"THE BROADWAY MELODY"

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19715, 4 September 1929, Page 7

"THE BROADWAY MELODY"

THEATRE ROYAL TALKIES. "The Broadway Melody," Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's great all-talking, all-singing, alldancing picture, which will open at the Theatre Royal on Thursday, September 12th, is interesting because its makers are reported to consider it the best possible advance messenger for their other all-dialogue films. Those whose ears are close to the tickings of the hidden machinery of motion pictures have heard reports about this particular film for some time. First there were the usual conferences. Would a stage play or musical comedy be translated to the screen t Then there was word that Edmund Goulding had written an original story with ' "Tin Pan Alley" and the stage, both behind the footlights and behind the scenes, for a setting, and that Harry Beaumont, who did "Our Dancing Daughters," would endeavour to get motion significant to the eye and sonnd not entirely unpleasant to the ear, oat of a cast headed by Charles King, Anita Page, and Bessie Love. Apparently on the theory that too many cooks cannot spoil a meal, when each is engaged upon his special dish, James Gteason, author of "la Zat Sot'" and "The Shannons of Broadway." and Norman Houston were given the job of writing smart dialogue; and Arthur • Freed wrote the lyrics and Nacio Herb Brown wrote the music for the songs, ' which include "Broadway •Melody," "You Were Meant for Me," and "Love Boat." A Sprinkling cf Technicolour was added, and a musical comedy chorus was called upon freely. Then the word sent out was that the company was more than ordinarily pleased with its great all-talking film. That its satisfaction was well founded has been proven by the enthusiastic reception given the picture on its premiere at the Astor Theatre in New York City and its opening nisht at Sid Grauman's Theatre in Hollywood. Wherever the picture has been shown it has been accorded unlimited praise. The box plans open at The Bristol on Monday next.