AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 221, 18 September 1930, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. Norma Talmadge makes her talking j debut in "New York Nights," which opened at the Majestic Theatre last night. This picture contains much that is of varied interest. Thrills and romance are included, and nocturnal life in the great American city which is .brought to the , screen in sight and. sound lis shown to be distinctly hectic. A eongwriter's romance, the racketeering business, a kidnapping venture, glimpses of life behind the- footlights, intrigue, jealousies, whoopee parties, and a thrilling and unexpected climax are the ingredients of this entertaining picture. Naturally much interest centres in t-he appearance of the star, and Norma Talmadge is cast in a role that affords opportunity for her talents. Her work is uniformly good,,though probably not so impressive as in some of the pictures by which she made her "silent" reputation. The story is full of incident, and concerns the life of a theatrical couple, the husband a struggling songwriter and the wife a favourite actress making her way to fame and greatly admired by a not-too-scrupluous, though' wealthy, racketeer. The husband is weak-willed, given to making his wife elaborate promises, then struggling • with his batter self to try to keep them—a fight that generally fails. He achieves a glittering success at last, but, this is the means of his breaking all bounds, and a trap cunningly set by his Avife's paramour has the desired result of separating man and wife. But a reconciliation is effected in a police station in a dramatic manner, and the final plot, set to achieve the ends of the vile admirer, meets with an altogether unexpected fate. The theme is well developed throughout. Gilbert. Eoland, as the husband, makes a pronounced- success of the part, and the work of John Wray, as the wrecker of the happy home, gives the characteristic Yankee touch to the production andmaintains the thrill of the dramatic passages, Lilyan Tashman plays with' great effect, and. is on an even standard with the star. Supports have been well selected, and not the least entertaining are items of world interest.

STRAND THEATRE. An all-youth" cast will be seen in "The Forward Pass," an all-dialogue picture of college life, lyhich comes to the Strand theatx-e to-morrow. The average age of the members of the cast is 20. Not a person is over 25. . Loretta Young, Who plays the feminine lead, is 17, arid Douglas Fairbanks, jun.,_ who plays opposite her, is 21. , Otlier youngsters who are in the cast are "Peanuts" Byron, Phyllis Crane, Dorothy Gulliver and a host of college boye, including the entire football team of the University of Southern California. , "The Forward Pass" is a story of college love and football rivalry, and the football thrills are varied by plenty of comedy and a number of snappy songs. The cheering of the crowds and the thud of tackled players as they fall to the turf are thrilling, and add to the interest in the games that are played during the progress of the picture. "Young Desire," another attraction on the same programme, is a colourful picture in which Mary Nolan is starred. Many of the scenes are laid in the bizarre atmosphere of a carnival. An appealing romance runs through the pictur.e and the climax is a masterpiece of excitement and suspense. /'

NATIONAL THEATRE. , ' "Redemption" an all talking screen adaptation of Tolstoi's drama "The Living Corpse" with John Gilbert in ; the leading role opened a three days season at the National' Theatre, yeater-' day. The story centres around the tragedy, of a Eussian officer in the days of the Czars, who despite love for his wife is drawn away from domestic happiness through the urge of gipsy heredity.. Under the deft direction ol Fred" Niblo of "Ben Hur" fame the picture was filmed ; with authentic regard to Eussian locales, costumes and manners.. Especially interesting are' the scenes of picturesque gipsy camps and, the dancing around the .camp fiiS a ; An orthodox Eussian wedding is reproduced in detail: It takes place in a huge cathedral with full ceremonial even to the crowning of the bride and. groom. Gilbert gives a fine performance, and his voice reproduces excellently. As the romantic; lover of the first part of the play, , as the victim of the strange eurse of his heredity, and finally as the stunned derelict, his three'-iold characterisation is' a convincing piece of acting. Fine performances are also given by Eleanoi Boardman, Benee Adoree and Conrad Nagel., The latter has a splendid voice and his performance is a studied and finished one as the friend of the carefree man whose will was too weak to counteract the gipsy "pull" in his nature. The supporting programme contains many interesting items including a coloured film introducing many foreign dances in costumes. On Saturday a new programme .will be presented. Van and Schenck, vaudeville team, famed for • their . songs, both humorous and otherwise will be seen and heard in a riot of merriment, in a film entitled "They learned About Women."

"TUTANKHAMEN." The history of "Tutankhamen" is a curious one. The conception originated in; the.notibn that a burlesque of the opening of the tomb would make a good short comedy. It was found, however, to be capable of treatment of a much more telling nature, and the first night audience experienced amazement at the, enthralling story which -was unfolded amid a wealth of beautiful music and startling scenes. The result was two seasons, when hundreds were turned away, unable to gain admission; It was "'Tutankhamen" which first proved to Aucklanders that they had a master of music in Mr. Eric Waters, the composer' and conductor. He possesses the peculiar faculty of catching "atmosphere;" in his music, and as the plot of "Tutankhamen" turns from dramatic to humorous, from dav»ce to dialogue, his music is always appropriate, to the theme. Many new and exquisite numbers have been included in "Tutankhamen," which is to be revived at His Majesty's Theatre, commencing on September 25. The Auckland Amateur .Operatic Society is fortunate in again being able to cast Miss Lynda Murphy as An'nubis, the young bewitching queen of the Pharaoh Tutankhamen. .. ' 'V , ''' : . GIRLS' GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

Pupils of the Auckland Girls' Grammar School ■will present "The Gondoliers" in the Concert Chamber for a season of three nights, commencing September 25. '\.%", , \ '

CONCERT AT HOSPITAL. An enjoyable concert, arranged by Mrs. Raeburn and Mr. A. Hamblin, was given to the inmates of ward 26, Auckland Hospital, last evening. Items were given by Mr. E. Jackson's concert party, Mrs: Robertshaw, Mrs. Dunn, Mrs. Edwards, Miss Lawson, "Baby" Joyce and Mr. Haxnblin.

CIVIC THEATRE. How can Dr. Fu Manchu appear again in the talkies when he was killed off by poison in the very first picture in Avhich he appeared? The answer to this interesting question is found in "The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu," thrilldrama which comes io the audible screen at the Civic Theatre to-morrow. It is true that Dr. Fu Manchu appeared to have killed-himself, in his first picture, "The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu"—but did he really take poieon? If he did take tho-poison was it capable of bringing death! Why didn't officials of Scotland Yard perform an autopsy to make sure that he was dead? These are the questions, these and many others, which are answered in an absorbingly entertaining fashion in the sequel picture. The play is baeed'upon one of the popular stories by Sax Rohmer, the writer of sensational mystery 'fiction,; who originated Fu Manchu and made'him one of the most, insidious villains of fiction and the screen. There will be an entertaining supporting programme.

REGENT THEATRE. The amusing film "Caught 'Short," which has had a successful season at the Regent Theatre,, will be replaced tomorrow by "The Divorcee," starring Norma Shearer, one of .the few silent screen actresses to achieve, success in audible, pictures.' Produced by. the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios, the picture is saidr to be even finer than "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney," which was 1 greeted with such' enthusiasm when it was shown in Auckland some months ago. The story deals with the modern problem introduced by a freer treatment of the question of divorce. Miss Shearer takes the part of a young girl who, when she marries, determines to rid herself of old-fashioned prejudices. On her third wedding anniversary, she discovers that her husband has been unfaithful and instead of forgiving him, she makes good her determination to feel herself absolved from all obligations. A divorce follows and she is left to work out her own life. The question is treated •in a thoughtful way- and the character studies given by the players arj"outstanding, Chester Morris, as the husband, gives the right feeling to a difficult part, while Conral Nagel is excellent in the unsympathetic role of the , man who vyas willing to betray his no longer .attractive wife. Helen Johnson, Robert Montgomery, and Florence Eldridge, are also included in the cast.' There will be a good supporting programme. : • ' .' ST. JAMES' THEATRE.. .

"Song o . My Heart," with John McCormack tti the leading role, is drawing large attendances to St. James' Theatre. This is the famous, tenor's first singing and talking .picture,.filmed amidst tlie beauty. sppts., of old Ireland. McCormack sings eleven songs, some, of which are old favourites, and some have been specially written ;for the, production. There is a tender love interest throughout the story, romantically acted hy Maureen O'Sullivan. It is the first talking picture to be filmed in the Emerald Islej aiid the arrival of Count ■ McCormack—as'he is addressed in his homeland—Hollywood actors and a big staff of cameramen, technicians, sound experts and studio officials lent excitement to the quiet Irish country life. More than three months. were spent filming exterior sequences before ■ actors and crew packed up and returned to Hollywood, where the film was finally'finishod.

PLAZA THEATRE. Filled with riotous fun and delirious nonsense, "The Cuckoos,".; all-talking musical comedy at, the Plaza Theatre is a, innovation in sound pictures. Radio Pictures has stepped out in the lead among producers by. introducing an allcomedy'entertainment at a time when audiences are sated with drawing room dramas, back-stage stories and underworld "The Cuckoos" 13 not a musical revue. It is a full-length production based on a well-developed plot 4 ' with the comedy sequences holding full sway. Gorgeously produced, with hundreds of scenes in tpchnicolour, it stands alone as a brand-new type of screen entertainment. .

CRYSTAL PALACE. A double feature , programme :3 announced, for the Crystal Palace Theatre to-night. The headline attraction is "Montana Moon" with Joan Crawford and John Mack Brown in the leading rles. It is a picture of the great outdoors with thrills and adventure aplenty. "He knew Women" is a second attraction. This laughable play brings to the audible screen Lowell Sherman. The story holds the interest throughout. "The Perfect Day," a Laurel and Hardy comedy of great merit, will also to screened.

SKATING. Skating will be in full swing tb-niglifc at the Ponsonby Drill Hall, Dudley St.,' Three Lamps. Special arrangements are announced for learners. There are morning, afternoon and evening sessions, concession cards are to be issued for those who wish to . making skating a habit. The floor has 6000 square feet of space and ladies are to be specially catered for. . Music will be played at all sessions. Skates are in first-class order and there are 500 pairs. The rink is under expert management.