AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 74, 28 March 1929, Page 9

AMUSEMENTS.

REGENT THEATRE. After having run a season of two weeks the Regent Theatre, "The Trail of 98 will be superseded to-night by "The Mysterious Lady," witr Greta Garbo and Conrad Nagel in the leading rotes. The story concerns Tania Fedorova, a beautiful _ Russian spy, who meets Karl von Heinersdorff in Vienna, and they fall in love. Karl's uncle warns him that Tania is a spy, and the young officer, assuming that he has been cleverly tricked, denounces Tania. Thus scorned, the spy secures State documents from Karl, who is cashiered and imprisoned. Later his escape is arranged so that he can go to Russia and find out who is the real traitor. Rather than see him die in Russia, where the chief of the Secret Service learns who he is, Tania reveals the identity of the Austrian traitor and kills her chief; both ■Karl and Tania then race to the frontier and freedom together. "The Mysterious Lady is Miss _ Garbo's first production since "The Divine Woman," and is the >tm°i time she has been directed by Niblo, who also filmed "The Temptress," one of her first great film triumphs. Niblo, who directed "Ben Hur" and "The Jiinemy is said to have directed the new production with a fine sense of dramatic valuations; and a number of unusual camera and lighting effects, especially ;n conjunction with several beautiful love scenes, merit generous mention. The supports and music will be in keeping with the main attraction. PLAZA AND TIVOLI. At the Plaza and Tivoli Theatres tonight there will be a complete change of programme when a double feature programme will be presented that should e cro . w ds. The main attraction is VVhat a Night" with Bebe Daniels in the mam part. This popular star admits she has one really expensive vice. She likes all kinds of Oriental things and spends much money each year in satisfying her desire for possession. Her home is a veritable museum of rare tapestry, lovely pottery and other valuable Oriental bits which she has picked up from time to time. Miss Daniels cannot account for the fascination Oriental things have for her. {she admits, however, that her first serious effort in moving pictures, in which she played the part of a court favourite m a magnificent Oriental scene, first awakened her interest in these objects of art - J, he second attraction is "Outcast" with Connne Griffith in the main role. 1 his is a thrilling and colourful love story laid in San Francisco. It is the tale of a lowly girl of the streets who aspires to the love of a member of the upper class. It is Henry Hubert Davies' famous stage masterpiece with Corinne Griffith in a powerful dramatic role. The supports are all good. The programme makes an excellent Easter offering. MAJESTIC THEATRE. Picture fans who delight in screen stories that catch the interest in the first hundred feet of projected film and hold them tense for an hour will do well to visit the Majestic Theatre where "Romance of the Underworld," a Fox film directed by Irving Cummings, opens a season on Saturday. Having in mind the former brilliant production of Cummings "Dressed to Kill," it may be of interest *o state that everywhere "Romance ot the Underworld" has been shown Cummings and Fox films have been credited with surpassing their former combined effort. Based on the stage play of the same name, written by Paul Armstrong, tins melodrama of the underworld and gangland has been brought right up to date. It is logical every foot of its film way and is marvellously acted by a brilliant cast headed by Mary Astor, Ben Bard and Robert Elliott. It tells the story ot a girl driven by circumstances to eke out a livelihood as an entertainer in a cabaret of a speakeasv and who resolves to go straight, an effort not without many heartaches and struggles. She finally achieves her goal through the offices of a good-heavtc<l detective. 1 brills abound and the tensest moments are lightened by some genuine comedy situations which ilic director has well taken advantage of. A second attraction is "Let Her Go Gallagher," with the screen's newest juvenile star, Junior Coughlan, in the lead. He is a most fascinating personality. I here will be the usual high-class supports and music. STRAND THEATRE. Something unusual in mysteries as far as the screen is concerned will be 6hown at the Strand Theatre on Saturday, when " L'he Spy" will commence a season. This thrilling drama, which was shown privately a few weeks ago, is one of the "wonder" films that come along every now and then. It is one of the mist remarkable pictures that has ever been screened in Auckland, and should prove fascinating entertainment for the Easter season. There are many weird situations, and the thrills and suspense keep one keyed up to concert pitch throughout the screening. In its criticism of "The Spy" the "Daily Mail" stated: "An unusually good picture. . . Willy Fritsch, a fascinating secret service hero, Gerda Maurus, a woman crook turned good by love, and acting honours go to Lupu Pick, in the role of a Japanese Ambassador. Mr. Lang's direction is remarkable for its vividness and for the ingenuity of ei:h "scene." The story of "The Spy" is based on the novel of the same name by Theo. Von Harbou. Rudolph Klien-Rogge plays with brilliancy the part of Haghi. a lame Russian banker, who is the head of an international spy service. Gerda Maurus has the chief feminine role, and rises to great dramatic heights. The whole cast, is remarkable, as are many of the scqnes which quickly change from place to plaje. This mighty drama of the secet service is bound to appeal to all lovers of mystery. The English Press has given "The Spy" much favourable notice, the "Daily Chronicle" going so far as to say that Fritz Lang "has never created cucli an exciting and at the same time artistic film." The musical programme has been specially selected. ST. JAMES' THEATRE. The success of Geo. Wallace :*t St. James' Theatre has been phenomenal, and he is now in his fourteenth week. The revue, "Alpine Antics" will be staged for the last time to-night, and there will be a complete change of programme on Saturday. The theatre will be closed tomorrow. There will be a matinee on Saturday and Monday, GOOD FRIDAY PICTURES. The Rialto Theatre at Newmarket should be popular to-morrow as it will be open while all the city picture houses are closed, Newmarket has its own local authority, and the borough council has given permission for a special programme to be presented. Tlie main attraction is "Two Red Roses," with a brilliant Continental cast. It was shown in the 'city quite recently and elicited very favourable comment. The second attraction is "God Gave Me 20 Cents," with Jack Mulhall and Lya De Putti in the leading roles. Scenes from the St. Patrick's Day 6port« and the Dunedin floods will be screened, also the opening of Auckland's speedway, and the Ngaruawahia Regatta. CAPITOL AND EMPIRE THEATRES. The Capitol and Empire Theatres will be open to-morrow (Good Friday), and an excellent programme has been arranged. There will be two features at the Capitol, the first being "Resurrection," Tolstoy's famous classic, with Dolores Del Rio in the leading role. "The Last Days of Pompeii" is the other | attraction, with Maria Corda taking the main part. "The King of Kings" will be screened at the Empire. LUNA PARK. Luna Park, where young and old find excellent entertainment, is again in full swing. Extensive alterations and renovations have been carried out 60 that "patrons may have full enjoyment during

DE LUXE THEATRE. The De Luxe Theatre, Mount Albert, will be reopened to-night, after having undergone extensive alterations. Everything has been done for the comfort of patrons, and eo those who have attended the theatre in the past will be agreeably surprised at the modern alterations. A fine programme has been arranged, including "Four Walk," with John Gilbert and Joan Crawford in the leading roles, and "A Woman in Pawn," with Gladys Jennings and John Stuart. There will be a special programme to-morrow (Good Friday), when "The Luck of the Navy" will be screened. The supports, which will be good, include a Fox special "Lost in the Arctic." DANCING. A demonstration of the latest dance creation the "Tile Trot", and a novel jazzing competition are included in the programme of the usual weekly dance at the Orange Hall to-night.