NEW REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 243, 4 January 1928, Page 15

NEW REGENT

“MANON LESCAUT” Direct from its sensational run at the New Gallery Kinema, London, “Manon Lescaut,” the latest U.F.A. offering, is now being shown at the New Regent. Based on the romance by Abbe Prevost, and the famous opera by Massenet, “Manon Lescaut” appeals to the cultured class as well as the multitude. In reviewing “Manon Lescaut,” the British Press as a whole classes it as a masterpiece in every sense of the word. One critic goes as far as to state that “were it not for the occasional production of such pictures, one might come to think that picture-production was a lost art.” Another says: “It is a powerfully human drama, with its characters being real instead of shadows, for they seem to think and act just as real human beings would have thought and acted in real life.” Miss Lya de Putti, who will be remembered for her excellent work in “Variety,” does the best work of her career as the fascinating Manon. a role which she interprets most artistically, for her joys and her sorrows are just the joys and sorrows of a living human being. Dr. Arthur Robison, the celebrated Continental director, certainly deserves credit for the manner in which the whole production was carried out under his personal supervision, for “Manon Lescaut” is the type of motion picture which sets a new standard in production and tends to stimulate other producers to exert their efforts to reach its level. Russo and Bradford, the operatic vocalists who scored such a remarkable success during their recent season at the Regent, will be heard for two more nights only. Their new programme opens with “The Blue Danube” duet, and includes a duet from “II Trovatore.” “I Want You Beside Me," and a. Spanish duet, “Aga, Aga, Aga,” while Signor Russo sings “Lolita.” Eddie Horton features appropriate old-time airs at the organ, and a specially arranged musical score is rendered by the Regent operatic orchestra, under the baton of Maurice Guttridge. . , , The supporting programme includes an interesting English Gazette, a very clever Mutt and Jeff cartoon, and a beautiful Patlie review.