AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 288, 5 December 1929, Page 19

AMUSEMENTS.

PLAZA THEATRE. "The Glad Eag Doll" will replace "On Trial" at the Plaza Theatre to-morrow. In this film Dolores Costello deserts emotional drama for a clever comedy role. The picture is an all-talkinj? production of 6tage life, and it is esid to he doubtful whether Miss Costello'd many admirers will consent to have her return to dramatic roles after seiug her as the temperamental musical comedy actress, Annabel Lea, in this production. Her beauty adorns any picture, but- it has a certain "piquancy and charm, an unwonted sprightliness, in a comedy role that will endear her still more deeply to her many fans. Her role is that of an actress who becomes engaged to Jimmy Fairchild. younger son of an exclusive and aristocratic family from Philadelphia. His father disapproves of an actress in the family, and John, the elder brother, has Annabel discharged from her job when she refuses to give Jimmy up. Annabel seeks revenge by arming herself with Jimmy's love letters and proceeds to the Fairchild mansion. John is forced to ' ask her to remain for the week-end to prevent her from giving Jimmy's love letters to the newspapers He hopes to gain possession of them. How a happy ending to the comedy ie achieved affords delightful entertainment, and must be seen to be appreciated. The supporting cast is an excellent one and includes many favourites. STRAND THEATRE. "Bulldog Drummond" at the Strand Theatre is having a most successful season. This thrilling mystery romance keeps up the interest of the audience from first to laet. Ronald Colman, who is the featured player, is the third noted English actor to assume the role of the dashing English captain who foils the gang of torturers and wine the girl. Gerald du Maurier played the totle i'<lp in the London stage production, which was highly successful. A. E. Mathewa, an Englishman prominent on the New York stage, played it on Broadway. The story built around the adventures which befell a young demobilised English officer in search of excitement after the war, made one of the greatest melodramas of all time.both in book form and as the thriller sensation of both the American and English stages some years ago. The torture-lu4t of Dr. Lakington and the masterful criminality of his -confederate, Peterson, provide a harrowing background for the love story of Bulldog Drummond's courageous devotion to Phyllis and her unfortunate uncle. The photography is a fine example of modern camera work- and atmospheric settings. At every turn the emotion of-the succession- of ■ thrilling- events is reflected in the lights and shadows and perspectives of the backgrounds. There is a full programme of talkie featurettes. MAJESTIC THEATRE.

"The Ghost Talks," which commences I a season at the Majestic Theatre to-morow, is a hilarious farce-comedy built around the ridiculous antics of a correspondence scjiool detective. It combines'all the essentials of entertainment and is "the first 'all-talking feature length •farce comedy ,yet presented. . The story has not a serious moment to offer. The witty,* sparkling dialogue mouthed by dumb dptectiv.es, blustering hotelkeepers and suave highbinders, together with the unhappy whines and blue songs of a pair of negro honeymooners, who are no less witty, evokes a response unmistakably uproarious. The weird, blustery exteriors of the haunted house are said to be masterpieces of production. The members of the unusually large caste were selected for their vocal abilities as well as their stage presence. ■ Charles Eaton and Helen Twelve trees (with the delightful liep) head the cast. They were induced to desert the New York stage for this special assignment. Others include Earle Foxe, Carmel Myers, Joe Brown, Henry Sedley, Clifford Dempsey, Stepin Fetchit (negro), Baby Mack (negro), Arnold. Lucy, Bess Flowers, Dorothy McGowan and Mickey Bennett. Lew Seiler, with scoree 'of hilarioue comedies to his credit, directed. There will be a full programme of talking featurettes, and in addition the management announce that Mr. Whiteforfl Waugh's stage band, each member of which is an individual soloist, will make its appearance. This will be an attraction in itself.

REGENT THEATRE. The four Marx Brothers, 'in "the Cocoanuts," which has been such a pleasing and entertaining attraction at the Regent Theatre during the last two weeks, will make th'eir final bow on Friday night. The new programme for Saturday has for the main feature "The Dance of Life," an all-talking film adapted from the stage play "Burlesque." The cast is headed by Hal Skelly and Nancy Carroll. The two principals are supported • by Dorothy Revier, Ralph Theador, Charles D. Brown, Al St. John and many others, all of whom have had considerable stage and screen experience. Skelly played the leading role in the stage version, and Miss Carroll, who was seen to advantage in "Close Harmany" and many other enjoyable films, is said to give a fine performance opposite him. One of the most outstanding sequences in the picture is a stage scene which has been filmed in technicolour, and it is eaid to add considerably to the merit of the production. Directed by John Cromwell and Edward Sutherland for Paramount, the film deals with the careers of a young comedian and his pretty wife, who are forced to separate as the man obtains an important engagement which takes him. to New York, while his wife is a member of another travelling company. The manner in which the couple are finally happily reunited forms a fitting climax to a picture of unusual t interest. An added attraction, apart 'from the programme of talkie featurettes, will be the playing from to-morow night at the Regent of Mr. Whiteford Waugh's orchestra, featuring Ray Jury on the xylophone. NATIONAL THEATRE. "Afterwards," based on the novel by Baroness Orczy, is to be. the next attraction at the National Theatre, commencing to-morrow. This is a British-made film, starring. Marjorie Hume and Julie Suedo, with a big cast of English and Continental stage and screen favourites. Marjorie Hume, who- makes her debut to Australian and New Zealand motion picture audiences in "Afterwards," is a talented actress who will delight many with her refined and expressive work. As the wife of ;in English army officer, victimised by the strange spite of an eccentric French maid, she gives a sympathetic and appealing portrayal of her role, which should evoke the strongest admiration. Julie Suedo, as the French maid, handles a difficult role with a fine sense of the dramatic. J. B. Tozer and Cecil Barry, two noted British actors, have important male roles. The film has followed Baroness Orczy's book very closely, some of the dramatic highlights being even more moving than they were in the thrilling novel. On the same programme there will be "The Marriage Bond," the story of a young couple who enter into a trial marriage and agree to separate if either of them is unhappy at the end of six'months. This results

in divorce at the end of the term, each remarrying. The complications that arise through this arrangement eventually bringing them together again, makes a very human story. Entertaining supports will also be screened, and enjoyable music will be provided by Mr. F. Bartlett's orchestra. EMPRESS THEATRE. "The Broadway Melody" is the attraction announced for presentation at the Empress Theatre" this evening. This, film, with its catchy musical numbers, "The Wedding of the Painted Doll," "Love Boat," "You Were Meant for Me" and "The Broadway Melody," has been one of the best box-office successes of 1929, and although it has already had a long season in Auckland, its drawing powers are by no means yet exhausted. Bessie Love, Anita Page 'and Charles King, a popular New York comedy star head, the cast. The scene of "The Wedding of the Painted Doll" is in technicolour. Among the supports which are being screened with it at the Empress are numbers by George Lyons, singing harpist, William O'Neal-, Irish tenor, The Revellers, who appear in a coloured revue, and "Sunshine Sammy" and his brothers. "THE DESERT SONG." , "The Desert Song"' has proved the most successful production ever staged by the Williamson Co. It terminates to-morrow night, and the company will leave for Sydney on Saturday morning. The season cannot be extended. BOHEMIAN ORCHESTRA. A concert will be given in the Town Hall this evening by .. the Bohemian Orchestra, augmented by members of the Auckland Professional Musicians' Union and the Artillery Band. Care has been taken in selecting the musical items, which include such well-known pieces as the "1812 Overture" and the "Tannhauser Overture." Songs will be rendered by Miss Millicent O'Grady and Mr. R. Richards.