ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 1, 1 July 1935, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE.

Oiie Maurice Chevalier is enough to make the success o£ any film, but when there are two Chevaliers in the one production that is pleasure brimming over for the many admirers of the famous French screen star. In his newest production, "Folies Bergcre," Chevalier has to play the dual roles of a famous stage entertainer and lan important banker and social leader. He makes the parts entirely different, but each is recognisably the Chevalier who has had the world at his feet, and each provides much amusement. The fun begins when the Baron Cas.sini is forced to make a hurried and secret trip to London to obtain finan-cial-aid lor his bank, and Charlie of the "Folies Bergere" revue is hired by the banker's partners to impersonate him. One of Charlie's star, turns in the revue is the imitation of the baron, and when he is given the' chance of playing the role in real life he enters on a period of wild comedy. This culminates in the return of the husband, unknown to his wife and a series ol complications. There is rich comedy in the situations, and the most is made of them by Chevalier, by Miss Oberou, who is beginning a Hollywood career after success in English films, and by the sprightly Ann Sothern, who plays the part of a comedienne m the "Folies Bergere" and the sweetheart of Charlie. Chevalier is at bis best m such ear-tickling songs as "Rhythm in the Bain," the great "Straw Hat" nunv bcr,' the witty "Au Revoir L'\rnour. and "Smeinga Happy Song." The supporting bill is of excellent quality, in eluding the latest- Mickey Mouse cartoon, interesting newsreels. and a comedy featuring Leon Errol. "Lorna Doouc." R; D. Blackmore's "Lorna Doone" has long been regarded as one of the great, classics of English literature. Thousands all over the world have read the book and gloried in its picturesque excitement. Now 'brilliantly translated to: the '.'living", screen with all its action and teeming thrills, against the wild,-authentic, natural background of the story, the irresistible appeal o£ "Lorna Doone" is even further enhanced. The picture comes to the Regent Theatre on Friday. The heroic figure of that dare-devil lover, Jan Ridd, is splendidly portrayed by John Loder,' and the lovely Lorna, jealously guarded- "Princess" o£ "The Doones," wildest gang of desperadoes that ever terrorised- a countryside, literally "lives" in the. beautiful English star, Victoria Hopper. The immortal romance ,of ,these ■ two has thrilled the hearts of lovers everywhere throughout the years, and the1 screen version of their story/makes one of the most exciting, entertaining, and unforgettable productions ever filmed. The cast includes such artists as Amy Veness, George Curzon, Frank Cellier, Herbert Lomas, Peter Penrose, and scores, of others.. I DE LUXE THEATRE I "Forgotten Men," which is now showing at the De Luxe Theatre, is a picture that carries 'a lesson to everyone who sees it, and should be accepted as. such. It shows in retrospect what the men of'two decades ago went through oh the battlefields o( Europe, and shows- it in a way that brings home the futility.and horror of war as even that war itself could not do. It was one thing to go over the top in the heat of combat;, it is quits another to do it again in'cold-blood, and for that; reason "Forgotten Men'1' is bitter medicine,-yet medicine that is good for the individual and national Soul. It recalls'much to the returned soldier and should teach a great deal to every thinking person; it will even make the thoughtless; sit up and take notice. Lengths of film actually taken on active service comprise 90 per cent, of the picture; the rest is merely interposed here and • there to give relief from the strain of watching war as it was. ' The truth, but not the whole truth is told, and told verbally and pictorially in such a way £>s to convince even men who rattle sabres that war is ■ destructive lunacy It is splendidly presented. The supporting features are interesting'and entertaining. "My Friend-the Dog" being particularly good. This cleverly produced short gives a rapid survey of the many noble animals m the canine world. ■ r PARAMOUNT THEATRE. An- unusual type of mystery picture and a moving drama make up the excellent programme now showing at the Paramount Theatre. "Mistress of Atlantis" is a magniflcentlv photographed production, which stars Brigitte Helm, the brilliant German actress. It tells; the story of a French officer in the. desert camel corps who in company' with, a friend, loses his way in the wastes of the.Sahara, is attacked by the Touaregs—mysterious veiled men of the. desert—and taken off to a strange cjty of narrow streets and long, mysterious passages, whicn is said to be a relic of Atlantis, the famous lost continent. , The ruler of the city and its veiled inhabitants is a woman of fatal beauty, who falls >n love with one of the French officer:-. Based on an original story by George A. Cooper, "Home, Sweet Home" is a moving drama which has for its stars Marie Ney, the New Zealand actress, who is one of the most talented players on the English stage today, and John Stuart. The familiar; melody plays a leading part in ' the action of the film, which includes in the .supporting cast Richard Cooper and Eva Becke. Barrie Brettoner plays two solos, "Old Faithful" and "My Little Grass. Shack," at the Wurlitzer organ. - ■■ SHORTT'S THEATRE. ' One of the largest and most distinctive casts ever assembled for a screen production appears ip "FootJight Parade,", which •is the main picture on the new- bill-at Shortt's Theatre. Four popular stars, James Cagney. Joan Blondell, RubyKeeler. and Dick Powell, head.the long list of players. Fifteen leading featured players have important roles in support of the stars, while '250-of the most talented and beautiful girls in. Hollywood take part in varied choruses and: dance numbers. Rated, as the finest Richard Barthelmess characterisatior- of the past.few'years the First.National production "Heroes .for- Sale,", a story of war, romance, and depression, is the second feature. Important roles are taken by Loretta Young and Aline McMahon. -.-... REX THEATRE. Laurel and Hardy's full-length M-G-M production, "Sons of the Desert,' is now showing at the Rex Theatre. It's a funny story: and the comic pair make it even funnier.-; Laurel and Hardy keep their audience. convulsed as comic situation after comic situation unfolds to their extreme discomfort in each case. "The Women in His Life," the additional feature attraction, brings: to the screen the one man who can portray, the most convincing characterisations .of lawyers —Otto Kruger. ■It is teeming with tense i dramatic situations. I" ■ ' ■ - ■ ——. -.-. ROXY THEATRE. , In the lusty, red : blooded romantic type of story which he adorias, Richard Dix, in his latest RKO-Radio picture "West of the Pecos," now screening at the Roxy.Theatre, has scored another triumph. The picture is packed with excitement.'tense situations, hard riding, straight shooting, and all the other ingredients of the successful action picture. The cp.st'includes Martha Sleeper, Fred" Kohler, Sleep-'n'-Eat, Louise Beavers. Russell Simpson, and Maurice. Black "By Your Leave," <? gay, romantic comedy, co-featuring Frank Morgan and Genevieve Tobin, is the supporting feature. - ' ORGAX RECITAL. An organ recital was. given in the Town Hall last night by Mr. Charles ■W. Kerry. Organ items were: "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor" (Bach), "La Cloche dv Soir" (Chauvet), "Cradle Song" (Ken-y), "Grand Fantasia" (The Storm) (Lemmens), "Grand Offertoire in D" (Batiste), two dances from Beethoven. A.D. 1620 (MacDowell), and "Overture in E Minor"' (Morandi). Mrs. Wilfred Andrews sang "Ombra Mai Fu" (Handel) and "O Divine Redeemer" (Gounod), and Mr. Thomas Wood. "Honour, and Arms" (Samson) (Handel), and "The Living God" (O'Hara). '

The collection, was in. aid of ' the Mayor's Relief Fund.

STATE THEATRE. That versatile little personality, Shirley Temple, scores a further triumph in the fascinating, film "The Little Colonel," which is now screening at the State Theatre. Shirley plays the part of: a somewhat hasty-tempered little lady with a mind of her own, who nevertheless succeeds in bringing to- : gelher the warring sections of a family. The story has its setting in the , period shortly after the American Civil War, when the feeling of defeat is still smouldering among the Southerners, and the "Yankees" are regarded with scorn. Lionel Barrymore takes the part of an old Southern colonel Who turns his daughter out of his house when she announces her intention of marrying a Northerner. Years later the daughter returns, bringing with her her little daughter, and takes up rest; dence near the oid homestead. Her husband is away on the goldflelds, but the colonel refuses to have anything to do with her. He cannot avoid Shir ley, however, because she forces her presence on him in no uncertain manner. A strong affection grows up between the old man and the little child., and this is finally instrumental in bringing about a reunion. Bill Robinson, the originator of the inimitable stair-dance, performs this on elaborate, flights of steps. Others in the cast are Evelyn Venable, John Lodge, Sidney Blacknier, Alden Chase, William Burres, and others. There are some excellent supports. MAJESTIC THEATRE. "All the King's Horses." now show-1 ing at the Majestic Theatre, is strongly reminiscent of the. old musical romances, but is set to modern music. All the romance of the mythical kingdom of Langenstein and.the humour of a situation in which a king' and a musical comedy star change positions, go to make up a picture which is carried to; success on the wings of song. The story ■is ' briefly that of a talkie • star ' who travels back with' his henchman (Eugene Palette) to the land of his birth. ■ On being presented" to the bewhiskered king,-, he discovers that the latter's wife' has left him. The first thing the-star does is to prevail on the monarch to have his beard shaved-off, when the two discover that they are exactly- alike. The king then goes off- to Vienna to pick up some romance whereby to win back his queen, leaving the star m charge of his realm.- Meanwhile, however, the runaway queen, returns, and the star is faced with-a-situation which challenges even his 'versatility. Carl Brisson is really Worth-hearing in the song hits ."A Little White Gardenia,' "Dancing the Viennese,". ."Be Careful Young-Lady," and '.'A King Can Do No -Wrong." As'; the ■ .queen, Mary Ellis, star of "Rose Marie," is seen and heard for the first time in- Wellington. Newsreals, pictorials, and a novelty complete the programme;: > ; ST JAMES THEATRE. i Some old1 film, favourites and a host of new ones parade before the "Wei: lington public in the" picture . "Tunes Square Lady," . which' is ' now at the St. James Theatre. : Hubert. Taylor as the hero and Virginia. Bruce as the heroine head a large • cast • which includes Helen ' Twelvetrees, ■ Isabel Jewell, Nat Pendleton,. Pinky Tomlin, Henry Kolker, and Raymond Hatton. The story, almost .incomprehensible in its kaleidoscopic- sequences,, tells of the coming to Broadway of a simple country girl, albeit a dazzling blonde, to inherit half a dozen sporting1 enterprises which her lately dead, father had run at a handsome, profit. Ihe managers of the various.. concerns, which include an'ice-hockey .rink, a dog-racing track, a night club, and a horse-racing stable,, plan to. trick the girl into selling her holdings to them for next to nothing by making it appear to her that with a woman as owner they cannot\ possibly pay. But the lowa Miss is not so simple as her racketeer opponents imagine her to be. The supporting programme is full of good things, and comprises,the coloured cartoon, "The Calico Dragon," "Mama's Little Pirates," an-exciting and amusing ■ "Our. Gang" comedy, "Goofy Movies," and a brace of newsreels. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. "My ■ Song : For You,"- a, merry melange of music, romance, and laughter, starring the golden-voiced Jan Kiepura, will head the bill at the Kilbirnie Kinema tonight. Kiepura's magnificent voice is heard to advantage in many wonderful musical, numbers, while the famous British comedian Sonnie Hale contributes amusing comedy, and Aileen Marson makes a charming heroine. The additional attraction is "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" starring Claude Rains ( invisible man"), with Douglas Montgomery, David Manners, and Heather Angel. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. Shirley Temple is entitled to take a bow fer her performance in "Baby. Take a Bow," which is now showing at the Palace Theatre. The work of this five-year-old girl is really aston ishing. James Dunn and Claire. Trevor are excellent as the parents. Alan Dinehart has his amusing moments as the blundering detective ,who is dogging Dunn's heels. ■ • NEW EMPIRE THEATRE, PETONE. Gertrude Michael and Paul Cavanagh are the central figures of the new Paramount mystery picture Menace," which comes to the New Empire Theatre tonight. "Menace" unfolds the strange and sinister story.of three people, a charming woman and 'two men, who live under the death threat of a murderous madman. ■ DE LUXE THEATRE, LOWER'HUT!'. At the De Luxe. Lower Hutt, tonight, the main feature will be "Forsaking All Others," starring Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, and Robert Montgomery, with a splendid supporting cast.' It presents the ■ eternal triangle from a fresh and highly-diverting viewpoint. OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. Glamorous Vienna, with its Imperial opera, its haunting music, and Continental gaiety and romance is transferred to the screen in a haunting blend of music, drama, comedy, and romance in "The Night is Young," M-G-M's musical love story now showing at Our Theatre. Ramon Novarro. and Evelyn Laye are co-starred. The story deals with a young archduke's forbidden love affair with a ballet girl. In the second attraction, "Gigolette," Adrienne Ames, Ralph Bellamy, and Donald Cook are the featured players. ARTCRAFT THEATRE. •'Where Sinners Meet," RKO-Radio's sparkling comedy of human foibles, concludes at the Artcraft Theatre tlr.s evening. The story advances the brief that many contemplated marriages would never take place if .'the prospective bride and groom each had an opportunity to see the other at his or her worst during the pre-nuptial period. Diana Wynyard and Olive Brook are co-starred. Commencing tomorrow "Good Companions," from «•. B. Priestley's famous novel, will open its season. ■ ■ , EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. Loretta Young and John Boles play the leading roles in "The White Parade," at .the . .Empire .Theatre, the first film ,to deal with the student nurse, her training. days, her heartaches, and her happiness in service, A two-reel comedy and two splendid newsrcels will also, be Show a. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. "Grandad Rudd." Bert Bailey's famous character, and his equally famous family, will be seen at the Grand Theatre tonight. In addition to Bert Bailey, the big cast includes such old favourites as Fred Mac Donald (Dave), George Lloyd, John D'Arcy, Les Warton, and charming Elaine Hamill. PRINCESS THEATRE. Two features of unusual merit, and entirely different from each other, are now being shown at the Princess Theatre. "Little Man, What Now?" presents Margaret Sullavan and Douglass Montgomery in the leading roles, and constitutes the-major attraction. Girls, melody, and laughs play ay equal part in Paramount's campus comedy, "College Rhythm," the additional attraction, with Joe Penner, Lanny Ross, Jack Oakie, Helen Mack, Lydaßoberti, and Mary Brian in the main parts. The supporting short subjects are of a particularly pleasing-nature.

PLAZA THEATRE. One of the most popular and beloved of all novels, "Laddie," has been fashioned into an entrancing screen play by the makers of "Little Women," and so the famous Gene Stratton Porter novel becomes one of the few best-sellers that has been given pulsing life on screen. Superbly acted, it is directed by the hand of a genius lor i-t enjoys streaming action, plus an imaginative use of the cameras that is seldom met with in movies these days. "Laddie" is now showing at the Plaza Theatre. It is the tale of the Indiana farm boy. Laddie Slanton, and of the English girl, "Princess," whom he loved; . of how this son of the .soil wins her heart, and at the same time establishes the nobility of toil as against the nobility of blood.. John Beal, Gloria Stuart, and Gloria Shea are the principal adultplayers. For the all-important role of "Little Sister" there is Virginia Weidler, seven years of age, whose deJightful acting bids fair to make her a close contender with Shirley Temple for the title of the screen's rnqst popular child star. Singers, dancers, and entertainers all stage and screen stars, are feature;, in the new Fox Film entertainment. "George White's 1935 Scandals." coming next Friday to the Plaza Theatre. They include Alice Faye, James Dunn, Ned' Sparks, Lyda Roberti, Cliff . fidwards, Arline Judge. Eleanor Powell, Emma Dunn, Benny Rubin. George White/in addition to having conceived, produced, and directed the entire production, appears in .the cast. . lUVOLI THEATRE. With Ann Harding in the title role and John Boles playing the male lead, "The Life of Vergie Winters" comes to the screen at the Rivoli Theatre as a vivid dramatisation of the widelyacclaimed story by Louis Bromfield.As produced by RKO-Radio, "Vergie Winters" realistically pictures the poignant romance .of a gallant wpman who dar.es to follow her own heart and her own ideals in defiance of small town gossip ami persecution. Her great love, with its stolen moments of happiness and its hours of heartache is traced through a period of twenty-two years The stor,' covers the period from 1910 to 1932. and the various styles, slang expressions, and modes of living are reflected in the costumes, dialogues, settings, and characterisations. Practically all of the action takes place in an American small town, and special attention is paid to the colourful characters which go to make up suclv a community. One of the largest supporting casts ever assembled in Hollywood is used for the production, with upwards of thirty-five speaking parts, the majority of 'the players portraying typical characters of the town. The second feature is the laughter special "The Captain Hates the Sea," starring \ ictor McLaglen. John Gilbert, and Helen Vinsen. The next change comprises two brilliant productions, "The Count of Monte Cristd," with Elissa Landi and Robert Donat, and Melodrama," with Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, and William Powell. , KING'S THEATRE. Helen Hayes and Robert Montgomery are co-starred in "Vanessa." the outstanding Me.tro-Goldwyn-Mayer feature which is now screening +wicf> daily at the King's Theatre. "Vanessa" is a picturisation of Hugh Walpole's novel: of the same name, which was the fourth and last of his group of books dealing with the spectacular Herries clan of the i;ugged Cumberland district of England. This, dramatic romance concerns Vanessa, the heroine, and 'her troubled love affair with "Benjie.Herries," the "wild one" of the clan. On the eve of their wedding they are separated by a misunderstanding. Years later they meet again, and manage to steal a few weeks of happiness, but eventually Vanessa goes back to her husband, the insanely jealous Ellis Herries, and it is not until he;dies that Venessa and Benjie . finally ' achieve complete happiness. . The selected featurettes are excellent. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. Tonight Wallace Beery will appear at the Regal, Karori, in his- latest triumph "The Mighty Barnum." Assisted by a powerful cast headed by Adolphe Menjou, Beery-gives a most satisfying performance in the. life and love-story of the world's, greatest showman. . The, supports..include. a cartoon and organlogues ' arid1: scenic film. ■ . . '■ ' '.•- .;■ MEiVUHIN CONCERTS. ' Details are announced of the opening of the box plans on Thursday for the three concerts to be given by Yehudi Menuhin. The concerts will take place in the Town Hall, which will be specially heated for:the occasioni The' first concert will be given on Wednesday, July 10, and the others on the following Saturday. July 13, and Wednesday, July 17. From noon on each day of a Menuhin concert m Sydney a girl of about 15 in a red dress stood at the side steps of the hall waiting for the doors to open at night to secure a front gallery seat. The story of the girl's enthusiasm for his son's music—and of the reward which it brought her—was told byMr. Menuhin, father of the violin genius. "I. do not know the name of the girl in red, although we have seen her at every concert." said Mr. Menuhin, "but I call her Red Riding Hood, and so does Yehudi. lam sure she has been scraping. and saving every penny she possesses to come ta the concerts. She brings a little caimJ stool on which to sit. On the fourth concert day, as I went to the Town Hall, I saw her standing there again at her usual post, and mentioned it to my son. "Yehudi Menuhin was deeply, touched by the girl's remarkable per* severance. "We ■ shall give her thfl best seat in the house," he declared, and much to the little music-lover's dftlight the management made the ai* rangement, not only for that'perform* ancc, but for all future performances.