AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 261, 3 November 1928, Page 16

AMUSEMENTS.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. It is not difficult to recognise in "A Giil in Every Port," which opened at the Majestic Theatre last evening, a story which is much the same as "What Price Glory':'' Like that famous war drama it is tht? story of two men who go round the world, and whatever port they strike, they seem to !>c always at variance over a girl. True, there are a number of variations: more prominence has been given to the sea-roving Don Juans, while in "What Price Glory?"' it was Dolores Del Rio, art Charmaine, who was allowed to carry oft the honours. As Spike Madden, Victor MeLaglen is a typical sailor. His wanderings take him to every corner of the globe, I hut in every port, he finds, when he visits *«<* friend, that she is wearing a golci «i.<ii-, with an anchor stamped upon it. In Central America he is involved in a fight in a cafe vfivU another sailc, but the two join forces to tackle the guards. Imagine Spike's surprise -v:„>:i f locked in prison, he finds on his chin a mark in the form of a heart and anchor. The other sailor, Bill, is the man he has been looking for through six port«. There are some amusing experiences before the two become firm friends and sign on the same ship, and thereafter their names are coupled in every port. In Marseilles then, Spike meets the "right girl," and falls sincerely in love. But Bill has met the same girl at Coney Island, and although he does his best to make his chum realise that the girl is only playing with him, Spike will not believe it. And then he finds a heart and anchor tatooed on the girls arm. There comes a smashing climax, in which Spike, although at first furious with Bill, eventually realises that his pal has been with him all the time., and the two vow that no woman will ever break their friendships. There is plenty of action in the story; if the two are not fighting one another, they are together fighting a whole band of argumentative seanftn or determined policemen. Robert Armstrong plays Bill admirably. A beautiful presentation is a rendering of negro spirituals by the Majestic Quartet. The stage setting for this number is a clever piece of work. "Souvenirs" was sung by : this enjoyable combination as an overture. I A laughable short comedy entitled "Do Detectives Think?" with those two mirthmakers, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, provides the humour of the supporting bill, and an entrancing 6cenie of Mount Cook, and an interesting Majestic News complete the bill. Mr. John Whiteford Waugh's Orchestra renders a splendid score of incidental music, including selections from "The Girl Friend" and "The Wanderer's Goal" (Suppe) as an interlude. PLAZA AND TIVOLI. John Gilbert and Renee Adoree have a vehicle which suits them admirably— "The Cossacks," from the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios. It is described as a gigantic and spectacular romance to which the famous Russian riders contribute much drama and innumerable thrills. Men who braved death on many war fronts; a troop of hard-riding Cossack soldiers, who fought for the Czar and with the White Army, travelled from Europe to help in the making and to give atmosphere to this spectacular epic of Russia. These the thrilling Cossack rides and sensational battles in the picture. "The Cossacks" is said to be one of the most elaborate screen plays of the season. Gilbert is a young Cossack soldier and Renee Adoree is his heroine. Among the thrills are the great torture scene in the Turkish fort, the battle of the pass, the storming of the great fort and the sensational riding in the great Cossack festival or rodeo. There is an enchanting love story running through the film. Described as Laura La Plante's funniest comedy, "Thank 6 for the Buggy Ride," is the second big attraction on this excellent programme. Laura La Plante is said to be concerned in some screamingly funny episodes, and together with Glen Tryon she scores a triumph. There is the usual fine budget of supporting pictures, including gazettes, comedies and travelogues. Attractive incidental music will be played by the orchestras at both theatres. NATIONAL AND LYRIC. May McAvoy appears at the National (late Embassy) and Lyric Theatres in a role entirely different from those which have endeared her to the public. The picture is "A "Reno Divorce." Miss McAvoy is cast as an ultra-modern society debutante, with a penchant for the gaming table and a habit of speeding, which, in an early sequence of the drama, is the undoing of a disinherited young artist. The heroine knocks him down and has him removed to her home. She appoints herself nurse-in-chief and affairs flourish with both invalid and attendant, until' the arrival of a newly-divorced couple, who set their caps to capture the interesting pair. Whirling complications, startling adventures and amusing twist of circumstances bring the picture to a powerful ending. "Mulhall's Great Catch," starring Maurice ("Lefty") Flynn is the accompanying attraction at both theatres. This is an exciting story of the rivalry between the fire brigade and the police force, with Flynn a member of the former. There are also entertaining supports. "THE ROSE DREAM." "The Rose Dream," an operetta, will be presented by the St. Andrew's Society in the Scots Hall this evening, to celebrate Hallowe'en night. A large cast of children will appear. The production is in the hands of Miss Lillian Braithwajte, and Miss Gwenith McNaughton has arranged the ballets. There will be a dance for adults after the performance.

REGENT THEATRE

There is nothing mysterious about the performance of Mardo and Wynne and Teddy (their talking bulldog) at the Regent Theatre, but it was all so delightfully droll and original that last night's audience roared outright and showed its reluctance to part with the amusing trio at the end of the act. The dog's limited capacities as an actor were enjoyed as much as the quaint personality of its master; but it is the range of talent of Mardo that makes the part. His powers are unusual. As a piece of his equipment he carries a Chinese accent; and, with a mouth organ, he gets the effects of a jazz orchestra. His dancing is as strange as his elocution, and his mock politeness is diverting. The leading screen attraction on the programme is , 'W**wir.'; Up," with Richard Dix. This etc? always a likable personality, has a part in his latest picture. It is a story of the American national game, but ignorance of the baseball code > j\:> bar to the appreciation of the ft.'./--.ug contest in which the "Yanks" *.acl the Pittsburg '■iAjjf meet to enn/jet the final of the ri.Mii/jiios.ehip. Dix has the part ui the hero. \vl:,; takes the field at the critical V/.trming up for the event has been a painful trial for him. To follow the thread of romance and watch the growing determination of the chief actor is a very human experience. There is something about Dix that makes him suited to parts where he is "up against it," a plaything of adversity, and if he is not supreme as a lover, he is an outstanding figure among men, and has grit and force of character. The picture "Warming Up" is of the healthy, wholesome type, an inspiration to youth. The comedy is "Scrambled Weddings," with Eddie Horton. Special musical numbers by the orchestra, under Mr. Mai.rice Gnttridge, include No. 7 of Ballet music (Gouiiod) ; "Away From You" (Ted Kockler), and "Maori Lullaby" (M. Guttridge and L. Sinclair). The Regent Gazette and a cartoon are also screened. "THE GIRL FRIEND." This afternoon the J. C. Williamson, Limited, management presented a matinee performance of "The Girl Friend." _ and this delightful musical comedy will be staged up to and including next Wednesday night. On Thursday next Miss Annie Croft, Mr. Gus Bluett, Mr. Leo Franklin, Miss May Beatty, Mr. Reginald Franklin, Miss Billie Lockwood, and the other members of the Williamson Musical Comedy Company will present for the first time to play-goers of New Zealand, the brilliant naval musical comedy success "Hit the Deck," which ran for upwards of two years in London and New York, and which created a furore when it was recently staged in Melbourne. It will be staged on an unsurpassed scale of magnificence, with the famous "Hallelujah" number, which is a feature of the latest gramophone records. "Hit the Deck" k full of dramatic and love interest, comedy, tuneful numbers and the scenery and mounting are special features of the production. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "Vanity" and "Adventure Mad" are the two principal attractions of the programme at the Everybody's Theatre. "Vanity," which stars Leatriee Joy, deals with a young society woman who is to wed a rich man. She meets a sailor whom she had encountered during the war in France, and on the night before her wedding he entices her aboard the vessel of which he is the skipper. When it is too late she realises that 6he has been trapped; this is a situation which lends itself to intense drama. The skipper is killed by the ship's cook and, from here, the 6tory plunges through an unusually gripping sequence of events. Charles Ray plays opposite Miss Joy, and Alan Hale has the role of the villain. Mad" is a UFA production, in which the talented British artist, Lillian Hall-Davies, heads the cast. Nils Asther also has an important role. It is a mystery-drama,'well produced, and the suspense is maintained until the very climax is reached. TUDOR THEATRE. Lon Chaney, as "Chuck" Collins, chief of detectives, in a drama of New York night life, is the star in- "The Big City," now showing at the Tudor Theatre, Remuera. It is a story of rival gangs, duel of wits with the police, and a charming love story interwoven, with pretty Marceline Day as the girl. The other big ■ feature is "The Girl From Chicago," with | Conrad Nagel and Myrna Loy in the leads. This is a gripping drama in which a girl from the South poses as a Chicago siren to save her brother, who has been wrongly accused of murder by the leader of the gang. The supports include a Lupine- Lane comedy, "Who's Afraid," a Felix film, and a gazette, containing splendid views of New Zealand. On Tuesday Sir Harry Lander will appear in "Hunting lower, and Wallace Beery and Raymond ±latton in "Partners in Crime," a Paramount comedy. Next Friday the bill will include a Warner Bros, melodrama, Across the Atlantic," and "A Reno Divorce. PARISIAN CARNIVAL. A highly successful season will be brought to a close.this evening when a Dig gala night will be presented in Kitchener Hal, This popular dance club, formed and arranged by The Parisian Dancing Studios, has been the happy resort for dancers of Auckland for several seasons, and the termination of the series ot successful entertainments will be regretted by many. A grand carnival wil be given for the last night, and an early start next season will be looked forward to. Birtley'e Society Orchestra will supply a sparkling programme of syncopated dance music, and dancing will continue until 11.30.

VAUDEVILLE AT ST. JAMES-

There will be a complete change of programme at St. James' Theatre on Monday evening. Stilly and M 3 will offer newdrolleries, and other members of the company will present popular numbers Frank Wilson has arranged an entertaining score for his clever jazz hand, the Charleston Symphonic Six. MUNICIPAL BAND CONCERT. Lovers of tlie novel and beautiful in music will be well catered for at the concert to be given in the Mown IIa!I this evening. Fust time numbeis are the overture "Banditen Streiche," selection of Brahms' melody, a delightful suite of three numbers in quaint old English style by the Kith century English eoiuposer William Byrtl, a selection from Planquette's opera "'Kip Van Winkle." Also to be given are Weber's "Invitation a la Valse" and "Marche Heroique," by Saint-Saens. Instrumental solos will be played by Messrs. AlcLcnnan, Bowes and Purchase, and vocal items will be sung by Miss Kay Christie, with Mr. Leo Whittaker at the piano. The band will present another concert to-morrow night at eight o'clock. DANCING. Several novelties have been arranged for this evening's dance in the Dixieland Cabaret, Point Chevalier. Music will be supplied by the Dixieland Dance Band under Mr. Harry Xeilson, and all the latest foxtrot hits will be played. Another enjoyable entertainment has been arranged for the Click Clack Cabaret, in the Kialto Buildings, Newmarket, this evening. Clyde Howlcy's Famous Internationals will provide the music, and favours will be distributed among the merrymakers. The usual Saturday night dance will be held in the Mission Bay Cabaret, Kohimarama, this evening. Old-time dances are held ever Wednesday and Saturday evenings in the Municipal Hall, Newmarket, under the direction of Mr. I). Mayes. The Regal Five will provide a firstclass programme of music at this evening's dance of the Ngaroma Social Club, to be held in the Manchester Oddfellow's Hall, at the corner of Victoria Street West, and Hobson Street. A carnival night has been arranged by the Premier Dances for the Masonic Hall, Belgium Street, to-night. There will be novelties and demonstrations, and an excellent musical programme by Edgar Bendall and his Collegians.