REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1056, 21 August 1930, Page 15

REGENT

“THE BAD ONE” Perhaps no other film document of recent years is so abundantly supplied with sheer entertainment value as “The Bad One,” the United Artists’ all-talking and singing comedydrama of the French waterfront cafes starring Dolores Del Rio, with Edmund Lowe, coming to the Regent Theatre today. Starting with the noisy Marseilles cafe scene, with a mechanical piano raising its cracked voice above the shout of men for wine, and more wine • • - - dancing and singing women and the busy activity of commission girls doling out drinks to sailors on carnival, the picture affords the star her greatest opportunity to date. With Edmund Lowe appearing with her for the first time since the pair made their memorable appearance in “What Price Glory,” Mis? Del Rio as “Lita” in ‘‘The Bad One,” is strongly reminiscent of “Charmaine” in the war story. Her character is that of a girl thrust by circustance into a typical seaport cafe, whose living depends on the exploitation of her charms, the timely winking of her eyes and her industry in refilling empty glasses In this role the star is obliged to exercise the lull emotional range; from coquetry to comedy and from wistful moodiness to tragedy when one of her innocent flirtations sets in lull motion the machinery of love. "The Bad One" demonstrates Miss Del Kio's aptitude for melodramatic action as well as characterisation in V °A ""number of most enjoyable talkie featurettes will be included in the new programme.