ENTERTAINMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 26 March 1930, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE :"BLACK MAIL," ALL-BRITISH

A unique event will take place at the Majestic Theatro this evening when the first all-English picture programme yet arranged in New Zealand, will be screen, ed, headed by the sensation all-talking attraction, "Blackmail," the first talkie to be made in England. The fact that the Australian censor saw fit to ban this feature caused a storm of protest at the time, which was only silenced when the Commonwealth Appeal Board allowed the film to be released. Subsequently "Blackmail" came to New Zealand, where tho censor, seeing nothing indelicate in it, released it with tho proviso that it was more Suitable for adult audiences. Since then, it has created remarkable interest throughout the Dominion. Apart from its thrilling story and its wonderful glimpses of London, including absorbing scenes right in the Criminal Investigation Department of the real Scotland Yard, the picture is notable in that we hear on the screen, for the first time, our mother tongue as it should be spoken. The cast is essentially English, John Langdon is the star, supported by the famous London actress, Anny On'dra, Donald Calthrop, one of the outstanding character actors at Home, and Cyril Ritchard, the Australian, who appeared several times in New Zealand with Madge Elliot. Wherever the film has been shown, in Germany, France, America and our own countries, it has earned unstinted praise. The story concerns a girl who is engaged to a detective. The couple go to an ice rink, where the girl meets a handsome stranger. She leaves her lover to go home with him. and on the way he suggests a visit to his flat. He is an artist, and offers to paint her. She consents, but soon finds that he has other intentions, and in the struggle he is killed. A blackmailer who had the artist in his grasp, now turns to the girl and her lover, who is assigned the case. He succeeds temporarily in gaining his end, but a new witness goes to Scotland Yard, and they discover him to be a notorious blackmailer wanted on several charges. Finally he is brought to bay, but falls through the roof of the British Museum to his death. In addition to "Blackmail," the management has been able to secure an all-English supporting programme, so that every. word and every scene on the Maiestic screen tonight will be British. Heavy booking is anticipated for this fine programme.

REGENT THEATRE: BEBE DANIELS IN "LOVE COMES ALONG"

"Love Comes Along" an all-talking, singing, music and dancing feature, starring Bebe Daniels with Lloyd Hughes, Ned Sparks, Montague Love, and a strong supporting cast, will be screened to-night and to-morrow night at 8 o'clock. This is Bebe Daniels' second all-talking, singing, dancing achievement and is considered to be her greatest song-drama truimph. "MADAM X" "Madame X," Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's all-talking version of the famous play of the same name, which will have its first showing in Nelson at the Regent iheatre on Friday 28th March, is the first full length directorial effort of Lionel Barrymoi'o\ and owes its modernised dialogue to Willard Mack, recently lured away from the stage to. write, direct and act for the vocal screen. Ruth Chatterton, who has the title role, was the first > stage star to act for cameras and microphones. Lewis Stone is Floriot," the husband of the traffic _ Madame X and Raymond Hackett is Raymond, her son. Much has been said about the novel effects secured by the elder Barrymore brother with the new technique he has evolved for the talking screen. This includes the "lapdissolve ' and other devices evolved by him lor speeding up the action. The screen version of this favourite stage masterpiece offers conclusive proof, according to critics who have viewed it of the superiority of the talking screen over the stage for the presentation of tense drama. The whole story is told in a series of gripping episodes which follow the tragic "Madame X" in her wanderings about the world, showing so much more than is possible on the stage