ROYAL ROMANCE AND AERIAL DRAMA AT CRYSTAL PALACE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17890, 5 July 1926, Page 7

ROYAL ROMANCE AND AERIAL DRAMA AT CRYSTAL PALACE.

“ KING ON MAIN STREET ” AND “ THE SKY RAIDER.” The destinies of kings and princes are not as those of lesser men. From the cradle to the grave their lives are mapped out with a discipline and a precision that brook no questioning; but sometimes arises a king who possesses, besides a sense of humour, a will of his own, and when that king is Adolphe Menjou, one may be assured that experiences and exploits of a particularly piquant nature are included in his daily life. At the Crystal Palace Theatre this week “The King on Main Street” will be presented, with Adolphe Menjou in the leading role, and should prove to be one of the most entertaining pictures to be screened at that theatre. When a European monarch visits the New World, he is apt to shed his regal hauteur a little, but the amount of genuine democracy this king adopts gives rise to moments of exquisite comedy, which continues to be one of the picture’s outstanding characteristics throughout. Although Menjou invests his every role with that finished and cynical humour so indissolubly associated with his name, his part in this picture calls for a great deal of purely dramatic acting, with a touch of something that, if it is not the faintest tragedy, is certainly the deepest pathos. The romantic and appealing story is handled with great delicacy by artists and director alike, and though royal romances are often the subjects of idle gossip, this picture is produced in every respect with the most admirable taste. Before the picture flashes to America, the scenes in the mythical kingdom of Molvanis are regal and-picturesque enough to Appeal to the most discriminating tastes, the parades, reviews, audiences, etc., all being made in natural colours. Supporting the star are Bessie Love and Greta Nissen, who create many bursts of untimely levity in their twin attempts to likewise wear a crown.

Also included on the programme is the sensational aerial story, “ The Sky Raider,” starring the French flying ace, Captain Nungesser, and Jacqueline Logan. A great deal of this story is based on fact, as the war history of French aviation will show. Some of the wonderful exploits performed in the air by Captain Nungesser can scarcely be credited until actually seen. These exploits are not merely introduced as accessories, but form a logical part of the story. The Symphony Orchestra, under Mr A. J. Bunz, will be heard in special orchestral numbers, including:—Overture, “Orpheus” (Offenbach); Symphony No. 6 (Beethoven); “ Le Cid ” (Thomas); “Hamlet” (Thomas); “Witches’ Dance” (M’Dowell) ; “Slavische ” (Dvorak); Second Polonaise (Liszt) ; “ Duchess of Dantzic ” (Carvll) ; “Rose Marie” (Friml) ; entr'acte, “Valencia” (Padilla). The box plans are at The Bristol Piano Company, where scats may be reserved.