REGENT THEATRE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20026, 6 September 1930, Page 11

REGENT THEATRE.

"THE VAGABOND KING." One of the most romantic and glamorous plot* ever utilised for a dramatic play waS that on which "The Vagabond King is built. After enjoying years of success on the stage it was only to be expected tha,t the story of Francois Villon would ultimately be transferred to tho talking screen, and . the Paramount all-techuicolour production of the play will be presented at the Regent Theatre next week. Tho story of thia lawless, humbly-born, almost legendary figure of mediaeval Pario requires little or no repetition, for the vagabond poet around whom there has beon flung a robe of lomance and heroism is still a powerful drawing card when people are on the qui vive for soinething really dashing and colourful. In film form his remarkable history makes fascinating telling. Dennis King, the English actor«inger, plays Villon with amaiing vigour, and he has a robust tenor which is hearo in the famous numbers of the play. Uifl duet with Jer.nette McDonald, who play® ICatherine, "Only a Rose." will not readily be forgotten "The Vagabond King" simply riots with gorgeous scenes, and when they aie not gorgeous they are vast and impressive. Tho march of the Parisians, under the despised Villon, upon the invadiug_ Burfrundians;' is one of the big scenes in the picture, as is thp final scene, when the crafty King is making Villon pay the price of his boldness. The cast is constituted of the best artists available. With Dennis King is Jeanette McDonald, who created such a favourable impression in "The Love Parade" with Maurice Chevalier. Lilian Roth is Huegette. the most dramatic figure in the p!ay;,o. P. He-rgio is Kins Loais. an a"tor who can "steal" a scene from the greatest of them: and Warner Oland is tho sinister Grand Martial of France. The box plan is at The Bristol Piano Company.