'CITY OF SONG'

Evening Star, Issue 21012, 28 January 1932, Page 7

'CITY OF SONG'

COMMENDABLE BRITISH TALKIE “ The most commendable and beautiful achievement in the history of motion picture production.” This is how one noted English critic sang his praise of ‘ City of Song,’ which opens tomorrow at the Regent Theatre. And this opinion is typical of every line that can possibly be written in criticism of the picture. In fact, after seeing ‘ City of Song ’ at a private screening yesterday one is at a loss to know how to attempt to dc~?ribo its charm and beauty. Mere words cannot hope to convey the lea-t impression of the treat of delightful lentertainment in store for all who see this outstanding screen triumph. Introducing to New Zealand audiences three new stai u Jan Kiepura, Betty Stockfield. and Hugh Wakefield, the picture transports the audience on the magic wings of romance to picturesque Naples, to the far-famed beautiful Isle of Capri, and then to London, as its story unfolds.

Jan Kiepura, renowned' Viennese opera tenor, brings a golden voice and a radiant personality to the talking screen. Hailed by competent judges as not only the natural successor to Caruso, but “ possessor of the wonder voice of the century,” he has shown histrionic gifts of the highest order—a sincere and accomplished actor who plays the role of the handsome young lover with an intense naturalness and attractiveness that place him amongst the screen’s most fascinating personalities. The magio of his speech and acting is no less thrilling than the golden notes of his lyrical voice—a voice that will awaken responsive echoes in all audiences throughout the world. For Jan Kiepura personifies and embodies romance in all its joys and sorrows.

Hailed as the crowning achievement of British motion picture art filmed in Naples—city bf laughter and life—city of song—where every day is a day of romance and every song a song of love. Amid this ..magic realm of melody and romance blossoms the screen’s sweetest love story, a story of the joys of youth, gaiety, gladness, stolen hours of madness. 1 City of Song ’ is a picture of an out-of-the-way character. England has produced nothing like it before. Miss Betty Stockfield is a new star of particular charm, a blonde beauty of the Zena Dare-Gladys Cooper type, so much admired by English audiences the world over, whose acting is up to a very high standaru. As Claire Winter, a wealthy English girl of independent, not to” say loose habits, she meets Giovanni Gavallone (Jan Kiepura) as a guide in Naples, and when he sings to her she at once falls in love with him and conceives the idea of taking him to London and making him a great star. But Giovanni finds life in London very strange, and creates a scene in a public ballroom on the night previous to Ids first concert. So Giovanni returns to h;.j beloved Naples, and seeks solace with an old sweetheart. Seats can be reserved at The Bristol'or the theatre.