NEW REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1031, 23 July 1930, Page 17

NEW REGENT

LAST DAYS OF “CONDEMNED” When Ronald Colman’s first alltalking picture, “Bulldog Drummond,” was shown, it did not seem humanly possible to improve on this great production and yet in his newest picture, “Condemned,” which is now at the Regent Theatre, Ronald Colman has reached still newer heights of artistry and dramatic savoir faire. Once again Colman is seen as the Romantic, yet loquacious lover, among settings the like of which never have been seen on any screen before. In “Condemned” he is seen as a French pickpocket who is deported to the notorious French penal colony. Devil’s Island. Here are shown the tortures inflicted on the inmates, the drama of prison life, and the seething unrest ever present among the convicts. Excellent talkie shorts are also shown. * Real he-men cowboys provide genuine atmosphere in “Montana Moon,” Joan Crawford’s new all-talking starring vehicle, which is coming to the Regent on Friday. Instead of hiring his cowboys from filradom, Mai St. Clair, the director, waited until he took his company on location to the San Jacinto Mountains. where he coaxed the regular ranch cowpunchers and fence riders to take part in the musical Western. Johnny Mack Brown plays the leading male role in this Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture, and the cast includes Ricardo Cortez. Cliff Edwards, Benny Rubin and Karl Dane. STRAND “THE HOTTENTOT” The thrill of the thundering hoofs — a dangerous racecourse—a terrorstricken and ludicrous rider wearing his sweetheart's colours desperately trying to make the high jumps—an uncontrollable horse, “The Hottentot,” dashing to the finishing line—the glory of achieving a great victory. Such is one of the many colourful scenes in “The Hottentot,” at the Strand Theatre. All the clamour and glamour of the steeplechase and the fascination of watching trained and spirited horses forging to the front are brought to the screen with sound and dialogue. The second attraction is “Roadhouse Nights,” a picture which deals with the varying fortunes of reporters, rum-runners and “roadhouse” entertainers.

With the signing of Georgia Caine, the cast of Fox’s “Good Intentions” has been completed. William K. Howard is author as well as director.