NEW REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 749, 23 August 1929, Page 15

NEW REGENT

“BROADWAY MELODY” Thrills, humour and pathos combine to make a masterpiece of “The Broadway Melody,” the Metro-Gold wynMayer all-talking and singing production which is now in its fourth week at the New Regent Theatre. For the acting, it is sufficient that Charley King, Bessie Love and Anita Page are the leading characters in the film. The picture deals with life In the New York theatre, a life of constant striving and vicissitudes, balanced occasionally by much good humour. The principal characters are three young revue artists, a song-writer and ballad singer, and two girls, known professionally as a sister act. Their goal is Broadway, and it is wjth their struggles for success that the picture deals. The new picture is the screen’s first big musical comedy, with special song hits specially composed for it just as in a, stage show. Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown, famous composer of “The Doll Danqe,” composed ’the numbers, including the theme song, “Broadway Melody,” and “You Were Meant for Me,” “The Love Boat,” “The Wedding of the Painted Doll,” and others. Spectacular stage acts, ballets and ensembles, some in natural colour, embellish this vivid drama of backstage theatre life on Broadway. Among the entertaining short talkie features are songs by William O’Neill, of Broadway fame, songs by “The Revellers,” the well-known gramophone quartet, items by George Lyons, a singing harpist, and humour by “Sunshine Sammy.” Arthur Cr. Frost plays a number of selections on the Wurlitzer organ.