AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 98, 27 April 1932, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

CIVIC THEATRE.

To-day and to-morrow will see the final screenings of a really high-class drama at the Civic Theatre, where "24 Hours" is due to finish its season. Cliva Brook secured acting fame in the lead, being ably supported by Kay Francis, of the raven locks and svelte manner. Miriam Hopkins and Regis Toonicy supply all the thrills and drama that the first players miss and a great deal more of their own in this cleverly-assembled story of the important events of one day." "24 Hours" will yield pride of place on the Civic's programme on Thursday to a new Ruth Chatterton picture—"Once a Lady." This is a stirring picture of romance and deadly danger, of human love and weaknesses, all worked out in the glamour of old-world Paris and the brilliant lights of the Paris of the twentieth century. Ruth Chatterton is seen as a woman with a past, who marries a man whom she cannot love. The inevitable break comes, the young man's ambitious family, definitely set against his wife, doing their best to separate the couple. When it is. heard incorrectly that the wife is killed in a terrible train accident, she is persuaded to allow the world to continue to think so, for the sake of her husband and her baby daughter. However, she ultimately finds the happiness that her heart desires, but only through the passage of long years, each with its full burden of sorrow and adversity. Her husband's part is played by Geoffrey Kerr, and that of her would-be lover by Ivor Xovello, the famous English actor.-playwright. Jill Esmond, cast as the heroine's daughter, is actually the daughter of another English playwright —Henry Esmond. "DELICIOUS AT ST. JAMES'. So great has been the measure - of success attending the screening of "Delicious" at the St. James' Theatre that it has been decided to retain the film at that theatre for a further season. This picture is the latest vehicle for the unfailing partnership of Charles Farrell and Janet Gaynor, and in accordance with what the public expect, and have been taught to expect, from this pair, "Delicious" brings several fascinating new songs, sung by beautiful voices and, what is most important, not jammed thoughtlessly into the story. The comedy element is never absent when these two favourites are on the screen, although they are essentially romantic players. However, an extra, supply of laughter is supplied by the) infallible joker, El Brendel, whose most recent work was seen in "Just Imagine'' and "The Spider." STRAND THEATRE. Irene Dunne is the star of "Consolation; Marriage," the film which is delighting audiences at the Strand Theatre. The picture reveals a new angle on the. marriage problem, and deals with that new angle in a manner that is refreshing in its originality of approach. John Halliday gives a fine portrayal, and Pat O'Brien, Matt Moore and Myrna Loy add their box-office potentialities to make an imposing cast. The new film to head to-morrow's programme will be "The. Tip-off," with most of the east that made such a success of "Suicide Fleet." This will be Robert Armstrong and Eddie Quillan, two very popular comedians, and "Ginger" Rogers, the new red-haired vivacious female star. REGENT THEATRE. A new George Arliss film conies to Auckland to-day. This is "Alexander Hamilton," which is commencing a season at the Regent Theatre. "Alexander Hamilton" is the story, told in the usual Arliss fashion, of a great statesman's life and loves, ending in his dramatic death as the result of a wound received in a duel with his greatest enemy. In the film George Arliss is cast opposite Doris Kenyon, a veteran character actress, instead of the usual partnership of himself and his wife, Florance Arliss, who was in the days before their marriage one Florence Montgomery, of the New York and Detroit stage. LYRIC THEATRE. The latest picture produced by the favourite male actor of millions of screen "fans"—Ronald Colman—will bo shown at the Lyric Theatre, Symouds Street, this evening. The film is "The Unholy Garden," in which the star is cast as a rogue, not as the usual hero and paragon of virtue. Fay Wray and Estelle Taylor capture the feminine honours. RIALTO HONOURS. Probably the most successful of all British comedies will head to-night's programme at the Rialto Theatre, Newmarket. This will be "My Wife's Family," the vehicle by which Gene Gerrard leapt to world-wide fame. His partner in the business of fun-making is Jimmy Godden—to say nothing of the mother-in-law. NATIONAL THEATRE. Boris Karloff plays the role of the Monster in the horror film "Frankenstein," which is having abnormal success at the National Theatre. Karloff does not usually receive the credit due to him, for not only was his work first-class in "Frankenstein," but also in his many supporting roles for other Hollywood productions. Colin Clive plays" the part of Dr. Frankenstein, the young scientist who "created" the- soulless monstrosity. Friday's programme at the National will consist of two big films, "Law and Order," with Walter Huston, Harry Carey ("Trader Horn"), and Raymond Hatton, and "Racing Youth," with Slim Summerville and Zasu Pitts.

RIVOLI SKATING-RINK,

Included in the novelty events announced for this evening's entertainment at the Eivoli Skating-rink are special scooter races for both ladies and gentlemen.