Sound Pictures at Regent To-Morrow

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 640, 17 April 1929, Page 16

Sound Pictures at Regent To-Morrow

“White Shadows in the South Seas” and Short Features

This evening will see the final presentation of the current programme at tho New Regent Theatre, which includes “Brotherly Love,” the latest comedy by Karl Dane and George K. Arthur, also “Stand and Deliver,” starring Rod La Rocque. Director W. S. Van Dyke had the most unusual Orchestra in the world during the filming of “White Shadows in the Sduth Seas,” the Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer sound synchronised production. which comes to the New Regent to-morrow. For five months the company worked on tho beach and in the jungles ot' the South Sea Islands and everywhere they went they took the orchestra with them. It was a native orchestra of six pieces and the musicians had been trained for their parts since their youth. In fact, they inherited their Jobs and their instruments from their ancestors, who were musicians for generations back. Tho drums used by the musicians have heads of shark-skin and are of such ancient manufacture that even tho oldest Tahitian now living has no idea of their origin, although they have no doubt that they far antedate the coming of tho white men to their islands. These drums are objects of great veneration to the natives and there is a tradition that if either of the two should ever be taken from the islands there would be a great disaster. Several hundred natives worked in tho making of the picture along with Monte Blue, the leading man; Robert Anderson and Raquel Torres, tho sensational new screen “find.” Blue has the role of a white man, who, at first, lets the tropics overcome him and sinks to a beachcomber. After a thrilling adventure in which he is* lashed to the mast of a plague ship and set adrift, he comes to a native village where white men have never been and wins tho sacred village virgin for his bride.

The film abounds in thrilling advonturo and spins the story of a beautiful. picturesque exotic romance. To-morrow’s programme will ininclude three short “talkies.” These are all songs, first “Mary Ann” and “Beloved” by Joseph Regan, an Irish - American tenor; “Cohen is Living the Life of Reilly” and “1 Must Have An Italian Girl,” by Van and Schenk, the singing comedians; and finally, “I Wonder” and “More Than Satisfied,” sung by Marion Harris, the wellknown gramophone artist. The whole of the supporting programme will also be of sound pictures and will include items by Ella Shields, the Prince’s favourite entertainer, songs by Joseph Regan, the worldfamous lrish-American tenor, who will sing “Mary Ann” and “Beloved”; also items by Vincent Lopez, the famous jazz band leader. Then there will be a sound synchronised gazette, and also a comedy with sound effects. A special movietone overture to the big picture, “White Shadows in the South Seas,” will be presented, entitled “Flower of Love.” ALL NIGHT “TALKIE” SHOW SMALL THEATRE IN DETROIT Two young Americans, J. D. Potter and L. Wolff, claim the distinction of having given the world its smallest sound picture theatre, the Blackstone, in Detroit, also of having accomplished • the deed with a near minimum of show k interruption. i The equipment was installed by the • operator during the 11 p.m. and S a.in. 1 run without stopping the show, except ‘ | for the 15 minute interval needed for I changing the reels on the one machine.