AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 95, 23 April 1931, Page 14

AMUSEMENTS.

NATIONAL THEATRE

j Evelyn Brent, who will be remeinj berecl for her excellent work in ''The Last Command" and "Interference," gives the finest portrayal of her career in "Madonna of the Streets," which will open a season at the National Theatre to-morrow. Based on W. B. Maxwell's story "The Bagged Messenger," "Madonna of the Streets" is a dramatic story of love and spiritual regeneration, unfolded in the colourful locale of the Barbary coast of San Francisco. Miss t Brent appears as a selfish and unscrupulous woman, the pampered favourite of a millionaire. She falls in love with his idealistic nephew, but finds it difficult to win his respect. Robert Ames, the talented young actor of "Holiday," fills the leading lflale role, while the supporting cast includes Josephine Dunn and Ivan Linlow. "The Sea God," a thrilling story concerning the adventures of a pearl diver in the South Sea islands,, will have its final screening at the National Theatre this evening. Richard Arlen, Fay Wray and Eugene Pallctte arc the principals. The miniature vaudeville, presented by Marjorie McLaughlin, with Desmond Casey, Lorna Linistrom, Leslie Godfrey and Pat Peterson, will also be staged. ROXY THEATRE. An abandoned . mining town in the Californian mountains forms a picturesque background to a thrilling drama, "Desert Vengeance," which heads the current programme at the Roxy Theatre. The popular Buck Jones achieves the finest work in his career as the dominant figure among rival bands of desperadoes who battle for the supremacy of the district surrounding the "ghost" city. Complications arise when Cardew loses his heart to a pretty girl who turns out to be an adventuress. Enraged that his sweetheart should have deceived him, Cardew imprisons her in his stronghold. Finally, after a tcrliflc battle between bandit gangs, he and his sweetheart decide to begin life anew. Buck Jones, who appears as Cardew, is supported by a cast including Barbara Bedford, A 1 Smith and Douglas Gil more. Edward Everett Ilorton, famous American comedian, fills the total role in "The Sap," which is the supporting attraction. Ho plavs the part of an impractical inventor who is laughed at by his friend*, but proves to ue a wizard of high finance. Patsy Ruth .Miller appears as his wife. PLAZA THEATRE. ' The Matrimonial Problem," Seymour Hid:' adaptation of a sparkling French comedy, heads the new programme at the Plaza Theatre to-day. The story concerns a Parisian gentleman who loses his memory thn ""jury in a railway accident and disappears. HJs wife remarries, and later learns from her friends of a charmiji" barber who runs a fashionable fmipo* rinm nearby. She is amazed to find on meeting him that he is her lost husband, and immediately engages an expert < physician to restore his memory. The : operation is successful, but complica- i tions arise when it is found that the i erstwhile barber has forgotten his cccu- i pation and his lady friends, and thinks I that he is the master of his rival's ; house. The story is brought to a closc j with an unexpected and very amusing i denouement. Lilvan Tashman, Frank i Fay, and Beryl Mercer are the leading i players. "Sinners' Holiday," the film j version of the much-discussed sta«e j comedy, is the supporting picture, fea- j turlng Grant Withers and Evelyn j Knapp. " ■ REGENT THEATRE. j As an epic of the British Air Force in the Great War, "Hell's Angels," which is now screening at the Regent Theatre, surpasses anything that has yet been produced, 'flic aerial photography is amazing in its beauty and daring. The destruction of a German Zeppelin over London, and a desperate light between two large squadrons or 'planes, are two of the many sensational episodes. The story concerns two Oxford students who enlist in the Flying Corps, and become enamoured of a beautiful V.A.D. girl. While the young aviators are in training a Zeppelin makes a night raid 011 London, only to beat a panic-stricken retreat from the retaliating British 'planes. The close-ups inside the cabin of some of the crew jumping to their deaths so as to lighten the ship, and the scene in which a British machine plunges against the Zeppelin, to send it crashing to earth in a mass of flame, arc among the most thrilling film spectacles presented. In the second half of the picture the young men penetrate the German lines and bomb a huge munition dump at Sprague. The ensuing battle of 40 aeroplanes, with a tremendous panorama of billowing clouds far below, lias a depth and power that is unforgettable. James Hall, Ben Lyon and Jean Harlowe are the principal players. "BILL OF DIVORCEMENT." Preferential box plans arc now open to members for the Little Theatre Society's production of "A Bill of Divorcement," which will have a season of three nights at His Majesty's Theatre, commencing April 30. The play, which was written by Clemence Dane, noted English writer, is a dramatic study of the effect of the war on an English family. A east of talented local artists has been selected by the producer, Mr. Kenneth Brampton. The story concerns a soldier who returns home mentally unbalanced, is divorced by his z wife, and is certified as sane after she. S has remarried. E JOSEPH HISLOP TOUR. | Famous both on the concert platform and in opera, Joseph Hislop, noted E British tenor, who made a triumphal E tour through New Zealand in 1927, will E be heard again at the Auckland Town jj: Eall for a season of three nights, April E 30, May 2 and May 5. Mr. Hislop is E low completing a record season in Aus- -jj iralia, where he was received with won- Z lerful enthusiasm. Born in Scotland, E Mr. Hislop first won recognition as a E iinger in Stockholm, and on several E jeeasions has performed before Royalty. Z decently he concluded a tour of Italy, zz Spain, France, Belgium, Norway and E Sweden. He has also had the privilege E )f appearing with the late Madame E Vlelba. One of his latest London sue- jl :esses was in "Frederica," the beautiful E jperetta based on the love story of 5 Joethe, the German writer and philo- jlopher. The singer has an extensive 2 ■epertoire, ranging from simple ballade, Sjj tnd dittiqs to difficult grand opera soTos. E fhe tour has been arranged by Messrs. I E F. and N. Tait, who have introduced to | S he Dominion such brilliant artists as 1 •= 'aderewski, Chaliapin and Kubelik. 5 isidor Goodman, who is a brilliant solo 2 rianist, besides being a splendid accom-l — janist, is making the tour with Mr. (= lislop. ' -71

CRYSTAL PALACE THEATRE. '•London's Gay Youth," the film version of the stage success "The Dancers,"' is the principal attraction at the Crystal Palace Theatre. Lois Moran 1111s the leading role in this engrossing Urania of post-war English society, while Phillips Holmes and Walter Byron head the supporting cast. EMPRESS THEATRE. Kuth Chattcrton and Clive Brook give polished portrayals in "The Better Wife," which is now-screening at the Empress Theatre. Miss Cliatterton is seen as a chorus girl wlio marries a young lawyer, and endeavours to win her way in society. There is an interesting supporting programme.