revue, win gasps of t; miration from the spectators. MELODY AND DRAMA ; With all of this fascinating settix ‘ the drama of the story has not bee. neglected, and in his more intimi-. scenes Richman demonstrates that a* is an actor of subtlety and force is well as a singer. To James Gleason falls the taak £ adding much of the comedy of the pi*, ture. His characterisation of a tag. | hearted but undeniably hammy vaufe. j ville actor is both amusing and apjm.. I ing. I Joan Bennett, whose rise to scree: I sucess has been so rapid and k meteoric, plays opposite Pichmts fc the feminine lead. Her role is tfca: of a dancer and vaudeville perfonur and she lends to the part a decided” winning personality and unmet beauty. i Lilyan Tashman gives a realistic «ac j amusing characterisation as Gleason; j vaudeville partner, and Aileen Prinp* lends her stately beauty t*_- a prankj ent supporting role. Others in tte cast of prominence are Richard Tac- | ker, Eddie Kane, and Purnell Pratt. ■ Much of the credit for the picture! ! charm should go to the deft and eI pert direction of Edward Sloman, sai [ j blended together the many ingrec

ents of the lavish production into ■ smooth and flawless mosaic. ,