AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 102, 2 May 1930, Page 15

AMUSEMENTS.

"PARIS" AT THE STRAND. Instantaneous success greeted the mammoth production 'Taris," with Irene Bordoni, which commenced its season at the Strand last night before a crowded house. It is a first National and Yitaphone picture in technicolour, resplendent with dazzling ballet scenes and gorgeous settings, wonderful vocalisation and a captivating theme. "Paris," however, is nob a one-artist show. It is a unique combination of attractions and all are of the highest order. The theme of the picture deals with the adventures of a puritanical mother and her not-so-puri-tanical son, the latter going to the French capital to study architecture. He becomes enamoured of a vivacious stage star and the news has the effect of almost overwhelming his mother. The thought of the scion of a Pilgrim Father's house becoming inveigled with an actress is too much for the staid, prim grey-haired mother, who at once sets out for the scene of her son's disgrace. On her arrival in the gay city undreamed of incidents occur which move swiftly to an amazing climax. This, however, is not in the direction one would expect. TKe mother shatters all precept and principles of her line in her subsequent conduct in a highly delightful way and the end comes with a surprising denouement. The picture throughout constitutes one of. the most attractive and enjoyable since the inception of the talkie in Auckland. Staging is spectacularly lavish, intense interest is maintained right to the last inch of film, the artistry of its principals reaches such heights and during its unwinding the story abounds with mirth-provoking scenes and clever witty contretemps that all tastes are catered for and- there is a delight in every moment. Irene Bordoni, carrying the heaviest burden in the production, makes an impressive success of her inaugural screen production. Her acting and the refined quality of comedy which she has cultivated are as pleasing as her singing, which ■reaches a high standard of artistic accomplishment. Yet Irene Bordoni does not monopolise. The work of Jack Buchanan, playing opposite the leader, is outstanding. His comedy work is irresistible and he is the possessor of a highly pleasing voice which is exploited throughout the-production with the utmost effect. Really clever is the impersonation of the young American architect' by Jason Robardo, while an altogether memorable role is that taken by Louise Closser Hale. As the mother she is brilliant in the hour of her fall from the straight and narrow, proscribed path of puritanical principles to .the Bohemianism of the French capital. Her every appearance is a triumph of. refined artistry, and in her escapades with thy incorrigible principle of the French theatrical star, she carried out the pantomimic element with fine discretion, avoiding judiciously any inclination to overdo burlesque or pathos as the occasion demanded. The appeal of the ballet, extravagantly robed, in numbers that were characterised hy surprisingly uniform ability and precision, is more than satisfied in the appearances of the Follies Bergere, who give to the picture a spectacular value that is difficult to estimate. "Paris," however, relies npoa no such commendation, for in , its ■ inherently artistic production, its rich and refined comedy and in the ability of its principals it is richly endowed with attractions. NATIONAL THEATRE. The main attraction in a double bill at the. National Theatre is "Laugh, Clown, Laugh," with Lon Chaney in the leading role. In this picture, the most elaborate of Chaney vehicles, the "man of a thousand faces" plays the role- of a clown, reminiscent of "He Who Gets Slapped." However, "Laugh, Clown, Laugh," is far more comprehensive in story, treatment and eettings as the star passes through life-from youth to old age, from obscure country entertainments xo glittering European fame as a clown, as the spectator follows the pathetic and exceedingly human story of his life and that of the little foundling girl he rears to womanhood. He falls in love with this girl, but she gives her heart to a young nobleman,' only to sacrifice- her own happiness when she learne -of the love of her guardian. From this juncture the theme develops rather rapidly into a stirring sequence of dramatic events and a very satisfactory conclusion. A second feature stars the popular Syd. Chaplin, who will be seen in the screaming comedy "Skirts," which is a laugh from the opening foot of film to the final fadeout.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. A double feature programme is to-be presented at the Majestic Theatre to-day, when "Pointed Heels" and "The Careless Age" will be screened. The former is a sparkling musical romance of a show girl and a millionaire. A brilliant revue in technicolour is included. William Powell has the acting honours in the production. He is the suave man-about-town and producer of artistic stage revues, who'forms the , third side to the romance triangle of which Fay -Wray and Phillips Holmes -are the other components. Miss Wray is the show girl, who marries Holmes, the youthful song-composer. Their married happinesses almost curdled by the machinations of the urbane Powell, but at the finish. the lyric admixture is cleared by a surprise twist in character on the part of Powell, who turns out to be not a villain, but just a demivillain after all. Some fine voices will be heard in "The Careless Age." The cast is headed by Douglas . Fairbanks, jun., Loretta Young and Carniel Myers. The story is laid in London and at Lake Como, and is a highly dramatic story of a boy and two girls —one a sophisticated actress and the other an innocent "bystander'' in a- hectic love affair. ST. JAMES' THEATRE. A talking picture all in natural colour, "On With the Show," will be presented to-morrow at St. James' Theatre. Thers is not a scene photographed in the oldfashioned way. The glamorous stage story will be seen through the medium of ever-changing colour. "On With the Show," with its music, dancing, songs, colourful settings, costumes and people is something entirely different to the ordinary film. One forgets entirely thai ,it is a motion picture, or even a talkpicture. The effect is reality. It is°as if one were sitting in a theatre «eein" a musical comedy, with the added nrivifege of going backstage witTi th 2 players where the real comedy and drama of their lives take place. The cast includes Sally O'Keil, Arthur Lake, Hetty Compson, William Bakewell,. Louise Fazenda, Sam Hardy, the Fairb*" Twins, Joe E. Brown, Lee Moran, Gribbon, Wheeler Oakman and i... others. It is based on a story bjf Humphrey Pearson, and adapted by Eobert Lord. "On With the Show' is a play within a play— combining a tender heart story, with the fantasy that is in the extravaganza, which the stranded compnnv of players are determined to put on/despite the fact that the ghost refusps-.to wnlk.

CIVIC THEATRE. For the change of programme at the Civic Theatre the main screen offering will be "Puttin' On the Ritz," a United Artists picture, which has plenty of life and action. There will be a midnight premiere to-night, commencing at 12 o'clock. One ,of the best scenes in this film is said to be that of the Broadway Cabaret, where Harry Richman, the star, makes a great success as a singer. The tunefulness of the song he sings, the fine dancing of the chorus, and the beauty of the modernistic settings are calculated to give great pleasure. Some of the sequences are in technicolour. The story deals with a hero, who is discharged from a music store. He meets a girl, who helps him to get a booking in small town vaudeville. Later they are signed for Broadway. Success goes to the man's head, and he forgets those who assisted him, and entertains society people lavishly. The hero finally drinks poisoned liquor ana goes blind, while later the girl who assisted him makee a success. There is a happy reunion when the blind man hears the girl's voice in a theatre, and he stands up and joins in. Among those in the cast are James Gleason, Lilyan Tashman and Aileen Pringle. The programme will contain some highly entertaining talking featurettes, while Ted Henkel and his Civic Orchestra and Mr. Fred Scholl, at the grand organ, will be heard in a specially-selected programme euitable to the occasion. REGENT THEATRE. The whole of Hollywood is laughing because of the fact that someone connected with Paramount decided, when sound came to the screen, that Bebe Daniels could not sing and that her voice was not good enough for talking pictures. The work of the star in "JSlo Rita" came as a revelation. Her part in "Love Comes Along," which will be the main feature at the Regent to-mor-row, is said to confirm the belief that Bebe Daniels is not only a great singer but a first-class dramatic actress and comedienne. Miss Daniels in her latest picture takes the part of a wine shop dancer and singer in Latin America, getting the position because she was a stranded chorus girl. She was trying to save sufficient to take her back to the States. A love romance with, a sailor develops, and there are some thrilling episodes, a villain in the person of a Spaniard coming on the scene with the intention of spoiling everything ana having the sailor killed. After many exciting experiences the young couple manage to leave South America, and the result is safety at home and wedding bells. The second attraction, "The Love Doctor," is calculated to bring a laugh a minute. It is the story of a medical heart specialist without. a patient and two girls in love with him. Dix has two leading ladies, June Collyer and Miriam Seegar. Melville Brown directed. The story is an adaptation of the successful stage play "The Boomerang." "THE NEW MORALITY." A sparkling comedy, "The New Morality," will be staged at the Town Hall Concert Chamber on May 9 and 10. Some of the leading amateurs in Auckland will take part, and as the funds are in aid of the obstetrical fund the public should attend in large numbers. Booking arrangements are in the hands of Lewis Eady, Ltd. RIALTO THEATRE.

Reopening with the. latest talking equipment the Rialto Theatre, Newmarket, will screen to-morrow night "Sunnyside Up," one of -the brightest revues that have yet come to Auckland. It is a most entertaining programme with a cast.that includes many of the brightest stars of the new talking firmament. There will be an excellent supporting programme of talking featurettes, including "Micky the Mouse."