STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1059, 25 August 1930, Page 15

STRAND

“AT THE VILLA ROSE” Made by the same company 'which was responsible for such successes as “Rookery Nook” and “Splinters,” the talkie, “At the Villa Rose,” now at the Strand Theatre, is essentially English, in spite of the fact that the leading character is a Frenchman. Apart from those players who are given the roles of French people, the actors speak the unaccented English which is only found in the best British pictures. Although intensely fast in action, the film is never difficult to follow, and the denouement is most unexpected. The finish has been cunningly devised and tho most astute amateur detective in an audience would have to confess admiration for the ingenious solution of the mystery. The accomplished English actor, Austin Trevor, is remarkably successful as the French detective, I-lana\id, one of A. E. W. Mason’s most striking characters, and the French accent which he assumes for the occasion is very convincing.

Interesting talkie shorts are being shown on the same programme.

William Powell Ims completed work on “For the Defence,” his latest alltalking picture. Kay Francis is featured in the leading feminine role, and William Davidson. John Elliott, Thomas Jackson, Scott Kolk and James Finlayson are in the cast.