"BIRD OF PARADISE"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21344, 19 November 1932, Page 14

"BIRD OF PARADISE"

ATTRACTION FOR ST. JAMES'

: "Having applied some vision, some imagination, having an intelligent perception of the indubitable fact that what pleased and moved people of the last generation will do the same with people of this generation, provided the terms of presentation are in the language and form of to-day, Radio has made of this stage one of the most colourful and thoroughly pleasing entertainments of the •year." So writes an enthusiastic critic of TBird of Paradise," the lavish production shortly to be seen at the St. James Theatre.

* ; With the alluring and exotic Dolores Del Rio in the role of a Hawaiian princess \vho falls in love with a young American (Joel McCrea), and such well-tried and capable players as John Halliday, Bkeets Gallagher and Bert Roach, the picture has all the elements of first-class screen-entertainment. Additional interest is lent the production by the fact that it is directed by King Vidor, one of the cleverest men ir. Hollywood, who is noted for the spectacular manner in which he treats the films for which he is responsible.

Miss Del Rio is said to excel herself > in this production and those who have ! witnessed her previous pictures will be ' eager tcTsee her again in role which perhaps no other actress could take with greater skill. Mr. McCrea, also, is reputed to give his best performance in pictures »t6 date. » Another critic writes: "The photos graphv is a treat to the eye. The musii cal score of Max Steiner is the best that » has been written for a sound picture. ' Whoever - staged the native dances, tribal J : cerenVonies and accounted for most of {that native atmosphere, should be given j Some sort of a prize. The treatment com- ► l)ines the finest possible elements of mass i Bcree^i^otertainment; romance, beauty, ' pathos, melodrama, music, simplicity of theme, appeal to all classes and ages."