AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 241, 12 October 1933, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

REGENT THEATRE. "When Ladies Meet." which opens a season at the Regent Theatre to-morrow, is said to possess some of the most enjoyable screen entertainment offered to the film-going public for many weeks, according Ann Harding and Robert Montgomery the type of roles ill which they are seen to their best advantage. Light and fanei- | fill, yet based on a very real situation, I the dialogue and atmosphere of this film j version of Rachel Crothers' recent sensational stage play are said to make it an I ideal vehicle for the initial co-etarring of these tvo stars. It presents a novel angle on the old romantic triangle tangle. It concerns a wife who knows her husband philanders, and a young man who is worried because he finds his sweetheart playing a dangerous game with the married man. He engineers the two women into a meeting that brings a result he has hopefully and gleefully anticipated. Others in the"cast are Myrna Loy. Alice Brady and Frank Morgan. The Regent's supporting film fare includes a colourton revue, entitled •'Hollywood Premiere," also "The Flying Maxellos," a .Mickey Mouse cartoon and newM-eels. The popular Sydney organist, Mr. Knight Barnett, will commence his final Xew Zealand season before his return to Australia. ST. JAMES' THEATRE. Marion Davies will Tjc seen to-morrow ! at the St. James' Theatre in "Peg o' My Heart," screened from the famous play created on the stage 21 years ago, and which broke all stage attendance records on two continents. "Peg o My Heart is the winning and dramatic story of a motherless Irish girl suddenly placed m an environment strange to her and eonl fronted with the prospect of great riches. ! As the little Irish girl who inherits an '" ancestral estate in England and falls in love with the young lawyer who arranged for her entrance into society, Miss Davies is considered by those who have seen the film to have given the finest performance of her entire career, hi the first part of the picture she appears in the typical ''Peg" costume with her frowsy dog, I Michael. Later she blossoms forth in creations designed for her by Adrian, the noted film stylist. A musical background adds charm to "Peg o' My Heart.; the picture featuring two new songs, 'bweetheart, Darlin'," by Herbert Stothnrt and (Jus Kahn, and "I'll Remember," by :Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed, as well as incidental music by Herbert Stothart. CIVIC THEATRE. Because "Men Must Fight," the new screen drama opening to-morrow at the Civic Theatre, and in which Diana Wyn- ! yard is starred, is supposed to occur in the year 1010, the clothes worn by the feminine members of the cast have an unusual significance in this production. Upon the shoulders of Adrian, the celebrated style creator, fell the responsibility of looking ahead seven years to anticipate the style which will prevail in the future. The noted designer based his calculations for the style future on present-day trends. For the past Tew years, he says, styles have been going backward, designers taking former periods and modernising them. In "Men Must Fight," Adrian turned the calendar still backward, at the name time using his originality to obtain new effects. The feminine members of the cast who will be the first to advance the new styles are Diana Wynyard, Ruth Selwyn, May Robson, Hedda Hopper and Mary Carlisle. Lewis Stone, Phillips Holmes and Robert Young have the male leads. Paul T. Cullen, the popular singing organist, who has been at the Civic for the past fortnight, will again present his enjoyable entertainment with the new programme. PLAZA THEATRE. Bcnito Mussolini, one of the most poiycrful personalities of his age, is the subject of the main picture coming to the Plaza Theatre to-morrow. This is "Mussolini Speaks,' , n. really astonishing outline of II Duco's amazing career from blacksmith's son to peasant boy, through soldiering and war wounds to revolutionist, and then to victorious despot— a man of iron will and magnetic personality, who has crushed from his path all obstacles, and at the same time succeeded in establishing his popularity firmly throughout the land which he dominates so indisputably. A private, screening of "Mussolini Speaks" wae held yesterday afternoon, and among the audience were the Rev. Dr. Buxton, representing the Roman Catholic Archbishop, also Mr. M. J. Sheahan, acting ■consular agent for Italy, and representatives of the Italian Club. The Plaza is also screening a timely American story, " Gold Fever," in which Walter Hueton and Constance Cummings are etarred. ROXY AND TIVOLI. Edward G. Robinson, whose "Little Caesar' , characterisation will ever be regarded as one of the finest ever shown on the screen, is back again as a gangster in the new comedy-drama. "The Little Giant," which opened last night at the Roxy and Tivoli Theatres. Robinson is really not quite a. gangster in the "Little Caesar" sense of the word, and neither is "The Little Giant' , heavy drama. In fact, Robinson is a comedian, and the picture is an extremely funny comedy. "The Little Giant" is an extremely timely subject with a brand of comedy that is highly hilarious, especially when Robinson brings or. his Chicago mob to help him get back his money. An unusually strong cast supporting Robinson, includes Mary Astor as his leading lady, Helen Vincent in the role of the adventuresome vamp. Kenneth Thomson, Shirley Grey. Russell Hepton, Donald Dillaway and Berton Churchill. Lovers of the sport of kings will find some good horse flesh and real race track thrills in "The Thoroughbred," also showing at the Roxy and Tivoli Theatres. And anyone who likes a rousing story and rattling good entertainment will also be thoroughly happy over this talking picture, in which Wesley Barry gives a splendid performance as the jockey whose foolishness gets him into the position where he will go to gaol it he doesn't give up the biggest race of the season. STRAND THEATRE. Xorma Shearer is at her lovable best in the leading role of "Let L T s Be Gay," a highly successful film version of the famous Rachel Crothers comedy. This picture, together with Constance Bennett's "Our Betters," adapted from Somerset Mauj gham's biting satirical play, provides the I current entertainment offering at the Strand Theatre. RIALTO THEATRE. The polished and charming manner of Warner Baxter receives one of its finest dopietments to date in the modem romantic film, "I Loved Yon Wednesday," and the popular star of "42nd Street" will be seen with Elissa Landi and Miriam Jordan at the Rialto Theatre, Xewmarket. this evening. "When Strangers Marry" is also on the programme. TUDOR CINEMA. REMUERA. With the Tudor's usual class of supporting features, the screening of Charles Chauvel's splendid record of the people of Pitcairn Island, "In the Wake of the Bounty," should provide a Remucra audience with excellent entertainment this ' evening.

DESMOND CASEY'S CONCERT, An enjoyable and suitable .programme has been arranged for this evening's concert to be given by the brilliant young Auckland boy soprano, Desmond Casey, in the Town Hall. Among the assisting artists will be Mesdames Wynfreda Spiers and H. Armstrong Keven, Miss Robinson and Mr. Athol Jonas. The accompanists will be Mrs. Frances Ingram and Miss Gay Keven. NATIONAL THEATRE. The happy melodies and atmosphere of "Moonlight and Pretzels" provide an enjoyable entertainment to patrons of the National Theatre. This film gives place to-morrow to a dual programme, consisting of the fast-moving Zane Grey story, "Sunset Pass." and a revival of Jack Buchanan's highly amusing comedy-romance, "Man of Mayfair." The lovely English star, Joan Barry, heroine of many recent films, has the feminine lead opposite the popular Jack. LONDON THEATRE. To-night will see the final screening at the London Theatre of "Harmony Heaven." an English musical comedy featuring Polly Wind and Stuart Hall. Tomorrow the theatre will present a revival of Gene Gerrard's most hilarious < and successful farce, '"My Wife's Family." CRYSTAL PALACE THEATRE. Elissa Landi, star of "The Sign of the Cross," "The Warrior's Husband" and other recent films, lias a new type of role for her talents in "I Loved You Wednesday," which is the current attraction at the Crystal Palace Theatre, Mount Eden, v, here Jack Holt's "When Strangers Marry" is also screening. BALMORAL MUSICAL COMEDY. It is indeed an unexpected treat to find outside of Queen Street such work as was presented by the Balmoral Presbyterian choir in the musical comedy, "The Lady of the Terrace," which was staged last evening in the Centenary Hall, Dominion Road, before a packed ''house." Particularly noticeable was the high standard of frocking, and also of the chorus work. The acting of the principals was similarly commendable. The play will be presented again this evening. Mrs. H. S. Harvey is the producer.