AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 160, 8 July 1932, Page 9

AMUSEMENTS.

CIVIC THEATRE. A snappy musical comedy romance, sparkling with brilliantly witty dialogue, scintillating with the haunting music of Oscar Strauss, and alive with the irresistible personalities ot Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette Mac Donald—this is "One Hour With You," the most outstanding of nil of the Chevalier triumphs, wilich headed the new bill of fare at the Civic iheatre yesterday. In this vehicle of merriment the two artists have given the screen-loving public a picture that will retain a permanent place in the film history of the period. It can be stated definitely that '"One Hour With You" is diil'erent from all others, introducing, as it does, an entirely new and highlyattractive form of entertainment, in which practically all the dialogue is sheer rhythm, and is as lilting as the musical numbers in which this very remarkable production abounds. Although the piece contains many haunting melodies, the action is never retarded, and the story moves through its maze of diverting domestic complications at a pace which maintains interest at burning point. Maurice Chevalier finds everything to his liking in the role of the young Parisian medico, head over heels in love with his beautiful Colette (Jeanette Mac Donald), who charmingly expresses her reciprocation in that delightful number, ''What a Little Thing Like a Wedding King Can Do." It falls upon petite Mitzi Olivier (Genevievo Tobin), Colette's old school friend, to disturb the serenity of the romance, and although the faithful Andre seeks to remain the model husband, he soon becomes the victim of circumstances, and is entangled in Mitzi's toils. There is a happy ending, -and it is charmingly enacted, but it does not arrive before Colette, too, has shown her independence. The lovely singing voice of Jeanette MacDonald is heard to great advantage in a variety of attractive numbers, the most enchanting being the theme song, and "AVo Will Always Be Sweethearts" and "It Was Only a Dream Kiss." Chevalier's j best numbers are "What Would You Do" and "Oh! That Mitzi." All that could be wished for from the supporting cast is supplied by Gencvieve Tobin, Charles Kuggles and Roland Young. A miscellany of interesting subjects is covered by the supporting pictures, which include a peep into the fashion past, a. clever song cartoon, entitled "Show Me the Way to Go Home," an animated organ recital, and the final (and most exciting of all) episode in the career of Detective Lloyd. The ultimate attraction is the Civic Orchestra, which enhances a remarkable entertainment with the playing of Rubenstcin's "Melody in F" and "Americana."

MAJESTIC THEATRE. "The Wet Parade," shown for the first time at the Majestic Theatre last evening, is undoubtedly one ot the linest pictures to come to the screen in Auckland. It provides just that entertainment that delights all tastes. i'he cast is exceptionally strong, the theme of the story of absorbing everyday interest, the acting excellent, and the sequence of unexpected situations, which constantly crop up, all go towards the making of an outstanding 'picture, a picture that holds the interest from beginning u> end. In the cast are such scars as Dorothy Jordan, Robert Young, Walter Huston, Lewis Stone, Neil Hamilton, Myrna Loy, Wallace Ford, John Miljan, the inimitable Jimmy Durante, whose comedy is delightfully clever and bright, and many other uotauie players. It as almost the "Who's who" ot Hollywood. The picture, which k almost twice as long as the ordinary film, deals with three periods in- the history of the United States. The story opeiio with the death of .Roger Chilcote (Lewie Stone), a iSouth American, and from then on with two families, the <Jhikote<s and the Tarletons, the latter of .North America, is unfolded an absorbing drama. Interwoven in the plot is the right a girl is making to save her brother ironi degradation. The whole film presents a historical sidelight upon great phases of a nation's history. It .presents both sides of a national attempt to solve a problem, with all that the attempt has brought in its trail. It points no moral, and herein lies the film's greatest strength, for its inipreesivenees lasts where tliat of propaganda would fail. There are character studies a-plenty, faithful to_ times and conditions, impressive, pathetic and amusing in what must be iailed as a really great him. Programme time allows for . only one support—an excellent Australian gazette, leaturing many, sporting evente, including thrilling shote of the international League Test between Britain and Australia.

"THE MAD GENIUS." Sometimes a picture is a success entirely by the acting of its principals and sometimes by the strength and dramatic intensity of the plot, but seldom it is thaitile producers manage to combine both of ■ those attributes. The picture which, commenced a season at the Strand Theatre last evening, '•The Mad Genius," does, combine these attributed The acting of John Barry-more is outstanding- It is sUnply the Barryaiioro touch that is eo evident in all pictures featuring either Lionel or John. The latter in. "Svengalij" played a role not dissimilar to the lead in •"The Mad Genius," and ill both pictures he absolutely lived the part. Further, he had the same female lead in both films. Marian Marsh leapt to fame in. "Svengali," and if she continues to give such satis-, faction as she does in "The Mad Genius,"she is marked out for a very high place in the stellar ranks ot Hollywood. One other role in ''The Mad Genius'' is notable as being portrayed by splendid acting. Don Cook as Fedor, the young and hnndsomo dancer whom Tsarakov, the genius, ■had moulded from a miserable peasant lad into the greatest .ballet sensation of the century, gives a performances that, as a work of art, can suffer no dimming by being compared even with that of John Barrymore 'himself. His career, according to the teachiiiß of Tsarakov, should be his only consideration, but he obeys the oldest rule and falls in love with Nana, one of. the chorus dancers (Marian Marsh). The intensity of the story depends upon the great struggle between his loyalty to Tsarakov, who, as lie himself once said, is a very jealous God, and tho undying fervour of his affection for Nana. A climax such as is seldom reached oil stage or screen brings the talc to a close, supplying a fitting finish to a great piece of entertainment. Among the Strand's supports are a short comedy of newly-weds, 'The House-Warm ing," and some very interesting news-reels. "THE PEOPLE OF PILLAREY." Tho pupils of the Kowhai Junior High School again presented the musical operetta, "The People of Pillarey," at the Scots Hall last evening. It was a most spectacular production, tho various parts being capably taken and well acted. At the final curtain, Mr. A. A. Buckley, chairman of the Kowhai Junior High School committee, and the principal, Mr. J. F. Wells, returned thanks for the support that bad been given to the production. It was announced that the operetta would be repented next Thursday evening. TO-NIGHT'S CHANGES. Two city theatres will introduce firstrun pictures on their fresh programmes this evening. These are the St. .Tamos', where Leslie Fuller's comedy, "To-night's the Night," will be the big attraction, and tho National, where the British mystery thriller, "Murder on the Second Floor," featuring Amy Veness, I'at Paterson and .lohii Longden, will be screened. The Civic-, Majestic- and Strand changed programmes last night, and the llcgent and Roxy on Wednesday. COMMUNITY SINGING. The Auckland Community Singing Committee will hold a "sing" this evening in the Lewis Eady Hall, under the direction of Mr. Vcvnon T. Drew as song leader. A soloist and a string quartet will assist. "THE CIRCLE." The second of the Auckland Little Theatre Society's plays for this year will be presented in the Concert Chamber next Wednesday, July 13. It will be Somerset Maugham's "The Circle." which proved very successful as a talking picture in Auckland some time ago, under the title of "Strictly Unconventional." <