PLAZA AND TIVOLI

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 584, 9 February 1929, Page 15

PLAZA AND TIVOLI

TWO BIG PICTURES Sacrifice is the theme of “Love at Midnight"—sacrifice between husband and wife—and from a tense and unusual plot has been woven a fascinating: film drama. The picture, with the beautiful Billie Dove in the starring role, is now being shown at the Plaza and Tivoli Theatres. and its reception by audiences at the initial showings indicate it will become Miss Love’s most popular picture to date. The plot is a direct and simple one, but its dramatic power is heightened by its very simplicity and the characters of the story are few. Sacrifice of her own reputation to shield her husband—even though they are estranged—from an unjust accusation, is the highpoint of the story, and the events leading up to it are both tense and colourful. Almost the entire action of the story takes place in a single night, with a modern battleship as fts unusual setting. Donald Reed. Paul Lukas and Nicholas Soussanin have the principal roles supporting Miss Dove and the clash and contrast of those three personalities produce much of the drama of the story. There is little need to tell the film patron of Charlie Murray’s delightful and humanly humorous characterisations. It is acknowledged that in his particular sphere he has no equals. In his support in the second picture on the programme, “Do Your Duty,’* Avhich is all about

the trial of a policeman who is framed by crooks, appear Doris Dawson, charming ingenue lead; Tola d’Avril, a French girl, who plays a heavy role; Charles Delaney in the juvenile lead; Lucien Littlefield as a Scottish tailor. Aggie Herring as Murray’s wife; Charles McHugh and Ed Brady as two crooks. A col oured miscreant is played by Wash ington Blue.

With this line-up of artists and -with a story that abounds in fun, there is no question about its entertaining qualities. William Beaudine directed with skill and a line sense of humour.

There is just enough pathos in the story to enhance the comedy, and this balance makes the story decidedly interesting.

The latest episode in the “Collegians' series and at the evening sessipns. tin singing of the wonder boy soprano Master Desmond, completes the enter tainment.

I Filming not only drama on its origij nal location, but the music that goes j with it. is the task of King Vidor, at • work on the production of ••Hallelujah,’' Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer’s new drama of the South, and the first allnegro picture in motion picture history. Recording apparatus is being used to film the '“blues’' and negro spirituals as actually sung by the workers in the cotton fields.