NEW REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 521, 26 November 1928, Page 15

NEW REGENT

TWO FINE PICTURES Two big pictures, singing and jazz, comprise the excellent "programme at the New Regent Theatre again this evening. The first picture is an unusual combination of circus tents and revival meetings, but the Plot is made logical by the acting or the leading player, Esther Ralston, who appears as Hallie, a circus girl. In a small town the carnival pitches its tents across the street from the .tent of Isiah (Hobart Rosworth), travelling revivalist. One night a rainstorm drives * patrons of the carnival into Isaiah’s tent. The carnival folks go tod* There Hallie is arrested, charged \vish crookedness and gambling at the carnival. The next day in court she pretends to reform and Isaiah intercedes for her. The judge paroles her for 90 days in Isaiah’s care. The carnival is ordered out of town. Hallie realises that Isaiah is a fine, sincere old fellow, and she decides to help him. Using circus tactics, and speaking from the platform herself, she makes his revival meetings hugely successful. The second picture, “The Big Killing,” is a show in itself. This is the latest Wallace Beery and Raymond Hatton comedy effort and is quite as laughable as their previous pictures. ; The story centres around a mountain feud between two families into which Beery and Hatton, posing as sharpshooters, starts the family feud and the comedy sequences of the picture. Mary Brian and Gardner James appear as the principals. “The Big Killing” is another of the new type of melodramatic comedy pictures in which Wallace Beery and Raymond Hatton are playing with such suegess. Increased popularity is the lot of the new Stage Band show at the Regent. Snappy jazz numbers follow one another with surprising rapidity, and an excellent reception is accorded to each, but particularly to the singing and dancing of Stella Lamond. Easily the best presentation is “The Evolution of Jazz,” produced by Mr. Maurice Diamond. Silhouetted against a background of soft blue, dancers show the old minuet, waltz and the modern ideas in black-bottom and Varsity dreg. Freddie Hodges dances very cleverly and another bright item is the musical satire on “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” by Mr. Maurice Guttridge’s Orchestra.