Feb 24th
The Vagabond King*
(US 1930)
Paramount. 104m. (originally Technicolor)

A rogue tavern poet leads Parisian peasants to combat the Duke of Burgundy for King Louis XI.
Stilted looking opera by today's standards, but some of the Technicolor flamboyance and the strength of the performances still remain.

Written by: Herman Mankiewicz, based on the operetta of the novel by Justin Huntly McCarthy.
Producer: Adolph Zukor.
Director: Ludwig Berger.
Starring: Dennis King, Jeanette MacDonald, Lillian Roth, O.P. Heggie, Warner Oland.
Photography: Henry W. Gerrard, Ray Rennahan.
Music/Lyrics: Rudolf Frimi, W. Franke Harling, John Leopold, Oscar Potoker.

+ the opening gala film at the Regal (later Odeon) in Colchester in 1930

Preceded by:
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves*
(Fra 1902. Pathe. 9m(tinted). silent; Another interesting early colour experiment, made not by Melies but clearly influenced by him.; p,d: Ferdinand Zecca.)