BETTY COMPSON IN "STREET GIRL"—MAJESTIC, TO-NIGHT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 73, 29 April 1930, Page 2

BETTY COMPSON IN "STREET GIRL"—MAJESTIC, TO-NIGHT.

Picture idayers have learned they can act vocally as well as in pantomime since the advent of the talkies, according tcr Betty Compson, featured in Radio pictures. "Before tlie picture business went talkie," says Miss Compson, "its players seldom gave a great deal of ftudv to their roles. Tliey arrived at the studio in tlie morning, made up and went on with the set. There a cirector told them to walk through a door and appear startled. They seldom liad occasion to know why tliey were startled, who was startling them or vhat they were to do next. Naturally, there was not a great deal of sincerity in their acting. Tn most of their pic-tures they played themselves, not the cliaracter of the stoiy they were making. The talkies have changed all this. The weeks of rehearsal before the picture goes before the camera, attentive study of lines and a full knowledge of the story tend to get the player more into liis part than the silent film ever did. The vesult is better acting, better cliaracterisations and a more convincing story." If "Street Girl," which conimences tonight at the popular Majestic Theatre, had been a stage plav it probably would have heen preceded into town by notices of an extended run on Broadway. Indeed. if the current stage had been presenting as enterfcaining stuff as that from which this all-musical, all-talkina Radio picture is made it is doubtful if the managers of the legitimate liouses would wear such worried looks. For "Street Girl" is oue of those shows that lins an appeal for every theatregoer ; there is a captivating plot,_ there is a generous share of fine music and there is a wealtli of personality in the talented cast headed by Bettv Compson. A splendid assortment of talking shorts support the feature film. Seats sliould he reserved at the Bristol Piano Company or hv theatre 'phone, 2708.