ST. JAMES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1025, 16 July 1930, Page 17

ST. JAMES

“ROOKERY NOOK” ON FRIDAY “No, Xo, Xanette” will screened at the St. James Theatre for only two more days. Although the talking screen version of this popular stage play has an entertaining story of a millionaire with philanthropic ideals, its main appeal lies in its musical •score. ■ Most of the- charming pieces which made the original stage play such a delight are retained,, augmented by a number .of other songs. Scenes amazing in scope and richness are also presented.

On Friday the St. James Theatre will present “Kookery Nook.” The Aldwych Theatre, London, lias become famous the world over as the home, and often the birthplace, of successful comedies. Since the days of that famous English farce, “To.ns of Money,” many brilliant shows have taken the stage. “Plunder,” “Thark” and “Rookery Xook” are. included among these. It has remained, however, for the talkies to give . screen life to Ren Travers’ “Rookery Xook,” the stage version of which, opening at the in July, 1926, ran until June 26 the following year, the run totalling 409 performances. Only the talking screen could possibly do justice to the subtleties of this uproarious farce, which bristles with laughter from beginning to end. “Rookery Xook” has been produced by the British Dominions Film Corporation, which claims that it is every whit as good as the original stage production, and there are abundant reasons why this should be so. The cast, including Tom Walls, Ralph Lynn, Winifred Shotter and Mary Brough, is the original Aldwych cast, and the picture was produced and directed by Tom Walls himself, than whom no one is more fitted to transfer the. quips and cranks to the talking screen. He plays the part of Clive Popkiss, an irresponsible, indifferent, though likeable fellow who “likes the ladies” better than, yes, even better than a good whisky and soda at the club. Ralph Lynn portrays the part of Gerald Popkiss, whose chivalry the winsomeness of Rhoda (played by lovely Winifred -Shotter) causes the whole of the trouble and “mix-up” in the seaside cottage, “Rookery Xook.” Mary Brough, who toured. Australia some years ago, is the fussy old housekeeper, while others in the excellent east are Robertson Hare, Griffith Humphreys and Ethel Coleridge. PRINCE EDWARD “The Great Gabbo,” an unusually fine dramatic picture starring Erich von Stroheim and Betty Compson, is now at the Prince Edward Theatre. Perhaps the most appealing character is the wooden dummy, “Little Otto.” through whom the better side of Gabbo’s nature manifests itself. The scenes in which he carries on a conversation with the doll are almost uncanny. In addition to all this, “The Great Gabbo” contains many beautiful stage sequences. Huge choruses, massive settings, catchy song numbers and beautiful colour photography bewilder the eye and charm the ear. “The Web of Love” setting is particularly magnificent and is climaxed by a spectacular adagio dance.