AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 164, 14 July 1930, Page 16

AMUSEMENTS.

NATIONAL THEATRE.

■ An excellent double feature programme is being presented at the National Theatre. The main attraction is "Sailor's Holiday," a rare comedy, breezy and interesting. Two United States marines are the central figures and their exploits when on leave are adventurous and humorous. The situations that develop are • side-splitting. The fun starts at the very commencement of,the film when the hero and his pal are charged with giving a black eye to the boatswain's mate. They are forgiven by the captain after telling a pack of lies. Later a girl on shore receives their sympathy and five dollars, but they soon discover they have been fooled by a crook. Another girl seeking her brother enlists their services, and "they decide to help her after being convinced that she is on the level. The hero's mother receives her with open arms, but the boatswain's mate finds the three together and he decides the girl must go to the police station to answer for a theft she has not committed. The boatswain later finds that the girl is his sister, and everybody becomes joyful, including a parrot that is always in the picture.. The plot was founded on a story by Joseph Franklin Poland. Alan "Hale makes an excellent hero, and George Cooper acts well as his pal. The second feature is titled "This Thing Called Love." It is well acted and produced, and the comedy side has not been neglected. As a stage play it was a big success last season on Broadway. It deals with a modern theme on marriage, in which the wife stipulates for a salary, both parties being free to go their own way through love. Edmund Lowe is cast as the husband, who accepts the new conditions temporarilv, secure in the belief that he will be able to convert his wife to the more old fashioned idea of the marriage tie. Constance Bennett plays opposite to Lowe, and others in'the cast include Zasu Pitts, Roscoe Earns and Stuart Erwin. The programme throughout is well balanced and should have a successful season.

REGENT THEATRE. There is plenty of entertainment value in the present programme at the Regent Theatre. The main attraction is a film titled "Her Private Affair." It is a story of love, hate and intrigue. Ann Harding has the leading role. She is supported by Harry Bannister and John Loder. The story concerns the tragic tangle that results from an indiscreet infatuation, and the producers working on Leo Urvantzov's Vienna stage drama 5 , "The Right To Kill" have made a notable picture. As Vera Kessler, a woman who has fallen into the clutches of a merciless blackmailer, Miss Harding reaches great dramatic heights. In negotiating for the return of incriminating letters ehe is menaced with a further threat and she uses a weapon which a few minutes earlier has been used by an accomplice of the blackmailer. The search for "the woman in the case" and Vera Kessler's haunting fear of discovery provide great dramatic suspense. The second feature, "The Girl Said No," is a charming etory of love which refused to be thwarted. William Haines, in the central role, is seen first as a youth fresh from college and with no realisation of the responsibilities of life. His difficulties and his successes and hie romance I with Mary Howe, a part played by Leila Hyams-, form a delightful picture full of laughter and romance. "SO THIS IS LOVE." "Love Lies," which has been attracting large audiences to Hie Majesty's Theatre will be staged by J. C. Williamson's English musical comedy company for the last time to-night. To-morrow evening and until Saturday night, with matinees on Wednesday and Saturday, the ( comI pany will present, for the first time to i playgoers of New Zealand, the London musical comedy success "So This Ie Love," which is still attracting record audiences to the Winter Garden Theatre, London, and it recently enjoyed a record season in Melbourne. Delightful music, - pretty ballets, clever "tap- dancing," beautiful ensembles, exquisite frocks, brilliant electrical effects, charming love romance and numerous highly amusing comedy scenes and situations, are the features which 'have made "So This Is Love" one of the most successful musical plays staged in recent years. The whimsical part of Potiphar Griggs, which was played in England by Stanley Lupino, gives Clem Dawe an abundance of opportunities to further demonstrate the fact that he is one of the funniest and most popular comedians who has ever appeared in New Zealand. Other mem : bers of the company, including Bobby Gordon, Betty Eley, Marie Eaton, Compton Coutte, Mona Barlee, ' Katherine Stewart, Paul Plunket, and Dan Agar will all be seen at their best. Amongst the outstanding musical numbers are the following: "Hop On Your Toes," "Just Suppose," "I'm a Little Bit Shy/' "Keep Cool," "I'll See To It," "All the Time," 'Cornflower Blue," Sweetheart" and "Tweet Tweet." The latter ie sung by Mi - . Clem Dawe, and in Melbourne the audience demanded no less than four encores on the opening night.

TUDOR THEATRE. The attraction this evening at the Tudor Theatre, Eemuera, is a powerful drama entitled "The Mighty" a Warner Bros. Talkie in which George Bancroft plays the part of a returned war hero who is. made Commissioner of Public Safety of a crime-ridden city. Esther Ralston, Warner Oland arid Dorothy Eevier have important supporting roles. A number of good featurettes complete the programme which will be repeated tomorrow evening. On Wednesday and Thursday the talkie, "High Treason" will be screened. MUNICIPAL BAND. Before a fair attendance in the Town Hall last Saturday evening the Municipal Band played an attractive programme. Handel's "Funeral March , '' opened the concert and "it received an impressive delivery, the tuneful overture to "The Merry Wives of Windsor," by Xieolai, followed, and it received an effective rendering. Lacombe's "Suite Espagnole" was given a colourful performance, and tastefully executed was Tschaikowsky's Andante from the "Pathetic Symphony." The soloing by members of the band was of a distinctive nature in the performance of extracts from Verdi's "Aida," whilst the concerted numbers were admirably sustained. Smith's "Fanfare" and "Scherzo'," two bright selections, were spiritedly played by tlie musicians and enjoyable readings were secured of the Gounod --airs from "Faust." Meyerbeer's aria, , "Ah Figliuol" and Oliver's "Yonder," were capably sung by Mrs. D. Cronin. Skilfully executed by Mr. Davies was Arban's cornet solo, "Brilliante," and Mr. H. C. McLennan was heard in a pleasing delivery of Carte's flute Caratina, "The Rising of. the Lark." Mr. Christopher Smith directed the band numbers.