NEW REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1005, 23 June 1930, Page 15

NEW REGENT

“THE VAGABOND KING” When a stage production is rendered jpon the audible screen it is natural :o draw a comparison. But in tlie 2ase of "The Vagabond King” which opened at the Regent Theatre last week, a comparison is a paltry means of expressing the glamorous wonderment of this marvellous screen vergin’ fact, the film adaptation is so far superior in thrills and sheer beauty that there i-R no comparing it with tho original, beautiful as tins original King, as the master of the sword the leader of the vagabonds, the redeemer of Paris and the captor ot a princess s heart, leaps into the very front rank of romantic actor-singers ot the Cinema in his gorgeous portrayal of Francois Villon, the poet-hero ot -The Vagabond King.” • Louit IX Ufi'ayed by O. P. lleggie) is the weakling inns of France, besieged at I arm by the Burgundian army. By- a quuk of fatef Dennis Kins becomes so\ereign for a week. It is during this briei rei&rn that he meets Louis’s niece, the Princess Katherine (played by Jeanette MacDonald) and falls in and dlfe e ats S t e he ei BtrrgS'ndians with the ssa of treacherous Louis decides tnat King is too powerful and that he must be hanged. ' Tiod La Rocque, who is playing opposite Norma Shearer in "Bet Is Be for Metro-Goidwyn-Mayer, expects to make his debut soon as coinventor with Robert Piazei o . - answering telephone. La Roequi. "ho , ' a machine shop and laboratory built into his Hollywood hohse, claims the invention will not only answer calls, but will also take messages.