AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 73, 28 March 1933, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. The Chinese have no monopoly on "ways that are dark." Far more secretive, far more interesting, are the men and methods o£ the world's six greatest organisations of secret police: the United States secret service, Scotland Yard, the North-west Mounted of Canada, Germany s and Austria's super-efficient bureaus, and the French Suiete. From the records ol some of these famous agencies was taken the amazing case developed in Secrets ot the French Police," which opens at the Majestic Theatre to-morrow, with tne lovely Gwili Andre featured in the cast. The picture is based on material from two amazing documents: "Secrets of the Surete, ,? by H. Aehton-Wolfe, and The Lost Empress," by Samuel Ornitz. ihe intriguing theory that a daughter ot the last Czar of Russia escaped the Royal family's massacre by the Bolshevists in the Revolution of 1917, forms the basis of the plot of the film in its final form. Ims theory is not taken too seriously m the film, whose story deals with the deftness with which the Surete, the French secret police, discover an imposture. In this instance a Russian residing in Paris attempts to hypnotise a flower girl, who physically resembles the Russian princess, into the belief that she is the princess. Gwili Andre and Gregory Ratoff play the interesting roles of the flower girl and hypnotist. Frank Morgan and John Warburton, both prominent on stage and screen, share cast honours with Miss Andre. ROXY AND TIVOLI. To-night will see the final showing of the current first-release programme at the Rosy and Tivoli Theatres, consisting oi "Second-Hand Wife," with Sally Eilerf, and "Scarlet Dawn," featuring Douglas Fairbanks, jun., and Nancy Carroll. -This enjoyable entertainment will be replaced by another well-chosen pair of films tomorrow. One of them, an outright comedy, is "You Said a Mouthful, with the wide-mouthed Joe E. Brown creating hie usual unending string of laughs, while the other is "The Purchase Price, a beautiful dramatic picture with the splendid actress, Barbara Stanwyck, in the lead. She lias the support of Georgo Brent, Ruth Chatterton's husband and male lead in two of her best pictures. He is considered by many as a possible successor to Valentino, Novarro, Wallace Reid and the many other romancers of the past. Miss Stanwyck sings [or the first time on the screen, her piece j a lovely little song entitled "Take Me Away. ,, ' llardio Albright and Lyle Talbot head the supporting cast. In "You Said a Mouthful." Joe E. Brown is aided in securing laughs.by the pleasing and popular little actress, "Ginger Rogers star of "Suicide Fleet" and "The Tenderfoot." Sheila Terry, "Farina," Oscar Apfel and a large cast hold the remaining parts. "You Said a Mouthful" is said to be Joe E.'s funniest comedy yet, topping "Hold Everything." "Broadminded," "Sally," "The Local Boy Makes Good," "The Tenderfoot" and his many others. HOSPITAL CONCERTS. The Neville Carlsen Revue Company gave a concert in Ward 2 of the Public Hospital last evening, with songs, dances and vocal instrumental numbers. The following participated:—Mesdames J. F. and E. Holt and Seville Carlsen, Misses Clarice Palmer, Rene Dawning, Audiva Shergold. Betty Lelean, J'une Breere, Joyce Trainer. Valerie Moore, Willa Katter'ns, Joy Watte, Messrs. Ernest Parkinson. Ed. Gardiner, Wilfred Baker, H. and A. Boytl, Lai Porter, Harry Reese, George and Neville Carlsen and Masters Albert Parkinson and Lawrence Boyd. Mrs. J. F. Holt acted as accompanist.