"BROADWAY SCANDALS, 1930"— AT GAIETY DE LUXE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 51, 1 April 1930, Page 2

"BROADWAY SCANDALS, 1930"— AT GAIETY DE LUXE.

A talking, siiiging, dancing, musical comedy sensation produced On a lavish scale with an all-star 1 cast still continues to draw great business at the ever-popular talkie resort, the Gaiety de Luxe Theatre. It is "Broadway Scandals," a Columbia production, with Sally O'Neil, Jack Egan, Carmel Myers and Doris Dawson. Infectious song hits. comedy, gorgeous cOstumes and Wonderful dancing make' this picture a joy ,to the ear and the eye. The love romance hehind this carnivai of dance and song will grip you with its beauty and tenderness^ In "Broadway Scandals," a musical . . comedy, Columbia Pictures Corporation has turned out a very creditable picture. Efom the openiiig main title until the final fade-Out it holds your a'ttention. The dialogue is extremely funny, the dancing is novel and peppy. and the tunes are sure song hits. The leading roles are portrayed by Sally O'Neil, Jack Egan, and Carmel Myers. Their characterisations ai-e true to life. Jack Egan, rather new to the talkies, makes the perfect ' hoofer. His good looks, dancing ability, and fine resonant voice carry him""through the picture to great advantage. Sally O'Neil gives her Usual capable performance. The story abounds in human touches and is ' sure to appeal to every type of audience'. What is destined to be one of - the natipnal song liits is "What is Life Witbout Love," the tlieme melody of the show. Everybody who left the theatre was trying to whistle or sing it. You'll like this picture. Never befpre has a picture been pUt over that contains seven absolute song sensations. Each and every oite of tbe seven is a catchy number which lingers in tbe memory. ' Perliaps the most popular number is "Does an Elephant Love Peanuts," on account of its comedy. This is suilg by sweet little Sally O'Neil and Jack Egan, the latest and gi'eatest song and dance ingn, The lyrics in "What is Life Without Love" and "Rhythm of the Tambourine" are both exceptionally catchy numbers. Carmel Myers is given. and accepts, great opportttnities in the song "Would I Love to Love You" and "Can You Read in ,My EyeS?" Ari eXCellent combination of "shorts" complete one of tbe grandest and most versatile enfertoinments placed before tbe cineina fans for somc eonsiderable time,; including topicals.^ reviews, orchestral numbers and singing and dancing items. As to-uiabt will soe tbe final performance of this outstanding bill another house full is certain to assemble to bid it farewell. Seats niay_ be reservcd at tbe theatre or by ririging 'phone 3809. BRITAIN 'S FIRST ALL-TALKIE "BLACKMAIL." The management of tlie Gaiety De Luxe Theatre announce their inteiition of screening to-morrow, Wednesday, commencing at the matinee, the British International all-talkie, "Blaclimail," of which so much has been heard. This is, in a way, a reply to the many enquiries that have been tendeted to tbe theatre, since tbe film first arrived in Australia. When talking films were first launcbed on the movie-going public of the world, much controvesry as to , the afiect it would have on the British I film industry was atoused. It was statfed by some, that it would be the downBall of Britain' s newly-formed studios at Elstree, whereas others foresaw that perfect English spoken . on the sei'een, and tbe musical geniuses of the Continent, which are in easy reach of. British producers would prove the foundation of Great Britain as the foremoftt picture producing country in the world. That the latter theory is correct has already been made evident by the British rnternatiotial , Picture, "Blackmail," which is incidentally the first all-talkie to be made in Engiarid with British players under ^ British enterprise, The leading roles in this picture are, play5d (by J ohn Longden, a stage player oi eonsiderable note, Anny Ondra, Dotiild Calthrop, also well-known on the West Ettd fetage, and Cyril Ritchard. the young Australinn, who recently appeared xtt "Piceadilly." See the siglits- » xf London— Scotland Yard in its • iWe-inspiring greatness— tlie British Vluseum — Lyon's famous Old Corner louse in the Strand — hear also the [ ^ L.......—

whirl atid bustle of a great oity's liight life— the chant of jaaz baads in dingy cafes — the shrill cries of riewsboyt— - London! Gay! Sparkling, City Or a thousand thrills brought to your very doorstep in "Blaekmail." The following is an article published in the San Francisco Argonaut, which speak's volumes, considering it is from an American critic's point of view. "Blaekmail," which is showing all this 'week at the Marion Davies, is one of the finest— if not the finest — examples of detective dx-ama yet shown on the screen. It was made in England, with an entix-ely English cast by a new director, _Alfrecl_ Hitcbcoclc, who loobs like he is makixxg screen history. I won't spoil yoxtr antieipatieil by commeriting On this most unUsual play, other than to assure you that it is a talking picture which is totally different. I persuaded Pauline Fredei'ick to go and see it, and I cairn quote her as sayirig that she tegards it ns the best picture of its kind slie has ev6r seen. You will agree that if anyone should be a good judge of talking pictures, it is Pauline Frederick, the finest emotional actress the American stage has yet given to the screen. Go and® see "Blaekmail" and if you have no px'6judice against fox-eign-male filmS, t I think you'll agree with her and with me tlxat you liave seldom if ever Seen an all-talking picture with' a (better murder mystery story, or one so cleverly directed, or more brilliantly acted than this unhevalded impoi'tation from Britain, so simply and yet dramaticajly developed and acted with a sincerity subtlety tlxat is as refreslxing as it is rare to those of us wlxo are "fed up" with the usual Hollywood "hokum." Remarkably fine acting ls done by Donald Calthrori, a Well-kxioWh English stage actor, as the hlackmailer ; ■ v Anna Ondra— a hitherto tinknown stai- — as'his girl victim, and by Hannah Jones in the minor role of aU old lodging-lxouse landlady. Sara Allgood, of the Abbey Theatre in Du'blin fame, is another who gives a notahle perfOX'mance. Hollywood can find lots to learn from "Blaekmail," and still mere in technique and treatment alike ftom "The PaSsiqn of Joan of Arc." But will it learn ? I wonder. A grand Sripporting programme of all-talkie "Shorts" completes a wonder entertainment which mlxst he taken advantage of by all in search of the best. Seats may be reserved at the theatre or hy ringing 'phone 3809.