THE REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 103, 22 July 1927, Page 15

THE REGENT

“OLD IRONSIDES” The Paramouit masterpiece, “Old Ironsides,” which is to be shown at the New Regent to-night, tells a story

of daring youths against a background of an historical incident in 1803, when America and England joined hands to ric the Mediterranean* Sea of Tripolitai pirates who had fox years been exacting monetary tribuifrom great Powers The picture shows how the youths who manned the old

sailing frigate, Old Ironsides, stormed the fort in the Bay of Tripoli and rescued men and women who were under ransom.

To see the replica of the towering Fort of Tripoli, built for the filming of a sea spectacle, frowning through its gun barrels over the blue bay of Catalina Isthmus, brings to mind a massive painting done in coloure with a giant’s brush. For in the sea vista stretching below its rockbound wall, and \vithin easy ’eye-view of its battlements. ramparts and turrets, are lazy gunboats moored as though on glass, stripe-winged sloops, lateen-sailed corsairs, and great canvas-l'igged frigates, including mighty “Old Ironsides.” When Cruze was assigned to direct the picture by Paramount, he sailed to Tripoli to get maps, drawings, photographs and paintings to be used for a faithful reproduction of the original locations. The photographs and plans of the Fort of Tripoli were turned over to Edward J. Smith, art director at Paramount's Hollywood studio. Infinite' detail went into the architectural plans and specifications. Featured players in the cast of this picture are Esther Ralston, Wallace Beery, George Bancroft, Charles Farrell and Johnny Walker. Colin Crane, the eminent baritone, will appear afternoons and evenings. Mr. Crane will sing “The Stoker,” “Tramp, Tramp, Tramp” and will render the dramatic monologue, “The Difference.” Eddie Horton, by special request, will play the intermezzo from “Cavalieri Rusticana” and will introduce a further series of popular songs to his popular novelty slides. The new operatic orchestra, which is under the baton of Mr. Maurice Guttridge, has achieved such a triumph and raised the musical standard of the Regent still higher, will play the overture, “Hungarian Lustpiel,” by Keler Bela, and also a specially arranged musical scene for “Old Ironsides.” Big matinees with full orgfin accompaniment and vaudeville are held daily at 2.30, whilst there are continuous pictures from 11 a.m. The evening performance commences at 7.45. Box plans, which are filling rapidly for this big season, are available at Lewis R. Eady and Sons, and at the theatre (phone 46-888).