PLAZA AND TIVOLI

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 530, 6 December 1928, Page 15

PLAZA AND TIVOLI

TWO FINE COMEDIES j Small-town politics and small-town love affairs —and withal the tragedy of ! the last days of an old politician—have been made up into a really fine pic-

Man." which was shown for the first time at the Plaza and Tivoli Theatres last evening.. Charlie Murray, Lucien Littlefield and other notable comics in “The Head Mon” indulge in some riotous behaviour that bring* gales of laughter. The burlesque incidents, however, are part of a human, logical story, and they are set forth in effective contrast to some real drama and pathos Larry Kent, the attractive youngleading man. and Loretta Young, fresh and beautiful little leading lady, supply the romantic element charmingly. Some old ladies of the story, capably enacted by character women, bring roars of mirth. Notable among them are elderly twins, as alike as two ball bearings. The plot is that of :lie novel, photodramatised and spiced with many hilarious “gags.” Briefly, it deals with the fall of Murray from a high political situation to that of a village drunkard and genial ne’er-do-we!*, albeit the father of a beautiful girl. Through an ingenious combination of circumstances, he finds himself suddenly elevated again to the position he lost, that of “the head man” of A ready. The ingenuity of the plot lies in the manner of Murray's unexpected return to power, after years of striving for a “come-back” in his humble, ridiculed state. The villains of the piece, crooked politicians, do it for him without realising that they are making a hero and “foiling” themselves. The picture in general is packed with homely appeal, drama, suspense and wholehearted fun —everything that goes for the making of a fine evening’s entertainment. For good measure another bright comedy-drama was included on the same programme. This is “Hot Heels,” starring that wide-awake young man. Glen Tryon. The story concerns the hilarious adventures of a young small-town hotel owner who swaps his hotel for a full ownership of a travelling theatrical company, because he has fallen in love with the leading woman. His escapades and tribulations in putting the company on a paying basis mafte a merry tale. Raymond Hackett. who is at present playing the leading male role In “The Trial of Mary L>ugan” at the Century Theatre, Xew York City, has been given a motion-picture contract by Metro-Gold vyn - Mayer. Hackett will leave for the Culver City studios ;it the conclusion of the Xew York engagement of A 1 Wood’s melodramatic hit.

Noah Beery, Richard Arlen. Xoble Johnson and a nut'her of black extras have just completed scenes for Paramount’s adventure picture of the British Sudan. ‘ The Four Feathers,” under the direction cf Merian Cooper and Ernest TJ. Schoedsack, tl.e makers of “Chans-.” picture is baaed on thfamous story by A. E. W. Mason. One of the latest advices Uom the Paramoint studios in Hollywood announces the "Mr **e of the screen rights of "The Drums of Oudo.” the story by Austin Strong. It will be produced as an all-dialogue picture, and will be directed by Paramount * Director of Sound Effects, Rov Pomei roj •