SUCCESS IN "TALKIES."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20378, 5 October 1929, Page 14

SUCCESS IN "TALKIES."

MISS PICKFORD'S DEBUT.

PLAY OF THE SOUTHERN STATES.

A new Mary Pickford, her golden curls and childlike innocenco replaced by bobbed hair and the pert manner of tho most sophisticated modern, was the magnetic force which drew an audience to pack the Strand Theatre to tho doors last evening. Tho occasion was tho first Auckland screening of Miss Pickford s first "talkio," an adaptation of a successful American drama called "Coquette. One of thoso plays which sweep suddenly from gcntlo comedy into deep tragedy, it imposes on the lady, still generally known as tho world's sweetheart, a much harder task than was ever imposed on her in silent films. She has to battle with situations which would tax fully the capabilities of a star among stage stars,' but she triumphs over obstacles and makes a most auspicious ''talkie" debut. "Coquetto" is a play of the Southern .States of America, a country peopled by chivalrous folk who place women on a pedestal. Norma Besant lives her young life in these sunny surroundings, lording it cheerfully over a host of young men who pay court to hor. She extorts tribute from them, in the shape of gorgeous boxes of flowers, breaks appointments with one to transfer her temporary affections to another, and generally rules the youth of the neighbourhood with a winning smilo and a coquettish simplicity of address. Into her life comes Michael Jcffery, a young man hardly eligible in anything except appearance, and with a habit of sneaking his mind without a care for consequence. The coquetto in the girl is suddenly exorcised. She realises she is in love, and at that with, a man unhesitatingly designated by her father as 1 trash. Tho boy rushes off to the hills to mako l.is fortune, but at tho end of three months he returns against his better .judgment to catch a fleeting glimpse of the girl who is waiting for him. People begin to talk and tho father, who loves his daughter more than anything else in tho world, takes tho law into his own hands There is shooting, and tho young man dies in the arms of the grief-stricken girl. . From then on to the end the note of stern drama is maintained. The girl is forced to blacken the name of her dead lover to save her father's life, but in a courtroom scene he sees through her sacrifice of deception and, as a Southern gentleman, makes supremo atonement. Mercifully, tho producers have not tried to force a happy ending, and for once the world's sweetheart vanishes from tho screen a pathetic and a tragic figure. There is genuine proof of Miss Pickford's artistry in this film. She speaks throughout in a gentle Southern drawl, which does not fall harshly on tho ear, and in the lighter scenes early in the film sho is liberal with thoso touches of graceful acting that have always distinguished her work. Her coquetry is exceedingly well done. Miss Pickford seems to bo endowed with the secret of perpetual youth. Although sho has discarded her "little girl" roles, she still presents a picture of refreshing youthfulness, bewildering to thoso who remember her in. tho old biograph days, when the talking screen was no mere than a dream. A strong cast gives Miss Pickford excellent support in "Coquette." The leading male role is excellently filled by Mr. John, Mack Brown, but ho must yield in placo for acting honours to Mr. Matt Moore, who gives a delightfully sincere performance as an ever-hopeful swain. He is one of the screen veterans destined to go far in "talkies." Mr. John Sainpolis acts with dignity as the father and his moments of wrath are admirably done. A young actor, Mr. William Janney, makes an excellent impression as tho heroine's younger brother, combining a flair for comedy with some sound dramatic acting. Tho supporting programme is particularlv good. The famous Llonzaley Quartet " provides chamber music of classic beauty, Mr. George Robey appears in an inimitable daino characterisation, almost 100 funny to be true, and Miss Ruth Glanville" makes it hard to believe that the saxophono can ever be employed as nn instrument of torture by one's nextdoor neighbour. The programme will bo repeated nightly for an extended season.