ENTERTAINMENTS.

Hawera Star, Volume L, 7 August 1930, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

‘THE VAGABOND KING.”.

A STUPENDOUS PRODUCTION

To classify the ‘‘Vagabond King” as a magnificent production, and the most outstanding since the advent of “talkies,” is no exaggeration, and the capacity audience who witnessed the epic sound picture at the Opera House last evening were fully appreciative of the fact, and that, successfully brilliant as had been the legitimate stage presentation, it was completely eclipsed by a super production. From a. musical viewpoint alone it is remarkable, and the popular airs are played and sung with perfection. The' settings could not possibly be staged in any theatre and some are beyond description for their sheer beauty and magnificence of scale.

As the leader of the vagabond rabble of Paris, who, for a week reigns as King of France, Dennis King, the famous English actoy, portrays Francois Ahllon as no other has done, and his singing of the “Song of the Vagabonds” and “If T AVere King” is a treat- rarely experienced. With the golden voiced Jeanette MacDonald, he is heard to perfection in “Love Me Tonight” and “Only a Rose,” the latter being perhaps the favourite of the beautiful melodies that are so much of the production. “Some Day” is another of Miss MacDonald’s numbers that will he remembered long after, and it is repeated with a full chorus'. Miss Lilian Roth is seen as Huguette, a tavern weneli. who gives Tier life for Villon, and who signs most admirably the famous “Valse Huguette.” There is an enormous chorus, which is deeply impressive in the singing of the “Song of the Vagabonds” as they march against the Burgundian Army and defeat it. The orchestra is a feature of the picture. Prior to the actual film the orchestra is both seen and heard playing selections of Rudolf Ftiml’a popular airs that have helped to make “The Vagabond King” ’tire great success that it is.

From the opening scene in the Beggars’ Tavern to the finale, when A 7 il- - life Is saved by Katherine de A r aucelles (Jeanette MacDonald), niece of the weak, petulant King Louis, there is a magnificence of setting that has not previously been attempted .so lavishly, or accomplished so perfectly, and throughout the film is in technicolour. There is an intimate glimpse of the interior of the cathedral Notre Dame that is amazingly beautiful; scenes in the royal palace, a masquerade bail and the rose garden, the rabble in the, tavern and the dresses and costumings of the loth century provide backgrounds that for their splendour have to be seen to he believed.

The story of how the King of the \ r agabonds saves Paris from the array of the Duke of Burgundy is cleverly unfolded, and the theme songs are splendidly introduced. The part of King Louis of France is one that demands unusual cleverness, and Mr. O’. B. Heggie scores a distinct hit in his portrayal of the degenerate and whimsical monarch. The whole caste, in fact, is the most outstanding that has appeared in any film production. The booking for “The A’agabond King” is exceptionally heavy, and as the season will conclude, on Friday evening, early reservations are advisable.