AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 286, 3 December 1931, Page 14

AMUSEMENTS.

MAJESTIC THEATRE.

REGENT THEATRE,

A picture of great power and thrilling scenes is "East of Borneo," starring Rose Hobart and Jack Bickford, now showing, at the Regent Theatre. It is .a most unusual and ambitious film, for many <bf the scenes have been taken -either actually in the jungle itself, or in the palace of the rajah of the principality with which the story is concerned. An arresting scene in this Sim is the eruption of a volcano, which gives the story a wonderful climax. The story begins when the heroine (Rose Hobart) goes to a remote principality east of Borneo in search of her husband, who had deserted her, thinking that she had proved unfaithful to him. She finds that her former love has returned, and because of that cannot remain away from him. The husband ignores her, but not so the prince, who casts covetous eyes. The following events .deal with the attempts by • the prince to get the woman, the efforts, of the woman to Avoid him, and the husband's manly attempts to protect her from the danger. The supporting programme is very good. "BORN TO LOVE." "Born to Love" is the title of thb picture that will head the programme at the Civic Theatre to-morrow night. It is the story of a passionate natured woman who, to be near the man she loves on tlw Great War front, lives .with him oiu there in the capacity of a nurse. As an officer he is unable to marry her, because of the rule that forbade the wives, of officers to remain at the front. Later she learns that her lover has been killed, and, though' grieving for his loss, accepts a marriage proposal from a titled man who, passionately in love with her, does not withdraw his offer 'when she informs him of her relations with her. dead lover, and that a child will soon be born to her. After the marriage and the birth of the child the hero return-. The husband has occasion soon to misinterpret the behaviour of his wife,.and a divorce follows, in which he succeeds in getting the custody of the child. The following, events deal with the death of the child and the ultimate reunion .of the lovers.. Paul Cavanagh iill* the male lead. "The Lawyer's Secret," starring Clive Brook, closes its season to-night.

NATIONAL THEATRE. "The Speckled Band" will commence a season at the' National Theatre tomorrow night. It is one of Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories of the same, title, and deals with the plots of Dr. Rylett, an unscrupulous bachelor, against the lives, of his step-daughters to secure their fortunes. Under mysterious circumstances the eldest sister of Helen Stonor meets her death. She conlide3 to Dr. Watson her fear of Rylett, and later calls in Sherlock Hblnies. After 'a night full of horror, Holmes" discovers Rylett's death plot and saves Helen. The caet includes Raymond Massey as Sherlock Holmes, Lynn Harding as Dr. Rylett," Angela ■ Baddeley as Helen Stonor, Athole Stewart as Dr. Watson, and Mrs. Staunton as Nancy Price. It is worthy of mention that Gaston Mervale, the. Little Theatje. Society, played the sinister pa.rt.of Dr. Rylett when this, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle story was dramatised and staged in Auckland by J,. C. • Williamson two or three years ago. "Mother's Millions" closes its season to-night.

STRAND THEATRE. "I Take This Woman" is _ the film that ■ commenced last night a season- at the Strand Theatre. It is a tense drama of a girl who accepts love carelessly and then learns through experience how precious it is. The stars are Gary Cooper and Carole Lombard. The story concerns a wealthspoiled society girl who marries a •breezy Westerner, who has lived only a simple,'outdoor,life. Conditions on the ranch do not delight her, but she learns, nevertheless, to love the man whom she married purely on casual sentiment. The tale finally reveals the. girl unable to endure unaccustomed hardships and forced to leave her husband and the ranch for life in New York. The husband follows her, and their meeting in that great city ' provides . a powerful climax. EMPRESS THEATRE.

The new double-feature programme at the Empress Theatre comprises "The Royal Bed," a satirical comedy of a king Who wishes to abdicate in favour of the revolutionaries, but who is prevented from doing so, starring Lowell Sherman and Mary Astor; and "Hot Curves," a comedy-drama of American baseball life, starring Benny Rubin. MUNICIPAL BAND. . The Municipal Band will hold its annual -carol concert in the Town Hall on the night of Saturday, December 19, not next Saturday, as previously stated. Programmes will be played at the Zoological Par.k every Sunday afternoon. RECITALS'BY PUPILS. The pupils of Misses Maida Hooker and Berta Carr will give a recital in the Lewie Eady Hall next Tuesday night. Some excellent entcrtaiiynent is promised. ..'.■■

Irene Delroy and Jack 'Whiting are seen as hero and heroine in "Men of the Sky,"- a dramatic spy story, now screening at the Majestic Theatre. The story deals with incidents of the Great War, and is notable for its dramatic ending. The heroine's father, the heroine herself and the hero are. all shot as spies. The lovers first meet in Germany the war, where the heroine promises, to marry the hero. When war is declared the heroine's father, a member of the French Intelligence service, receives ; his orders, and he and his daughter depart for Strassburg immediately. Seeingthat she is reluctant to go, he explains that it is for the glory of France, and she leaves without explaining to her lover. He followsher later and learns that she is engaged to a German. But this is not true, for she has. merely accepted the of a young man's family to obtain some eecret information. "Skyline," starring Thomas Meighan and Hardie Albright, ,closes its season tonight. PLAZA THEATRE. The main attraction of the new programme at the Plaza Theatre to-morrow is entitled " Ex-Bad Boy," an excellent comedy, which concerns a bashful young man who is induced to pretend a previous love affair with a famous motion picture star —only to have her come to town and involve him in a love tangle that makes him a hero in the eyes of his neighbours. Robert Armstrong is the bashful Chester, while Jean Arthur is seen his home town sweetheart, and Lola Lane is the. voluptuous screen luminary. Others in the cast are Jason Robards, George Brent, Grace Hampton, Spencer Charters, Mary Doran, and Grace- Cunard. " Hello, Sister " and " The Brat" close their season to-night.

ROXY THEATRE. "Dishonoured," a etory of a woman spy, starring Victor McLaglen and Marleno Dietrich, and "Forbidden Adventure," a comedy-drama, with Mitzi Green, Louise Fazenda, Jackie Searl and Edna May Oliver, comprise the double-featjjre prograimne now screening at the lloxy Theatre. The first deals with the adventures of a reckless woman spy as the secret agent of the Austrian Government in the war between that country and Russia. Her job is to catch enemy spies. The love interest woven into the story concerns this woman and a young officer, who is the secret agent of the' Russian Government. The other film concerns .the adventures and antics of 25 Hollywood youngsters, who play the parts of a juvenile gang of Street Urchins. Many of tliQ incidents provide much amusement.' CRYSTAL PALACE. The augmented programme now screening at the Crystal Palace Theatre comprises " Everything's Rosie," " Sinube," and "A Holy Terror." The first is a comedy, being the story of a travelling showman who adopts a waif, starring Robert Woolsey. The second is an exploration film, taken in Central Africa for the American Museum of Natural History. The third is an exciting Western tale, starring Geo. Q'Brien. LONDON THEATRE. The change of programme at the London Theatre to-morrow night will be; headed by the musical comedy, "No, No,) Nanette," starring Lu'cien Littlefield, and Bernice Claire. The first part of this film is extraordinarily funny, caused by: the situations, sub-titlee, and by _ the acting, particularly by that of Littlefield, who takes the part of a wealthy; Bible salesman. He is shown as supporting two women in secret, and gets into many entanglements as a result of it. ' ■ {,'-.'"'■:' , .. J BLIND INSTITUTE FAIR.

The Blind Institute Fair opened in its grounds to-day. It will continue on Friday, and close late Saturday night; The fair lias been arranged on such a large scale that it almost approaches an exhibition. The grounds are filled with, marquees, shooting galleriee, slides, merry-go-rounds and sideshows of all kinds. An interesting' centrepiece is the Maori meeting-house, which is the work of old-time carvers. Hundreds of coloured, lights make the grounds , a fairyland by night. There are many social service societies co-operating to make fhe> fair a groat success. The institute's own members will be heard on the pipe organ and piano, in the girls' orchestra, the military band and the dance band. Generous assistance has been offered by fellow bandsmen —the Grammar School Band, the Auckland Boys' Military Band, the Ist Regimental Band, the Ponsonby Boys' Band and the Auckland Pipe Band. As a grand climax there will be a massed bands performance on Saturday night, including* a spectacular descriptive fantasia, "A Soldier's Life," in which many ingenious effects are introduced.