NEW REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 966, 8 May 1930, Page 15

NEW REGENT

“THE TRIAL OF MARY DUGAN” The current programme at the New Regent Theatre will have its final presentation there this evening. This includes “The Love Doctor,” Richard Dix’s new talking comedy, and “Love Comes Along,’* a splendid romantic tale of South America, starring Bebe Daniels. “The Trial of Mary Dugan," Bayard Veiller's all-talking picturisation of the stage success of the same name, will begin an engagement at the Regent tomorrow. Bayard Veiller, author of the stage play, went to Hollywood under a special agreement with Metro-Goldwvn-Mayer to direct the screen adaptation. Veiller, whose earlier plays include "Within the Law” and "The Thirteenth Chair,” recently sailed for England and plans to produce his next piece abroad. "The Trial of Mary Dugan,” was in Auckland a year or two ago, and is now being presented by eighteen road companies in America and Europe. The picture has an all-star cast headed by Norma Shearer, Lewis Stone, who has the part of Edward West, the defence attorney: H. B. Warner, that of the prosecuting attorney, and Raymond Hackett, who played the role of Jimmy Dugan on tho stage and has the same part in the photoplay. Others in the cast include Olive Tell, Lilyan Tashman, De Witt Jennings, Mary Doran, Wilfrid North, and others.

The new picture is M.-G.-M.’s latest all-dialogue production, following such sensationally successful pictures as "Broadway Melody." Miss Shearer was personally selected by Mr. Veiller for the title role, despite the fact that she was entirely without stage or "talkie” experience. Her voice is reported to be one of the best yet encountered among screen players, in its recording quality. In transferring "Mary Dugan’* from stage to screen, Mr. Veiller is said to have adhered to the original dramatic treatment. Courtroom dialogue provides the action and setting and the stage production is shortened slightly to conform with film requirements.