ST. JAMES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 972, 15 May 1930, Page 17

ST. JAMES

“DISRAELI” TOMORROW Theatre-goers are promised a wonderful treat tomorrow when Sir Benjamin and Mr. John Fuller will present “Disraeli,” the wonder all-talking photoplay, at the St. James Theatre with three gala performances. It is claimed that “Disraeli” will be at the head of the list of the finest protions of the talking screen for 1930. It is a Warner Bros, and Vitaphone super-pmduction, which for pure drama, magnificent acting and clarity of dialogue must rank as one of the greatest achievements of the talking film. Its absorbing story is acted by one of the finest all-English casts that has yet appeared on the talking screen, and English of the best kind is spoken. The work of George Arliss in the title ,role is something that will, it is said, linger in the memory for years to ccrae. Assisting George Arliss in this wonderful production are such splendid players as Joan Bennett, Florence Arliss, Ivan Simpson, David Torrence, Doris Lloyd and Anthony Bushell. The plot of the brilliant story revolves around Disraeli’s acquisition of the Suez Canal by buying the shares cf the improvident Khedive of Egypt at a time when Russia was attempting to acquire them. The Bank of England refused to lend Disraeli’s government the money to buy “a ditch,” but a fellow Jew, called Meyer in the play, really reputed to be one of the Rothschilds, lent him the money which made the deal possible. The current programme at the St. James Theatre, headed by the allcolour production “On With the Show,” will have its final presentation there this evening.