"LADY OF THE NIGHT," MAGNIFICENT FEATURE—MAJESTIC.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 169, 19 August 1929, Page 2

"LADY OF THE NIGHT," MAGNIFICENT FEATURE—MAJESTIC.

A magnificent sound synchi'onised feature, admittedly auiongst the fiuest yet produced, United Artists' "Lady of the Night" was tlie picture that topped the hill at the popular Majestic 011 Saturday night and with all talkie supports of a high order the capacity audience was treated to deliglitful entertainment. This, the late&t of the masterpieces of tlie- productive genius of the great J). W. Griffith, brought to lif'e tlie glamour and pageantry of one of the niost famons European courts, that of Napoleon III. The tlieme was a daring oue, but it was treated in a mamier i cliaracteristic of tlie producer. The story told was that of a favourite of Napoleon, who, rejected by her former lover, laid plans for a disgraceful revenge. From the undenvorld cafcs of Montmartre she obtained a girl of magnetic, flaming personality and of infinite attraetion, w.liom she schooled in the wavs of her set r.nd then contrived to liave her former lover marry the girl. At the wedding feast lier liour of triumph came, but to tell more wonid he perliaps to hamper tlie enjoyment of tlie story. Tbe specially prepared sound acconipaninient, devised by lTugo Riesenfeld, world famous composer and condnctor, added in manifest degree to the delights of the production. The syncbronised music Keore inclnded the Trving Berlin tbeme song "Where is tlie- Song of Songs for Me," which was magnificeutly sung by Lupe Velez, the exotic Mexican star, in the leading role. Miss Velez proved lierself the possessor of a voice as attractipe as lier personality and will uiidoubteclly ' go far in the new sphere of sereenic art. Other at.tractive- numhers sung diiring . the eourso of t-he picture. by Miss .Velez were "Nenab Jand "At tlie Dance." Some of the most dramatic scenes in the picture were presented with a dialogue aceompaniment. featuring • tlie principal players, which had the audience Iiigbly delighted. It was not for nothiug that Eddie Peabody, world's fiuest hanjoLst, was termed "the man who makes the banjo talk" and his performance on Saturday night amongst tlie all talkie supports was a treat to listen to, as in a- more elassical vein, was the performance of Herbert .Spalding, the eminent violinist."'The three Brox sisters, the delight of the American vandeville stage, Irad. the audience amu'sed througliout the'if turn and a programme of ncgro spirituals by a troupe of inbilee singers was equallv enjoyable. The whole • programme Set a very high standard and at the same time elicited admiration of' the audience.