PRINCESS AND TIVOLI

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 92, 9 July 1927, Page 14

PRINCESS AND TIVOLI

“OH, BABY!” “Oh, Baby!” which is now being shown at the Princess and Tivoli Theatres, is released by Universal. It marks the screen debut of Little Billy, diminutive vaudeville star, who is supported by Madge Kennedy, Creighton Hale, Ethel Shannon, Flora Finch and l>avid Butler. The story was written and directed by Harley Knoles, with the screen adaptation credited to Arthur Hoerl. At the outset we see him as a prize-fight manager, who, when viewed with his gigantic and muscular boxers, appears as the reincarnation of Tom Thumb. Charley, one of his sporting friends, comes to him with a hard-luck story. He needs a wife and an eight-year-old daughter immediately to win the million dollar inheritance of a wealthy old aunt who has demanded that he bring his family to visit her. To carry out the hoax, Charley persuades Little Billy to impersonate his daughter Evangeline, while a magazine writer who is interviewing the prize-fight manager consents to pose as wife to his worried friend. From this point the complications descend upon Billy thick and fast. In a little pink silk dress and wig of luxuriant blonde curls the arena chief enters the home of Aunt Phoebe. Her beautiful companion, Miss Bond, cuddles and pets him, and insists on arranging a child’s party. This and other embarrassing moments rain swiftly upon the head of Little Billy, who is dying to smoke a long black cigar, and is worried sick for fear he will not be back at Madison Square Garden to coach his fighter to victory. The entire development of the story is one that will delight all lovers of laughter. It is a screaming success every inch of the way.