AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 214, 10 September 1931, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS.

i« ST. JAMES' THEATRE. . ! Seldom has the screen been graced with a production so beautiful as the . colourful operetta, "Viennese Nights," which is enjoying an extended season at the St. James' Theatre. The film, which is in teclinicolour, is based on an appealing story of blighted love, which through the instrumentation of a Viennese symphony, blossoms anew in the happy romance of a later generation. Vivienne i" Segal, Walter Pidgeon, Alexander Gray, ' Jean Hersholt, Bert Roach and Louise , Fazenda are in the cast. The music, which was written by Sigmund Romberg and Oscar Hammerstein, includes a l ' number of songs, such as "You Will Re- ) member Vienna," "Here We are," and E "I Bring a Love Song." One of the prili- , cipal attractions is the symphony orches--5 tra of 93 ptayers, and there are many picturesque settings. \ REGENT THEATRE. 2 Former English comedies have a jj worthy successor in the hilarious Ben ; Travers farce, "The Chance of a Night r Time," which heads the current pro- * gramme at the Regent Theatre. Ralph Lynn, star of "Rookery Nook" and "Tons of Money" is excruciatingly funny, as a j well-intentioned lawyer who falls out , with his fiancee, and through untoward . circumstances finds himself at a big country house party, where he becomes a , substitute for a professional dancing s partner who has failed to arrive. In no character on the film has Ralph Lynn . risen to better heights of comedy than in » this scene where he partners Miss Wini- ; fred Shotter as the star turn at a fancy t drees ball. His Eskimo love dance leaves I one with aching sides. Of course, the f real dance partner duly arrives, com- > plications ensue, and the man who has : had "the chance of a night time" disappears from the scene 'as ridiculously as he had entered it. Sunday Wjlshin appears as his scornful fiancee, and Kenneth Kove as her second suitor —a triumph in vapidity. The dialogue is exceptionally bright. MAJESTIC THEATRE. Joan Bennett appears as a penniless • girl, who falls into the hands of a band of criminals, is convicted, and later strives to live down her unfortunate past in "Hush Money," which will be the main [ feature at the Majestic Theatre tomorrow. Hardie 41bright plays the part ; of the wealthy yOun<r man whom she . marries. Soon after their son is born, . one of her former associates {Owen ' Moore), threatens to blackmail her, actu- , ally taking some jewels which her liusband had given her. In desperation, the | girl seeks the aid of a friendly detective, who undertakes to extricate her from her predicament, but only at a terrific cost, as the story reveals. Myrna Loy and Douglas Cosgrove are also in the cast. "The Love Habit," which will close its season this evening, reveals Seymour Hicks, in the role of a Parisian bachelor who fall in love with the wife of an architect. Margot Grahame and Edmund Breon appear in support. NATIONAL THEATRE. "The Spoilers," Rex Beach's drama of the Yukon goldfields, will open a season at the National Theatre to-morrow. Gary Cooper and James Kirkwood appear as two roving miners who befriend a young girl (Kay Johnson), whom they later find to be the niece of their enemy, an unscrupulous judge. The judge is in league with a dishonest politician (William Boyd), who has matrimonial designs on the young girl, and who, by twisting the law to his own ends, is systematically despoiling the richest claims. The two miners lead a revolt against him, but their plans are made known to the politician by a jealous faro girl, who had been in love with the hero. A series of thrilling episodes culminates in a plot to dynamito a mine, and in a terrific fistic battle between the politician and the hero. Betty Compson, Slim Summerville and Harry Green are in the supporting cast. "Derelict," a drama of the sea, starring George Bancroft and William Boyd, will close its season this evening. STRAND THEATRE. Subtle comedy is the keynote of the society story, "Many a Slip," which will have its premiere at the Strand Theatre to-morrow. The film is a witty faree concerning the ingenious manner in which a modern girl persu&des the man she loves to marry her. The hero, who subsequently discovers the girl's unconventional subterfuge, finds full time to repent at leisure. There are many entertaining complications before a happy ending is reached. Lewis Ayrss gives an excellent light portrayal as the young husband, and Joan Bennett appears, as the daring heroine. Slim Summervilje and J. C. Nugent are in the supporting oast. Sparkling dialogue is a feature of tic production Julian Eltinge. famous variety artist, plays the difficult dual role ofihero and "heroine" in the comedy, drama, "Maid' to Order," which will close its 'season this evening. There are many brilliant night-club scenes. PLAZA THEATRE. Two full-length films will be shown at the Plaza Theatre to-morrow, while a special stage attraction will be the appearance of Raymond, the well-known hypnotist, who will exploit the humorous phases of his art. Raymond scored a triumph at His Majesty's Theatre recently. "June Moon," which will head the programme, is an amusing comedy, in which the popular Jack Oakie appears as a "small town" writer of words to local dance hits. Setting out for New York with a small bank balance and plenty of confidence, the young man - proceeds to lay siege to Broadway's lyric-writers. A gold-digging blonde and an unscrupulous songwriter take a hand in his affairs, however, and the resulting complications are extremely amusing. Frances Dee and June McCloy are also in the cast. The story of a soap manufacturer's son, who is disinherited by his father, and with the aid of two adventurers sets out on a great publicity ; campaign, is unfolded in "It Pays to Advertise," which will also be shown. Norman Foster, Carol Lombard and , Skeets Gallagher are in the cast. "The Love Waltz," the Continental musical comedy, starring Lilian Harvey and . John Batten, the Auckland actor, will close its season this evening. EMPRESS THEATRE. An amusing comedy of the English turf, "The Sport of Kings," is the main attraction at the Empress Theatre. Leslie Henson. star of. "A Warm Corner," : appears as a henpecked Englishman who ! gambles on the quiet, and finds himself ; in all kinds of difficulties. There. are ( many entertaining complications. 1 CRYSTAL PALACE THEATRE. "Mi-. Lemon of Orange," a 'comedy of the underworld, starring EI Brendel and Fifi Dorsay, is now screening at the i Crystal Palace Theatre. "Gentleman's 1 Fate," a society drama, featuring John i Gilbert and Anita Pagp, is the support- i ing film. ' 1

"THE WOMAN BETWEEN." Some excellent satire oil modern social and political life is provided in the English drama, "The Woman Between," which will have its premiere at the Civic Theatre to-morrow. The story tells how a former Cambridge graduate, now down and out, breaks into the house of an aristocrat, surprising a beautiful girl with the local Conservative candidate. The girl befriends the burglar, who later becomes the Labour candidate for the same district. She gradually falls in love with him, when on the eve of the election his jealous rival threatens to reveal the young man's unfortunate past to his constituents. The girl retaliates by declaring that she will make known her former connection with the Conservative, and after several entertaining episodes a political truce is called. Owen Nares, the versatile star of "The Middle Watch," is excellent in the leading role, and Adrianne Allen scores a triumph as the pleasure-seeking aristocrat, who becomes an ardent Socialist. "Young Sinners," a society drama featuring Thomas Meighan, Hardie Albright and Dorothy Jordan, will close its season this evening. A stage feature is an exhibition by Tom Lurich and his troupe of wrestlers. ROXY THEATRE. The story of a young man who, marrying in haste and repenting at leisure, makes premature efforts to secure * legacy, is unfolded in the comedy-drama, "Borrowed . Partners," now showing at the Roxy Theatre. The hero is in love / with a second girl, but through a financial indiscretion, is blackmailed into posing as the husband of a third lady — an adventuress. Rex Lease and Vera Raynold are the principals. "Oh Yeah," which is the supporting film, is a comedy with James Gleason and Robert Armstrong in the roles of two errant railway brakemen who wander from one end of the country to the other. Everything goes along well until they fall for two pretty girls. The complications result in one hilarious situation after another. Patricia Caron, musical comedy star, and Zasu Pitts fill the feminine roles.