Round the Show

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 982, 27 May 1930, Page 14

Round the Show

“SPLINTERS”

GREAT BRITISH TALKIE America, undoubtedly, has for many 3’ears now been leading the world in motion picture production. England has always been generally considered to be lagging behind in film production. Talkies, however, have totally altered the complexion of things and today England finds that she possesses the greatest “talkie voices.” the best authors, and. consequently, the very best material for the production of the newly—and universally—accepted form of entertainment, the talking film. British Dominions Films have realised England's new position in the film world, for they have made what is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, and most unusually entertaining film that has ever been made. This all-talking film is “Splinters,” adapted from the famous war-time concert of that name. A big point of interest about the film is the fact that it is the first picture produced by British Dominions in conjunction with His Master’s Voice Gramophone Co. “Splinters,” which will be released throughout Australia and New Zealand by Greater Australasian Films, stars the original players, Hal Jones and Reg Stone, besides Nelson Keys, Dew Lake and Sydney Howard. The picture was produced for British Dominions by Mr. Herbert Wilcox and directed by Jack Raymond.

“HIGH TREASON” AT LONDON

A story of life in 3 940 when another general war is looming, is unfolded in “High Treason,” now at the Dondon Theatre.

The acting throughout the film is on an extraordinarily high level, and not only do the principals act well, but their voices are in every case most agreeable and perfectly recorded. Indeed, the sound recording is tlie world’s best, for voices, music and effects alike, and is particularly good in the graphic realism of the airplane raids, the explosion in the Channel Tunnel, and the women’s triumphal singing of the

“.Peace Song”—to mention but a few of the “high spots” in. the film. Beautiful photography completes the picture, and a magnificent piece of production; a stirring, dramatic and intriguing entertainment. Jameson Thomas, Benita Hume, Humberton Wright and Basil Gill are the principal actors in a film directed by Maurice Elvey.

EMPRESS, NEWTON The problems which beset a girl to whom a large fortune has been left provide a novel plot for “Dynamite,” now at the Empress Theatre. The terms of the will demand the immediate marriage of the inheritor, and to evade this the girl marries a condemned criminal who is awaiting execution. To the not-unnatural dismay of the bride, her husband is granted a last-minute reprieve,., and she finds herself the possessor, not only of the desired fortune, but also of a distinctly undesirable husband. Conrad Nagel has the leading role. The supporting features are of an interesting nature.

RIALTO, NEWMARKET The current programme at the Rialto Theatre, Newmarket, will have its final presentation there this evening. This includes “Darkened Rooms,” the Phillip Gibbs’ story of spiritualism and “The Wolf of Wall Street,” a romantic tale of fortunes made on the Stock Exchange, and starring George Bancroft. From tomorrow, when an entirely new programme will be presented, the Rialto will show “Happy Days,” a delightful musical extravaganza of songs and dances, with an all-star cast, which includes such names as Janet Gaynor, Charles Farrell and Victor McLaglen.