AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 150, 28 June 1933, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

REGENT THEATRE. This evening and to-morrow, tlic film version of Noel Cowards highly ing stage play, "Ihe Queen as in the Parlour," released as '"To-night Is Ours, will be screened at the Regent Theatre. Fredric March, who played the role ot Marcus Superbus in "ihe Sign ot the Cross," and Claudette Colbert, who was seen as the Empress l'oppaea in the sapie i epic production, are in the chief roles, i he new attraction listed for initial at j the Regent on Friday, entitled ''The Kiss Before the Mirror," comes from the expert i directorial hand of James Whale, the j Englishman who produced "All Quiet and I "The Old Dark House." It is said to be J a brilliant human drama of love and : jealousy, mistrust and betrayal, while retaining a distinction entirely apart from 1 anything Whale has handled previously. Its' makers claim that it contains a great ! human theme which will appeal to every | class of people, old and young, rich and poor, and that it asks a startling question of every man and woman—-a question j which everyone will answer in the same i way as does the picture. "The Kiss BeI fore the Mirror" is, however, far removed I from mere tragedy. It is more romantic ! drama. It carries a guarantee of perfecj tion in photography inasmuch as the t cameraman responsible was Karl I reund, the man who made "The Mummy ' with I its technical excellence. The stars, are i Nancy Carroll. Paul Lukas, I'rank Morgan and Gloria Stuart. ST. JAMES' THEATRE. So successful has the attraction of seeing a historical fact on the scrceu in pretentious form proved that it has been decided to retain "Rasputin and the Empress" at the St. James' Theatre for a further week. This dramatic picture tells the story of the fall of the Romanoffs, the ruling house of Russia until 1017, and has the further screen distinction of bringing together, tor the first time in the history of either stage or screen, the two famous Barrymore brothers, John and Lionel, and their no less renowned sister Ethel. Based on happenings within the memory of the generation of to-day. the picture's episodes present a replica of the most colourful royal court in the world, thus including the spectacle of a "period" picture while remaining strictly n modern story. Ethel Barrymore plays the Empress, John is cast as Prince Chegodieff, and Lionel essays the role of the ''Holy Devil." in the sensational picturisation of the downfall of the Empire and the rise of the Bolshevik regime. Hundreds appear in the great throne-room scene, the cathedral episode and other incidentals. Intense dramatic material is contained in the hypnotising of the little prince by Ras--1 putin, in his intrigues and orgies and in 5 the vengeance of the nobles after his tampering has the Empire on its way to ruin. . Another spectacular detail is a great re- . view of Russian troops. The cast in support of the three Barrymoros includes ' Diana Wynyard. Ralph Morgan, Tad Alexander (tlie New Zealand boy actor), C. • Henry Gordon and Edward Arnold. , PLAZA THEATRE. Ralph Lynn will complete a fortnight of highly successful entertaining at the Plaza Theatre to-morrow evening, when his latest Aldwycli Theatre farce, in screen version, leaves that theatre. '"Just My Luck," which is his first film since "A Night Like This" (with Tom Walls), and his first solo effort since "Mischief" was adapted by Ben Travel's, author of most of the stories which attained stage fame at the Aldwycli Theatre, London, before entering on the wider scope of the motion picture, from a novel by H. F. Maltby, entitled "Fifty Fifty." Winifred Shotter and Robertson Hare, from the original Alwych Theatre stage and screen cast of players, portray excellent typical roles. ■ The Plaza's new programme for Friday is headed by the first of the New British musical films, "Say It With _ Music," which was produced with a definite idea of outclassing the American producers on their own ground. For this reason, after having discovered that Hollywood was backing its millions behind a revival of singing and musical shows on the screen, i Herbert Wilcox hired the most popular syncopation band in London, that of Jack i Payne, to make a film, the theme song of which was chosen to be "Say It With ; Music." "The spirit of modern onter- ; tainment was," according to one London pro-reviewer, "captured by its makers . more so than has been done in any other British picture. It should undoubtedly achieve its purpose—that of proving [ British ability to produce films other than i the done-to-death musical comcdy- . romance." STRAND THEATRE. ' Ernst Lubitseh extolled the cinemaproducing art in "Trouble in Paradise," which is doing considerable current business at the Strand Theatre, together with the splendidly-executed Colman romantic drama, "Cynara." The former film is another production for the intelligentsia | which is easily understood by the masses. Kay Francis has a pleasing role in the feminine lead, while Miriam Hopkins, in spite of a rather unsympathetic part, | manages to capture considerable sympathy for herself. The "high-lights'" of the pic- j turc, however, centre around the performance of that brilliant young English player, Herbert Marshall. Ho takes the chief role as an international swindler and thief who falls desperately in love with a wealthy French merchant princess (Kay Francis). The tempo of the -whole production bespeaks masterful direction. "Cynara," while also a starring vehicle for Kay Francis, introduces in a powerful role the Australian actress, Phyllis Barry. Ronald Colman plays just as excellently as ever in this rather more dramatic effort. NATIONAL THEATRE. A picture that combines star appeal with the action and thrills associated with the silent films, "Under-Cover Man," will form the main portion of the firstrelease programme to be presented initially at the National Theatre on Friday. George Raft, that brilliant young villain of several films, including "The Sporting Widow," "If I Had a Million," "Dancers in the Dark" and "Night After Night," has the chief male part, with j . Nancy Carroll in the feminine lead. She has shown us her undoubted acting talent in such productions as "Wayward," ' "Night Angel." "The Broken Lullaby" and "Hot Saturday." The supporting players of the picture are Roscoe Karns, Lew Cody, Gregory Ratoff, Noel Francis and David Landau. The gripping theme deals with the adventures of a young couple ! who sot out tin a most perilous game with the fixed idea of vcnceance for the . death of near relatives. The National is ; also showing an entertaining British comedy on its now programme, entitled i "Here's George," featuring George* Clarke and Pat Paterson. The latter was the beautiful heroine of "Murder on the Sec- . ond Floor" and several other British films. j BOHEMIAN ORCHESTRA. ; The Bohemian Orchestra will inaugurate : its 20th season to-morrow evening, when a popular programme will bo presented. Miss Dora .Tiidson and the Commercial : Travellers and Warehousemen's Associa- • tion Choir will also assist with various items.