AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 122, 25 May 1928, Page 15

AMUSEMENTS.

MAJESTIC THEATRE.

Film fans who remember George K. Arthur and Karl Dane in "Rookies" will welcome their second appearance together jn "Baby Mine," the laughable Metro-Goldywn-Mayer comedy-drama which opened its Auckland season at the Majestic to-day. "Baby Mine" provides an interesting comparison with "The Private Life of Helen of Troy," and Majestic patrons, who enjoyed the burlesque supplied in that film, will find that the management of the Majestic is maintaining a high standard of comedy. In "Baiby Mine," Arthur and Dane are seen as two Oxfordbagged college boys who go through an unusual series of events, each one of which is -crammed with good, clean humour. Charlotte Greenwood, a New York stage artist, was brought to Hollywood especially to play the feminine lead in the film. Harry Earles, who had the role of the dwarf in Lon Chaney's "The Unholy Three," makes one of the most annoying "babies" that the screen has yet known, for he has a decided taste for cigars and whisky. On the Majestic's supporting programme there is an entertaining turn by Mr. Birrell O'Malley, who is heard in delightful song numbers, and several interesting smaller films, including jthe Majestic Magazine, an Aesop Fable cartoon, a New Zealand Scenic and a Lupino Lane comedy. Mr. John WhitefordWaugh's orchestra plays enjoyable music.

PRINCESS, TIVOLI AND EVERYBODY'S. "That's My Daddy!", the hilarious comedy-drama, which is already drawing large audiences to the Princess, Tivoli and Everybody's Theatres, is undoubtedly the finest film in which Reginald Denny has yet appeared. Denny himself wrote the story for "That's My Daddy!" The complications arise when the hero, a wealthy young man who is engaged to be married t© an impoverished society girl, tells a policeman who has caught him for speeding that he is racing to a hospital to fee his little daughter. Feeling sorry for uie young man, the policeman insists on escorting him to the institution and the hero finds himself in a difficult situation. He is temporarily relieved, however, when he finds a little girl who has been hurt in a motor accident. But his joy is very short-lived when the child, once having been claimed by him, refuses to call him anything but "Daddy," and, he, fearing that his fiancee will jilt him, does his best to rid himself of the child. Only after a dozen other difficulties have been overcome, does the story reach its unexpected climax. Denny is his usual entertaining self, and Barbara Kent, who 1»m appeared with Denny before, makes a good heroine. It is Jane La Varne, however, in the role of the little girl, who gives what is probably the best work in the film. Her acting throughout is perfectly believable, and she cannot but appeal to cinema fans. At the Princess and Tivoli, " 'Neath Arctic Skies," an interesting film of the adventures of two explorers who, for two years, hunted with the bow and arrow in the frozen wastes of the North, is also screened, while at the Everybody's the second film is "The Golden Butterfly," an adaptation of the book of the same name by P. G. Wodehouse. Mr. Alan McElwain appears at the evening sessions of the Everybody's. BTRAND THEATRE.

In "The Merry Widow," Erich Von Stroheim has made a picture which fully justifies the title which Hollywood has conferred upon him. Because ef his love for the lavish and the btllHant, Von Stroheiin has become known as "the spendthrift of filmdom." If Von Stroheim wants a thing, it is said, he gets it, no matter what the cost. "The Men-y Widow," which is now in its second week at the Strang Theatre, is filled with magnificent sets, and the costuming of the large cast is indeed gorgeous. There are few theatre-goers who do not know the story of "The Merry Widow," a dancing girl who was to have married a prince, and who, when his family persuaded him not to go on with the marriage, marries the financier whose money is the power behind the throne. How she nearly wrecks the state financially, and how, in the end, she and her lover are reconciled, brings an interesting story to an interesting climax. Mae Murray is cast as Sally, the dancing girl, while the role of Prince Danilo is played by John "Miss New Zealand in HollyWood" is the supporting picture at the Strand, and there is also a prologue in which Mies Ina Bosworth is the violinist and Mile. Valeska and Mr. Len Wilson the dancers. Eve Bentley'a orchestra plays the music from "The Merry Widow" musical comedy.

LYRIC THEATRE. "Twelve Miles Out," which, with "OneRound Hogan," is now being screened at the Lyric Theatre, is the first film which has been made with a plot based on that crime which has been so common in the United States within recent years, bootlegging. There is plenty of exciting action in the well-concealed plot, ana played by such a cast as that with which it has been peopled. "Twelve Miles Out" makes one of the most entertaining dramas of the year. Much of the action takes place on board ship, and a thrilling race between coastguard cutters and the speed boats of the bootleggers, is one of the sensations of the production. Joan Crawford plays opposite the star, John Gilbert. Ernest Torrence, Paillette Duval, Dorothy Sebastian, Bert Roach, Gwen Lee and Tom O'Brien are the featured player* of an exceptionally strong supporting cast. "One-Round Hogan" is a fascinating story of the ring, in which Monte Blue is starred. While the adventures of a boxer form the main theme of the film, a charmipg romance has also been woven into the sequence of events. "One-Round Hogan" does not belong to the usual type of fight pictures, for it has been made without the many banalities usually found in euch productions. There are also good smaller films on the programme. THE NEW REGENT. The programme to be presented to-day for the first time at the New Regent Theatre is of exceptionally high order, both in regord to the pictures to be filmed and the music.. Adolphe Menjou, whose popularity is widespread, will be seen in "Serenade." This immaculate boulevardier of "A Gentleman of Paris," "Evening Clothes," and "Service for creates a new character in this moving tale of a composer who "forgot to remember." Menjou the perfect lover is at his very best in "Serenade." He is a musical genius of Vienna, with Kathryn Carver as the beautiful girl who become® his inspiration, and finally his wife. Lina Basquette is the gorgeous dancer who lures him away from his home, and Lawrence Grant, the bewhiskered cupid who manages to repair the ruined romance. "Honeymoon Hate," with Florence Vidor, is another attraction. This romantic comedy is a fast-moving modern idea of "Taming the Shrew." Miss Vidor is presented in a role that should win her many new admirers. The laughs are plentiful, and so is the heart irterest. A feature which should prove popular is the presentation of a miniature musical comedy entitled "Chez Louise." Mr. Leslie Harvey at the Wurlitzer Organ, and the Operatic Orchestra, under Mr. Arthur Frost, will provide a musical feast. The supports to the picture programme include a short comedy, travelogue, and Regent Review. ST. HELIER'S CLUB CONCERT. The St. Helier's Musical and Literary Club, which has a membership of 120, had a good start this season, when a concert was held, arranged by Mr. Stan Pritchard, and the club were fortunate in having some of Auckland's leading artists down to entertain them, including Mrs. H. A. Keven, Misses' Latfra Walker, M. Williamson, D. Yandle, Professor Maxwell Walker, Messrs. Tom Harris, Rex Yates, Stan Pritchard, L. Keven, D. Wrathal, and Mrs. Webster and party. The programme was thoroughly appreciated bf a packed house at the Peerless Theatre.

WILLIAM HEUGHAN. There will be many in Auckland who, havxng heard of the art of William Heugnan, the actor-singer, will welcome the opportunity of hearing him in the recitals to be given in the Town Hall on Monday and Saturday nights of next week. He . returned to New Zealand from exten- * appearances throughout the United Mates °f America, Canada and in the Brit- ' *, nd , has met *ith signal success he - haa *PP«*ed. His art has received unanimous acclaim from the lead- °* countries, and thi«, London v W successes in Arfmdpn, New York, Chicago and practically all the great cities of of rZS* i' P * a ? e in theffontr ont rank , ®"tal artwts. Heughan is nothing if ot versatile; his undoubted magnificent Inn C r+ amatlC powers and magnetic personality account for his popularity. He a ln recit al« by Maud Bell, , E nßlwh 'cellist, and Gladys Mwd'atS® pianiste who was associated with Heughan on his last P arran K e ment« are BIRKENHEAD AND BIRKDALE. dJLTS successful performance was rented to a full house at the Forestew' J* 4, 1*? Wednesday evening by Miss Carlyle and her troupe of children recruited from the district. The musfcal & & ph > rJ? yea y 14188 9 4rIyle ' supported by a chorus, were greatly applauded, and a depicting the "Tunney and Heeney' fight for the world's heavyUp Fit C^S 10n8hip ' featurin S the juven- „ ® lfc rother P, provoked much merriment and was enthusiastically received A solo rendered by Master Des Casey created much applause.