AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 199, 23 August 1930, Page 13

AMUSEMENTS.

ST. JAMES' THEATRE.

Film costumes have now reached the importance of "screen tests." The entire wardrobe of "Sally," the First National and Vitaphone singing and dancing special now at St. James' Theatre, was photographed before the picture started by colour camera, so the director could see how the garments For the. picture is an all-colour production; and it was necessary to know the effect of the. various hues and their possible' clash on the .'sensitive, colour .negative. Marilyn Miller plays the starring role of the -little • waitress, -the; -same • part' . which she took in. the original Ziegfeld stage production. Alexander Gray, Fee Kelton, Joe E-BrOwn, Ford Sterling, T. Roy Barnesj Maude Turner Gordon and. Jack . Duffy are. prominent in the cast. CIVIC THEATRE. . ; s ! , "Ladies Lovq'Brutes," featuring George Bancroft,, at; the Civic Theatre, .is the story of the • fortunes iof a red-blooded; two-fisted "'structural/ steel -worker, who 'becomes such a success at 'his trade that he sets up in business for himself/- as .a- 'building contractor.. He quickly finds that his business will only expand in direct ratio ton his popularity in social ..circles, and sp he tries to become a success in the social life of the big town. The manner in which Bancroft mixes; fists with manner's provides the 'basis for. tliis thrill-packed: tale of true life. The play is based on'an original stage'' production, "Pardon My Glove," by jZoe Akins. There is a good supporting pro-; gramme. . ■ ; : .f REGENT THEATRE.' ' ; Fo(r those craving excitement, the clash of strong men and women in love, laughs and the thrill of melodramatic action, ?The Bad, One,''„.at the Regent Theatre should more'than satisfy the; universal hunger for-entertainment. Pre- ' senting Dolores Del Rio for the-first time, in an; all-talking picture,' mth«Edmund Lowe,"this-United'-Artists cpmedy-dra|ma! of; the Marseilles waterfront- cafes and ; a Mediterranean prison island, is : the film - drama in which; thesedistinctive players >. have appeared. . Miss\ Del Rio i. abandons ' for all time the .taime and' tragic roles , which have-i characterised j most'-of., her picture career and 'appears. a. temptuous .entertainer and dancer of the cafes who peers at l«i ; ve, though h'er'-business is playing.at lov'e with the 'bibjilous seamen who frequent her place-; "of worki The' film - was' made , from an original story txy - John;. Farrow/, There is. an isupp or ting programme. ,

SUBURBAN THEATRES, . 'Ais'thevEmpress Theatre, Newton, "The. Woman . Racket" . a film full- of thrills will ho. the chief. attraction to-night. ,At the New Eegent,, Epsom, "Loving the Badies'*' ancl "The Night Parade" will ha'jfche; main feature, of' the^ programme. ,VTr9opers Three" and. "Jealousy" iwill be screened at the West- End, Ponsonby Road.- • At 'the - Alexandra, Green Lane, "Troopers Three" and "The Night 1 Parade": 'will be- the attractions. "Loving the Ladies" and' "Swellhead" will be presented at the New. Do Luxe, Mount Albert. The. Grey Lynn' Cinema announces a double feature programme, "Mr. Antonio" and "The Love Doctor" wili.be. the. pictures. Dolores Costello in "The .Glad . Rag Doll" wilt be the chief feature at the Adelphi, Gyey Lynn," land "Fall Of Eve" at. the Delta, New Lynn..- "Come- Rack to Erin" will <he shown at the,, . Orpheus ■Thes&ttf The; Theatre, Devonport, will screen "Love, Live and Laugh/' , .. ■ ; PLAZA>THEASR£.', '. h vAn excellent:historical reconstruction oftheNapoleonrcyears-ris'-given;in"The Divine. Lady,"; thev.stQry;.ot.LordiNelsQn'S; Hamilton, now.hAving a return . season at the?laza< , Coriniie Griffith.-takes, the ileading- role and she EL B. Warner: arid yictor i Yarconi„ There ,is ' an entertaining .programme d of shorter.<films. .. ! : \ AMBASSADbR / THEATRE. Action, romance anil suspense are the triple keynotes of "The Arizona Kid," ;at the' Ambassador Theatre,: which brings, the popular Warner Baxter again :to : the speaking: screen in/the best performance of his sombreroed career. There -will be an -entertaining supporting programme, ..... • - '• CAPITOL THEATRE. Ruth Chatter ton 'is? one' of the best of the .-audible screen: stars to-day and she has a big following everywhere. She will 'be, seen and. heard at the Capitol Theatre, Dominion Road to-night in' "The Laughing Lady" which is. one of her best dramatic efforts. There will be an excellent supporting programme. LYRIC DE LUXE., A. penetrating study of modern social standards is given in : "Their Own Desire," which' will be- shown this evening at the Lyric Theatre. Norma Shearer gives a faithful performance in the role, of a girl whose life, is almost ruined by tie machinations of- a father who hasi grown tired of his wife.. "Woman Trap, , a. powerful drama, with Hal Skelly and i Evelyn Brent in the principal roles,; will also be shown. . / ' TIVOLI AND RIALTO. "The Desert Song" will be presented to-night at the Tivoli Theatre and the Rialto, Broadway.. Romance and thrills, are found in this spectacular musical comedy. Set in French Algeria, the ■ s t6ry deals with the influence of "The Red Shadow," a. mysterious-leader of the Riffsv ; The musical score:is particularly attractive, and. includes a number of verr popular songs and choruses. John Boles and Carlotta King . are the princi- ' nal nlaverS. ' "Louise Fazenda provides much of the humour with which the film Sounds. Special mating 'eacl afternoon curing tie school daysCOMMXHSIIY SINGING., , ; ; After the enthusiastic gathering of_ at i least 2000, people to participate. m. Jasper C'alder's community singing at the Town Hall last Wednesday, it appears that as next Wednesday is the semi-final as Via Tom is -a popular leader/ that the Town Hall' will have a record attendance. Old songs will •particular order of the day, and Cinderella, 1 whoso voice.'is known and loved frvr thousands of children, has accepted an •invitation to be on-the platform. ' , MUNICIPAL, MUSIC. .-A bright and tuneful .programme will be played by the Municipal-Band'at the Zoological -Park to-morrow. Amongthe items to be rendered are the overture "Mirella'," selections "Maritana" , and. "Lilao Time," waltz "Hydropaten," and other interesting' numbers,; in addition to bright marches and hymn tunes. A cornet solo, " The Holy City," is to be t)laved bv Mr. Fred Bowes,, and piccolo isolo, " Souvenir de Liege/' by Mr. Hal C., McLennan. T]je programme for the recital in* the i Town: Hall to-morrow .evening ; will include works by Corelli, Bach, and Widor. The city organist, Mr. Maughan Barnett, will also play Boellmanns "Suite Gothique" and Dvorak s Humoreske."

MAJESTIC THEATRE

Interpreted b} r a cast of competent players "Double Cross-Roads," tlie talking film adaptation of William Lipma.n's widely-read book "Yonder Grow the Daisies," at the Majestic Theatre, is a tale of the reformation of a city youth "gone wrong" by a beautiful young woman. After a chequered career of crime, during which he becomes notorious for his ability as a daring "safe-cracker," tliei boy decides to, go straight.. Although the youth's faith in the woman is 'tern/ porarily shaken by the revelation of her true, position > and by, the .machinations of.* an unscrupulous band of criminals, his reformation; is filially brought about; A -Fox ;Australian .news reel shows the arrival of Kingsford Smith and his com-;, panious. in America after their> tVansVAt; lantic flighti ■ A number of other interesting supporting pictures showh f : V; ' NATIONAL THEATRE. "J * ..War in a subdued key—without mar- ( tial airs, mock heroics and profanity—fis the subject of "Jotir'riey's End," now" at tlie-National Theatre. Real ..too, are the characters—tjiat; splendid.', fellow, Captain. Staniope, portrayed by Colin Qli,ve> loaned from London stage production by, arrangement with Mauriqe Browne, Limited. There is "Uncle Osborne, laying down his glowing ,pipe .to go .out on a. raid, knowing lie will be dead before It' is- cold—a role -entrusted to:.lan- Mao-.' Lai;ert« Raleigh ,is a lad to admire— hero-worshipper, eager for adventure and getting- it. David , : Manners, plays Raleigh. Anthony Bush ell portrays Hibbert, afraid of it, all. The cast is cxcellent throughout, -and the recording of 1 English-,voices .a-treat. > WILHELM BACKHAUS. Wilhelm Backhaus will give his farewell concert in New Zealand next Thursday night at the Town Hall. Mr. E. J. Grayeatock, under whose direction Mr. Backhaus is touring the Dominion, cm.-, ;phasise3! the'fact that only the; ,pnei 'recital can lie giveni as Mr..Backhaits has; .to :sail] for Australia the following, day; for .a return tour', before; returning to{ Europe for,the concert.season. The-pro-i gramme 'for. Thursday .includes, Beethoven ' numbers ~! ("Sonata in; E: Major,'? .Opus;' 109;, VRondo," Opm 51, j -No.' 2 ,in. G and "Rondo a. Ca<pric-1 cio'" Opus in G Maj.or), .six Chopin .compositions, and;works, by Schumann, Liszt,..and RachmaninofL The box -plan j opens.on 'Monday.at. Lewis ;Eady, Ltd; * ; 1 P EDENDALE : THEATRE: '; In. "The Trial of Mary Dugan," ,at the • Edendafe Theatre,...humour and tragedy: have been'skilfully blended. Thepopu- • lar'Norma Shearer has the leading roie, and she .-is; assisted by Lewis Stone,'- ; H. B. Warner and Raymond Hackett. A good ."supporting . programme ."will also be, screened., , ROXY THEATRE. t. At the; Roxy Theatre two .excellent British pictures are included in the current programme. "Harmony. Heaven" is England's first colour pi-cture, and -it is excellently filmed with, the colours minus the blur,: so noticeable in other-produce tions. -The other picture is "The Hate Ship," a story with an ingenious plot abounding with thrills.,

STRAND THEATRE.

The ta<lking- film as we know it at present is peculiarly well suited for the presentation- of the detective story, and one of the niost mystifying and thrilling of those stories is "At the Villa Rose," the British Dominions film which was screened for the first time in Auckland at the Strand last' night. All those people who pride themselves on hei'ng able to solve a mystery in advance should see and hear this one, for the climax, in : which the murderer is exposed, not only comes unexpectedly -'but is absolutely startling. Hanaud, ithe? detective, who is one of A. E. W. -'Mason's finest creatio'ns, is excellently played by Trevor : Austin, an English actor who can act. He is -besought by the lover of ;.a gii'l to track down the murderer of • rich old ■ lady, • who has been done, to .death during a spiritualis : tic seance. Ever yelue points to the giri as the murderer, ,and she vis arrested a'iid. is undergoing the; French' "third degree" exaniination . before Hanaud brings his investigations tto the poiut wliere he can, "reconstruct-the crime." And . until the very moment when the murderer is 'exposed,, no one, upless he has read the "book, can Jrave the slightest'suspicion ol'his identity. The comic -relief in the story. is provided by an English idler,; who accompanies Hanaud "and formulates, his o\Vn naive theories of'the crime". "Mickey's Big Moment," tlie comedy* on' the programme, is one that will delight,.all the children, and many adults as : well. The Universal Newspaper Newsreel-presents a budget of interesting happenings in many parts of the world, including a parachutist- from an aeroplane at 25,000ft-. The three pictures make a fine night's entertainment.'' ' , TUDOR THEATRE. That epic drama of physical courage. '"The Lost Zeppelin," will be shown at the Tudor, Eemuera, this evening. . The leading roles are taken by Co'mvayr Tearle, Virginia Valli and Ricardo Cor,tez. I, On Monday and Tuesday "My Man" {will he screened —a tense talking drama of everyday life. ■: CRYSTAL PALACE THEATRE. "Chasing Eainhows," a picture review, with | colour sequences and dancing numbers 'aa well as tuneful music, is - the chief ; at the Crystal Palace Theatre. Charles King and Bessie Love provide plenty of entertainment, with a Variety of acrobatic and tap dancing- 5 ! steps. SUNDAY PICTURES. At ? the Majestic Theatre to-morrow night the picture, to be screened under the auspices of the! Rationalist, Association ?is titled "The Woman on Trial," starring Pola Negri. ' Part one. of "The Cross',- Roads" will be! presented at the. Plaza in conjunction with • the City Mission service.' On behalf of unemployed musicians an orchestral. concert will be given at the Civic Theatre followed by the screening of "The Farmer's, Wife.". At the Lyric Theatre, Symonds Street, "The. Air Circus" will be screened.