"LILAC TIME"—GAIETY—WEDNESDAY MATINEE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 33, 11 March 1930, Page 2

"LILAC TIME"—GAIETY—WEDNESDAY MATINEE.

The most popuiar musical success of the stage has been "Lilac Time," or "Love Never Dies," and now this has been brought to the screen with Colleen Moore and Gary Cooper in ivhat lias heen proclaimed by the cntics ot the entertainmeiit world as the greatest spectacle of tlie age. A year in the making and with the greatest cast of players tliat lias ever been assemhled. The musical score of "Lilac Time" is glorious, "Jeannine, I Dream of Lilac Time" and is only-one of the many delightful songs that will hve lonW in the meniory of all rnusic loyers° You Ti see countless airplanes m combat ahove you, you 11 dwel] lor oue cvening in a lovely corner of_ olcl France pictured 011 thc scrcen in all its glorious oolour. you'll laugh and lark with the feaWess mon who must live greatly oro not at all. Live tlie glorious romance of "Lilac Time." Oue minute crooning a love song under mooulit trees— next minute a milc high in the heavens, piloting the airplanes of death What romance, what spectacle, what thrill and heautiful love moin ents as a sweet maiden of Normandv bids licr lover farewell for perhaps the last time. Words aren't big enougli to descrihe it — you must seo "Lilac Time." Thousands of people moving ouward to tliey knew not wliere. But Jeannine went hack back to the lilacs— back to the place her great love was born — back to the memories of seven young hearts and one wonderful kiss. "Lilac Time" is ably produced by John McCormick and splendidly directed by George _ Fitzmaurice. It is a siraple, realistic and changing romance, with the World War as a background. We see Miss Moore as the pathetic little figure in the midst of war's alarms. She hide. her tears beliind a smile as her sweetlieart flies away to almost certain death over tlie lines of the enemy. We are enthralled at the romance, gripped by the snspense, and tlirilled by the dramatic scenes of this great love story as it unfolds before us. But always the artistry of the star dominates. Not even the marvellous scenes of aerial fighting, the hest ever made for the screen, can overshadow the subtle. heart-tlirobbing chriracterisation of Jeannine at tlie hands of. Miss Moore. Gary Cooper remembered for his fine woric in "Beau Sabreur" and "The 'Legion ofthe Condemned," does eveh better work in "Lilac Time" as Jeannine's sweetheart, and the others in the company contribute tlieir sliare towards the 'success of the picture. "Lilac Time," adapted for the screen by Willis Goldbeck from the stage play by Jane Cowl and Jane Murfin, is a genuine treat, and a compelHng and sincere romance. The snpporting cast includes such fine players as Burr Mclntosh, GTeorge Cooper, Kathryo McGuire, Cleve Moore, Eugenie Besserer, Emile' Chautard, Jack Stone, Edward Dillon • and Dick Grace. The season is for three nights and three matinees, commencing on Wednesday at the matinee. Box plan is now open at the Gaiety.