AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 252, 25 October 1933, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

REGENT THEATRE. A brilliantly acted story of a relatively obscure man who steps into bis doubles shoes at the time of a national crisis is realistically told in "The Masquerader," which will on Friday commence a second week's screening at the Regent Theatre. Ronald Colman gives one of his finest characterisations in the dual role, and he is capably supported by Elissa Landi in the leading feminine part. The story concerns John Chilcote, M.P., one of the most influential members of the Opposition, who launches an attack on the Government for its inadequate handling of the unemployment situation. However, his constitution has been so undermined by drugs that he collapses at the beginning of his speech, and he prevails upon a cousin, who also is his double, to take hi 6 place. His cousin's speech is received with tumultuous applause, but he fails to allow for Chilcote's wife. The closing scenes are convincing and dramatic. The supporting programme includes a coloured revue, "The Pirates," and a brilliant Walt Disney "Silly Symphony" cartoon, "Santa's Workshop," also selections on the organ by Mr. Ivnight Barnett, of Sydney. CIVIC THEATRE. The screen version of the popular light opera "Mile. Modiste," "Kis6 Me Again," which is now at the Civic Theatre, is a triumph of colour photography. Brilliant scenes in Paris are reproduced with great fidelity, the colourful uniforms of officers of the French Army combining with,the gorgeous gowns worn by the ladies. The cast includes Bernice Claire, a talented soprano, Walter Pidgeon, Edward Everett Horton, and Claude Gillingwater. The excellent supporting programme includes selections on the organ by Paul T. Cullen. "Kiss Me Again" will complete its season on Thursday night, being succeeded on Friday by the brilliant comedy-drama of modern life "Another Language," in which Robert Montgomery and Helen Hayes, two of the screen's most popular artists, are starred. I The original stage version, staged in New York first this year, proved exceedingly popular, and was subsequently produced in London with Herbert Marshall and Edna Best co-starring. The film version also includes the late Louise Closser Hale, who passed away last July. She was one I of the finest character actresses in films.

ST. JAMES' THEATRE. With a sensational admixture of the prehistoric and the modern in a story of fantastic imagination, RKO-Radio makes a bid for an all-time record with its spectacular production, "King Kong," featuring Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong and Bruce Cabot, and a great animated 50-foot ape, built to a proportion comparable with monsters of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, 'will be seen at the St. James' Theatre only to-night and to-morrow. As a production, "King Kong" was two and a half j ; ears in the making. Early in 1929 the first research inquiry was sent to leading palaeontologists throughout the world. The studio had a vital interest in the appearance and habits of such primitive monsters as the pterodactyl, the brontosaurus, the tyrannosaurus and the dinosaur. On Friday the St. James' Theatre will 6creen "The Stranger's Return," another powerful one - man romance along the lines of "Sweepings," seen recently with the same star—Lionel Barrymore—in the central role. Mr. Barrymore has proved in countless productions that he has an amazing ability in the portrayal of "old-man" roles, leavening harshness with his freshness and vitality. In "The Stranger's Return" he plays the part of an old farmer who defeats the greedy relatives awaiting his death and passes his possessions on to his lovely granddaughter (Miriam Hopkins). Franchot Tone, the sensational young French star, has the masculine lead.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. The success of a long-term run appears to be the lot of "Tell Me To-night," which is the current attraction at the Majestic Theatre, where it opened that theatre's all-British policy. Also screening is an authentic and interesting film record of the activities of the British Fleet, entitled "Our Fighting Navy." The story of "Tell Me To-night" is set in Lugano, Switzerland, and some of the most perfect photography seen in a film has been obtained. One particular scene is outstanding in its appeal, and that is a shot of Jan Kiepura, the eminent tenor who has one of the principal roles, sailing the lake in a small boat, taken from the mountain side, showing the glittering waters set against the glojy of the sky. The opening of the film immediately introduces us to the great Ferraro, charmer of multitudes with his glorious voice, but completely under the thumb of his stern, ambitious lady manager. When on the train to Bucharest he meets a friendly stranger named Koretsky, willing to go anywhere witli him, on his money, lie gives his manager the slip and the two of them make for Zern. Here he meets his lovely heroine, portrayed with appealing simplicity by Magda Schneider.

PLAZA THEATRE. After her three-year absence from films, | Vihna Banky, one of the screen's most glamorous leading ladies, decided to make a "come-back" in a splendid Europeanproduced romance of the Napoleonic invasion of Italy, "The Rebel." The film also stars Luis Trenker, who will be remembered for the splendid impression he made in "The Doomed Battalion." Victor Varconi, who was with Trenker in that production, is also with Trenker and Banky in "The Rebel." The film strikes a high note of patriotism, sacrifice of love for dutv and heroism against staggering odds. The forces are so unequal that the defenders have to fall back on huge avalanches of rocks so placed that at a signal they fall on the close columns of the French with dreadful effect. But it is of such superhuman efforts that heroes are made. "The Rebel" will give place at the Plaza on Friday to "Shanghai Madness," featuring Spencer Tracy and Fay Wray. The picture is as a glamorous romance of the Orient.' STRAND THEATRE. The beautiful singing of Grace Moore in "A Lady's Morals" equals in merit, if not in fame, her wonderful work in "New Moon," on which her greatest film fame rested, strangely enough. This fine production is screening at the Strand Theatre at the moment, in conjunction with "The Man In Possession," in which Robert Montgomery is the central figure in an important cast. Wallace Beery, incidentally, has one of his typical human-appeal roles in "A Lady's Morals," joining forces with Grace Moore most successfully. DANTE THE MAGICIAN. Something of a novel experience awaits any Auckland. lady who has the courage to submit to a magician's tendernesses next Friday night, when Dante, the _ Danish illusionist, is to cut any such lady in halves if she accepts the challenge he has thrown out. This clever magician, following on a most successful Australian and New Zealand tour, will close his fortnight's season in Auckland this week. Assisted by 23 overseas artists, he is presenting a show of 50 mysteries entitled "Sim-Sala-Bim."

GREECE AND OLD ENGLAND. Although staged with, the same severe, unrelieved background, Greek drama and Elizabethan comedy joined forces quite successfully last evening at the Scots Hall, where a considerable audience watched a joint performance by pupils and old girls of the. two Girls' Grammar Schools in Auckland. In addition, seven Shakespearean songs were eung with the appropriate gusto or appealing airiness by pupils of the St. Cuthbert's College. When the Greek play, the "Alcestis" of Euripides— or rather, the central scene of it, incorporating the passing of Alcestis and the lament of her devoted husband and followers —was eventually staged, it was interesting to note that the cadence of the singers' voices, whether in lament or exultation never rose to a very high pitch. Shakespearean melody, while not attaining anything approaching the top soprano deemed so necessary in twentieth century feminine vocals, reached a much higher note than the Greek. The death of Alcestis was strikingly presented, against the correct Grecian atmosphere—a plain, black-drapeij stage with no adornment except a single lectern or speaking box. The essentially slow-moving story seemed to include a large amount of detail in dialogue and dignified action, the whole essence of the production being to illustrate the fundamental Greek worship of glorious youth, the youth of the male species. Misses Gurr, Phoebe Norris (Admetus) and Dorothy Mills (Alcestis) were excellent in their nicely-judged roles. The programme, which also included two addresses by the Rev. J. W. Shaw on Greek and Elizabethan theatrical art, concluded with a short sketch of the famous pedlar scene from "A Winter's Tale." Had the stage been the green of the English meadows or commons, with a tree or two in the background, the simple country folk would have tripped all the more convincingly and the pedlar himself would have sung his delightful ditties the merrier. Even then, the piece was only too short to permit of full enjoyment from its varying colours and characters. A large cast contributed splendidly to its success, with Misses D. Kelly (the pedlar), D. Penty (Perdita) afld I. Buckingham (clown) carrying their important roles to perfection. The programme being in aid of the British Drama League, Dr. J. W. Craven, president of the Auckland branch, gave a short unannounced address on the aims of the organisation.

NATIONAL THEATRE. The lovely Irish romance of "Peg o' My Heart," adapted from the world-famous stage play and starring the popular and talented Marion Davies in the central role of the little colleen who inherits a fortune of £2,000,000 and then gives it all up in the end for her father and his truehearted friends and the surroundings of the old fishing village, will conclue its extended season at the National Theatre this evening. "Michael," the Irish terrier, plays an important role in "Peg o' My Heart." MUNICIPAL BAND. The Auckland Municipal Band will give a programme of popular music at Western Park to-morrow night. Programmes will also be given in the Zoological Park on Sunday afternoon and in Albert Park on Sunday evening. SCOTS HALL PANTOMIME. A new version of the "Babes in the Wood" pantomime will be staged by Mine. Valeska and her pupils in the Scots Hall on November 10 and 11 under the title of "Auckland Calling."