MAJESTIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 793, 14 October 1929, Page 15

MAJESTIC

“MASQUERADE” Romance and adventure seldom achieve so pleasing a mixture, in talking pictures as they do in “Masquerade,” tlio all-dialogue Fox Movietone picture, now at the Majestic Theatre. Adapted with surprising fidelity from Louis J. Vance s best-seller, “The Brass Bow!,” this entertaining screen play explains why the book is still in demand. Mr. Vance’s mastery of story telling maintains its interest whether in print or as a picture play. The delightful mix-up between a millionaire bachelor and a notorious crook who might be his twin brother and the complications injected by a charming girl all afford unusual pleasure to the audience. One wonders at the adroitness of Alan Birmingham in his difficult dual role of the millionaire and the burglar. The actor's ability to maintain the resemblance but to change entirely his voice and mannerisms to suit the divergence in impersonations, is. technically. one of the most interesting spectacles seen in Auckland in a long time and it gives the satisfactoi y answer to whether a “talkie” can compete with a stage production in this phase of histrionic art. Leila Hyams is quite as delightful as she is convincing in the role of the girl who endeavours to save her father from imprisonment. Clyde Cook, Kirrell Macdonald and Arnold Lucy enact important supporting roles with excellent results. An enjoyable supporting programme will again be given this evening. This i will include the latest edition of the I Fox Movietone News, a Pot Pourri Revue in song and dance, an alltalking comedy by Clark and McCullough entitled “In Holland,” and finally another of those interesting L'.F.A. gems.