ALEXANDRA, GREEN LANE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 990, 5 June 1930, Page 16

ALEXANDRA, GREEN LANE

“Adventure on land and sea, comic complications on a destroyer combined with a romantic drama showing William Haines not only as the comedian, but as the delineator of the more serious side of life, mark the star’s first all-talking picture, “Navy Blues,” now at the Alexandra Theatre, Green Lane The new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production is one of the most elaborate starring vehicles Haines has ever had, and, under the deft direction of Clarence Brown, it sparkles with poignant bits of heart interest, interspersed among the comedy sequences, in a perfectly rounded piece of entertainment. Haines’s whimsical humour is not lacking, and there are many screamingly funny sequences.

Marie Dressier realises a life’s ambition in enacting the dramatic role of old Marthy in “Anna Christie.” Acclaimed as a comedienne for more than 40 years, Miss Dressier always harboured a great desire to portray a straight dramatic role. She was given an opportunity to gratify this yearning when Metro- Goldwyn- Mayer cast her in the character part in Clarence Brown’s screen version of the famous Eugene O’Neill play. Charles Bickford plays opposite Miss Garbo and George Marion again is seen in the role of her father, a part he created in the original stage presentation of the drama.