ST. JAMES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 970, 13 May 1930, Page 14

ST. JAMES

“ON WITH THE SHOW” There are many spectacular scenes in “On With The Show,” which is now being screened at St. James Theatre. Technicolour is used throughout the production, and the large cast engaged makes many spectacular scenes possible. The story is really a play within a play. It deals with the efforts of a producer to make his big “show” a success. Not only is the appealing story of actors’ lives behind the stage unfolded, but some entertaining scenes from a typical vaudeville performance are presented. The cast is headed by Betty Compson and Arthur Lake, while Louise Fazenda, Joe E. Brown and Sally O'Neill are also included. Good supporting features complete an enjoyable programme.

PRINCE EDWARD “Seven Days* Leave,” starring Gary Cooper, is also being shown at the Prince Edward Theatre. “Seven Days' Leave” is a faithful reproduction of Sir James M. Barrie’s play, “The Old Lady Shows Her Medals.” Barrie is the author of “Quality Street,” “Peter Pan,” and other great successes. Beryl Mercer, who supports Cooper in “Seven Days’ Leave,” made her talking screen debut in “The Three Live Ghosts,” United Artists’ hit, in which she won immediate favour with picturegoers by her remarkable character work as Mrs. Gubbins. In the film production, “Seven Days* Leave,” Miss Mercer plays the same role which she established on the legitimate stage in the original Barrie play in London and New York. Cooper wears the uniform of the Canadian “Black W'atch” Regiment throughout the picture.

Mary Carr, who has “mothered” almost every star in Hollywood, is plaving a featured role in Radio Pictures* “Second Wife,” with Lila Lee and Conrad Nagel.