AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 114, 17 May 1933, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS.

ST. JAMES' THEATRE. The closest approximation of a genuine "all-star" cast ie offered by the St. James' in bringing to its talking screen Vicki Baum's sensational novei and stage liit, "tirand Hotel." As Grusinskaya, the Russian ballerina, there is Greta Garbo. Paired with her as Barou von Gaigern, who enters her room to steal jewels but remains to fall in love, is John Barrymore, recognised as the foremost romantic actor of stage and screen. Joan Crawford, another breaker of box office records, is cast ae Flaemmehen, the sex-appealing stenographer who finds that happirieas and tragedy often 30 hand in hand. Wallace Beery essays the most dramatic role of lik career as -Prcysing, the militaristic industrial (magnate who trifles with dishonesty and unfaithfulness with dire consequences. Lionel Barrymore, awarded last year's acting txophy from the Aeadeiny. of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; hae a fine characterisation of Kringelein, a. factory clerk who registers at the Grand Hotel to onjoy a brief period of splendour before he dies. Lewie Stone a/3 the shell-shocked doctor, and Jean Hersholt ae the porter who is anxious about the birth of bis baby, head the large supporting cast, which includes. Robert Me Wade, Purnell B. Pratt, Ferdinand Gottechalk. Rafaela Ottiano, .'Morgan Wallace, Tull.r Marshall, Frank (Jom-oy, Murray Kinnell and Edwin Maxwell. In all, some 70 individual parts are in the pieturisation of the play, all of them important regardleas of brevity.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. A welcome relief from the many woes of the times is afforded in the new comedy film, "The Cohens and the Kellye in Trouble," which will be presented at the Majestic Theatre on Friday. Geoi'ge Sidney and Charlie Murray, as the Cohen and Kelly, are the heroes of six other films of similar laughable type. They have a splendid Supporting cast, which : adds much to the production which has been called the beet of the series. Among those who add to the laughs are "gravelthroated" Andy Devine, . the inimitable .Tobyna Howland, Maude Fulton and Henry Armetta, while Frank Alberteon and Maureen O'Sullivan lend convincing portrayals as the young lovers. The etory concerns Patrick Kelly, tug-boat captain, and Nathan Cohen, retired business man, who comes to see him after an absence of many years. The men are just starting to have their fun when a young revenue officer falls in love with Kelly's daughter, unbeknownst to him —and Kelly hates revenue officers. Kelly's ex-wife also appears to collect back alimony, the -men are suspected of rum-running, and a general complication starts the action off. There are yachting tripe, rum-boat chases, and plenty of other excitement ae the plot comes to a miore or less happy ending.

NATIONAL THEATRE. Stanley Lupino, the ]av;bable English comedian of "Love Lies" and "The Love Race/' is again at his best in "Sleepless Nights," a musical comedy romance in which the haunting tin ice song, "I Don't Want to Go to 3Bed," is introduced. Polly Walker is the heroine. This superb piece of screen entertainment' will be shown at the National only this evening and tomorrow, the programme offering for Friday's patrons consisting of the British drama, "Insult," a tale of the French Foreign Legion, featuring that petite little fitar, Elizabeth Allan, together with a dramatic talking-film version of the actionful Zane Grey story, "The Light of the Western Stars." This gripping story is brought to the screen with Richard Arlen and Jlary Brian as the principals.

"JUBILADE." The annual University extravaganza chosen for presentation this year is on titled "Jubilade," in honour of "the fiftieth year of the college's existence. Written by Mr. J. A. E. Mulgan, it will bo produced by Mr. J. A. S. Coppard in the concert chamber for a season of six nights, commencing May 24.

ROUSHWORTH'S SKATING RINK. An outstanding .programme is announced for this evening at Ilouehworth's Skating Kink, Khyber Pass Road, including an eight-lap "zigzag" race, a ladies' challenge race, tobogganing, and a skateshockey match for the Roushworth Cup, between "Radio A" and "Juniors." Rouehworth's Band will render the latest vocal and instrumental numbers.

CIVIC THEATRE. ■ Following their rise to popularity, as a starring team in such successes as "Bad Girl," "Over the Hill" and "Dance Team," Jamos Dunn and Sally Eilere have been cast together again in "Sailor's Luck," the new film opening an engagement at the' Civic Theatre on Friday. The picture, directed by Raoul Walsh, tells the story of a sailor from the Atlantic Fleet wlio becomes entangled in a love affair with a girl. The two get along famously until Dunn quarrels with her and sails away with the Fleet. He later learns that it was all a mistake, and lie returns to patch things up, only to learn that ehe is not so willing to come back. Dunn's love for Sally Eilere carries him through every imaginable sort of excitement, through comedy ecenes in a public swimming pool over to a gangfight on the- street and a grand finale in a dan-ce marathon, with the Navy, as usual, winning the honoum. Much of the comedy iri supplied by Sammy Cohen, dialect comedian who is cant ae Jimmy's pal "Barnacle Benny." Others in the oast are Frank Moran, Victor Jory, Esther. Muir, Will Stan ton, Curley Wright, Jerry Mandy, Lueien Littlefield, Buster Phelps and Frank Atkinson. The direction is by'Raoul Walsh, maker of "What Price Glory?'-' and "The Cock-Eyed World."

PLAZA THEATRE. Some fine aviation scenes are said to- be incorporated into Sir Alan Cobham's romance built round the annual King's Cup air race in England, which has been filmed as. "The King's Cup." This production will be featured at the Plaza as from Friday. The story has a regular plot interwoven with the highly interesting scenes of this epic air contest. Dorothy Bouchier, the beloved "Chili" of the London stage, takes the main feminine role. Miss Bouchier made a starring sensation some time ago in two other British films, "Carnival" (with Matheson Lang and Joseph Schildkraut) and "The Blue Danube" (Joseph Schildkraut). Harry Milton has the jeading male part in the new film. Dorothy Bouchier is cast as Betty Conway, an assistant in a gramophone shop, who joins a private aero club at the instigation .of Dick Carter (Harold Milton), a flying instructor. After teaching the girl the rudiments of flying, the instructor crashes and is relegated to the position of ground engineer by Captain Richards, the chief instructor of the club, who is jealous of the other man's interest in Betty Conway. Qualifying for her pilot's certificate, the girl enters for the King's Cup air race, selecting Carter as her navigator. The plot takes a dramatic turn when the girl faints during the race and Carter takes over the controls. There is a thrilling climax.

STRAND THEATRE. Crowded houses still! are the order of the day at the Strand Theatre, where the seemingly everlasting appeal of two earlier films on revival is attracting many Aucklanders. The productions screened dually are Ronald Colman's fine characterisation of "Bulldog Drummoncf" and the epic Oriental romance, "Shanghai Express," in which the beautiful German star, Marlene Dietrich, provides the chief interest. Clive Brook, Warner Oland and Anna May Wong are the chief supporting players in this fine production, which, earned the seasou's highest award for its photographer, Lee Garmes, and- high commendation for its director, Josef yon Sternberg: the director of every Dietrich vehicle shown in Auckland. Both films are pleasantly reminiscent of the finest art the screen can convey in acting, Colman and Brook both being English in origin and possessing that inborn stage personality, of the English actor abroad.. COMMUNITY SINGING. In the community singing gathering to be held in the Town Hall this evening, the organisers have revived a type of entertainment which proved highly successful last year. Proceeds will on this occasion be directed to the Metropolitan Unemployed Relief Fund. The orchestra from Station IYA, imder Mr. Harold Baxter, will be heard in several items, and Mr. Trevor Sparling will render an organ recital from 7.30 p.m. Several other instrumentalists will also be heard, including Miss Kay Christie and Mr. Frank Sutherland. Mrs. Barrington Snow, last year's pianist, will once more officiate in this capacity. Song leaders will be Messrs. Albert Russell and Vernon T. Drew. The entertainment will be held under the chairmanship of the Mayor of Auckland, Mr* G. W. Hutchison, and in the presence of their Excellencies the Governor-General and.Lady Bledisloe.

REGENT THEATRE. When the entertaining British musical comedy romance, "Where Is This Lady?" featuring Owen Nares, George K.. Arthur Marfca Eggert and Wendy Barrie leaves the Regent Theatre to-morrow evening it -will be replaced by "Wedding Rehearsal," generally mooted to be one of the best English comedies for a long time Says the critic -of the "Sydney Sun"-— "Everyone enjoys the delicacy of Roland Young's acting, and in 'Wedding Rehearsal' he it* the perfection of a beet man and matchmaker. This picture goes along with commendable speed, the settings fitting the story of English fashionable life. One of the- best ecenee is changing the Guard at St. James' Palace. The twins, too, Lady Maryrose (Wendy Barrie) and Lady Rosemary (Joan Gardner), are delightfully spoiled and bewitchingly wilful. That they defy their pompous father, Lord Stokesliire, played by George Groesmith. and insist upon marrying people of the names of Hopkine and Thompson, is to be expected. The bridesmaids' dresses are absurdly engaping. and when the twins go out to meet their lovers by moonlight they are persuaded by Roland Young to look incongruously adorable in Victorian frocks and hats. Edmund Breon nobly sacrifices himself in the cause of amusement, and Lady Tree and Kate Cutler give portrait* of dowagers that are an artistic triumph." Tlfe Sydney organist, Mr. Knight Barnett, is heard at the Regent_ organ in a serieg of interesting song recitals. RIVOLI SKATING RINK. A mile challenge race will be the-feature 1 of to-night's programme of events at the Rivoli Skating Rink, Upper Queen Street, the contest being between Jock McFadyen, of H.M.6. Dunedin, and Archie Williamson, of the Rivoli. Community singing. will also be included in the programme.