ST. JAMES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1029, 21 July 1930, Page 15

ST. JAMES

“ROOKERY NOOK” That England has not failed to snatch the golden opportunity that was thrust at her with the introduction of talking pictures, is proved conclusively in the now all-talking British production, “Rookery Nook,” now at the St. James Theatre. Adapted from the famous play by Ben Travers, tho dialogue is so crisp and conveys so much of the real English atmosphere to the listener that it is quite easy to see that it would have been sheer tragedy to have attempted to film “Rookery Nook” without an all-English cast. Tom Walls, Ralph Lynn. Winifred Shotter, Mary Brough and Ethel Coleridge have the leading roles in the new talkie. These stars, it is interesting to note, also filled the leading roles in tho London stago presentation of “Rookery Nook.” Ben Travers’s play as a talking film is delightful in many ways, but the really remarkable English diction deserves special mention. Every member of the cast speaks his or her “lines” so naturally that the pleasure of watching “Rookery Nook” is considerably enhanced by the ease with which ono may listen to it. So well ’ lias the recording been handled that it has brought forth loud praise from tho American sound experts. The Gramophone Company (His Master’s Voice) and the Western Electris Corporation are equally Responsible for this side of the film. A particularly line supporting programme of short talkies is also being presented. This includes a Fox Movietone News, an all-colour doll phantasy and an uproariously funny cartoon about cannibals.