CIVIC THEATRE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 187, 9 August 1930, Page 16

CIVIC THEATRE.

The big attraction at the Civic Theatre is "All Quiet on the Western Front." All the power, drania, tragedy -and comedy flashes of Remarque's book .. have been transferred to the screen with fidelity. The picture traces the career ' of a boy, Paul Baumer, enlisted in the ; German'ranks. It reveals his emotional • reactions to battle, bombardment, and • the only woman he sees near the lines. , It takes him wounded through hospital 1 and home, where his mother waits for ■ him, but when he perceives.in his father i and other old men the blind futility of i those who know nothing of war's terrors, ' and are content to pose as the inspira- '■ tion and real back-bone of the boys who ■ do the fighting, Baumer returns in i disgust to the lines and to death. The dramatic development of that simple outline is amazing. While the perform- ■ ances of Beryl Mercer, Louis Wolheim ;•' and Lewis Ayres are perfect, the picture i overshadows the individual actor. Battle ■ scenes, the destruction of gun-fire, the whole, sweep of war form a panorama so tremendous, so gripping that an • audience, at the end of two and a quarter hours is surprised to find itself in a theatre and not actually on the Western Front. The main programme is preceded by a half-hour's musical recital by Mr. ' Howard Moody and his Civic Concert : Orchestra. The items include Alford's march, "The Middy," "Sally," and Drigo's "Serenade" as an organ solo by Mr. G. Paulsen. TIVOLI AND RIALTO. ■ At the Tivoli Theatre, Karangahape i Road, and the Rialto Theatre. Broadway, two outstanding pictures will be screened , to-night. The main attraction at both . houses will be "Honey." In this film ; Harry Green, veteran vaudeville comedian, who in a few months has become . the leading Jewish comedian on the audible screen, heads the cast that sup- '• ports Nancy Carroll. Others in the cast . of this musical romance are Lilian Roth, ! who played a prominent part in "The Love, Parade," with Maurice Chevalier, "Sheets" Gallagher, former musical '•■ comedy singer and dancer, and Stanley ; Smith, who was seen recently in "Sweetie." On the same programme is "The Isle of Lost Ships," with Virginia Valli and Noah Beery, in the leading roles. CAPITOL THEATRE. Dennis King and Jeanette Mac Donald are cast together in the glittering dramaopera, "The Vagabond King," which will be screened at the Capitol Theatre, Dominion Road, this evening. The story of Francois Villon, the vagabond poet of France, is wonderfully well told and makes an interesting story. Filmed in technicolour, scenes of great brilliancy are woven in. The singing of the two stars and of the great chorus is also a noticeable feature. The supporting programme is good. . - ■•; ■ ■ ALEXANDRA THEATRE. At the Alexandra Theatre, Green Lane, the headline attraction on to-night's pro-, gramme is "Song of Kentucky," while "The Melody Man" will also be screened. The first named is a thrilling drama of the race track wherein is presented for the first time in talking pictures a real race—the. Kentucky Derby—which is run. in a bad rain storm. A love romance between a jockey and a wealthy horse owner is.the,theme of the story. There is crooked work, as usual, but honesty and love win out in the end.- "The Melody Man" features William Collier, jun, i TUDOR THEATRE. A Paramount special with a stirring plot of Broadway gambling life, "Street of Chance," is the feature of to-night's programme.at the Tudor, Remuera. William" Powell has the role of the leader of the party and it is one of his -best. He is supported by Jean Arthur and a' number of good actors, who fill the other parts in a very entertaining and romantic story. The usual talking featurettes complete a varied programme, which is sure to attract patrons of this popular suburban theatre. VICTORIA THEATRE. The young Auckland actor, John Batten, who has had great success both on stage and screen abroad, is the leading player in "Under the Greenwood Tree," the picture version of Thomas Hardy's, delightful novel which will be screened at the Victoria Theatre, Devonport, this evening. With its locale in a' small Dorset town,' the story is delightful, and the romantic side has been delicately treated. The supporting feature is "Senor Americano," with Ken Maynard' in the leading role. DE LUXE THEATRE. A fine double-feature programme will be provided at the De Luxe Theatre, Mount Albert, 1 to-night. The. chief attraction will be "The Taming.of the; Shrew," with Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford co-starring for the first time. The play provides splendid entertainment and is full of laughs. Mary Pickford is at her best as the untamable Katherine, and Douglas Fairbanks carries out his part as shrew tamer in amusing fashion. The supporting film will be "South Sea Rose." EMPRESS THEATRE. "The Taming of the Shrew," the amusing film which presents Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford in co-starring roles, will be the main attraction at the Empress Theatre, Newton, to-night. It' is a picture packed with laughs,' and the manner in which the shrew is tamed should keep the audience in high good humour. A second film will be "Vengeance," with Jack Holt in the leading role. This is a story laid in the Congo. l{ is full of adventure and thrills. : AMBASSADOR THEATRE. In ."Temple Tower," the all-talking melodramatic novelty which Donald Gallaher directed for Fox Movietone, Clarke has achieved some highly noteworthy results with his "mood" lighting of this breathless and exciting picture. Kenneth MacKenna, ' Marceline Day, Henry B. Walthall, 'Cyril Chadwick, Peter Gawthorne and Ivan Linow are in the cast of the production, whichopens at the Ambassador Theatre j to-night. '; ■'•; j MUNICIPAL MUSIC. The Municipal Band will play at the Zoological Park to-morrow afternoon. The programme includes some very fine music, notably a first performance of Luigini's "Ballet Russe" and two excerpts from Tschaikowsky's "Pathetic" symphony, the tuneful Japanese number "Kc-Sa-Ko"; also selection "The Grand Duchess," overture "Si J'etais Roi," popular hymn tunes and bright marches. An organ recital will be given by the : city organist, Mr. Maughau Barnett, at the Town Hall .to-morrow evening. De- ' tails are advertised. COMMUNITY SINGING. "Sing Me To Sleep" may be a very good song, but it is not the motto of the Community Singing Committee .controlling the weekly sings at the Town Hall. The heartiness of these gatherings is quite a feature. It is one of the few "assemblies of Aucklaiiders where—what might be termed—a friendly or family atmosphere prevails. Last Wednesday there was a record attendance, and the same is expected next week.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. "Burning Up," Richard Arlen's first starring Paramount picture, at the Majestic Theatre, is an all-round thriller. Young and old will find entertainment in this enjoyable actionromance. "Burning Up" is the story of a likeable, ambitious young man, unwittingly mixed up with a group of ne'er-do-wells,* chiefly engaged in crooked promotions. Lovely Mary Brian enters the scene and captures the boy's heart. Then he discovers, the unethical and criminal actions of his business companions, their scheme for defrauding the girl's father of a large sum of money. How he defeats their plans and wins the girl is a thrilling story, to which only the picture itself can do full justice. Arden is his own likeable self in this picture. He is one of the most clean-cut young actors on the screen, a hero worthy of imitation in every part he plays. On the same programme is an interesting array of supporting featurettes. WEST END THEATRE. Two talking pictures will be the main items on the programme to be presented at the West Eiid Theatre, Ponsonby Road, to-night. The chief attraction is "Behind that Make-up," with William Powell and Fay Wray in the leading roles. It is a colourful stage story that holds the interest throughout. The second feature is "Swellhead," with the popular Johnny Walker as the main character. , PLAZA THEATRE. A good programme is being presented at the Plaza Theatre. The main attraction is "Sunny Side Up," with Janet Gay nor and Charles Farrell in the leading roles. It is the first appearance of either of these stars in musical comedy roles, but they have adapted themselves to the play and are most successful. Sharon Lyon and Frank Richardson are also featured. "Sunny Side Up" is" capital entertainment and has been well received wherever presented. SUNDAY PICTURES. Under the auspices of the Rationalist Association, "Senorita" will be screened at the Majestic Theatre to-morrow after an address by Mr. E. Norman Torry. At the Regent Theatre there will be a charity entertainment. Whitford Waugh's Orchestra will play, and there will be the screening of "Emerald of the East." At the Lyric, Symonds Street, a picture programme will bo screened, and there will be solos and orchestral selections. "Grass" will be the picture at the Plaza, where the City Mission has headquarters on Sundays. DANCING. Dixieland will be in full swing tonight. The floor is reported to be in excellent condition, while the music will contain all the latest hits. • The Apache Club will be in session at the Kitchener Hall to-night.. Harry Bolton's Apache Orchestra will play all .the latest dance numbers. The hall has been specially decorated for the occasion. This will be "novelty" night at the Click Clack Cabaret. There are unique light effects and novelty "turns." The Click Clack Internationals will play the latest music. Only jazz is danced on Saturdays. There will bo two hours' music after the pictures at the Picturedrome, Milford, to-night. Old-time dancing will be indulged in at the Orange Hall, Newton Road, tonight. The Snappy Six will provide the music. At the Masonic Hall, Belgium Street, the Gaiety Dance Club will hold revel to-night. Free 'aeroplane flights are among the prizes offered. Hoffman's Orchestra will play. The Ventura Dance Club, at St. Sepulchre Hall, holds a dance every Saturday night,, at which the Versatile Pirates play. A dance will be held in the Parisian Dancing Studio this evening. Music will be by the Parisian Orchestra. At the Ngaroma Dance Club to-night, in the Manchester Unity Hall, an interesting dance programme will be carried out. The Ngaroma Band of eight players has been engaged. Carnival night is announced for Wednesday at the Crystal Palace Dance Hall, Mount Eden. This is being conducted by the Rio Rita Dance Club. The Vagabonds' Orchestra of five instruments will play all the latest "hits." .The Akarana Yacht Club will hold its usual dance to-night at Freeman's Bay. Charity dance at Scots Hall Monday night. The Grey Lynn Labour party will hold a "kitchen evening" at O'Neill Street Hall, Ponsonby, to-night. Paltridge's Orchestra will be in attendance. ■The Druids' Old Time Cabaret will be in session at North Street, Newton,* tonight. Balloons, streamers and other novelties will be in evidence. The Famous Revellers will play.