PLAZA

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 664, 16 May 1929, Page 15

PLAZA

“THE SINGING FOOL” i The brightly-varied programme of talking pictures at the Plaza Theatre still continues to attract crowded houses. The entertainment is opened by the Tannhauser Overture, played by the TsTeW York Philharmonic Orchestra, followed by a solo by the leading tenor of the Metropolitan Grand Opera Company, Giovanni Martinelli. Another outstanding item is by the worldfamous violinist Mischa Elman, who plays Gossec “Gavotte” and “Humoresque.” There is also a very fine male quartet, also comedy and songs by the Howard Brothers. The main attraction, however, is an all-talking picture, “The Singing Fool,” which is the first film in which A 1 Jolson is seen in New Zealand. The story tells of A 1 Stone, a waiter at a night club, who also entertains the patrons by singing for them. He is in love with a girl at the restaurant, but she has no time for him, until he wins the favour of a famous theatrical producer and is given a chance to reach Broadway. There he achieves fame as an entertainer and a song writer, while the girl, whom he marries, becomes a star through singing liis compositions. He is as happy as a man could be—fame, a wife, and a beautiful boy. But the decline in his life commences when his wife deserts bib, and takes Sonny Boy with her. He leaves the theatre and is forgotten, but with the influence of a girl who has always admired him, he returns again to the peak of fame. Just before the performance at the theatre one; night, there come news of Sonny Boy’s illness. Stone goes to the hospital and there sings the song “Sonny Boy” to liis dying son. After the child has died he returns to the theatre, and when he is about to go on, finds that the song that has been chosen for his turn is none other than “Sonny Boy.” His singing of this song, which the audience fail to realise he has just sung to his dying son, is a great climax to the film. Jolson is supported by Josephine Bunn and Betty Bronson, while the part of Sonny Boy is splendidly played by little Davey Lee.