THE MAJESTIC THEATRE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 19093, 27 January 1932, Page 2

THE MAJESTIC THEATRE.

“THE PHANTOM OF PARIS.” FAMOUS DRAMA, Theatregoers who like thrilling mystery adventure stories will have something to look forward to in the new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture, “The Phantom of Paris,” starring the brilliant actor, John Gilbert, which is the big attraction opening at the Majestic Theatre to-day. In “The Phantom of Paris” Gilbert has the difficult task of wearing three different make-ups and playing three different men in the course of the one story. First he is seen as the gay and jaunty Cheri-Bibi, with the small, black, Gilbertian moustache and the clever magic-working hands and body. Then, he becomes the bearded, crushed and desperate prisoner, who uses his knowledge of magic to escape from the dungeons. And finally, he is the Marquis, gray-haired, world-ly-wise, inscrutable. As his leading lady. Gilbert has Leila Hyams. She is cast as the daughter of a proud and noble family, who refuses to allow the barriers of class to interfere with the dictates of her heart. Lewis Stone, for the first time in his distinguished career, plays the role of a detective, who relentlessly hounds Cheri-Bibi for a crime of which he is innocent, while C. Aubrey Smith, Natalie Moorhead, Jean Hersholt, lan Keith and Alfred Hickman are the other principal members of the supporting cast. “The Phantom of Pails,” is based on Gaston Leroux’s prize-winning French story, “Cheri-Bibi.” It has been elaborately produced moving from the exclusive circles of the old nobility and modern Parisian theatrical life to the interior of a famous French gaol. Special featurettes make up the supporting films, which include the latest Australian Movietone News, Fox Movietone News, Metrotone News and a spectacular colour-tone revue entitled. “A Night in a Cabaret.”