“DANCE MADNESS” IS SATIRICAL COMEDY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18011, 23 November 1926, Page 7

“DANCE MADNESS” IS SATIRICAL COMEDY.

CONRAD NAGEL PLAYING AT LIBERTY THEATRE.

With the huge numbers of motion pictures that are shown in the course of a year, in the city, it is difficult nowadays to find something that is new. Tune and time again the same old plots are dressed up under a disguise, often thin enough, and become tiring. Such cannot be said of the principal offering at Liberty Theatre this week. There the main picture is “Dance Mad.n©se.” and although it deals with two very popular subjects from the viewpoint of the producer—the modern dance craze and the eternal triangle, which by ni?w has thoroughly merited the title of •‘eternal’ -—-they are coupled in such a manner that the story is delightfully fresh and does not put a strain on the imagination in order to find the amusing parts in it. The picture has been described as a “witty satire,” and it does not belle It. At the same time, it is not over-satirical and it handles the subject in a masterly yet laughable manner. Another point about the picture that enhances its value us something novel is the loea-

tions in which it has been filmed. The bright lights of Paris are thrown on to the screen in a realistic manner. In most pictures of this class, where every effort is made to secure a laugh, the obvious is made painfully apparent,, hut in “Dance Madness” the plot is carried through with enough subtlety to allow the spectators to find the comedy in it for themselves. “Dance Madness” has the conventional siren or Parisian pictures, but. the siren turns out to be. someone totally unsuspected and gives

an unexpected turn to the picture. A good climax is arrived at and the pic-, ture departs from comedy, to drama fox - a. few seconds. The tension is relieved by a laugh that is infectious and' all parties get their just and proper rewards. This picture is the first oo'caslc^ n S n w hich Claire Windsor .and Conrad Nagel have appeared together, and two such noted artists see to it that they have a cast that is worthy of their e of these players are excellent dancers, a fact which has not been given a great deal of prominence before, and in “Dance, Madness” they’ have an excellent opportunity - to show themselves as waltzers. Robert Z. Leonard, an accomplished director, has seen to it that the mechanical side of the picture has been done faithfully and well. The scenes are pretty and interesting, and the whole picture is one' of a class that is not seen often enough. Rin Tin Tin, the marvel dog, who has been star in a score of pictures, ta*kes the principal role in “Below tlie Line,” a Master picture that provides a great deal of entertainment. The picture demonstrates that this dog lias an intelligent mind. It cannot be said that it is all due to instinct, or, if it is purely in-, stinct, then the vast majority of people do things merely by instinct and not by the workings of their mind. The story is one that deals with life in the open air. It gets clean away from the atmosphere of cities and the usual scenes of gay life and sparkling lights. All the way through the wonderful dog plays his part as well as, if not better than, the majority, of the cast, and that is saying a great deal, for the cast is one of the best. June Marlow, a, winsome lady with a great deal of ability, has one of the main roles, and playing opposite her is John Harron, a young man of promise, who should rise to a prominent place in his profession. The plot is thrilling and exciting, and the climax is most unusual. The locations have been selected with a view to keeping the story within its hounds, and the whole picture has been pieced together in such a way that it runs along smoothly. The musical portion of the programme synchronised with, the pictures and many classical and popular numbers were introduced. The overture was ''Romantic ” (Keler Bela), and the artistic rendering of this exacting number was a credit to Mr Ernest Jamieson and his orchestra. Other numbers included “Always” (Berlin!, “Pink Lady” (Caryll), “Prince Ananias” (Victor Herbert), “Runaway Girl ” (Monckton) and “ Barcelona ” (Burke).