"DRAG," A DRAMATIC MASTERPIECE—GAIETY DE LUXE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 285, 6 January 1930, Page 2

"DRAG," A DRAMATIC MASTERPIECE—GAIETY DE LUXE.

The picture loving public of Napier are well acquailitecl with Richard Barthelmess. havmg seen him in numerous great successes 011 the silent screen. Barthelmess is oue of the comparatively few of the satellites oi the screen firmament who have wit-h-stood the tests and whose performanees for the talkies must he regarded as even better than hitlierto. On Saturday nlglit patrons ot the Gaiety De Luxe had the opportunity of witnessing the initial perfonnance of "Drag," starring Ricliavd Barthelmess, the theatre, as usual, being paeked to the doors with a delighted audience. The story of "Drag," written bv William Ludley l'ellev, dealt with the life of a young ambitious newspaperman who we'nt to a small town to take charge of the paper there. While at that place he fell in love with a girl and married her. to find that he was also Saddled with a wliole family of in-laws, life being intolerable. After a while he composed a musical play for a local institution and was so pleased with it that he decided to take it to New York and sell it there and also in that plase to find the solaee and happmess which had evaded liun in the little town. Drawn from real life "Drag" was very cleverly presented and field the imagination and interest of the audience thvoughout. Lile Lee took the part of the red-headed fiapper and Alice White that of the home loving blonde, and eacli gave a very fine perfonnance. "Drag" was a 100 per cent. talki© and was produced by First National. In support of this great filni there was an exceptionally fine selection of short pieees. The famous Italian tenor of tbe Grand Metropolitan Opera Co., De Lucca, was lieard in tbe "Figaro Song," really a wondei'ful number. Thomas and Sagal, a very eharming pair, in a picturesque setiiug, sing "Sweetheart." Bruee Bairnsfather, told all about "Olrl Bill" during the eourse of drawings of this famous, Great War eharacter, while Pathe Sound News and Audio Review, together with a speeial number of the famous flight of the Graf Zeppelin, completed another of those greater entertainments always witnessed at the favourite rendezvous of talkie entertainment. oeats may be resea-ved by ringing 'phone 3809. Patrons are advised to book or Ije early.