AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 217, 13 September 1930, Page 13

AMUSEMENTS.

ST. JAMES' THEATRE,

Everyone knows John McCormack's glorioys_voice -but. it was,a new- experience to Eear the distinguisliedlrish tenor - screen,4n his first audible ' Future- Heart," at---Rt.". James, theatre;, last -.ey'eniiig.;' It- was .; n Q t;,sYiri>ris.ihi that--he? & -sli-hf .. ; ;brpgue o and r >it was,. inevitable : chat v .hisv;speaking ■voice.' had-'a -rindnoclearness,, of Mp'.. iingmgJ ■y ;^Covina;<&--lMs:f^oT\dwrtl r .Y Si n£i of '■:■ $y™>' of : .nnest- :'.- Equality,- '■ aMiy s•'mellpw;,' always .-.mnsiettl, "and lie' never forces :h'is ypiee.,Trom;.flrst' to-.-lastri)-:' ../,■ is: a lyric . not -pretena ,- . to be v arL:'actdiv beai-s pvi,denQe-,nqt-ohly,-6f his/'vocal art , and; rare 1 gifts,- but.also of his' genius as :" -an".mterpreteh ;--Hfe; ! sin;gmg-'of the Xi-isli airs.is d.elighfe:foii;m.usie lovers. •. What,• for-iinstancej.'could be'fiiier-than '>;■:■ v - Hcar; ;'YQU . Calling - -Mz*- . 'with. -its< ■ faultless''top;-: : notes,\br diis r"Rose of- ':: : Tralee;?", ; Of, -so'ti^s;•'•:'• oris; ' '-Louglii:, Eer.eni.vE :.. of; McQornisifck's;, : operatic powers', 'and another, ■ ■$&iffy_ -My■: Love/'.. in his lighie'stj style. /-'Littre Boy, Bhic,"' .-' :i]ias.: a : . effect 'thai, went liigh.% to,the.,Jieart|v. and lu.; Mqther ;is -delieately ..-? expressive . ; singi'ng; ; ,th£it sho.ws trie tenor in" one of ';his '.} nip'st papular al(unbers| ■:.' .There is a .kindliness abp'ut Ills charactei; , : - g,«d, : MiEtt -of his friends in ireiaiuf -.' success' of the pic-' ture^;';;" The .l>wgufe.rof; young.-Toihiny. ' ,Cliff prd*clelightKi .ls,st -night's audience;- : 9rmanci.pf : Maureen p'.Sui]!- : van,.the jvon'her ■;'- : ZKT-q='■■dbjib't' debt - They/hiaye made i'.':d';:pictui:e. 'wiCh;.: appeal, in settings that are new and fresh, and they hare blended epiuedy ancL.pathos. witli notable success. "Included in the supporting programme are two popular old-time eqngs, "Long,' Long Trail" and "Look in the Heart of a Kose/.'.'by. Werrenratii; a coloured picture, "In a Chinese Temple Garden^' , Leo Reismain and liis orchestra; -.' "Mickey the -Mouse" in "The Barnyard Concert,"-and , a , Pox-Movietone News. -

STRAND. THEATRE.

One of"; the\ niost. engrossing dramas

: ' 'to come, to:tTie'.-screen is, "Second- Wife," ■; wiici! rwaa /featurecL-on the .new programmeV at'.-the .'strand ", last, evening. . '/such a surfeit of show-life, and- wit during ; recent,- months. .that. %hej. change to a ireally.gobd{drama. should... be : appreci-;.:a,ted,:.,:;aiid;-in 3 presenting : Wife" ,-', the. Strand v -very" .liappily- -strikes the .':' light' chord. - It" is/vth©- st'rSng contrast ..- the reckless abandon, of..cabaret - ; ting to '.the, seriousness of the domestic life of,'/a , 'man' arid'.hfe/secohd ..wife" antl the-critical situation which arises and ■• : preseHts a/problem," wliich' the r audience ,; may be divided in answering;!-. Conrad ;N'agel:.and Lila Lde fill tlie' leading : roles this/drainatic story;- Nagel, a wealthy ■ {widower' witii/a small, son,' falls in' love ■witl Lee and eventually marries' ;her,i , ibut'she'soon::discovers tliat-tlieir hap.piness." is ."marred': by vlier'- husband's' memories of Tii's first wife. " She sets I ' .herself, tq make, him forget, his firs.t. love, and to "some extent' succeeds, b.ut on the eve of the birth of his second child Nagel receives word that his son ' 'by his."first wife is dying in Switzerland. Nagel has to : decide between going, to see his dying. son or staying •''. hj his wife. The.scene is tensei Nagel goes to the bedside of his son, \yho dies. On his" return''his wife receives him with hatred because he deserted her'in . her hour of need. ; The_ second feature picture - ia ; . "Beau-Bandit,'- , in .which Rod La Eocqiie is. admirably suited .to the role 'of $ne of those bold "and bad "gentlemen" -bandits.-; "Beau Bandit" is . apicture-'with-setting far away from the bea't'eri "tfa'<3c% of carpets' of the drawing- r00m... It .gi.v.e.s. all .the outdoor romance of. the. borderlandj, .has,.,.a\ love ;;.story in appealing';.-dialogue, in. ■■■-' ■•wfiicji' '-Ea;.' -5-O.e.4ii%yaffects. ./the/ ; _ ..broken ; ;.:.jljtgli&;,bf ;';ithe :^lexicain .:■' Dor lienyon; . -.'She-.-'has a -pleasjijg v fer■■Viong^ni^bCTS'^aije":-dbjqe.:' i-^vfeliiX 1 : , ';: '■■> '>;{;'-*.■'■■■■.:#'; '.-W::''' ~'T:-'.* .

; v. ; ; ; :*'The;^in^.; Angel":;th&'^ay^■ -anil ~C : 1 -... story*'" of .' life":., , *^ e ; v ■'■Gi^if^Mte . at the Theatre, Billie Dove- sings and dances 'icraeri:"!or jtlte:. first "this; :: ' , '-*fait j 'iti(Jnng'"*i , fi'Bfc^National" itnd- ''Vita* phQne picture, j which was : .«.daptedr;f rpm Fanny.Hurst'&j.stoxy,. "Give. This: tittle Girl a Hand." Billie plays a night club hostess in the picture, and is the guar- ' -dian'ofa' fl6ck;of the" snappiest dancing girls seen on the screen since the-advent ■of singing- and. talking pictures. The ' girle appear in .some very . spectacular dancing numbers, and the picture gives . an. jntimate glimpse of Broadway night . club life,- both in .front. of. and-. behind ■■'... the scenes. Edmund. Lowe is the leadting,man in the story, and there i* a ;. .splendid supporting; cast. ;.

; ■::■:■ NATIONAL THEATRE, The current programme at the • National,- headed by ."Swing High," is attracting large'audiences. The mam ■■picture-has as its background the glamour and uncertainty of life in the circus. Produced on an elaborate scale, the picture contains-'a cast of 1C principal players. Outstanding among these are Chester- Gonklin and Ben Turpin, whose ludicrous antics in the days of the silent -picture'never bailed to entertain audi- " ences; -Helen, Twelvetrees, a charming actress who exhibits remarkable agility as a trapeze artist; and Fred Scott, a comparative to the screen. Besides- a story rich in drama and pathos, the film ; includes some remarkable scenes during a circus, performance, the feats ot skill and daring on, the. trapeze being '-■particularly ; effective; The ' Story recounts the varying fortunes of a side-, show singer who persistently follows a large circus company until he is given employment by the manager as a result of his daughter's persuasion. <; TIVOLI AH]) EIALTO.

■There will be' an exrtiienr double feature programme at the Tivoli llieatie ana the>KiaJ.to; Broadly, «>■**££ naS attraction will be : Bebe Dan el* n <!Lo.ve Comes. , I,ame ' 8 S a loveJv voice,, and sfie- will be seen uid Jaeard at her best'in this featurt;-- ;Tfie second, attraction at: boiii thartrtj *U S be "Woman.to which is a British production, the lar Ecttr Gompson- tt tjie feaftu eel plajer.

ORPHEUS THEATRE. "Thelsie-of Lost Ships" is tigjjg" lin ft attraction.^.the Orpheu Otahuhu. It .is a thrilling .pictm , aj« one that holds the interest On Monday and Tuesday .^";, n .. will to Weened. sur prises in this• picture. It is., tbrimng, exc-iting and grippingLECTURE BY, DR. BONE. . Interest continues adding the series j> t^ e <, turc Pyramid, by Dr. Bone. The « led by a succession of nat "^^ e The to the.first aecendmg -Pasßa e e. lecturer promised the more specifically with the rew pyramid-:to fulfilled prophecy next evening.

REGENT THEATRE 7

From .the- commencement of filming the main picture at the Regent last night, until the conclusion, laughter un- , controlled rang thruugh • the theatre. !..."Cut Short" provides the medium for r- some-of 'the-most'delightful American , comedy yet seen on the screen in Auck'j land,, andit". can be commended as ex-' ■-. 'fcelleht;;fare: foV;;all who wish to banish ,' a day's pares ; in & riot of evening mirth- ; Marie; Dressier'and. Poliy r Moran, noted ; comediennes 'bo;th, are.'cast-in a setting . affording them ample scope, .and: '• pict'urisations. of two friendly enemies, ■) lodging-house.k,ee'pers,:.ia>ffec.tionate,' qu'ar- ';.. idling, .sympathetic, as. : situation fffid circumstances ' change,' . reach ,ahigh ■stage:'of screen" artistry.- "Marie pres'sler's every -movement, every intonation, is so delightfully natural:that ..every heart/goes outvto.;thi ..big-ingiireiT/';big-hearted Mrs. r Jones whom., she impersonates.:' .The .picture ihay be regarded as the finest triumph of,-this creator of . i:6les that have made ;lier"'-fani;6us!;;. It,' were a pity to'detail the plot, and jth.us , spoil" the .full iei'ijoynient ■ of the picture. -The .storystakes one /through the hum- . our and .pathps ; :of boardinghouse- 'life; with a -mother;' "struggling to : , save* : SA. that her,'daughter .may grad'uafee at college,' while another -motlver, opposite .establishment; is bitten;, with the fever of. speculation, through ..wiich she and" her sorj, mount to affluence, and to the ludicrous"''-'enjoyment pf.,Jt.- : The rise' from kilcheri 'life to residence ■at fashionable resort, ;and the eventual r.e■{urn •;-again' to-Vthe- kitchen, constitute ; the: theme, and., -Marie Dressier, [Polly Moran and .Anita Page interpret;,. the • : ci'owde.d; serieofApf incidents in .this, life ,fis:'tp -the- manner born;., "Cut Short" is thoroughly 'clean,.- •refreshing '(50'medy. Included among the ■ supporting Halms are a fine technicolour cabaret, revue, introducing' the -songs' and dances • of several nations, , aml ; a picturisation of scenes in the Hauraki Gulf dear to the memory of thousands of yachtsmen; MUNICIPAL MUSIC. : Miss Kate Campion will be the assisting artist at the Municipal Choir concert 1 in the Town Hall this eve-ing. She Will sing airs from. Tscliaikowsky's opera "Jeanne d'Arc" and Gounod's "Faust." '> The.choral numbers 'have been selected from works by Morley, Mendelssohn and Cesar Franck.-'The choir willalso sing Sullivan's "Homeland" and the Welsh air, "All ; through the Night." ~ • The city, organist, Mr. Maughan Bariiett, will give a recital in the Town. IJall to-hiqiTOw i .ai.terhboit. His programme^vill; include comj)ositions by Widor, Bach'and Rowley; : "Vesper Bells," arranged for; organ and chimes; and Beethoven's-fav-ourite vitriations'Oii the duet from Paisiello's "La Molihara." ... . ,* f> ~ EOXY THEAIRF-. r .., • > Two . British , j)i:iiirjs . are .'' bei-ig screened at the Rpxy Theatre. The headline attraction-is "The Flame of Loye," '.with. Anna May . "vyoug, the popular -Chinese, in 'the ifßtlhig role. '"T'le ppco'ETi; feature is "30n% <i ,Soho," with Ciifl Srissdn heading d. ' c!i>i -The coming■ chiiifr- j? "Ladies uf TiC-iiure," a Columbia h'fi«-ial, ■'■ with a'dJ ti'igui?hcd cast. LYRIC THEATRE. Two splendid full-length pictures will be shown at the Lyric Theatre this evening. Ann Harding, a talented actress of the legitimate stage, who has achieved considerable success, in talking pictures, is the principal in "Jler Private Affair," a powerful' 'drama, of modern life. In "Fashions in Love," Adolphe Mcnjou gives a, polished portrayal in the leadingrole. .';'; ~' "' ' ; ■ One of the.iinest, English, pictures" yet "made; "Under'-the'' Greenwood I Tree-'fWlir'bfe-screened at'thQ:"Saridriiigf-. , ham Cinema Based on* Thomas Hardy's notable book,- it ,, reproduces with accuracy fiiral life at the opening of last .century. • .The principal is-John Batten,•; an;4Aucklander, who has iriadc a name . for iumself. on' the English-stage.-■ The .attraction, is "Painted Faces.";'.

BOHEMIAN ORCHESTRA^ ■ 'The; Bohemian. Orchestra -Avill give its ■ third -concert ..of :the, at ■ the Tdw,n'Hall bn< Thursday,: September 25.' The programme - will include excerpts .-from ■ ilie. -works of -W-agner, Haydn, ; Cherubini and Alfred Hill. The soloists for the occasion will be Miss Joan Laird, ; Ypcaiist', and Master Harold Taberner, • violinist.-; ■ ;.. ■.'■ J , _ ; " ..;'./. ARCADIA THEATRE. "I-lcney," with Nau.-'y. Carroll ,in the lead-'Dg xo]&, .is the main attraction at. t'ui Arcadia. Theai;:o, N<:v»xon. It i 3. a talking, singing and dancing film. In fact, it is fine musical comedy and good enUt lainment. PLAZA THEATRE. "The Cuckoos" is having a great run at the Plaza Theatre. It is one of the funniest films yet produced for the audible screen. At the Civic Theatre it had a successful-season, and now crowds are flocking to the Plaza to get an hour or two's unadulterated merriment. If one is not prepared to laugh it is no good paying to.see."The Cuckoos." AMBASSADOR THEATRE. "Troopers Three," a picture concernI ing training in the United States cavalry, wili.be presented at the Ambassador Theatre, Point Chevalier, tonight. . It is full of thrills, with the •humorous side well developed. STRAND MISSION SERVICE. The Strand Theatre Mission has arranged to have "Uncle. Tom," of IYA, the popular community song leader, "to introduce, on Sunday evening, a , form of interesting Sunday singing appropriate tp the particular type of service held at the Strand. The mission "believes that there is some virtue' in the free "community singing" treatment. On Sunday night "Uncle. Tom" will introduce a group of what he terms/'Sunday, songs." ' Mrs. Barrington Snow has consented to aclt as accompanist. SUNDAY PICTURES. "The Flag Lieutenant" will be screened- at the Majestic Theatre tomorrow night- after a lecture under the auspices of the Rationalist Association."The" Air Circus" will be shown" at the Strand; following an address 'by the Key. Scrimgeouiv .'"The Circus of Death" is announced, by the Auckland City-Mission.to be screened.at the.Plaza, •and "The Circus of Life", at the Civic, in con junction with an orchestral. eoncert on behalf of unemployed musicians. "Poppies, of Flanders", will be shown at tlie Svmouds Street. •TUTANKHMEN."., Asa pyramid builder and master of tortures Mr. Dan Flood, the well-known entertainer; is in his element in the forthcoming.revival by the 4mateur Operatic Society of "Tutankhamen." Since his first appearance he has had the experience of a world tour with professionals, and it is expected that his humour will -be a triumph. A curse is said to fall on all who have interfered with the" tomb of Tutankhamen. The nurse is something to be dreaded when thrown bv Miss Ethel Rae, who plays the part of Tji. Seldom has an teur risen -to such dramatic heights a's she does -in Jier. .curse of the Pharaoh in this, production.. Miss Sae's work is always convincing.

CIVIC THEATRE.

It is.not often that a farce-comedy has a -strong moral in it, l)ut this can be said of "So This is London," a Fox Movietone production, which was presented at the Civic Theatre last evening. The American. who canilot -stand anything English, and the Englishmen ..to,,- wli.em.v-.all'-; Americans ' are, savages.or bbuMers,.; arfe well■-knowi types, ancjj, it-Ayas .a yer^,happy idea ta make these two vpefspnjlications v 'of : .'prejudice the. protagonists in a. play; ; X.fie result is not,' only' , highly- "atousing; -but instrucs tive, :.:•■ Hiratti' -Drapter; ■- '• a; self-made American' business man, is persuaded 'against /liis" inclination to go to England' his son, an attract tive ,yo,ung nlaiii ■■'just- from ,, college, falls •in- love Ayitli an English girl on the ship? This- development- is .a gre'yious blow to. the';doting^arents^ : for to. them English. people: are and, their hearts are set; on-"Junior ,, , marrying a "good American girl.''> friiere.-are'-iurtlier complications y/heri /the family; go to stay at a , country:'house,' and-Hiram hears the fatlier.:: : of : the. girl—a' heavy-moustacheii and;.nionofcle'd peer, pf the ..type beloved bjr -the ;"inovies"—abusing 'his countrymen. Husband;and <wife decide to piajrup'to this reputation, and so make the marriage, impossible, and there are painftVl -Wt •entertaining' sieves;;in the draw* iiig .rooin.^and,-at'the dinrier table. However,' .; at;' a .shooting:, party, next clay Hiram,,an<;rihe pfjeV becoijie friends, and all :erida happily. onvthe "shoulders of \yill: Rogers," whp takes, the part of JprjiperJ lies lnost "]ol the responsibility f6r : .the success of "So-This , is London!" and again he proves hi.piseif'to be a great , ' comedian,' with' the .ability, which all great comedians possess, of playing I,nu'the ..strings , -of .as well/ Laughter was freqitentand hearty at the ■Civic, last night;; . Whether Mr. Rogers" is lif-tiiig ■ a morose -eye l "from a deck chair in mid-Atlantic, or steering clumsily/through the"'difficulties of Eng- : lish etiquette, or peppering the beaters at an English "shoot," he is very funny indeed.. As -Lord Percy ■ Worthing, who "thinks tha* all Americans aris. i-'bonndalis, , ', Ijimsden Hare is an amusiiiifj caricature-'of a type, and his scenes, ■with .Draper kept the audience in roars !of'laughter. The support is excellent. The irest of the- programme was supplied by two news reels, adventures of "Oswald ;thc: Lucky Rabbit," and the "Horoscope fof People Born in February."

i ; CRYSTAL .PALICE. : A splendid programme is announced 'for tiie. Crystal Pa la ?u Iheatre, Mou.ifc )i]clen lioad; .ItJs, the comedy success, ■ J ;Styeri.<:.Keys to : ., , Baldpa'.c/ ; with Rirhart! Fix inVthe leading role. Ihis picture has j'ist co'inpleteci a sue -.i,s?fu' season a!; the t Theatre, Qucpii fiieet. ft is a great laugh producer, and there are i»':ai:y thrilling situations. A supporting lllm will be "Vagaboiid lover," w.'tli Rudy Vallee in the main part.. ■ I .SUBURBAN THEATRES. 5-At the Capitol. Theatre, Dominion Road, "Temple Towel , "-"will be screened to-night. "Bulldog Uruniniond" will be presented .at New Xj'nn; "The Sky Hawk";;-at: the Tudor, Remuera; "Paramount ;.on Parade" at the Prince Edward; "The' Arizona Kid" at the Britannia, Three Lamps; "Officer O'Brien"' at th& Grey. Lynn Cinema; "Paris . Bou'xjd" and "Courtin' Wild Cats" at Devonport; "The GirL Said No" at the Empress; "l?even Keys, to Baldpate" at the Alexandria, Green Lane and the l)e Luxe, Mount Albert; "Condemned ,, at', the West End; "Vagabond Lover" and "Dance Hall" at the New Regent, Epsom. LONDON THEATRE. "Charming Sinners," at the London ■ Theatre, is the most recent work from Somerset Maugham's prolific pen. Riith well known . on the'BroadwayVelafte", recently seen in Paramount's spicturisation of James M. Barrie's "The Ddctor's Secret" and otlier successes, has the leading role, with Clive Brook, Mary Nblaii and Florence Eldridge in support;ing roles. "Charming Sinners"'is the story of:a woman who discovers her husband; to .be in. lovenvitli her best friend, and wh& apples tlierthepry that "sauce for the. gander Is •sa'uoe;,for the goose." Mis .exceptionally well-acted, and should prove a' r popular success at'the London. There is an ■excellent-supporting programme.

1 COMMUNITY SINGING. ■'■ Len Barnes,i assisted by an orchestra composed of the Auckland Professional Musicians' Union, ! will be in evidence at the Town HaU on Wednesday during the lunch hour to take" part in another community sing. Mrs. Barrington Snow will- preside .at the- piano. DANCING. Auckland's new cabaret, the Peter Pan, will be in full swing to-night. Special prices are announced for aftertheatre patrons.

■ Dixieland Cabaret, Point Chevalier, will be a scene of gaiety to-night. ■• Dancing will cease at midnight. The Dixieland Band will be in attendance. •

The Apaclie Club advertises special musical scores for to-night at Kitchener Hall. Harry Bolton's Apache Orchestra will be in attendance.

The Click Clack Cabaret will hold a jazz, evening to-night. Norm Ganley's orchestra will play all the latest "hits." Special features are announced. ■ The Akarana-Dance Club will hold its usual dance to-night at Mechanics' Bay. •The shop assistants will hold their .usual weekly, dance in the Scots Hall on Monday evening.

A dance will be held next .Wednesday by the Jugoslav Club at the Manchester Uiii# Hall. ' . '

The P-onsonby League Football Club will, hold a dance, at: Kitchener Hall next Tuesday. ...... . . . . ..' ;•

The : Ngaroma Dance Club will be in session this evening at the Manchester Uyity Hall. Bob Adams and his Ngaroma Band will play all the latest "hits , ." The Rio Rita Dance Club will, be at Crystal Palace ballroom next Wednesday. .The Ventura Dance Club, at St. Sepulchre's' Hall, will be in session to-night. Ye Versatile Pirates will be in attendance.'

.Bob Adams and the Ngaroma Dance Band will be in attendance at Manchester Unity Hall oil Tuesday nighty when a jazz evening will be held. ■ • ,' : , The ,Grey Lynn Labour.party, will ftold a dance at the O'Neill Street Hall, Ponso.nby, to-night. Paltridge's Orchestra will be'in attendance.,.' "'.'".'. .

The Druids' Old Time Cabaret will.pro.y.ide a dainty supper at their d4n.C6.to be held to-night. George Hunter's Famous Revellers will play. . • ■ ■

. Every Saturday, night an-old-time danpe is held at the Municipal Hall, Newmarket. Parker's select revised orchestra is in charge of the music. '.-■••

.. : -There■.-will be two hours' jazz- after the pictures. at the. Picturedrome, Milford, to-night. ■;..-:. . :

. An old-time dance will.be held in Orange.Hall this evening. The Snappy Six Dance Band will dispense the latest music. '■- ■ • ■ . ..-.-•

The weekly social dance will be held this evening at the Parisian ■ ; Dancing Studio in Upper Queen Street. Popular dance numbers will be played by the orchestra. .

The Auckland division of the Political Reform League will hold a ball: on October 2.: ~-... ;. .