NEW REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 641, 18 April 1929, Page 15

NEW REGENT

“BELLAMY TRIAL” ON NEW PROGRAMME One of the largest and most talented casts ever assembled for a sougd picture was brought together when Moi|ta Bell filmed “The Bellamy Trial,” which will be shown at the New Regent Theatre this evening as the first dialogue and sound synchronised picture. Beatrice Joy, making her debut as a “talkie” star, heads the stellar cast of principal players as Sue Ives, the woman on trial, her first appearance since she made “Blue Danube” with Cecil B. De Mille. George Barraud, a distinguished British and American stage star, plays opposite Miss Joy as the husband, whose faith is unshaken by the murder accusation. Kenneth _ _ Thompson, another product of the legitimate stage, who was last seen as Ruth Chatterton’s leading man. in “The Devil s Plum Tree, ’ is the second defendant as husband of the slain woman. As the woman whose killing supplies the motivation for the mystery plot, Margaret .Livingston is cast in another exotic role. Her most recent part was in “Sunrise.” Two of the most important roles, those of prosecuting and defence attorneys, whose voices are heard in the cross-examination, are in the capable hands of Charles B. Middleton and Charles H. Mailes, tw r o sterling veterans of the stage who have firm footholds in the cinema world. Middleton played the lead in New York and Los Angeles stage productions. Cosmo Kyrle Bellow, son of the noted British actor and well known for his own stage and screen characterisations, is the suave clubman whose unrequited love for the murdered woman placed him under a cloud of suspicion. Margaret Seddon plays another gripping mother role; Betty Bronson, film - (loin's “Peter Pan” girl, is seen in a sob-sister part, and Edward Nugent, a new “find,” makes love to her as a young reporter. This picture is a sensational murder' trial mystery story, and the introduction of the talking and sound synchronised sequences has brought out a gripping atmosphere of realism. The whole; of the supporting programme wall also be of sound pictures and will include items by Ella Shields, tho Prince’s favourite entertainer; songs by Joseph Regan, the worldfamous Irish-American tenor, who will sing “Mary Ann” and “Beloved”; humorous songs by Van and Schenk, the singing comedians, who will sing “Cohen is Living the Life of Reilly” and “I Must Have An Italian Girl”; 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 b