AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 102, 3 May 1933, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

PLAZA THEATRE. The amusing British comedy-romance, "There Gpes the Bride," starring Jessie Matthews, will leave the screen o£ the Plaza Theatre to-morrow evening to give place to "The Love Contract," another film from the British studios of the romantic comedy type. It features Winifred Shotter, ingenue star of so many Walls-Lynn Aldwych Theatre farces and, more recently, of Jack Hulbert's comedy, "Jack's the "Boy." Her romantic male lead is Owen Nares, with Gibb McLaughlin at hand to supply the laughs. Released first as "Antoinette," this film was given its public premiere in play form in France, as "Chauffeur Antoinette." Then "Chauffeur Antoinette" was made into a talking film in Germany, which, although made in eleven days, was a marked success. Its fame spread to _ England, with the result that producers invited its director, Herbert Selpin, to come to England and make the film in English. In this way, it came about that a French play came to England as a musical "talkie" via Germany. And it has now gone back to France as a talkie, since Herbert Selpin has just finished making a French version in Paris. MAJESTIC THEATRE. That tragic events almost invariably follow great happiness, and that any person, granted three wishes, eventually would regret them, was the theme taken by W. Wymark Jacobs, k the noted English short story writer, in "The Monkey's Paw," a film dramatisation of which will open a season at the Majestic Theatre on Friday. A quiet family in rural England is given a Hindu charm of reputed miraculous power. They refuse to accept these powers at first, but subsequent events indicate the supernatural, and amazing adventures follow. Betty Lawfoi'd, Brarawell Fletcher, Ivan Simpson, C. Aubrey Smith, Louise Carter, and other noted players are featured in the cast. The picture was directed by Wesley Ruggles, noted for his direction of "Are These Our Children? and " Cimarron." The film was in production simultaneously with the appearance of the Australian cricket team, which stopped on a world tour long enough to meet the Hollywood Cricket Club. The fact that a game was played on Sunday afternoon saved " The Monkey's Paw " costly delay, for by that arrangement C. Aubrey Smith, Bramwell Fletcher, and Ivan x Simpson, ardent pursuants of cricket, who are featured in the cast, were able to attend at least one of the contests. As the first of a series of sound-synchronised reissues of the famous Charlie Chaplin two-reel comedies, " Easy Street" will also adorn the Majestic's programme. He is just as great a pantomime artist as ever. ST. JAMES' THEATRE. When the fine Norma Shearer period drama, "Smilin' Through," completes its triumphant fortnight's season at the St. James' Theatre to-morrow evening, it will be replaced on the following day by the latest Marie Dressier film, "Prosperity." Most motion pictures end with a wedding —but Marie Dressier and Polly Moran reversed the order, and started theirs with one, when production began on "Prosperity." Anita Page and Wallace Ford were the bride and groom. Polly was Anita's proud mother, Marie was Wally s, and Otis Harlan, as the Mayor of the town, gave away the bride. Frank Darien, Harry Beresford, Kathlyn Clair Ward, Jerry Tucker and Jacqueline Lynn are other members of the cast. Leo McCarey directed the film, which is a hilarious comedy of small-town life. Comedienne and classical dancer are the two extremes of Gertrude Sutton, danseuse, who plays the town organist, a comedy character role, in "Prosperity." Miss Sutton, who has a flair for comedy, played in _ a hilarious comedy scene in the picture, and the same night she appeared in a classical dance recital at the Philharmonic Auditorium in Los Angeles, with a 60-piece symphony orchestra. Marie Dressier has been signed to a new contract, according to ail announcement from the Culver City studios. Miss Dressler's next film is scheduled to be "Tug Boat Annie," with Wallace Beery, based on a series of magazine short stones. REGENT THEATRE. A rollicking, laughing musical romance of Radioland is incorporated in the plot of "The. Big Broadcast," which forms the basis of Friday's change of programme at the Regent Theatre. Primarily a romance, although generously interlarded with comedy moments and musical attractions, the picture features some of America s— indeed, the world's—best-known radio stars, headed by Bing Crosby. This popular "crooner" and singer has otten pleased Auckland film-goers with his all-too-short appearances in news-reels, while his many gramophone records have tounu ready markets in this country. -He is seen in "The Big Broadcast" as an "'responsible radio broadcaster .who finds it entirely impossible to arrive 011 time tor his turn "over the air.*' He has eveiybodv on their toes, as it were, creating much laughter through his inability to tear himself away from a beautiful snens still more beautiful arms, llie other radio stars included in the cast—many of whose names and performances are known in this Dominion—are Burns and Allen,, ivate Smith, Mills Brothers, Boswell Sisters, Arthur Tracy ("The Street Singer ), Cab Calloway and his orchestra, and, last but not least, Vincent Lopez and his band. The Regent also presents the first ot a new series of cartoons featuring the everpopular Mickey Mouse. NATIONAL THEATRE. A film which, for greatness of conception ranks with "The Ten Commandments" and "The King of Ivmgs, all 01 them being produced by the same genius, Cecil B. de Mille, "The Sign of the Cross, will conclude its stay in Auckland at the National Theatre to-morrow evening, lhis epic of spectacular settings and romance in ancient Rome features Charles Laughton in one of the year's outstanding pieces of actinsr as Nero. Elissa Landi is splendid as Mercia, the Christian maid; Fredric March is good as Marcus Superbus, Prefect, of Rome, while Claudotte Colbert, as the Empress Poppaea, 'Tommy Conlon as Stephanus, lan Keith as ligellinus and Harry. Beresford as Favius, al, shine in their respective roles. The National will, on Friday, introduce a double-feature comprising the films "The Sport Parade," with Joel McCrea, and "Partners," with Tom Keene. BRITANNIA THEATRE. Marie Dressier gives one of her finest characterisations in "Emma," in which she will be seen at the Britannia Theatre to-night. Also screening will be two wrestling pictures taken in Wellington,! showing George Walker v. Harry Mamos and Dene Dctton v.. A 1 Karasiclc. "TO HAVE THE HONOUR." This intriguing play by A. A. Milne will appeal to all lovers of real comedy, and the producer, Mr. C. M. McCallum, has enlisted the services of Misses Althea Parker. Mary Burges Watson, Una Moore, Joan Ross, Mrs. Moncricff McCallum, Messrs. G. Brown-Douglas, J. Mackle, Ken Warburton, Lcn Barnes and John Carpenter.

CIVIC THEATRE. The piquant adventures of a young couple forced to pose as married provides the irresistibly hilarious plot of "Sleepless Nights" at the Civic Theatre next week, and the main "highlights" of this comedy film arc the lilting musical numbers introduced, composed by Noel Gay. One of the most haunting of these is entitled "Just One More" and rendered by Stanley Lupino and Polly Walker, the stars of the' film, who, as the unfortunate couple, find themselves aboard a yacht, regarded in the public eye as being married. Matters become complicated when the two discover they are beginning to care for each- other, and in their sheer exuberance of spirts they dance over the entire vessel in search of a secluded spot for "just one more" kiss. Polly plays the role of a millionaire's daughter who elopes with one man and marries another. The first is an adventurer and the second is Stanley Lupino, and as the latter is mistaken for Polly's husband long before the ceremony takes place, the result is a hilarious matrimonial mix-up. Everything of course comes right in the end, but not before filmgoers have had more than their share of side-splitting laughter at the comicalities of the pair. "With All My Heart" is another number ,sung by Polly Walker, who accompanies herself at the piano. It is in "Sleepless Nights" that "I Don't Want to Go to Bed," a new number which is rapidly becoming more and more popular, makes its public bow. STRAND THEATRE. Excellent performances are turned" out by It on aid Colman, the handsome English romantic star of "Raffles," in a revival £f which he is featured at the Strand Theatre. Kay Francis, who was also costarred more recently in "Cynara," has the fine feminine lead in "Raffles." The Strand offers a revival of the comparatively new drama "Red Dust," in which the sirenesque Jean Harlow secures a dramatic triumph, in conjunction with the latest flutterer of feminine hearts in the audience, Clark Gable. Mary Astor, one of Hollywood's most consistent actresses, heads a brilliant supporting cast. The story is a romantic drama built around four people on an isolated rubber plantation in the tropics.