AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 90, 17 April 1929, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS.

STRAND "TALKIES/' The long looked for "talkies'' will make ( their first appearance in Auckland tomorrow. At the Strand Theatre, one fit tho two houses equipped with t lie new venture, a programme has been arranged that should give the Auckland public a good opportunity of judging what sound-synchronised and talk pictures really offer in the way of entertainment. Something quite new to local theatregoers is about to be undertaken, but if the programmes appeal to the public of Auckland as they have to the public of Australia. the venture must be a complete success. The orchestras will be missed but in their place selections will be heard from some of the finest bands in the world. The Strand will open its first session at 11 o'clock, the initial item being "Fox Movietone Uews." with thrilling events in talk and sound. George Bernard Shaw, the world's outstanding literary genius will talk from the screen, and those who only know him by his writings and photographs will feel better acquainted after bearing him actually speak. Gertrude Lawrence, the English comedienne, will make her appearance, and then the audience will hear the voice of His Majesty King Cieorge. It was the King's last public appearance before his illness, on the occasion of his opening the Newcastle-on-Tyne Bridge. An all-talking comedy follows. The feature film that concludes the programme is "The Street Angel," with Janet (Jaynor and Charles Farrell in the leading roles. The story is laid against the colourful background of Naples and the beautiful, soft-toned photographic treatment of the many picturesque scenes is a conspicuous contribution to the art of the motion picture. Miss Cia.vnor. as a little waif of the Neapolitan waterfront, and Earrell as a vagabond artist who meets and falls in love with her, are said to handle their roles with superb skill, and their many love scenes should hold the audience enraptured..

FAREWELL CONCERT. A complimentary concert under the patronage of the Auckland Amateur Operatic Society was tendered to Mr. Birrell O'Malle.v. the local tenor, in the I own Hall last evening. Ihe s.Uirer is leaving shortly to continue hi* vocal studies abroad. There was a large attendance. ami a varied programme of some -M items was submitted, and the performers were heartily applauded alter each solo. Mr. () M.tliey met with a warm reception befoie and after hi* solos. He gave with taste Adams' "Nirvana."' an 1 a free performance ot Yeidi's "La Donna e Mobile. ' and his request solo* weie highly appreciated, whilst at tiie close o; the concert the tenor was warmly ovated. Ihe Lyric I' oin' were heard man effective reading of Waters' "Sunset." Monckton s "Ihe Pipes o: Pan" was pleasingly H» v eii In Miss -1. Marsden. and Briccialdi's

" I he Wind" was graphically treated by the flautist. Mr. H. (.. McLennan. Miss Mavis siavc a resolute performance of the harp solo. ".Men of Harlech" an.l Oreichaninoff's "Over the Steppe" «'a« capably rendered by Miss Phyllis Ha/.ell. Miss Alma McGruer tan? "Acqua \ illaneiie in a pleasing t-tyle. and '"Corel !i \ai lations wore sk'.ii'illy played bv Miss Ina Bosworth. Cherry's "'Will V the \\ isp n;iß contributed with freedom In Mr. \V. Brou-),. and Mr. Alan McElwain made a success ;n his humorous items. The trio singing by Miss Beryl Pou'ton. and Messrs. Prentieo and Birch give pleasure. as did also the vocal ensemble work by the Misses A. McCiruernnd Beryl Smith and Messrs. d. S : -npson and D. Black. Mi . W . Kwssell-W ood was warmlv acclaimed after his recital of "Bendi-o'c Sermon." and the duo "A Few Minutes' Fun" by the Asquiths was highly appreerdi s duo "In This Solemn Ho-ir was tastefully expressed by Messrs. O Malley and Brongh. and Mr. F. Sutherland \j-as heard in "The Sp.-seam-Major 011 Parade." .Mr. Krnest Snell. Mr 1> •• Bell. Mr. D. Flood and Mdlle. and Mr. Len i;son also added attractive items to the programme. The accompaniments were suitably .plawd by Miss F. Trenuiin. and Messrs. E. Bell and .T. Hutton. It was announced that the proceeds of the concert would be over £250.

ARTHUR HIRST'S RECITAL. ii 1!! V l ' Chamber of the Town ilal! Inst evening Mr. Arthur Hirst. I'idii :st and lecturer. gave an enjoyable lititill i>oioiv j. ;iootl atleiuiam-e of tlu* musKval Tmiiiif. Ho opened with u short lectin*' enlit.ed " 1 lie True Appi ociatiuli of (!i eat M iicu ." treating iii<s subject in a whirh displayed love and dee.p feei- !'!- the music ami authors he w a < illustrating. Admirably arranged was the programme. and the visitor's n\n k at the piunolorte gave inueh pleasure. He ha.» the pi ft of expressing himself clearly and o.oqrn'iuh . and displayed a fine knowled-'e ol in and its authors. Kach composer and period \\a- e.early defined, and so deIf'ited «'•.* file audience with his work that at- the close o: the recital the musician was entlnisiastieally praised, and ho returned and plaved an extra item The design and pm ity of writ;..- o: Bach's muial J i elude *-in (' Major" :, o.n the •''! '"-"di-s and nines were shown in an 'i "r V)' e .' -harming manner. Hande. s J renide, w.tii i;s massive chn: is. u treated in a maseul.no and d-cis vo \\ iV and a trip;.in- bright and ha-.pv :'mance was secured of the Scarlatti t-01,,. A rhythmic and poetic reading was -iven of ('lueks aria from "Orpheus," and M .it's M:nuet from "Don Juan'' was d • ' a*o"\ The Schubert and B,'ahm's' \ alses were exposed in a slv'e exhibiting tne:r beauty and charm of thoi-V whilst the lirst and s.-eond movement irom Beethoven's -Son.it a Pathotiquc." "'■ere impressi volv h uid'ed < hop.n was represent.-.1 'bv Jolonaise. and the Funeral Ma-ch and' Irio irom the Sonata. Op ,T> ail of wh- ■'» were illustrated •„ a manner unfold-," Ihen Special !e.itlires. ( i.rido Debit's I re hides. "La Cathedra'e F:,/„u;.e" and U- \ ent dans la I'laine." and the Finnish composer >o3lli«; I'almmen's pie'ude "J., M '"- •"-! "I he S:.,un" w.re p,r e ' M'itu mu~.>Ki!y insight and '

SIR HARRY LAUDER. This evening at 11-s M..jes:v\. Sir Harry Lauder will m,- -.vith Hew company of international vaudeville artists. Ihe famous o.median w;'i elude in his prog: amine a bu 1 1 of new numbers in song. rk. ; li and <t,.ry' f : - >m his enormous report >;:e. and. time w•' permit, some of tiie old :av..ur';tes which dozens of written iii\,been received by the supporting company is a :>a: t'cula' lv strong one. and every aiti<t is jiiVe'rnational repute and wortliv to *H> r * tlie sia: . • . CRYSTAL PALACE. I lie (,!.\slal I'aia.i' l-ioatie announce two attractions for to-night. The til'st is "Excess Baggage." with William Haines in tiie leading role. Thi.s nvture is ~ scream tin and those who would have an evening to driw away du'! care should not fail to attend the ( rvsia! I'aiace. A second attraction is "Tilt- 1': ice l' t- ar. witii an all-star r i„t. The second big dance of the Crjst.il Winter (i-arden will be held in the theatre buildin::. commencing at 8 o'clock. DANCING. A; the ( nytai Winter Harden. in the ( nst.il I'a <iee Theatre Bui: ling. M.mn' ''den hoad. the se.-on-d b.g dance o' the season will be he'.d to-night. Tiie music »•!.. be supplied by Hex Saw:s and his >eatt.e Snappy Six." At the .Moulin Rouge. 'ate Tu 1,.r Tneatie. Keniueia. a jazz w:!l i u llo-,v the picture programme to-night. The Moniin Rouge specialty orchestra w ili the IT* llSic. ' ' • Xoim. (laiiley and 1,.- S,v,,yan, « II be j.c>ent at the Mu-,:,! K.x ; ~„igi,:. Dancing entmyiasis will have an opportunity to welcome an old iavourite -back again.

REGENT -TALKIES." Those who have been awaiting the 4^'\ vent of the "talkie" liim will have tin.: j expectations realised to-morrow evening i at the Regent- Theatre, winth has been quipped for the innovation. Much Ji-'-lieu heard about bound synchronised ami t ilk pictures m recent t.mes. .ii) 1 i e;rixi:ns for the ]n:b*.:c iu»w t«> :v»::n 1:10.: j own impressions oi the latest in the w.»r.d of entertainment. Sydney ;s said to have gone "talkie mad" 3:lst a~ d:.i Ne'.v o: and other cities. J 'ii«? nvw xorin •»! entertaininent becomes a:i aceomp.isiio.l fact in two theatres ::i Auckland tomorrow. and if the success is on a par with presentations in Sydney the theatres will be ci owded at ail sessions ior many a loug dav. The main nature film is Metro-Gpldwyn-Mayer's "White Shadows in the South Seas. ' with Monte Biue and Raquel Torres in the leading jrolcs. l:i:s thrilling drama of the South Seas is troni the book by Frederick O'Brien. The plot is built 011 the regeneration of a white man. who. having sunk to the level 01 a beachcomber, puds himsel: togetner to avenge a wronged child. As a result oi his chivalry he is lured on board a plagueship. lashed to the mast and set adrift. Wrecked on the reef oi a tropical paradise, the man, after a series o: thrilling and romantic adventures, is adopted by a native tribe. What happens when pear.s are discovered, his tight between greed and a desire for civilisation, and lis love for a native girl, form a story of intense dramatic appeal. There is a splendid supporting programme. The audience will see and hear Ella Sheilds. famous entertainer oi the Piince of ales; Joseph Regan, t»he world-famous Irish tenor: and Vincent Lopez, the internationally-known jazz band leader. These will e a synchronised news reel, and a comedy with sound effects. A special feature will be a movie-tone overture to the main picture, entitled "Flower of Lov." A:ter to-mor-row evening's entertainment three sessions daily will be held. NATIONAL THEATRE. An enjoyable double-feature programme is being presented at the National Theatre. The principal attraction is "After the Storm." starring Hobart Bosworth. The story is one of an embittered old sea captain. who clings to the belief that he was wronged by the girl he once b>v<.-d land who hates the opposite sex as a con>efjuence!. his son iwho has other ideas!, and the daughter of the woman who. the skipper believes, wr-.iigvd him. The setting of the story is the g'.anioivus East, where the skipper calls with his ship at a great port. The theme deals with th« efforts of the old man to keep his s ii: uwa> from the girl. The young couple, detc.mined to be married, tow across the br. to a mission station. W hilt* 1 :ji*v a\v.i\ a tcii'ific sioi'in r-:• 3:rjnan<l br»:»:r lliey return. ihe </.<! ski;>7K-r loan is that it

w#e he. and not his K-rinor piveet neai-.. who was i:i tiif Kim).', and makes duty to w m iwvk Is-.-r :.iV,r.i:. an ! thai of the youiu people. (."harie- Drl.i:ni plays the StUi. and tii" roie o: the c.: . is taken by Kuuenia Ciiibfrt. Th- acco:npnnyinsr attraction is " A AVom an Ain:n>: the World."' in which the heroine appears ,is a woman reimrter on a pa Tier. Her ambition is to "'and"/a b:_ * isrfM'p. an 1 Iht ( :ia:ico with * murder case in which she eventually saves a man fiom bein? han.-ed. Harrison 1".>1.1 's in tiie ca~.. l"iali*■ i s a ppor ts a! e also screened. HIPPODROME THEATRE. 1 lie I rail o: OS. which opened to-lay ■it tiie Hippodrome I neatie, has neon Vj ' 1- '. 1 s'.eatest picture s.lue 'Hen ■ liit* ti tin is .in adaptation o; Jodvert V\ . S-rvue's : annus ir.vei <•: the poid rn«h to the Klondike. Dolores Del l\;o and Kalp.'i }• orhes play the two pr.ncipal ro.es. Miss Del Ii:o appears a* a air 1 , who. with ht-r old father. is following m the rush to t.ie mrtii. an 1 Forbes* role is one oi a yoir.ijz niau who has no responsibilities in the world, and wh . has i»een 11> -nit lor weeks to stow awav on hoa'.d tae ooat by which ail the prtis'iortors travel. The picture shows the terrible hardships which these prospectors endured. inciudinp the shooting of the ramds of a flooded river, the panic which prevails when hundreds of them are buried by an avalanche, the htirnina of Dawson City and the lon,x trudge over miles o: de-'o snow, only to be disappointed when ther reach their destination. Thev tiiid that the stories of untold wealth' have not inns but lies, and that what few claims h ;' V f, b T-' :i a!ll '3'hv staked out! I ally Miii-shal!. Ka:, Dane and H rry I a rev are responsible for clover performances. \\<!l sch-.t.d supports are also at tiie ome.