TALKIES AT THE NATIONAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1005, 23 June 1930, Page 15

TALKIES AT THE NATIONAL

SPLENDID PROGRAMME HEADED BY ‘HER UNBORN CHILD” A record audience was present at the National Theatre on Saturday evening to welcome the first talkie programme shown there under the new-management. The brilliant programme and the remarkable clarity of its reproduction, agurs weli for the success of the National as a talkie house. TM Saturday's programme, which will be continued all this week, there is presented a full range of talkie entertainment, including short talkie ■features and a big drama entitled “Her Unborn Child.”

A poignant love story, • -beautifully told and conveying a tremendous lesson for this modern world, is unfolded in this line talkie production. In these days of colourful and lavish screen entertainments, mystery romance and adventure stories, comedies and stage shows, it is indeed remarkable that an up-to-date American studio should devote its energies to producing such an unusual story as this—a story which deals with the vital problem of the unwanted child—and through this modern means enlighten the millions of cinema-goers throughout the world. The Kennedy’s were a very average American family. The father was dead, leaving his widow fairly comfortably provided for; but with the care and upbringing of the family of three. There was Dorothy, in her twenties, Stewart aged IS, and proud of it, and Pegs, a rnischevious youngster of about 12. The whole story revolves around the difficulties which faced the kind-hearted Mrs. Kennedy. For example, Stewart must have a dinner suit to go out to a party, at his sweethearts place, and, again, Stewart and Pegs were forever lighting and Quarrelling. Bu t the more serious trouble was Dorothy’s concern over the non-arrival of letters from her sweetheart, Jack Carnarvon. Jack’s aunt, a woman of advanced social ideas, had intercepted them, and incidentally had learned that Dorothy was in serious trouble, although Jack had no idea of it. The aunt did everything within her power to prevent Jack and Dorothy marrying—further, she did her best to persuade Dorothy to have an operation. In desperation Dorothy compromised—she would if the family doctor would perform it. This man was one of the good old school of general practicioners and family friends, who soon ousted the interfering aunt, comforted the girl, then faced the task of telling the mother all about it. Like a true mother, Mrs. Kennedy took her daughter to her arms, and promised to take her away to the country. The film ends happily with a reconciliation between Jack and Dorothy. Surprisingly frank in dialogue, but extremely human in every detail (there | is plenty of comedy in the scenes of domestic life) and withal vividly dramatic, the film will probably be widely discussed in Auckland. The acting throughout is of a high standard. Adele Ronson is good as the girl, Paul Clare is Jack, and Frances Underwood gives a wonderful portrayal as the mother. A little girl named Elizabeth Wragg appears as Pegs. Doris Rankin is the hardhearted aunt, and Harry Davenport the doctor. The remaining items on the programme are a Movietone Revue with songs by Joseph Ilislop, Ella Shields and others, some remarkably fine singing by William O’XeiU, humour by Jimmy Hussey and an interesting Mctrotone News.