NEW REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1030, 22 July 1930, Page 15

NEW REGENT

“CONDEMNED”

Additional proof that Ronald Colman is one of the finest actors on the screen in this era of talking pictures is seen at the New Regent Theatre in "Condemned,” his latest starring picture for Samuel Goldwyn. His performance of the handsome, gallant convict of this picture of life in prison accented just that combination of romantic appeal, understanding humour and genuine tragic appeal which have long been features of his acting. Th© other members of the cast performed brilliantly as well. The producers seem to have ransacked the slums of California for criminal types in the mass scenes of the French convicts, and Ann Harding as the appealing heroin© made good use of both her extraordinary blond beauty and acting talent, in a striking contrast with th© sordid surroundings of the picture. "Condemned” would be an event In pictures even , without the services of such a cast, since its local© and direction earn it an extraordinary high place. Laid on Devil’s Island, the notorious French penal colony on the coast of South America, it gave remarkable and well-exploited opportunities to director and scenarist to exploit th© picturesque possibilities of "Th© Island of Living Death.” The sound effects achieved in the storm scene sequence and the remarkable flexibility of the dialogue and sound effects in general make it a new departure on the talking screen.

Several talkie shorts, complete a fine programme. Th© beautiful outdoors —hills, cliffs, canyons, shady bridle paths and happy cowboys singing by their campfires—that’s the background to “Montana Moon,” Joan Crawford’s latest M.-G.-M. triumph, which is coming to the New Regent Theatre on Friday.