AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 174, 25 July 1930, Page 16

AMUSEMENTS.

CIVIC THEATRE.

Richard Dix, in the role of an electrician, suddenly drawn into high New York society, is the chief mirthmaker in "Lovin' the Ladies," which opened a season at the Civic Theatre last night. An exceedingly wealthy young man has the idea, that there is no such thing -as love, and to prove his statement bets a friend that he could make a man and a woman become engaged in a month. Environment, .in his opinion, is all that counts. His bet is taken, an/i Peter Darby, electrician, is chosen for one of the subjects of the experiment. He is taken into high society, given faultless clothes, and generally becomes a man about town. The scene of the experiment is carefully arranged, a most romantic spot, and Peter is stationed there to wait for his vis-a-vis in the experiment. While waiting, 'however, he becomes entangled in a series of lovemaking adventures, much to the disgust of his. sponsor, who sees his "bet lost on each; occasion. Peter, falls really in love with another woman in the drama, the woman whom, he is led to believe ia the fiancee, of his employer. Laughs abound as each situation is followed by one even more humorous. Eventually'the bet is called off because Peter finds that the lady he loves has discovered his love-making adventures, and rather than lose her he reveals the secrecy of the bet, and all ends happily, for him, at least. Richard Dix, posing as the blase man of-travel, bored with life, is the essence of humour. Each line he speaks contains, a laugh, and every action is a provoker of mirth. He gives a really finished performance and is backed by a cast of weil-known Hollywood favourites. Lois Wilson handles her part excellently. Allen Kearns, in the role of Cupid, gives an eminently successful display. Many a laugh is caused by his antics, especially when he finds that his plans are going wrong and that his bet is in danger. Bright music is played by Fred Scholl at the organ and "by the orchestra. News items, both interesting and entertaining, are contained in the two budgets that comprise a substantial part of the supporting programme, while a screaming comedy, "So This Is Marriage," sets the mirtJi-ball rolling. STRAND THEATRE; Swift-moving, tense in drama, and rich in realism, "Officer O'Brien," Pathe's all-talking melodrama of the underworld and the law, is being presented at the Strand Theatre, . with William Boyd as the star, to-day. As the two-fisted lieutenant of police who runs to earth a notorious vice leader in the face of possible ruin, and at the cost of his sweetheart's love, Boyd is given an opportunity for high-powered dramatic work that is enhanced by speed, action and many thrills. "Officer O'Brien" is the story of a young policeman who has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant as a reward for the arrest of Mike Patello, notorious gang leader; on the charge or murder. The only witness against Patello is Johnny Dale, a, young policeman, who witnesses the shooting. Ruth Dale, sister of Johnny, is in love with O'Brien. Fearing that Patelio's gang will get her brother if he testifies, she pleads with Bill not to allow the boy to testify. Dale won't listen to this. He takes the stand, and as he is about to iianie Patello as the imirderer he is mysteriously shot. The solution comes with thundering rapidity and dramatic fashion. It results in one of the most powerful scenes witnessed on the screen. MAJESTIC THEATRE. The picture version.of the delicipus old stage farce "So Long Letty" is enjoying a successful season at the Majestic Theatre. Although the play has been modernised, much of the old comedy has been retained, and bright entertainment is assured. The picture owes its appeal to Charlotte Greenwood, famous comedienne of both stage and) screen. The story concerns two husbands and two wives, .who, tiring of each other, effect a change. Comedy abounds in the situations which follow. The'supporting programme is excellent and contains one especially meritorious film, "The Wizard's Apprentice," an interpretation of Goethe's famous poem. ST. JAMES' THEATRE. Ben Travers' famous comedy "Rookery Nook" is drawing crowded houses tb the St. James' Theatre. The picture version of the story, the play is an uproarious farce. The situations which Ben Travers has put on paper are produced even more funnily on the, screen, and the picture is one long laugh. Tom Walls and Ralph Lynn, comedians of the first water, besides giving polished (performances, are a pleasure to hear, the good English voices speaking every line distinctly, The supporting programme is both interesting and va:-ied. i : PLAZA THEATRE. An all-talking romance of life in the Western States of America, "The Arizona Kid," which is now showing at the Plaza Theatre, provides enjoyable entertainment. Warner Baxter, in the role of a mysterious horseman, who .creates havoc among the storekeepers of a little Arizona town, acts with that convincing skill that characterises all his performances. The Rugby football match between Auckland and England is given a prominent place on the supporting programme, which also contains shorter films of interesting events. LONDON THEATRE. Thomas Hardy's famous novel, "Under the Greenwood Tree,"'is skilfully treated in the film of the name, which will commence a season at the London Theatre to-night. The story is set in a little Dorset town, the whole population of which is agog with the news that an organ is to be,installed in,the,little church. A young girl is chosen to play it, but it seems to be desecration to the villagers, who cause a rift between the girl and her lover. Around this question the delightful story has been woven. John Batten, a young Aucklander,. who has achieved great success on stage and screen overeeas, takes the leading part. RIALTO THEATRE. Commencing at the Rialto Theatre tonight, the "Vagabond King" will be. shown for a short season. The picture version of the famous operetta is equal, if hot better than, the stage, presentation. The, singing is wonderful,: 'and bright; effects' are secured 'by■ technic&lour. ■ The story concerns the : exploits of the, vagabond poet Francois wW is made king of "France for a , week. Dennis King and Jeanette Mac Donald play the leading roles. LYRIC THEATRE. V "Slightly Scarlet", is the■ first, talking picture to be shown at the Lyric Theatre, which has just gone talkie. Clive Brook and, Evelyn Br,ent have the leading roles in this drama of diamond thieves and adventure in the south ..of France. Both give good performances equal to. anything they have previously produced. The supporting programme contains;interesting,and varied items.'

REGENT THEATRE.

"; At the Regent Theatre to-day; there will 'be a complete change of programme. The main attraction will be "Montana Moon," a musical romance of the West, with Joan Crawford in the leading role. The story is an original, and the. supporting cast includes John Mack Brown, Dorothy Sebastian, Ricardo Cortez, Benny'Rubin, Cliff Edwards and Karl Dane. This is one of the first -pictures to be filmed without the use of artificial scenery, all the > exterior scenes being taken on a cattle ranch in the San Jacinto Mountains, 200 miles north of Los Angeles. A large part of the extra cast was recruited from the cowboys employed on a local ranch. The story concerns a New York debutante -who visits her father's extensive holdings in Montana and falls ill love with a cowboy. The conflict between theirlove and the disparity in .their social positions forms the dramatic situation. Advance reports have it that "Montana Moon" is by far the most lavish, production in which Miss Crawford has yet appeared, particular stress having been laid on the wealth of scenic beauty on hand and the contrast between the Western locale and that of the sophisticated Park Avenue environment, with which the star has heretofore been almost exclusively associated.

NATIONAL THEATRE.

■ Screen enthusiasts who have wondered what the inside of a Hollywood studio looks like and how directors act when stars fail to do the ring thing, will be able to satisfy their curiosity when Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer presents Buster Keaton's first all-talking comedy, "Free and Easy," at the National Theatre on Saturday. This picture takes the movie-goer inside the studio gates and permits him to see and hear such players as Buster Keaton, Anita Page, ffrixie Friganza, Robert Montgomery, William Haines, Dorothy Sebastian, Karl Dane, John Miljan, Gweh Lee, William Collier, sen., Edgar Dearing, Mari6n Shilling, and Lottice Howell, while directors who play "themselves" include Lionel Barrymore, Fred Niblo. David Burton, and Cecil B. De Mille. Unusual aspects in relation to this cast are the facts that, it will introduce Keaton's talking and singing voice to the screen for the first time, and it will be the first appearance of Cecil 8., De Mille before a camera and microphone. In the second feature, "The Ship From Shanghai," Conrad Nagel, Kay Johnson, Louis Wolheim and Carmel Myers .are in the cast. This is. a sea story with the romantic China Sea as a background.