“MY OLD DUTCH.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20632, 5 June 1935, Page 13

“MY OLD DUTCH.”

Rollicking Comedy Coming to Tivoli. “ Rumba ” will finish at the Tivoli Theatre to-morrow night. Based on the famous song which was made world-renowned by the late Albert Chevalier, “My Old Dutch,” which comes to the Tivoli Theatre on Friday, is a true-to-life coster story. It is a veritable cavalcade of workingclass London life, covering a period of forty years to the present day and is rich in the humour, pathos, drama and sentiment of “ Cockaigne ” —that happily nick-named realm in the vastness of London, whose people have no psychological counterpart in any other community in the world. The picture is remarkably well-presented, and the general atmosphere so realistic that the audience follow the action as if they were ac tually on the spot. The director has gathered together a cast that will long be remembered for the sterling work of each of its members, and has given a novel touch to the picture by the clever introduction of several “ .shots ” of the original silent film. The leading parts are taken by the vivacious Betty Balfour, who is seen in the title role, Michael Hogan, who enacts the part of the coster husband, and by Gordon Ilarker. who gives yet another of his inimitable character sketches, as the family’s best friend. Frank Pettingell and that noted music-hall artist. Florrie Forde, appear as typical costers. The film also introduces vivid scenes of London life during the world war. and during the great transport strike. The acting is of the highest standard from start, to finish. Another feature of the film is the introduction, by means of an orchestra that never intrudes upon the dialogue, of many of Albert Chevalier’s well-known coster songs. Box plans at the D.I.C.