Music and Drama

Grey River Argus, 9 February 1929, Page 12

Music and Drama

(By “OLD PRO.”)

COMING ATTRACTION. OPERA HOUSE. Paul Pedrini and his Royal Zambesi Baboons at the matinee, this afternoon. TOWN HALL. Allan Wilkie Shakesperian Players. February 19th., 20th., 21st., 22 nd. KUMARA. To-night Saturday, February 9th., Paul Pedrini and his Royal Zambesi Baboons. It gives mo great pleasure in recommending to Kumara theategoers. Paul Pedrini and his Royal Zambesi Baboon?. This is a star act what has appeared in practically every city the world. “Whisky’’ the prinicpal actor of the Baboons is really wonderful and must be seen to be realised. Paul Pedrini is an artist of the highest calibre, balances tables on his feet, or makes then dance round at his will, or rolls barrels into all grotesque revolutions imaginable. You had a great turn in your last S >4 urday nigh‘, Paul Pedrini and Bal>ooii3 are equally ,as good. Be sure and take the kiddies: —(“Old Pro.”).

BRITISH TALKIES HEARD IN PARIS. FILMS THAT WILL FIGURE IN FUTURE Hl STI RY. A special screen of Acoustic Films in Paris on Thursday, disclosed new and remarkable potentialities in this alLBri l ish sound process, writes “Tatlcr”, in a special report. The demonstration was a process that may be described as almost perfect, the only unfortunate aspect of the screening I. attended, being the pitifully poor projection which broke the film more than a dozen times, but even then did not hide the tremendous advances British Acou ties have made. It is my film opinion, adds “Tatler’s” description of the event, that British Aeousic Films are destined to play a tremendous part in the future of sound development. There are still improvements to be made, and the experiments will be carried on still further towards that end, but it was undoubtedly a British riurnph.

Special Reports by “Tatler” from Paris. A large and distinguished audience assembled at the Gumso Theatre here on Thursday evening, when a programme was presented by M. Leon Gaumont and M. Lokie Aubert. It was the first all-“ talkie” and sound programme given in France. The programme consisted of half a dozen short subject?, the first being a topical with an orches ral accom paninient by the British Acoustic Films system. It was followed by a short speech by Leon Gaumont which was very well recorded. I thought also that singing of a number from “La Bohemo” was rebarkably successful, while a violin solo was equally impressive., followed by a piano piece in which the sound reproduction was practically perfect.

The Main Picture. * The main picture, which was' entitled “The Waters of the Hills”, was not, I conclude, the most suitable vehicle for the demonstration because it possesses a rather thin story ajid a great deal of its length is long stretches of topical scenery down he Nile banks. With this feature picture, however, the British Acoustic process again gave a perfect synchronisataion and one could not fail to observe its distinct merit despite the fact that the film continually broke in the machine. The projection in this particular case was the worst I hav e seen for many years and that the film was so well received was actually an added tribute to it, seeing that the li'OFformance was stopped every few min utes while a break was repaired. Tremendous Strides. Despite all this, the demonstration was the most convincing that has been seen up to the present time, and it disclosed the tremendous strides that have actually been made. I thought the singing of a song from “La Boheme” was wonderfully ,W<‘ll done. The main picture, I must add, took nearly two hours to show, and my

final impression was that the event was certainly a triumph for British Acoustic Films. The motion picture reproduction of Pinero’s world-famous stage play “His Home in Order” scored an eleitric success on the occasion of its first presentation in New Zealand which took place at Wellington. Concerning it “The Evening Post” wrote as follows: — It is but seldom that one is privileged to see upon the screen such an admirable story, so well acted and photographed as is the British Dominions film, “Ilis House in Order”. The fi’med version reproduces Sir Arthm Wing Pinero’s celebrated stage play w'th unusual faithfulness, and the result is an entertainment of real merit. Tallulah Bankhead, the famous actress, supported by a cast of fine calibre is responsible for acting of a quality that is very rarely met with in motion picture. An outstanding performance of special appeal is presented by Master Pat Courtenay, a youngster of con-

spicuous ability, for whom a great future may be predicted. Large and. enthuiastic attendances applaud the picture nightly, and are likely to do so while “His House in Order” holds! the screen. <

Gosto Ekman, who plays the title lole in “The Golden Clown”, gives a heart rending picture of the irony of. Ihe motley which will live vividly in diama gains much of its effectiveness, not only from the fine performance of the memory for many a day. The the handsome Ekman, but also from the true-to-life characterizations of' Maurice de Feraudy and Kate Fabian! as an old time circus proprietor and his wife. Karina Bell, hailed by the Press as the “Alma Taylor” of Sweden, portrays the wife for whoso frail ties one has nothing but sympathy.