AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 219, 16 September 1930, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

MAJESTIC THEATRE.

"New York Nights;," a fast-paced drama of Broadway backstage life, presents Norma Talmadge in her first talking picture. It opens at the Majesfcio Theatre to-morrow. Enthusiastically heralded by leading American critics as one of the best examples of the new celluloid art. "New York Nights" unfolds a tale of the show people who help to characterise city life. The story is of a little chorus girl, Jill (Miss Talmadge), married to a lazy and unreliable song-writer who manages to write the only successful song of his career and sells .it for a drink of gin. The plot revolves " about the character of a racketeer who covets Jill and plans to rid her of her husband, butunsuccessfully. Tlie picture ends in a melodramatic whirl of action. Miss Talmadge as Jill is sai dto be a .triumph of finished acting. She acts with simplicity and naturalness... Gilbert Roland surprises in a semi-character role invested with real sympathy. His impersonation of the indolent, almost worthless husband of Miss Talmadge ifl a difficult one. John Wray, is a grim, sinister figure as Joe. Privxdi, the racketeering connoisseur of girls. This actor-playwright does commendable work in his first motion picturc. Lilyan Tashman, as the hard-boiled, naughty-but-nice chorus girl friend of Jill, is in a characteristic role. Others in the cast are Eoscoe Karns, the comic relief, and Mary Dorank, the gold-digging villainess. There. will be ran entertaining supporting programme.

"REDEMPTION."

The Williamson Films Co. has obtlie Auckland rights for "Redemption," Leo Tolstoi's great drama of a Russian prince wlio found redemption in death. John Gilbert plays .the leading part and he is supported by Conrad F el, R.enee Adoree and Eleanor Boardman. "Redemption" was produced by Fred Niblo, and it is. regarded as one of the most sensational pictures since the advent of the "talkies." It is a passionate drama of a man destroyed by destiny. It is the story of a weak man's life and the consequences to others 'of his weakness. • He sought virtue but lacked moral courage. But in the end he chose death to redeem himself. "Redemption" can only be presented at the National Theatre for three days and nights, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, as arrangements have already been made for the screening at .the National on Saturday next of -the 'musical comedy; play "They. Learned About Women," in which Van and Schenck, Bessie Love, Bennie Rubin and Mary Doran appear in the leading characters.

" TUTANKHAMEN."

At the close of the first; evening of "Tutankhamen," in Auckland in 1923, there was a wonderful scene of enthusiasm. "Tutankhamen" .proved to be the Auckland Amateur Operatic Society's outstanding success. will be a revival of this lyrical echo of Egypt at His Majesty's this month. If any one department of the Auckland Amateur Operatic Society's work can be said to be of outstanding merit, it is the • magnificient chorus singing of their chosen voices. "Tutankhamen". has a chorus,of 65, a ballet of 20 and a cast of 10 principals. The music of " haunting sweetness 1 ana mysterious rhythm comprises four-part harmony, octets, quartets, trios and solos, sung by some of the acknowledged premier voices in Auckland, and several musical numbers have been frequently described as masterpieces. .

DR. FU MANCHtT RETURNS. Screenland's most famous specialist in Oriental roles, Warner Oland, will ba seen and heard in his second great portrayal of Dr. Fu Manchu when Paramount's "The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu," comes to the Civic Theatre on Friday next. This picture is a sequel to "The Mysterious Dr. ; Fu Manchu," in which Oland scored heavily with movie critics and fans. Matching wits with the insidious doctor, again is 0. P. Heggie, in the part of Naylarid Smith,- Scotland Yard's best sleuth. Heggie is a convert to the movies from the legitimate stage, on which he was a pre-eminent actor both in America and England. His biggest film roles have been in "The Vagabond King" (as'the weak-minded- Eing Louis) and in the Fu Manchu films. Jean Arthur and Neil Hamilton play the romantic leads as the winsome ward of the Oriental doctor and as the young Englishman who is marked as the victim of the villain's crafty plots.

REVUE AT KUMETJ. Mrs. Nello Porter , and her revue company delighted a large and appreciative audience at a concert given in the Kumeu Hall on Saturday evening in aid of the funds of St. Chad's Church, Huapai."*The programme comprised a two-act farce, written and produced by Mrs. Nello Porter. During the evening Patty Ruste presented Mrs. Porter with a bouquet. PUPILS' CONCERT. Mrs. B. MayaH's pupils gave a enjoyable concert, consisting of playlets, dialogues, songs and dances, at the children's ward at the hospital on Saturday afternoon. Every item was heartily applauded.