STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 812, 5 November 1929, Page 15

STRAND

“FOX MOVIETONE FOLLIES" A sensational achievement of the talking screen, the William Fox Movietone Follies of 1929, mad© its bow again last evening to an enthusiastic audience at the Strand Theatre. The first Follies ever attempted by the motion picture industry, Fox Movietone Follies, definitely established the fact that Broadway has plenty to worry about. This first challenge to the true type of stage revue proves the adaptability of the new screen medium for this kind of entertainment, hitherto confined almost exclusively to the larger, cities because of the prohibitive expense of transporting a large company of players about the country. This all-talking musical comedy sings, dances, talks, sighs and laughs. It is everything that a stage musical revue is, with the addition of the numerous advantages the motion picture enjoys over the stage. The numbers are expertly and artistically staged, the principals are talented and youthful, and the music is original and provocative. There is a hightly interesting story interwoven into the texture of the revue with expert hands which added greatly to the enjoyment of last night’s audience. With such a galaxy of talent and beauty, it is difficult to single out any particular numbers for especial praise, although “That’s You, Baby,” “The Breakaway,” “Walkin’ With Susie” and “Pearl of Old Japan” received the most applause. The talkie features of the remainder of the programme include the song, “Barber of Seville,” by Richard Bonelli, a UFA gem, a Fox Movietone News, and an all-talking comedy, “Mind Your Own Business.”