CIRCUS ROMANCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1074, 11 September 1930, Page 15

CIRCUS ROMANCE

“SWING HIGH” AT NATIONAL CAPITAL ENTERTAINMENT All the glamour and colourful atmosphere of an old-time travelling circus show has been crammed into the capital talkie, “Swing High,” shown at the National Theatre last evening. SWING HIGH” has thrills, comedy, suspense and intriguing drama. But more than that it has as charming a romance as ever developed in the springtime, a tender tale of young love and of a girl who believed her man to be true and honest, no matter what others said. Above all “Swing High” is a circus story. The clowns, trapeze artists, horse trainers and side-show entertainers are the principals, the sawdust ring and the dusty road to the next town are the stages; the time. 50 years ago. The glamour and romance of the old-time circus pervades every foot of the film. “Pop” Grainger’s circus was a happy family There was “Pop” himself, gruff but kind-hearted, his fosterdaughter Mary Ann, a fairy-like trapeze artists, "Major,” the dwarf. Sam. the negro, Dr. Jebediah May, one-time medicine man, now turned clown, and his nagging wife, and “Two to One" Gary, a good-looking roustabout and singer. Into the circus group the ringmaster introduces “La Belle Trixie,” star trapeze walker, who quickly uses her flashing smile to bring her money and patronage. Tho romance of Mary Ann and Gary is progressing swimmingly when Trixie is successful in forcing an estrangement. Broken-hearted. Mary Ann’s nerve goes while she is in mid air she crashes and is laid in hospital for a month. While she is away Trixie befriends Gary. who is assistant cashier as well as singer, and learns to good purpose when the takings of a month are being sent to the bank. Gary is suspected of theft and gaoled, but Mary Ann comes to his rescue. Although far from recovered, sho takes her place on the trapeze and threatens to drop Trixie to certain dea:h if she does not confess. There are some tense moments when the girls are suspended in mid air before Trixie confesses, and there is an audible sigh of relief in the theatre when the girls are safely back on earth. Through the whole story there moves the everyday life of the circus —the packing and unpacking, the “Grand Parade” through the streets, tho animal acts, clotvns. tumblers and human freaks. Worthy of particular mention is the singing of a group of negroes. They are the general labourers of the circus and’ spend their spare hours in singing negro spirituelles and haunting negro hymns. There is a good deal of other singing throughout the picture, chiefly songs by Gary, played by Fred Scot. His rich tenor voice is beard to good effect in “On An Old Banjo.” and other sweet songs Tho whole cast is composed of wellknown film players. Winsome little Helen Twelvetrees appears as Mary Ann, Dorothy Burgess is the bold, bad Trixie. George Fawcett could not be bettered for “Pop,” and Daphne Pollard makes a loquacious wife for "Doc" May (Robert Edeson). The remainder of the programme at the National included a “Jungle Fool” cartoon and a merry mix-up comedy by the ever popular “Our Gang” of rascals. This is a talkie entitled “When the Wind Blows.” R.N.V.R. DANCE A bright dance will be held at the headquarters of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, St. Mary’s Bay, this | evening. A free bus will run from ! Queen Street. Stacey’s Orchestra will provide the music.