MAJESTIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 975, 19 May 1930, Page 15

MAJESTIC

BIG TALKIE PROGRAMME A gripping tale of two brothers — one a policeman and the other a thief —unwound across the screen of the Majestic Theatre again on Saturday, in “Dark Streets,” an all-talking First National production. After proceeding through scenes filled with drama and suspense, the story ended in a highly unusual denouement. We will not tell it here. Sufficient to say that it took the I audience by storm. “Dark Streets” depends for its story on the resemblance of the brothers, Jack Mulhall portraying both of them. One grew up in the way of the law, becoming a policeman, and the other found a career outside the law. They attempt to protect each other, although still remaining within the code of their own worlds. To complicate matters they are both in love with the same girl, played by Lila Lee, who, being able to pick and choose, can’t decide which one she wants most. Danny, the crook, aids his gang in the robbery of a silk warehouse, but as he is driving away Pat, the cop, recognises him through the windshield of the truck. Another policeman is killed in the get-away. Danny, however, has a perfect alibi. Pat warns Danny, and Danny in turn warns Pat to keep away from the gang’s territoWhen the gang waylays Pat, Danny comes to his aid to provide the spectacular ending. In the second feature on the programme, “Men Are Like That,” Hal Skelly plays his first comedy role. His four earlier pictures have brought him forward as one of the most versatile actors Hollywood has ever seen, his parts ranging from heavy tragedy to straight comedy, and requiring him to sing, dance, make love, dramatise and do many other things which many screen players never undertake during a life-time of screen playing. His serio-comic role in “The Dance of Life” brought him vividly to the picture-going public as a great character actor. He followed this part the heavy dramatic lead in “Woman Trap.” In “Behind the Make-up’ he had a pathetic and forceful character to portray. But, in “Men Are Like That,” he is the gusty, back-slapping, blustering bluffer who knows everybody, butts in everywhere, fixes everything, and by good luck climaxes the story with a happy ending. a” final attraction on the new programme will be a new and amusing Mickey the Mouse cartoon.