THEATRICAL DRAMA.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 938, 7 December 1933, Page 3

THEATRICAL DRAMA.

Crystal to Show “Broadway to Hollywood.”

Anthony Kim mins and Anne Grey are starred in " The Golden Cage. the romantic drama which will be shown finally to-morrow night at the Crystal Palace Theatre. Alice Brady, Jackie Cooper, Jimmy Durante, Frank Morgan. Madge Evans and Fay Templeton—brilliant stars of Broadway and Hollywood—will be on parade at the Crystal Palace Theatre on Saturday in “ Broadway to Hollywood.” a spectacular cavalcade of the American theatre. This great pageant of the stage, in which poignant drama is mingled with

dazzling spectacle, tells the story of three generations of troupers: the rise of vaudeville and its ultimate decline in favour of the motion picture. It is an intensely h u m a n film depicting the loves and joys, the triumphs and heartbreaks of a vaudeville family whose career is traced over a period of fifty years. A touching narrative is interwoven with col-

ourful spectacle as the audience, from time to time, sees what is going on upon the stage as well as behind the scenes. Fay Templeton sings. Barney Fagan dances as of yore, and there are gorgeous Albertina Rasch ballets. The dramatic climax shows 500 dancers in the largest talking-picture set ever built. Alice Brady and Frank Morgan play the original dancing team, and give superb characterisations. Jackie Cooper scores in the role of the young “ hoofer,” and Eddie Quillan g'ives a splendid impersonation of the grandson who becomes a famous Hollywood “star.” Jimmy Durante makes his every appearance side-splitting, as usual, and the romantic interludes are ably handled by Madge Evans and Russell Hardie. There are laughs and sobs, thrills and surprises in this great production. Box plans at The Bristol. j