NEW REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 739, 12 August 1929, Page 15

NEW REGENT

“THE BROADWAY MELODY” “The Broadway Melody,” the most successful all-talking, all-singing, alldancing picture yet made in the realm of synchronised films, is now in its second week at the New Regent Theatre with Bessie Love, Anita Page and Charles King in the featured roles. The new film, a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production, represents the combined efforts of a number of theatrical experts. The story of the film was written by Edmund Goulding, who won success as a playwright before setting his mark in the directorial field, while the dialogue in the picture, which is 100 per cent, “talkie,” was written by James Gleason and Norman Houston. Gleason, author of “Is Zat So?” and “The Shannons of Broadway,” is perhaps better qualified to depict real Broadway characters on the stage or screen than anyone now working in Hollywood. Harry Beaumont, director of “The Broadway Melody,” is the man who made “Main Street” and “Beau Brummel,” and recently directed- one of the greatest film successes of the last few months, “Our Dancing Daughters.” “The Broadway Melody” is a combination of musical comedy effects and a straight dramatic storey. It may be called the first original musical comedy composed for the screen, but at the same time it has every element of a regulatioh comedydrama. The story is one of Broadway stage life, with the attempt being made to paint Mazda Alley as it actually exists. The music for the new production includes "Broadway Melody,” “You Were Meant For Me” and “I Love You.” These were written by Arthur Freed, with music by Nacio Herb Brown, who composed “The Boy Friend” and “The Doll Dance.” The numbers were released simultaneously with the opening of the picture at its Broadway premiere, and, according to Tin Pan Alleyers who have * heard them they are scheduled to be on the list of musical best sellers. The programme also includes a. number of short talkie features, and selections on the Wurlitzer organ. ST. JAMES FRANK O’BRIAN’S “REVELLERS” Frank O’Brian’s “Revellers” are continuing their highly successful season at the. St. James Theatre and the current programme thoroughly delighted the large audiences at the St. James on Saturday. During the past six or seven weeks the “Revellers” have established ’ for themselves a reputation for bi $ it and merry sketches, songs and dances. The sketches presented ore original, and are given over wholly to the production of laughter. Audiences, are kept in gales of mirth from the first curtain to the last. Janice Hart find Frank O’Brian are the principal merry-makers. On the singing side of the programme Marie Ward and Mabelle Morgan give excellent performances. Al batcheleder. Iris Cumbley, Eric Masters and Joe Hudson all help the show along in their bright way, assisted, of course, by the beauts’- ballet and Tiny Douglas’s Jazz Band.

MAURICE CHEVALIER, “the idol of Paris,” Whose first American-made talkie is “THE INNOCENTS OF PARIS,” shortly to be seen and heard in Auckland.