MAJESTIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 836, 3 December 1929, Page 15

MAJESTIC

“SMILING IRISH EYES” A characterisation that is certainly one of the most genuinely entertaining yet contributed to talking pictures is now added to Colleen Moore’s many successful screen roles. .For Coleen gives a performance of such effectiveness in her first all-talk-ing and singing picture, “Smiling Irish Eyes,” now at the Majestic Theatre, that she undoubtedly will increase even the tremendous popularity she has gained through silent pictures. Colleen’s Irish heritage adds a sparkle to her personality that has often stimulated the admiration of theatre-goers, yet never has it been more delightfully presented than in this charming romance. “Smiling Irish Eyes” provides her with opportunities to entertain her audience in a variety of ways, and she takes full advantage of each. She sings—she dances—she makes you laugh and cry, and her portrayal is believable throughout. The story is essentially a romance between Miss Moore, in the character of a vivacious Killarney colleen, and James Hall, who is seen as a visionary young Irishman, better fitted to compose lilting melodies on his violin than to work in the peat bogs. The boy steals time from his irksome labour in the bogs to meet Colleen at a “wishing well,” in order to play for her a new melody he has written. Together they work out the words, and name the ballad “Smiling Irish Eyes.” They are interrupted by an irate overseer, portrayed by Tom O’Brien, who .smashes the boy’s violin and orders him back to work. Possibly te most entertaining episode of the picture follows, in which colleen storms into the castle of the landlord, and in a rare Irish temper disrupts a formal dinner to protest against the overseer’s treatment, and the injustice of making her sweetheart toil in the bogs, when he might be making Ireland proud of him as a composer. The boy is brought in to demonstrate his talent, and he and Colleen entertain the landlord and his guests with clever songs and jigs. The supporting programme of talkie items includes songs by John Barclay, baritone, Margaret McKee in a novelty ■whistling act, and the latest edition of the Fox Movietone News.