"STREET GIRL” MAKES FINE MUSICAL FILM.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19034, 1 April 1930, Page 7

"STREET GIRL” MAKES FINE MUSICAL FILM.

One of the best of the musical talkies is “Street Girl”, which opened last evening at the Theatre Royal. It is strong in two directions—in music arid in plot —both of which are of the first order. The plot is a gripping story, and is brought out with some exceptionally bright dialogue, much of it humorous, and all of it good. An appealing picture has been made from an original story by W. Carey Wonderly. It tells of the struggle of a little group of musicians to win fame from an unpromising start in a small cafe in the Hungarian quarters of New York. One night one of the party made the acquaintance, through an accident, of a homeless girl, and he brought her to the quarters occupied by himself and his fellow-musicians. There are some slight and amusing misunderstandings for a beginning, but eventually the girl becomes established in the home. Then for the four struggling musicians an unprecedented period of prosperity sets in, due to the endeavours of the girl to raise them above themselves. It is done, too, in a remarkably short time. First the girl interviewed a friendly restaurant-keeper, who, after persuasion, agreed to give the boys’ orchestra a trial. Then the chance visit of a prince to their restaurant influenced their careers and led them finally to the top rungs of the jazz-musical ladder. While all this had been going on, the pianist in the orchestra had fallen hopelessly in love with the girl, and when the prince one night so forgot his exalted position as to kiss her paternally on the forehead the pianist worked himself into a passion of jealousy. This was all quite needless as it turns out, but essential for the story. Betty Oompson, the girl in the piece, in the role of a little Hungarian violinist, brings a new charm to the screen. Her charm with the violin is impressive for one whose reputation has been built outside the musical world. John Harron, who has the leading male role, will undoubtedly climb high in the ranks of the new leading men of the talkies by virtue of his sincere performance. The speaking voices are good, though not. perfect by any means, while the musical numbers are very entertaining. There are several song and orchestral numbers with a very catchy air that cannot help but please. Besides a Pathe review and a Ilearst news film, the shorts include a verygood comedy, and items by more or less well-known artists.