"CLOSE HARMONY."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20300, 6 July 1929, Page 12 (Supplement)

"CLOSE HARMONY."

URIGMT " TALKIE " PRODUCTION. The talking picture technique is licing rapidly developed. The dio-hards may scoff at tho entertainment provided for them I>v " I'ooniing .shadows," but the fact remains that an improvement is witnessed in the new medium with the production of every fresh " talkie." One of the latest Paramount films, " Close Harmony," is a revelation of progress —a picture full of freshness and sparkle, with .songs and dialogue definitely adding to its merit. It was screened privately last ■week and opens a season at the Regent Theatre this evening.

The " talkie " is as yet rather young to have produced any definite standards for criticism. Tlio host avenue of approach seems to he to compare a dialogue production with a hypothetical silent production of the same storv. " Close Harmony " stands up I" this test well. As a silent film, it would have been an excellent sample of that cheerful light comedy which the Americans can at times produce admirably. The Movietone recording has given the film added life; it has strengthened the comedy. Without Movietone, the film would lose half its

power. Paramount is producing some capable " talkie " artists. Mr. William Powell lias welcomed the change by jumping into the first flight of actors and, judging by his work in " Close Harmony," Mr. Charles Rogers is likely to follow the sanio course. He has done some excellent •work in silent pictures, and now he combines good looks, acting ability, and a type of ingenuous comedy with a pleasing speaking voice. There are American accents and American accents; if all were like Mr. Rogers' sunny drawl there could be no fear that the " talkies " would contaminate our speech. lu "Close Harmony" Mr. Rogers is a struggling conductor of a jazz band. Ho is seen rehearsing lus players in a boarding house. There is a landlady who has no car for what we moderns are pleased to call music, and the rehearsal is rudely interrupted. Later, the young leader, bowed down under the weight of a heterogeneous collection of musical instruments, sneaks downstairs to join his comrades elsewhere. At the fatal moment the big drum slips from his grasp and ■wakes tlio echoes in the sleeping establishment.

Landladies arc notoriously barren of the finer human emotions. This particular specimen, not content with giving tho young men what may be called a " piece <if her mind," enlists the aid of a constable so that she can retain the instruments in lieu of rent, which must always be owing to landladies. W hat could bo more natural than that beauty, in the person of Miss Nancy Carroll, should come to tho aid of genius in distress, varying to ;l certain extent an ago old tradition of tho drama.

This marks a turning point in the career of the young jazz band leader. With continued aid of tho young revue star ho sets his foot 011 the ladder to theatrical fame, striving for the thousaiid-dollar-a-ivcek contract that will enable him to consider matrimony. From then 011 the story takes several novel twists. Soino elements of drama are introduced, but the underlying note of bright comedy is never overlooked.

Mr. Rogers revels in his work as the jazz band leafier, and lie lias ail excellent band under him. They play with what ■the Americans aptly call " pep." Their " pep " was infectious in its reaction on a small group at a private screening, and should he greatly magnified before a larger audience. The climax of the band music comes when Air. Rogers, losing for a few minutes, his faith in woman, puts inoro " pep" into his band by playing every instrument in turn. It is a most effective piece of work. Miss Carroll has a most pleasing personality which radiates from the screen. Sho sings and dances in the stage scenes ivith the ease and grace of one who was actually a musical comedy star on Broad--way, and makes tlio most of somo bright lines in (he dialogue. When it cornes to comedy, the real star of the piece is Mr. Hurry Green, who will be remembered for his work in Givo and Take," when the play was presented hero by the Wlliamson management a few years ago. He has the rolo of a Jewish theatrical manager, and ho gives a performance so genuinely funny _ that one almost loses bight of his artistry. He should make his mark with character work in the " talkies." Excellent, too, are Mr. Jack Oakie and Mr. " Skeets" Gallagher as a pair of "vaudeville artists. 'lhey do a variety Ringing act which is one of tlio brightest spots of the picture, and their exploits as .l couple of Lotharios off stage arc quite as good. . "Close Harmony" is the brightest " talkio " yet screened here. '1 lie recording of sound, excellently done, has not interfered with tlio photography, as was the case in several of the early productions. Tlio light story has been well treated throughout and the film should be assured of a successful Auckland season.