PLAZA AND TIVOLI

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 609, 11 March 1929, Page 15

PLAZA AND TIVOLI

TWO BIG PICTURES Georg© Bancroft’s third successive starring picture for Paramount, “The Bocks of New York,” was enthusiastically received again on Saturday evening at the Plaza and Tivoli Theatres. Bancroft lived up to all that was heralded of him, and the picture itself is outstanding for its dramatic and entertaining value. The popular star has been surrounded with a powerful supporting cast. Betty Compson, no less, has the chief supporting role. Her work is extraordinarily pleasing and good. Baclanova, whom local patrons will remember for her sterling performance in “Forgotten Faces,” recently shown here, has added another success to her credit. The fiery Russian actress has a very promising future. Others who contribute to the success of the -picture by their performances are Clyde Cook, Mitchell Lewis, Gustav von Seyffertitz, Guy Oliver. May Foster and Lillian Worth. This powerful drama was directed by Josef von Sternberg, the young director who has caused no little sensational among moving picture circles for his sensational rise to fame. The second big picture on the programme is “The Phantom City,” a Western story, but a most unusual type of Western. Ken Maynard is the star. Whoe v e r thought of injecting a creepy, shivery mystery idea into a Western thriller? But that is exactly what happens in this picture. The story starts with several men talking in a deserted town, amid the straggly and forlorn looking buildings and torn up streets of the old mining location. All of these characters are of a mysterious mein. They have, apparently, no business there—but there they are. Soon after, Iven appears. Later, a girl appears, and more complications arise. The mystery angle is neatlv worked out and defies solving until the denouement. Ken appears to excellent advantage, and gives a great performance, injecting some miraculous stunt riding. “The Phantom City” is a highlv entertaining picture throughout. It maintains its suspense and continuity. An excellent all star cast includes Eugenia Gilbert, a pleasing heroine, '7*r mGS - Mason « the “heavy,” and Blue Washington, the coloured comic, and Iven s bodyguard. At the Tivoli Theatre Miss M. Anderson’s Orchestra played the overture Tlie Mikado,” and the following selections:—“Blushing Bride” (Romberg) “Barber of Seville” (Rossini), “Pink Lady” (Caryll), “Reverie” (Vieuxtemps), “On the Neva” (Krein), “Bon Juan” (Mozart), and “Preciosa” (Weber).

Miss Hunter-Watts, the-distinguished actress playing leading' roles with the Allan Wilkie Company, lias appeared on the stage in every one of the five continents, although she regretfully states that she never travelled from North to South America to act, and she has a secret ambition to appear in Valparaiso and Buenos Aires. One of the most interesting tours this famous actress has experienced was the small towns of India with Mr. Allan Wilkie in 1912-13.