"THE BAD ONE”

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1057, 22 August 1930, Page 14

"THE BAD ONE”

DOLORES DEL RIO AND LOWE AT REGENT VIVID STORY OF ROMANCE All the romance of a Marseilles waterfront cafe, with its wine and song, dancing girls and rough men, is shown in the cleverly-acted film, “The Bad One," which commenced its season at the Regent Theatre y e *t e rday : The vivid story has a gripping interest which should attract Auckland picture-goers. Portraying- the character of a dancer and singer at a waterfront cafe in Marseilles, Dolores Del Rio has a role which only she could play with such perfection. Then, with Edmund Lowe as the swaggering Don Juan of the seas, who deserts his ship for the sole purpose of winning that fascinating dancer and singer, one is instinctively reminded of one of the great hits of the past, “What Price Glory.” But somehow, there is more lure about “The Bad One”; perhaps it is more romantic. One is gripped by the roystering Lowe, with his merry dialogue and also by the beauty and charm of Dolores Del Rio. John Farrow was the author of the original story and he obtained his inspiration on the island of Tahiti, where he met the girl whom Dolores Del Rio impersonates. And Farrow writes with some authority, for he has been attached to the sea most of his life any many years ago shipped before the mast on a sailing vessel freighting copper to New Zealand. But the screen version has brought out just that touch which FarroW could never have hoped for in his original story. The story opens with Jerry Flanagan (Edmund Lowe) leaving his ship to seek the love o Lita, the Spanish dancer and singe) of the cafe. Hi proves a handj “heaver-out,” anc con se q uently ii given a job at th< cafe, which is hi) first step in th« campaign to wir over the dancer He meets with littl success and when ne sees ner paying more than usual attention to another he becomes disgusted and leaves the job. But Lita has learned to love him and follows him, and after much protesting and explaining the pair come hand-in-hand back to the cafe, making plans en route for an early marriage. But the wedding day brings an unforeseen happening. Olaf Swenson, whom Lita had formerly promised to marry, merely for the purpose of getting rid of him, arrives orj the scene and claims her. Thrillijig things happen and in the end the sailor knocks him out. The gendarmes arrive and Jerry is held for murder, for Swenson was killed when his head hit the floor. Jerry is sentenced to a term of imprisonment on an island and refuses to see Lita, believing that she had tricked him. From then on intriguing episodes take place. Lita becomes engaged to one of the guards merely that she may get to the island to see Jerry. There follows a great fight, and a mutiny among the prisoners. There are thrilling scenes, and the picture provides a most fitting finish. Among other screen favourites in the picture are George Fawcett, Mitchell Lewis, Ullrich Haupt, Don Alvarado. Thus Mexico and France are both well represented in the cosmopolitan cast of “The Bad One,” which rocks with the bounding humour of strong men on shore leave, making merry in the gay haunts of Marseilles, which is alive with dancing girls—all flirting, laughing and loving. Throughout, the picture is flavoured with song and dance, and Don Alvarado reveals a fine voice in the singing of “O Sole Mio.” The scenes are realistic, especially those at the island prison. The supporting programme is a first class one. “Fifty Million Husbands” is chock-full of amusing situations, and gives the adventures of a newly- j married couple whose flat is suddenly i invaded by the previous occupants, who were of a quarrelsome nature. Charlie Chase is the young husband, and his experiences with his rowdy visitors provide much amusement. Quite an original touch is found in “Hook, Line, and Melody,” in which the activities of three fishermen on a canoeing and fishing expedition up one of the picturesque Canadian rivers are shown. There is also one of the clever Aesop sound fable series, "Barnyard Melody,” while the Metrotone Sound News completes the programme. The news reel includes a variety of interesting scenes.