“THE VAGABOND KING”

Hawera Star, Volume L, 6 August 1930, Page 9

“THE VAGABOND KING”

A iMA RYEL LOUS PRODUCTION

MATTNE'E OPENING TO-DAY'

■Productions and super-productions-lravq been, presented at the Opera House, [Rawera, in the past, bat none o'f them! came up to the stupendous magnificence of “The Vagabond King,” which, was shown for the first time at the matinee to-day. It is only when one sees such a perfect production- as “The Vagabond King” that one realises just hew the talkies have come to eclipse the legitimate stage. No theatrical producers could' possibly stage such sets, such groupings, and such ensembles as are, presented! in “The A'agabond King,” all technicolour film. “The A'agabond King” must surely 'be the greatest of all the. musical productions that 'have po far been produced. It is filmed entirely in technic'olour. From the opening scene in the tavern of the, Parisian vagabonds to the final scene at the gallows, when King Louis XI. pardons the man, who has- saved Paris from the army of the Duke of Burgundy, there is j ust one riot of colour and beauty -after another. There is a beautiful set of the interior of Notre Dame, and! there are scenes in the royal palace that beggar description. 'There is- a gorgeouslycoloured rose garden, the royal throne room, andl a. masquerade ball which have to be seen to be believed. And there are, the gorgeous loth century dresses, noted for their, beauty, their colour, and their- stateliness., And. above all, there) is Dennis King, the famous English actor, who portrays Francois Vi 11 on, the king of the A’agabonds, who, for one (week, is allowed to rule as king of Prance. There is also the beautiful, goldeln-voiced Jeannette MacDonald, who is cast a.s Katherine del Yaucelles, niece of the weak Louis XI. and the woman who. saves Villon from! the gallows. Both arc accomplished artists and both possess remarkable voices. Mr King’s performance as the Atogabond' King, the poetic leader of the rabble o'f Paris, will never be forgotten. To hear him .sing tlvd well-known “Song of the Abagabonds’ ’ is an event, as a 1 so to hear him, transformed from vagabond to courtier, sing with Miss MacDonald the lilting melody “Only a Rose.” “If I wore King” is another of Mr King’s solos., With Miss MacDonald, he is heard ini “Love Me To-night. ” Perhaps one of the must beautiful songs in, the sircar was “Some Day,” which is sung by Miss MacDonald in Act I. and, repeated later with full chorus. The part o'f King Louis is taken by Mr 'O. B. lieggie, mho gives the most outstanding performance of all. Ills characterisation of the! weak minded, petulant King of France is a revelation. Miss Lilian, Roth is seen as Hugnette, the tavern wt#ich, who gives her life for Arillon, and who sings must admirably the famous “Abilse Hugucttc. ” There is an enormous chorus, which touches the heights in the" singing c-f the “ Song of the- A’agabonds” as they march against- the Burgundian Army, and! defeat it. 'This scene is easily the must stirring vet presented to any audience. (One must not forget the orchestra, which is a feature of the picture. Prior to the actual film the orchestra is both, seen and heard playing selections of Rudolf Frimi’s popular airs that- have helped to make “The A’agabond King” the great success that it is. The orchestra is prominent throughout the production. There is* a supporting programme consisting of an: interesting .sound gazette and an amusing sound cartoon. The booking for to-night, to-morrow and Friday is heavy and intending patrons are advised to book early. There will be matinees again to-mor-row and Friday.