“BLOSSOM TIME."

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20614, 15 May 1935, Page 3

“BLOSSOM TIME."

Avon Opens To-night With Tauber Picture. All lovers of the glorious music of F ranz Schubert have conjured up a mental portrait of the immortal composer at some time or another. It is safe to say that those who attend the initial performance of “ Blossom Time,” at the new Avon Theatre in Worcester Street this evening will be doubly satisfied with the picture because Richard Tauber succeeds in bringing the master of melody to life on the screen. His masterly portrayal of the great composer is supported by excellent acting by each member of the supporting cast, magnificent scenes, a rich spice of humour and last, but by no means least, by Tauber’s glorious voice singing immortal melodies that have torn at the heart strings of men and women of all races and stations. Over one hundred years ago Franz Schubert bared his soul to all time by enshrining all that was good and sweet in his nature in song, and now to-day Tauber, the world’s greatest tenor, has brought all of Schubert’s sweet music and lovable traits to life again in “ Blossom Time.’ ’a title that convey* something of the freshness of Schubert and much of the brilliance of Tauber, two things that give the picture the right to the description, “ The ultimate in entertainment.” The setting of the story is amidst all the glory of Vienna in 1820. when Schubert, the schoolmaster, sang of his hopeless love for Vicki, the beautiful daughter of a dancing master. The action is in keeping with the subject, and the characters succeed in carrying the observer back through the years to live in the city of dancing and song with the mighty master of music, who cannot master fickle Cupid in spite of his soul-searching melody. The story has the true tenderness of Schubert’s immortal melodies and, in giving it that sweetness of appeal, Tauber is ablv assisted by Jane Baxter as Vicki. Carl Esmond as the Count von Ilohenberg. Paul Graetz. Lester Matthews and Athene Seyler. An additional attraction will be "La Cucaracha ” (the cockroach), a production which marks a new era in colour films. Box plans at the D.I.C.