AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 284, 30 November 1932, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

CIVIC THEATRE. Frederick Lonsdale's amusing and entertaining comedy-drama, "Spring Cleaning," in the film version and retitled "Women Who Play," is now in the course of its final few days at the Civic Theatre, where it has been screening to considerable crowds since Thursday last. The picture, which is British-, features George Barraud and Mary Kewco. b, assisted by Joan Barry, Sylvia Lewis, Benita Hume and Barrie Jones. It concerns an English husband who introduces a woman of "easy virtue" into his home to show his wife and her society friends how they appear to his eyes and to the eyes of the world. The Civic ou Friday will a double-feature programme, in which '"This Sporting Age" (Jack Holt) and "The Night Club Lady" (Adolphe Menjou) supply the chief entertainment. The former film is primarily a human interest drama, but there is so much of everything else in it that it would be extremely difficult to pin it down to one classification.! Comedy is to be found in practically every scene in the film, making it very enjoyable from start to finish. Several gripping sequences are included from the thrilling game of polo, as played by the wealthy young athletic millionaires of modern America. A love story pervades the film, ending in the traditional style. "The Night Club Lady'" is a fine mystery melodrama of the type that has always proven exceedingly popular with picture audiences. A most unusual and surprising denouement renders it strikingly different from the general run of such stories. Menjou plays a good part, being aided by Blanche Frederic,', Ruth Stevens. Skeets Gallagher, ' Mayo Ilethot and Nat Pendleton.

ST. JAMES' THEATRE. One week is too short a season for the exotic and appealing South Seas romance, "Bird of Paradise," at the St. James Theatre. Ending on Thursday evening, this unusual and powerful film will occasion much regret from those who did not witness its strong love story and beautiful photography. Joel McCrea, in the role of the young American millionaire, who left his own race and civilisation to follow a goddess of the native woods into her own forests, blossoms forth as a kind of second Tarzan, his well-built frame and handsome countenance fitting perfectly into the surroundings of natural beauty and romance. Dolores Del Rio has never been so convincing in all her many screen appearances as in the title role of "Bird of Paradise." She also fits very well into her scenes, such as dancing in the tribal ceremonies, and again as a wild princess who has found love and happiness with her hero in the jungle. The film will be succeeded by "Chandu, the featuring Edmund Lowe and Bela Lugosi. Lowe had his most powerful part in a similar type of role in "The Spider" recently, when he was really splendid. Bela Lugosi (need it be said) is the man who starred as the vampire Count in "Dracula and again as the leader of the living dead in "White Zombie." His acting talents are undisputed, and his appearance in "Chandu, the Magician" should be a sufficient guarantee of its worth. Herbert Mundin, the English comedian, also appears, together with one of the world s finest character actors, Henry B. Walthall. REGENT THEATRE. The screamingly funny George Wallace comedy, "His Royal Highness," now at the Regent Theatre, will conclude its Auckland season there on Thursday evening. Wallace is at his laughable best in this production, his first talkifig-picture, being ably supported by a cast of well-known Australasian stage favourites, including Donalda Warne, Lou Vernon, Byrl Walkley, Frank Tarrant, Marshall Crosby and John Dobbie. The Regent's change of programme for Friday is listed as "May-1 fair Nights," a British picture produced by the Warner Bros.' new studios at Teddington, London, and featuring British actors and actresses, besides being directed and photographed by British workmen. "Illegal" has been produced on an elaborate scale, with Isobel Elsom, the famous English actress, heading a large cast that includes Ivor Barnard, Margot Grahame, D. A. Clarke-Smith, Moira Lynd, Edgar Norfolk, Walter Patch and Margaret Damer, all of whom are leading figures on the London stage. Roland Pertwee and Irving Aslier are the authors of the story, which deals with "a mother's fight against the law in order to give her two daughters a chance in the world." It covers a period of 20 years and presents a hitherto little shown view of English life in town and country, including the wild night club life of London's elite. Isobel Elsom, who has appeared opposite George Arliss on the London stage in "The Green Goddess' and in New York in ''Julia Price," "The Silver Box," "The Mulberry Bush" and "The Outsider," plays the feminine lead as the mother night-club owner.

NATIONAL THEATRE. The talented and entertaining English actress, Gracie Fields, is at her best in the musical comedy romance of London, "Sally in Our Alley," which ia now showing at the National Theatre. She is supported by lan Hunter and a cast of established players. The story concerns the adventures of a cafe waitress-entertainer in the East End who waits ten years for lier wartime sweetheart to come back— only to find him in a compromising position with a woman of very doubtful motive. The heroine in the course of the story gives a private concert at a fashionable West End gathering, where she is a great success. Then it is that she is forced to realise vividly the difference between their lives and hers, and the conditions surrounding them. The _ whoie picture, being cleverly constructed, is good entertainment value. STRAND THEATRE. Extremely entertaining comedy runs from end to end of "Brother Alfred,' the British laughter-provoking film which is now screening to Strand patrons. That inimitable comedian, Gene Gerrard, takes the lead in this P. G. Wodehouse tale, being cast as an unfortunate.young man who simply cannot explain his behaviour to his incredulous fiancee and her friends. He strikes a prince duriag an alcoholic bout, assumes his non-existent twin brother's identity, then meets the prmce, only to discover that all the time he was a hero. But it is too_ late, he cannot suddenly change back into the missing brother George, and he perforce remains brother Alfred. He is extremely comical in every word and gesture.

LITTLE THEATRE SOCIETY. The Little Theatre. Society, in choosing for its 28th production Hamilton's gripping drama "Rope," is providing something unusual, in that there have been few dramas written containing such a wealth of action, thrilling situations and powerful dialogue. The play _ will be presented for a season of two nights and a matinee, commencing Friday week. Owing to the powerful dramatic scene that opens the play, the doors will.be closed when the curtain rises at 8 P-® .• and latecomers will not be admitted until 8.15. Plans now open at Lewis_ fcady s. CATHOLIC REPERTORY SOCIETY. Said to be a most impressive play, "The Kingdom of God," which the Catholic Repertory Society is producing as its second effort next Friday and Saturday, gained great success in New York some years ago, with Ethel Barrymore in the 'lead. It has also been staged in Sydney. Miss Maisie Free takes the central .role of Sister Gracia. TUDOR CINEMA. Straight from one of the most successful of the season's plays come Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne in the leading rolf-s of "The Guardsman," which is showing in the film version at the Tudor Cinema, Remuera. Bobby Jones is also seen in his "How to Play Golf" series. LONDON THEATRE. A vivid story of a Russian genius' maniacal revenge upon an aristocratic family is contained in "Drums of Jeopardy," featuring Warner Oland, June Collyer and Lloyd Hughes. This film screens currently at the London. Y.W.C.A. CONCERT. • A grand concert will be presented tomorrow evening in the Y.W.C.A. Buildings by the Tui Glee Club and other i artists, ... . J

MAJESTIC THEATRE. The powerful and impressive drama of the Frozen North, "Igloo," will conclude a season at the Majestic Theatre this evening. In this pleasing epic of tlie silent snow spaces one actor —the whole cast being full-blooded Eskimo —stands out boldly as the result of a great periorniance. Chee-Ak, the young hero, is very noticeable, particularly in the action scenes, where he is seen fighting wile. Nature for supremacy and for life. Another strong film will be presented at the Majestic to-morrow. This is "The Roar of the Dragon," in which Richard Dix plays again his favourite characterisation of a hard-hitting American amid perils in far ports—now in Manchuria, scene of the world's most ruthless mass banditry. And Dix, as the hero, is in the thick of it, to save a beautiful woman-of-mystery and to lead the defence of beleaguered refugees. An added sensation is the debut of Gwili Andre, featured newcomer to the screen, a revelation in beauty and distinctive personality. "The Roar of the Dragon" presents a most timely background for this vigorous romance, which is not only sumptuously and colourfully staged, but is "red-blooded." Its mounting tension, however, is relieved at critical intervals with inimitable comedy. The conflict in this story is between Dix and a dynamic half-caste bandit who leads a rabble of irregulars against a few Americans and Russians stranded in a remote river town, cut off from international help. The brilliant supporting cast includes Edward Everett Horton, C. Henry Gordon, Zasu Pitts, Arline Judge and Taslia Muri, Japanese dancer.

ONE-ACT PLAY PROGRAMME. Something out of the ordinary was presented in the shape of a "demonstration of dramatic art, with musical sketches," by Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Bailey and their pupils in the Lewis Eady Hall last evening. Opening with a concerted rendering of Thackeray's delightful song "Little Billee," by over 50 children, the entertainment consisted chiefly of one-act playettes. After a clever recitation of the "Henry V." prologue by Miss Valerie Anderson, the first play, "The Mermaid," was staged. A duologue, "The Fairy and the Doll," was I ucceeded by a fine musical comedy sketch "Yesterday and To-day," showing the growth of romance over 100 years. Mrs. Bailey's singing in this item was commendable. "Fanchette from France," a study of dolls, was presented by the children, being followed by a threescene play, "The Goose Girl," in which a wicked king, Lear-like, expels his most devoted daughter because she could not frame her love in suitable words. _ Mr. Bailey was very good in the dramatic role of Axel in "Just Two Men," in which he was given able assistance by Arthur Lister. Two other plays, "Euclid was Right" and "The Miracle," supplied considerable entertainment. Perhaps tha finest piece of stage work in the evening was put up by Yvonne Carter in the main part of "The Siege," a highly dramatic playette. The programme concluded with "The Cure," a laughable modern comedy. Incidental music was provided by Misses Ida Lockwood (violin) and Marjorie Yorke (piano). The entertainment will be repeated this evening. MUNICIPAL BAND. The Auckland Municipal Band will present an attractive programme of popular music at Point Chevalier to-morrow evening. The band will also play in Albert Park on Sunday evening. SONG RECITAL. Assisted by her pupils, Madame Irene Ainsley will give a song recital in the Lewis Eady Hall on Wednesday, December 14.