STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 417, 27 July 1928, Page 14

STRAND

“LOVES OF CARMEN” Out of its secret storing place from which many outstanding film giants have come since the reopening of the Strand last December as a longseason theatre, the Strand management has brought “Loves of Carmen.” Claimed to be one of the most notable film productions of the year, “Carmen,” which commences its season t&day, commands attention. This film, one of the most pretentious pictures attempted in the United States in recent years, has in the principal roles Dolores Del Rio and Victor McLaglen. This picture is out of the ordinary in more ways than one, for it brings before the camera in the same production, two popular players who leaped to fame in another Walsh production. They are Victor McLaglen and Dolores Del Rio, who played Captain Flagg and Charmaine respectively in “What Price Glory.” In addition the cast includes Ben Bard and Don Alvarado. Raoul Walsh, the director, was given every opportunity to make an exceptional “Carmen,” and he has delineated this striking character in a manner new to the screen. The director did not want for magnificent costumes and authentic backgrounds. A Fox representative was sent to Spain for a year, and assembled an elaborate wardrobe for the picture. The acting of a notable cast, excellent scenic effects and above all, striking realism, make “Loves of Carmen” one of the most effective screen products of a long time. A magnificent operatic prologue, “A Scene from Carmen,” will be presented on the stage. All those who saw the gorgeous stage surprise arranged by Miss Bettina Edwards for “The Gaucho,” will look forward with keen interest and pleasant anticipation to this second magnificent effort by this talented dancer. Under the conductorship of Miss Eye Bentley, the popular Strand Symphony Orchestra will provide a special musical programme. “ Carmen” wall be played as the overture, while “La Source” Ballet Suite (Delibes), “Per Omnes” (Chomel), “Maid of the Mountains’ (Fraser-Simson), “Peppa,” from “Dance Espagnole” (Michiels), “Genevieve de Brabant” (Offenbach), “Verbena de la Paloma” (Breton), “Habenera” (Herbert), “La Morena” (Chaminade), and “Lucrezia Borgia” (Donizetti) will be included in the incidental music.

One of those interesting nature study films, entitled “Strange Friendships,” and an Aesop Fable, compose the supporting pictorial programme.