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AMUSEMENTS.

STRAND THEATRE. "The Black Watch," Victor McLaglen's all-dialogue Fox Movietone picture at the Strand Theatre, is not only an unusual offering of the speaking screen, but, much more important, good entertainmeut. Supported by a cast of sterling players this romance of adventure and intrigue brings to the popular star a role which is now to talking pictures, that of a fearless and idealistic secret service agent who prefers public disgrace to treachery. With an Empire at stake, a gorgeous love duel between McLaglen and Myrna Loy, as the voluptuous, unscrupulous adventuress who, withal lier cruelties, is_ a woman in love, is brought to a sweeping climax which has been seldom equalled in any film. John Ford, who directed the production, may well consider it a monument to his career. The dialogue throughout is capably handled and excellently reproduced. The supporting cast includes such noted players as Roj D'Arcy, David Rollins, Lumsden Hare, Mitchell Lewis, Pat Somerset, Cyril Chadwick and Walter Long. David Percy and Joseph Diskay sing several songs most effectively. The supporting programme is in keeping. PLAZA THEATRE. "Thunderbolt," with a background of life and colour in the underworld, will be presented at the Plaza Theatre tonight with George Bancroft in the leading role. This all-talking feature is said to be Bancroft's best effort to date. It is a thrilling drama with sequences that take one from 1 the heart of New York's great negro metropolis, to the aweinspiring setting of Sing Sing's Condemned Row; through the night clubs of New York's "black belt" to the "Little Green Door," where society claims its penalty for crime. Josef von Sternberg, maker of "Underworld," directed "Thunderbolt," which accounts for its gripping reproduction of contemporary life. Its events are the episodes which the newspapers blazon forth every day; its episodes are the-intimate details behind the curtain of these gripping events; its chief character is a mighty king of the lawless land which continually threatens law-abiding society, the underworld. Richard Arlen and Fay Wray have the supporting leads and a brilliant cast of character actors carry the true-to-life roles. There will be a supporting programme of ?11-talking items. MAJESTIC THEATRE.

The Majestic Theatre goes silent for a few days while the latest talking equipment i 3 being installed and thoroughly testsd. In the meantime the programme to be screened, with the assistance of a first-class orchestra, is "Masked Emotions," with George o'Brien» Nora Lane and Farrell Macdonald head: ing the cast. It is a story based on the serial "A Son of Anak." Fisticuffs, pistol duels, fights with shining knives, ■battles in the dizzy heights of a ship's rigging and hurtling dives into the sea occur duing the action of this picture, which 'has to do with a smuggling conspiracy directed toy a wily and merciless Oriental. Other characters are a girl who will not let herself be bluffed; an old master of a vessel who finds more excitement on land than he ever did on the briny deep; a mysterious.stranger whose identity proves to be a startling revelation; the hero, who makes his knuckles of steel open the way to victory for ihim in the greatest adventure of 'his life, and his friend, a wistful youngster whose disappearance furnishes the initial thrill. The directors are David Butler and Kenneth Hawks. Butler made "Win That Girl," "The News Parade" and "Prep and Pep" for Fox, while Hawks has been a highly successful supervisor of production and scenarist. Harry Brand and Benjamin J. Markson did the scenario. An interesting sidelight on "Masked Emotions" lies in the fact that in it O'Brien and Macdonald appear together for the first time since "The Iron Horse." The supporting programme has been carefully selected for entertainment value.

NATIONAL THEATRE. Ramon Novarro, who has given the world the young hero of "Ben Hur," the pathetic prince of "The Student Prince,'' and many other historic roles of the screen, appears at the National Theatre to-day, in one of the most interesting portrayals in his career, "Forbidden Hours." Novarro appears as ft young king in a modern kingdom in Europe; a monarch facing present-day problems of the world with a deep love in his heart for a girl of the people—struggling against tradition, court intrigue, international diplomacy and even the political marriage that most kings must eventually face. The love story revolves about the king and his sweetheart, a commoner, played by Renee Adoree, and shows how the wearer of a crown is torn between his love and his duty to his country. The cast is a splendid one, with Dorothy Cumming as the dowager queen, and Edward Connelly as the prime minister among the outstanding figures. Roy D'Arcy, he of "Merry Widow" fame, proves a subtle villain as the political enemy of the king. A second feature is "Beautiful, But Dumb," with Patsy Ruth Miller in the main role. A gazette and comedy complete the programme. The playing of F. Barlett's orchestra will enhance the enjoyment. REGENT THEATRE. Clara Bow's wild party will end tonight at the Regent Theatre, and in its place Adolphe Menjou will be presented to-morrow in his first all-talking picture "fashions in Love." The story deals with the troubles of a famous concert pianist, devoted to 'his wife''but intrigued by the adulation of his many women conquests. His wife looks on with an understanding smile during the rapid succession of love affairs until one escapade threatens to "wreck another home. Then she steps in and quietly and effectively brings her erring husband back to his own fireside. The story is light, lilting and splendidly performed. Menjou reaches the heart with a touch that produces laughter. Two exceptionally fine women players support him, Fay Compton and Miriam Seegar. The direction was in the hands of that master of cinema making, Victor Schertzinger. Adolphe Menjou is one of the outstanding highlights in the realm of pictures. His voice'is said to be splendidly adapted to this new medium and. to hear him sing from the screen is to really experience the full force of this captivating personality. Miss Compton sings one of Schertzinger's latest *ong '| hits, "I Still Believe in You." His other song hit, "Delphine," is sung by Menjou. "Fashions in Love" is entertainment in the Menjou manner. A good programme of talking featurettes will also be screened. TIVOLI THEATRE.

The headline attraction at the Tivoli Theatre is "Prisoners," with Corinne Griffith in the leading role. It lias all the colour and brilliance of a Viennese niglit life with the added attraction of the beauty of the screen star who, as a night club dancer, wins her man. A second feature is "Harvest of Hate," and there is a full programme of supports.

ROXY THEATRE. A man-hunting woman in the land of man-eating lions is the central figure in the plot of "A Dangerous Woman," the Paramount picture directed by Rowland V. Lee which comes to the Roxy Theatre to-day. Baclanova, the dynamic Russian actress, who was last seen in the George Bancroft success, "The Wolf of Wall Street," plays the title role in this tale of three white men and one white woman in the jungle region of Africa, East of the Congo. The story has a gripping plot in which Baclanova tangles the romantic yearnings of the men into twisted disappointments amidst ths mystic background of the steaming, matted jungle, with its native tribesmen and weird, aboriginal dances. Splendid support is given by Clive Brook, Neil Hamilton and Leslie Fenton as tho white representatives of the British Government in this strange little out-post of civilisation. A large personnel of negroes is cast in the picture to furnish the tribal atmosphere. This 100 per cent dialogue feature should have a successful I season. The supporting featurettes arc all well chosen and interesting.

WESTMINSTER SINGERS. Another delightful concert was given by the Westminster Singers last night in His Majesty's Theatre. A notable feature of the performance was the expressive rendering given of Spolir's anthem, "As Pants The Hart," with solo tastefully treated by Harry Fearn. The quintets, quartets, choruses, and folk songs were clearly enunciated, every word being heard distinctly, whilst the blend, and chording was specially well done. The soloists were most happy in their work, and received hearty recalls. Three more recitals will be given, the season terminating on Saturday evening. To-morrow afternoon there is to be a special matinee performance. DICKENS' RECITAL. The popularity of the Dickens Fellowship evenings was evidenced by the large attendance last evening at the usual fortnightly meeting. Mr. W. E. Arey, a vice-president, was in the chair ana the evening was in charge of Mr. G. G. Grant. The subject was entitled "The Quality of Dickens' Humour," and Mr. Grant elected to draw mostly on the humorous side of Dickens' "villains." Readings were given as follow: "A Sally by Sally Brass" ("Old Curiosity Shop"), Miss Haresnape; "The Resurrection of Quilp" ("Old Curiosity Shop"), Mr. M. Lusty; "Good Mrs. Brown" ("Dombcy and Son"), Miss Forrest; "Carker the Manager" ("Dombey and Son"), Miss Cutler; "Stryver's Subtlety" ("Tale of Two Cities"), Miss Adcock; "Mr. Squeers Comes Home," Mr. W. E. Arey; "A Squeers Family Interlude" ("Nicholas Nickleby"), Mr. T. Clarkson; "Jerry Cruncher, Tradesman" ("A Tale of Two Cities"), Dr. Kenneth Gordon. CHARITY BALL. A monster charity ball, under the auspices of the Auckland Jewish Women's Benevolent Society, of which Mrs. D. L. Nathan is president, and the Auckland Hospital Auxiliary, will be held at Dixieland Cabaret on Thursday, October 3. The object of the ball iv to raise funds for the Hospital Auxiliary. The organising secretary is Mrs. Alex. Follick. Novelties and favours have been arranged and cabaret items will be given during the entertainment. Special decorations and lighting effects will be a feature of the entertainment.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19290920.2.148

Bibliographic details

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 223, 20 September 1929, Page 10

Word Count
1,625

AMUSEMENTS. Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 223, 20 September 1929, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS. Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 223, 20 September 1929, Page 10