STRONG DRAMA

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1016, 5 July 1930, Page 15

STRONG DRAMA

“UNDERTOW” AT THE PLAZA ALSO “THE LOST ZEPPELIN” i The outstanding achievement of j “Undertow,” the Universal all-talking ; picture, which opened at the Plaza Theatre last night, is the dramatic portrayal of an absorbing characterisation by the star, Mary Nolan. Hitherto, Miss Nolan in other films has given us just hints of her real ability. In “Undertow” she takes her place beside not only the great dramatic stars of the screen, but beside the greatest stars of theatrical history. Her performance as Sally, the pleasure-loving girl who married a lighthouse-keeper, is superb. in directing the picture, Harry Pollard, who became justly famous with the screen classic, “Show Boat,” has accomplished something which can be done only by a master and then onlv with a singularly powerful story. He has built real drama between three people only—sometimes between only two. Nothing further can be said than that in situations such as these, the interest, is not only sustained, but actually heightened. “Undertow” is an all-talkie, of course, and both Mary Nolan and Johnny Mack Brown, her leading man, have splendid screen voices. Brown, who also gives an outstanding performance, has a slightly Southern accent which is highly pleasing. The Plaza’s current programme also includes the splendid picture “The Post Zeppelin.” This is the brilliant story of Antarctic exploration which thrilled audiences at the Civic Theatre a few days ago. It stars Conway Tearle, Virginia Valli and Ricardo Cortez.