AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 109, 11 May 1933, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. Wallace Beery, favourite actor of many thousands of film "fans," who had probably his greatest role as the great-hearted ex-champion of the prize ring in "The Champ" last year, with Jackie Cooper and Irene Rich, stars in a similar human role in ".Flesh," the now picture which will replacc "The Monkey's Paw" at the Majestic Theatre to-morrow. Karen Morley is his leading lady on this occasion, and she is reported to have a far more sympathetic role than did Irene Rich in "The Champ." Like another film in which Wallace Berry will shortly be 6een here ("Grand Hotel"), "Flesh," a drama of the wrestling ring, opens in Germany. But where the whole of the former story was laid in that country, "Flesh" eventually takes Beery to America, where he finds the heartaches and joys of winning a world's championship. Starting as a wrestling waiter in a beer garden, Beery wins the championship of Germany, but when he crosses the Atlantic in quest of larger honours, he runs foul of conditions which smack of the well known "racket." Others of note in the cast are Ricardo Cortez, Jean Hersholt, John Miljan, Vince Barnett, Herman Bing, Edward Brophy and Greta Meyer. John "Arrowsmith" fame, directed "Flesh," which was adapted from an original story by Edmund Goulding, who, incidentally, directed Beery in "Grand Hotel." The Majestic also presents on its new programme a fine Zaeu Pitts-Thelma Todd comedy, "Show Business."

PLAZA THEATRE. Their Excellencies, the GovernorGeneral Lord Bledisloe and Lady Blcdisloe, were pleasantly entertained last evening at the Plaza Theatre, where the brilliant English production of the Continental screen success, "The Love Contract," was the feature of the programme. Winifred Shotter and Owen Nares have two' of the finest roles in their careers in the romantic leads. The well-selected supporting programme includes several highly-interesting bird life studies, some Welsh songs sung in Welsh settings by the Auckland tenor, Birrell O'Malley, and some most ingeniously-arranged newsreels. The Plaza will screen a more dramatic picture to-morrow, in "The Flying Squad," one of the best of the Edgar Wallace's stories of battles against the sinister elements of the criminal world. "The Flying Squad" deals with Scotland Yard's unrelenting fight against the machinations of highly-organised "dope rings." Harold Huth, the star of that epic British film, "The Outsider," hatfthe leading male part, while an American screen celebrity who has become almost British through the style and standard of her work —Carol Goodner —takes the feminine lead. "The Flying Squad" is said to be even more tlirillirig and actionful than the other Wallace films seen recently at the Plaza, such as The Ringed" "The Frightened Lady and "White Face." ST. JAMES' THEATRE. Fun in a small town, mothers-in-law in battles, romance and a bit of drama— these are the elements with which Marie Dressier and Polly Moran mould a fine piece of entertainment in "Prosperity, their latest mirthful melee now playing at the St. James' Theatre. Marie and Polly battle over the married life of their respective son and daughter until they drive the youngsters into divorce and the audience into hysterics. Amid the howls of laughter there are a few heart throbs, too, for a bit of mother love, a sacrifice, and a very tense little dramatic situation arc interlarded among the laughs. Marie plays "Maggie,' who gets a job in the town grocery store when the town goes "broke," starts a "swap and trade" business, and finally solves the problem of good business. _ Miss Moran is a shrewish purveyor of pickles— incidentally that scene is a classic in comedy. Anita Page and Norman Foster play the married children, and they in turn have children—played by little Jacquie Lyn and Jerry Tucker. Clever character comedy is contributed by Charles Giblyn, Frank Darien and Henry Armetta. Long-heralded and eargerly awaited, "Grand Hotel" will come to the St. James' Theatre to-morrow week. This adaptation of Vicki Baum's sensational novel was made by Eddie Goulding, one of Hollywood's best, directors. The allstar cast is headed by Greta Garbo, John and Lionel Barrymore, Wallace Beery and Lewis Stone. NATIONAL THEATRE. The final screening will be given this evening of the dual programme which has proved quite successful at the National Theatre for the past week. This consists of Joel McCreas well-directed wrestling story, "The Sport Parade," in which Marian Marsh makes an adorable heroine, and "Partners," featuring the popular Western hero, Tom Keene. This latter production has more than its usual 6hare of comedy. The National will to-morrow screen "Sleepless Nights," the fine British comedy which features Stanley Lupino and Polly Walker in some of the maddest and most hilarious scenes and dialogue ever to have come out of a British studio. Lupino is the same amusing comic, more amusing if anything, as was seen in "Love Lies" and "The Love Race" last year. The theme song of this musical comedy is entitled, "I Don't Want to Go to Bed," which is sung and danced by the starring pair. A fine programme of supports will also be offered. ROXY AND TIVOLI. Tim McCoy and Buck Jones, two of the most popular stars in Western films, are featured on the current programme at the Roxy and Tivoli Theatres. The typical story of the wild west, with its wicked and rascally villain, with its beautiful and suffering damsel almost forced to wed the rogue of the piece, and with the very necessary hero in his immaculate cowboy and bejeweMed holsters coming to the rescue of the distressed maiden is embodied in these two films. Strangely enough, this most stereotyped of stories seems to be unremittingly popular with all classes of audiences, particularly, as is to be expected, with children. This being the children's school holiday period, the reason for the presence of a dual Western programme is not difficult to discover. The films are Tim McCoy's "The Western Code," and Buck Jones' "Sundown Trail." "The Western Code" shows Tim as a secret member of the Texas Rangers tracking down a band of counterfeiters and property thieves. It has a fine supporting cast, headed by Mischa Auer, Nora Lane and Wheeler Oakman. "Sundown Trail is somewhat similar in effect, with possibly even more action than "The Western Code." Buck saves a ranch for a beautiful girl (Barbara Weeks) against the machinations of a ruthless gang of cattle thieves, does some thrilling riding, shooting and fist-fighting, and eventually culminates the story with his usual masterful manner of proposal for a life partnership. Pat O'Malley and Wheeler Oakman head the supporting cast of players. I

STRAND PANTOMIME. One of the most popular and undying of all pantomime stories, that of Aladdin and his lamp, forms the subject of the pantomime to be presented at the Strand Theatre for the ensuing week, with a performance every afternoon as from to-day. Dan Flood, the popular local comedian, takes the part of the Dame. Bettina Edwards supplies much, entertainment as the premiere danseuse. Dan Flood will be the moving spirit of the show, as is invariably the case with pantomime dames. His role is that of the Widow Twankey, the royal washerwoman. Thoral Keefe as Aladdin, Doreen O'Leary as the princess, Kathleen Bull, Rudall Havward, and Headlam Greenhow complete the ease. Thirty juvenile players add a distinctive note, to the show. LONDON THEATRE. A highly entertaining comedy-drama, " Big Money," featuring a very personable young man in Eddie Quillan, is tile current film fare at the London Theatre. It will give place to-morrow to " The Viking," the dramatic story of an adventure in the Arctic, which ultimately cost the lives of Varick Frissell, the producer, and his crew of 25, when their ship, the Viking, blew UP " HOSPITAL CONCERT. The weekly concert given by Mrs. Raeburn and Mr, A. Hamblin was held in Ward 28 at the Public Hospital on Wednesday evening. A delightful programme was provided by Misses Ruth and Nina Scott, consisting of songs, duets, humorous items and community singing. Others taking part were: —Mrs. A. Lee, Messrs. R Simmers and G. Fagan. Mrs. Lee also acted as accompanist. "THE VASE OF VENUS." The Zoe Bartley-Baxter Players, wholast year produced " Nothing But the Truth," will stage P. G. Cargo's amusing farce, "The Vase of Venus," in His! Majesty's Theatre, on Monday, May 22. | The plot concerns the adventures of a hero who, to please his fiancee, engages in an extraordinary enterprise, in which complications arise through the fate of the vase of Venus. The proceeds will be in aid of the Community Sunshine Association. A full orchestra, under the baton of Mr. Harold Baxter, late of the Civic, will provide incidental music.