NEW REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 532, 8 December 1928, Page 15

NEW REGENT

TWO PICTURES AND STAGE BAND She loved “wisely, but too well. She met her doom when she really fell in love, and incurred the wrath of one of her most ardent admirers. That, in brief, is the story of “Loves of an Actress,’* Pola Negri’s greatest Paramount starring vehicle, now being shown at the New Regent Theatre. Miss Negri’s recent productions, “Barbed Wire,’’ “The Woman On Trial” and “Beggars of Love” have won wide acclaim, and to top off this list of successes, she is now presented in a story that gives her the greatest chance she has had for displaying her remarkable dramatic talents, and her abilities as a charmer and adventuress. The story is a tragic one, despite the fact that the original was a celebrated tragedienne of Eurone during the last century. She was a notorious heart-breaker, relishing the idea of twisting powerful political business and social leaders around her little finger. After years of this sort of thing, an unsophisticated youth (played by Nils Asther) came into her life. Then one of her lovers, in a jealous rage, threatened ruination for both. Full of dramatic moments and fairly bursting with power and gripping scenes, “Loves of an Actress” is by far the best Pola Negri production we have seen. Its type and characteristics remind one of this star’s far-famed European success, “Passion,” which, by the way, might have been a suitable title, even though the stories are by no means alike. In the supporting cast are Nils Asther, Paul Lukas, Mary McAllister, Nigel de Brulier, Philip Strange and Richard Tucker. Scenes for the Zane Grey story, “The Water Hole,” which is the second picture on the programme, were actually filmed in Arizona, the locale of the story. Jack Holt plays the leading role*in this drama of society life in the cities and primitive life in the desert. This week’s dancing and music presentation is staged on an exceptionally gorgeous scale in keeping with the title, “Bells and Bathing Belles.” Certainly the Sydney Regent Ballet make beautiful bathing belles, and their dancing, too, is of a high standard. Stella Lamond makes a most successful appearance and clever numbers are presented by Freddie Hodges, Ivy Towe, Julie Thompson and Nancy Bourn. Mr. Maurice Diamond, the ballet master, stages a thoroughly entertaining show from first to last and the jazz selections from Mr. Maurice Guttridge’s Syncopators is something to set all feet tapping.