AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 151, 28 June 1929, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. A story of rare' beauty, thrilling aHvejf ture and stirring romance is Joseph. Got* rad's "The Rescue," which opens at. tihf Majestic Theatre to-day. It is RonaSiy Col man's debut as a star under tbij Samuel Goldwyn banner and Lily Daimita.l> debut oil the American screen. Mr. Cot man's forceful interpretation of one Conrad's favourite ' characters, ' KinjJ Tom" Liugard, a trader in the Java, is said to be the greatest in his entui# screen career. As a man among men, p. master- of natives and white men, and as a lover, Mr. Colman's performance leaves nothing more to be desired of him. Miss Damita, the French actress imported for the coveted role of Mr. Qolman's leading lady, gives a stirring performance as Lady Travers, the woman "King Tom" love? and. losses. Her blonde beauty is an admrP" able contrast for Colman's dark manliness. The entire cast is one of the most distinctive Mr. Goldwyn has ever assemble. Alfred Hickman returns to th<j screen after an absence of many years with a fine acting of Lady Travers' fussy husband. And Sojin again appears as Daman, the sinister pirate _ chief. • The supports include an interesting Majestic Magazine, a laughable short comedy and an Eve's -Keview. Mr. John Whitefora Waugh's Majestic Orchestra will play enjoyable music. A New Zealand-mad® film is featured, containing splendid -scenes of the havoc wrought in the South Island by the earthquakes. TIVOLI AND EVERYBODY'S. In spite of statements that his .previous comedies were the last word in funprovoking films, Glen Tryoh has produced in "The Kid's Clever" something ahead of all his former efforts. This feature is the - main attraction at the Tivoli and Everybody's Theatres. Embellished with more than the usual Tryon quota of laughs, and also with an unusual love theme, the picture is certain _• to advance Glen Try oil's stock as a comedian,. The story, written by Vin Moore, is quite a departure from the usual. Telling of a young inventor who is frantically trying to market his latest brain child, a combination motor boat and automobile, the picture sparkles with spontaneous comedy arising out of logical situations. Tryon is supported by an excellent cast headed by Kathryn Crawford. The second feature ■is "Saturday's Children," with Corinno Griffith in the main part. This is> & domestic comedy-drama, and the climax, is most surprising. The whole programme is good and should appeal to lovers of tag screen. • — PLAZA THEATRE. : 3' George Sidney, probably the best known comedy actor on the screen, lias never grown stultified in his work. Hie remarkable spontaneity is ably displayed in hifl characterisation of Albert_ Kruger, 'the factory foreman in the Universal Special production, "Give and Take," now being screened as a talking picture at the Plaza Theatre. Sidney has had a long and successful career, first as an actor on the legitimate stage and in recent years on the screen. His most outstanding successes have been in "Busy Izzy." in which ho played the same role for fifteen years in New York and on the road; and on the screen his impersonation in the screen version of "Potash and l'crlrirutter," as well as liis more recent pictures, "Classified," "The Cohens and Kellys," "Partners Again," "The Cohens and Kelly 111 Paris" and "Heart of a Nation." The great character actor Jean Hersholt ably supports Sidney, and the combination is a great one. Italy's greatest ensemble, the Florentine Choir, is heard in operatic selections.- "The Song of the Volga Boatman", is 'another featurette, and so is the singing of the Giersdorf Sisters. "Banjoland" is aa added attraction. The overture is "Light Cavalry," a feature that should not bq missed.

STRAND THEATRE. The thrilling mystery "The Canary Murder Case" continues to attract large audiences to all sessions at the Strand Theatre. Who killed the Broadway beauty? This is the task the public is set to solve, and the interest is held from the start of the picture right no to the final denouement. This ail-talking feature is from the pen of S. S. Van Dine, the celebrated writer of detective stories. It is a baffling mystery, and the further the police investigate, the more involved does the mystery become. 'J'hcie were quite a few uoon whom suspicion centred, but the people are kepi guessing tip to the final scene. William I'owsll Takes tb« part of the famous fictional detective, Philo Yance. .His arranging of a. game of poker amongst the suspects to detect the actual murderer is an interesting part of the picture. All the utterances and sound of the third digree are distinctly heard. The supports are of a high standard, and include a Fox Movietone News, with latest world happenings. Armistice Day service at' the Cenotaph in London, and an English comedy "Smith Wakes Up?" Every item is a "talkie." It is a most entertaining programme. REGENT THEATRE. "Show People," a synchronised picture to be screened as the headline attraction at the Regent Theatre on Saturday, gives lovers of good entertainment most informative and 'entertaining glimpses of .Hollywood movie life. It has the most distinguished cast ever assembled/for a motion picture, • headed by Marion Davies and William Haines in the two principal roles. It was made by King Vidor, and it has received a production that gives an "inside" glimpse of . Hollywood, and the life of the motion picture star that is most comprehensive and entertaining. The story is the romance of a girl who wants to break into the movies enters upon a career by the comedy route, 'letvmes a dramatic star, nearly loses everything because her success goes to lie" :ica !, and is saved at last by the machinations of a comedian and her own sense of humour. The supporting attraction is "The, Masks of the Devil," starring John Gilbert. This is a silent picture, the musical accompaniment for which will be providjd by Mr. Arthur Frost at the Wuriitzer. Jn the featurettes Vincent Lopez will be seen and heard as the King of Jazz. George D. Washington will sing a number of popular songs. NATIONAL THEATRE.

The famous Oberammergau Passion Play has been picturised and opens its Auckland season at the National Theatre to-day. The history of the Passion Play is most interesting. It. dates from the Middle Ages, and it is played in the small village every ten years. All the residents of the 700 in number—have parts, and mau.v of the parts belong to families and are hereditary. To be forbidden a part is a disgrace, and to play .the role of Christ is the highest honour. Each performance, which is given in the large open air theatre, capable of holding 0000 persons, lasts nine hours, and it is attended by pilgrims, who travel from all parts of Europe. The play, which is a representation of the sufferings of Christ, has always had a limited audience, but, transferred to the screen, it now has a world-wide appeal. It has been produced with the utmost simplicity and without the help of the elaborate equipment of the sti-ios of Hollywood and Elstree, and has gained from this a peculiar charm.

ST. JAMES' THEATRE.

Frank O'Brian's Revellers will offer a complete change of programme at St James Theatre to-night, when new drolleries, sketches, songs and ensembles are promised. The 'Varsity Boys will feature a budget of fresh selections