Posted: Mon., Dec. 31, 1928, 11:00pm PT

Broadway

By Variety Staff

Universal. Director Paul Fejos; Screenplay Edward T. Lowe Jr, Charles Furthman; Music Howard Jackson

Glenn Tryon Evelyn Brent Merna Kennedy Thomas E. Jackson Robert Ellis Paul Porcash

U paid $200,000 for the screen rights to Phil Dunning's smash. As a melodrama with music the screenplay expands way beyond the stage production as well as in the melodramatic portion with its street scenes. Finest of these is a duplicate of Broadway at Times Square, from a miniature. Through Broadway strides a big bronze Demon Rum, and the picture starts right out of this scene.

U's own film players hold the leads, with Glenn Tryon as the hick hoofer. Tryon does nobly, discounting the singing and dancing suspicion. Evelyn Brent is first choice for good acting, with Merna Kennedy doing her little bit mildly as the hoofer's partner. Robert Ellis as the heavy runs alongside Thomas Jackson for realism. Paul Porcash was wisely chosen for the hard role of the cafe proprietor.

Paul Fejos directs, with much judgment, if little novelty. His work and the cutting, however, do much to make this film. The final scene is in Technicolor, giving a corking finish to a corking picture.

(Color) Extract of a review from 1929. Running time: 105 MIN.