AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 283, 30 November 1933, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

ST. JAMES' THEATRE. v "The Desert Song," a complete screen \ operetta, with music, songs, choruses, 1 dances, dialogue, returns to St. James' s Theatre to-morrow. It is a novelty, but 1 an enchanting one, and points the way to t still greater triumphs for talking and sing- j ing pictures—the production of entire ' grand operas upon the screen. "The 1 Desert Song" retains all the charm, colour, action, romance and tropic love of the } stage production, but greatly enhanced by 1 the motion picture camera's power of t motion. The desert scenes were made in f a.desert and not in front of painted back- < drops. The desert castle of the Caid, with j the splendours of its Oriental architecture, ' would lill several stages. The story gains I in dramatic power and picturesqueness } because of the natural backgrounds. John j Boles, tenor lead, sang the same role in ( the stage presentation, and has been a < screen leading man for several years. 1 Carlotta King, lyric soprano, is a concert and radio artist of note. Their voices register perfectly on Vitaplione, are true in tone and sweet in quality. In the big 1 east there are many notable stars. J REGENT THEATRE. ; Mary Boland and Charlie Kuggles, who i have been featured together in. numerous 1 recent pictures, are co-starred in Vara- i mount's "Mama Loves Papa," a comedy I written especially for them, which opens f at the Regent Theatre to-morrow. "Mama i Loves Papa" is a story which permits both i Miss Boland and Kuggles to display their ' particular types of comedy to the best j advantage. They are cast as a middle-aged ' couple who live outside a big city and come 1 to town each day, Kuggles to tease fellow 1 office-workers with his puns, Miss Boland to absorb ideas of "culture" at popular lectures. After one of these lectures, Miss ; Boland decides her husband must dress in : formal clothes on every possible occasion. The next day he goes to work in cutaway and bowler. His employer, seeing the clothes, immediately concludes there was a i death in the family, and gives him the day off. Charlie wanders into the park, where | he is mistaken for a city official, and forced to participate in a dedicatory exercise. The city's political boss, dissatisfied with the park commissioner, decides Charlie would do as well as any one else, and appoints him to the job, and a series of hilarious events follow. In addition to Miss Boland and Ruggles, the cast includes Lilyan Tashman, Walter Catlett, and George Barbier in important roles. Critics say this picture is a scream from start to finish. PLAZA THEATRE. "Good Companions" at the Plaza Theatre is drawing crowded audiences to all sessions. It is the only talking picture ever accorded a Royal Command performanee before the King and Queen. "The Good Companions" present*, an entertainment essentially new to all film patrons —that is the "hail-fellow-well-met" spirit of comradeship that makes the English concert party player a man distinct from all others. This is the story ot' a concert party just such as these, and of three strangely assorted people who joined them, sharing their trials and tribulations, their joys, and most of all,' their happy-go-lucky friendships. Jessie Matthews, who heads the excellent cast, by the sincerity of her work and the brilliance of her singing and dancing ability, definitely places herself in the forefront of British talking picture feminine stars. She has previously thrilled the Englishspeaking world in "There Goes the Bride" and "The Midshipmaid," but it remained for "The Good Companions" to provide her with a role so perfectly suited to her vivid personality. Excellent portayals are also given in the picture by Edmund Gwenn, in the important role of Jess Oakroyd, a carpenter who leaves home and joins the theatrical company as odd-job man; A. W. Baskcomb, Morton Mitcham, Mary Glynne and John Gielgud. NATIONAL THEATRE. The National Theatre announces that "Tell Me To-night" will be screened tomorrow. The story 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 lias one of the principal roles, sailing the lake in a small boat, taken from the mountain side, showing the glittering waters set against the glory of the sky. The opening of the film immediately introduces 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 Ivoretsky, willing to go anywhere with him. on his money, he 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. STRAND THEATRE. The final screening of the detective drama, "Arscne Lupin," with .Lionel and John Barryinorc. will be given at the Strand Theatre this evening. To-morrow there will be a new double-feature programme. Laurence Tibbett and Lupe Velez will be seen and heard in "The Cuban Love Song," while Clark Gable and Madge Evans will appear in "Sporting Blood." CRYSTAL PALACE. A good double feature programme is being screened at the Crystal Palace Theatre. The main film is fitled "Shanghai Madness." It is a fast and furious romance of the Orient, with Spencer Tracy, Fay Wray, and Herbert Mundin in the main roles. The supporting attraction is "Doctor Bull," with Will Rogers, the great humorist, and Marion Nixon in the leading parte. It is a thoroughly enjoyable programme, and holds the interest throughout. TUDOR THEATRE. Somerset Maugham's well-known "Rain," is being screened at the Tudor Theatre, Remuera. It is an entertaining picture, featuring Joan Crawford and Walter Huston. The supporting programme of featurettes is well up to the i standard of the theatre. NEWSREEL CINEMA. ! At the Newsreel Cinema news from all 1 parts of the world forms an interesting 1 portion of the programme. "Turk-Sib," a ! feature film, is also being screened. It is an interesting and entertaining picture of an unusual type. MAREO ORCHESTRA. At the Town Hall to-night the Mareo Orchestra will give its first appearance in public. There are 45 leading professional players of Auckland in the orchestra and the programme to be given has been chosen with a wide range. There will be artistic stage decorations and the items will be announced with a brief description of each. LITTLE THEATRE. ; For five nights commencing on Satur- ■ day the Little Theatre Society will stage I "And So To Bed" at the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall. This is a mirthprovoking production and much hard work has been devoted to it by the 1 players taking part. The producer is Mr. 3 Frederic E. McCallum. Plans are at Lewis Eady, Limited.

CiViC THEATRE. Few pictures contain so many thrills, produced so cleverly as in "F.P.1," the Fox-released Gaumont-British picture which comes to the Civic Theatre tomorrow. A young inventor is seen striving to bring his inventions to light. He succeeds by the ingenious plot of a friend; his creation rises nuo being in a shipyard to the beat of hundreds 01 Hummers and the wise-cracking of the workmen. His hopes achieved, a huge lloating platform is constructed and floated in mid-Atlantic. An organisation, sinister in its dealings wrecks the floating islancfi The platform is seen slowly sinking, its occupants gassed, its ballast tanks quickly filling. _ An aeroplane alights, and the men are revived, only to find their hope of salvation gone; the engines required to pump the water from the tanks are without oil; the aeroplanes are wrecked. Such a melodramatic theme cannot fail to interest_ all who sec it, especially with such a fine actor as Conrad Veidt in the lead. This amazing drama of an ocean aerodrome should attract large audiences during the season MAJESTIC THEATRE. A dramatic story of a conflict between parental love and professional principle is told in the picture "Should a Doctor Tell?" which will bo screened at the Majestic Theatre to-morrow. It is a poignant human drama that will stir evei> heart. The query is what did the doctor do? Those who visit the theatre will find the answer to the riddle. The sanctity of consulting room confidences is involved in this touching romance. This is a British production, the dialogue being written by Edgar Wallace. The cast has been well selected and' those who have leading parts include Norah Baring, Basil Gill and Anna Neagle. Another picture on the same programme is "That's My Wife." It is a real comedy, with Claude Allister at the top of his form, plenty oi scope being afforded in this to ; bring his talents into prominence. "That's My Wife" is full of screamingly funny situations. The humour is clean and subtle and will be appreciated by all those who enjoy good comedy. Allister's clowning is a perfect foil for Betty Astell's unlimited quantities of charm, which she uses to good effect. Technically, the film is perfect, while faultless recording makes the dialogue a pleasure to listen to. ROXY AND TIVOLI. A new Constance Bennett combining all the glamour of old with the added appeal of an entirely different and striking characterisation appears at the Roxy and Tivoli Theatres, in "Bed of Roses,' featuring Joel McCrea and John Halliday Miss Bennett is fascinating in her poitraval, enacting a role entirely without semblance to previous characterisations Her drama is rich, with just the correct tinge of comedy. As a beautiful gamni of the Mississippi, she has never captured an audience's approbation as provocatively. Portraying Lorry Evans, she fallsjn love with Dan, a handsome captain ot a towboat after exchanging her face and figure for Stephen.Paige's luxuries. Lorry even believes that Dan could be hers tor lite, and prepares for marriage. Her career strikes a snag when she is cautioned against binding Dan without revealing hei past life. The drama centres about Miss Bennett against the colourful and picturesque backgrounds ot the Mardi Grat carnival in New Orleans, the Mississippi River, and a realistic women s reformatory. Joel McCrea, as Dan; John Halhday as Paige; Pert Kelton and Samuel Hinds arc featured in supporting roles., under the direction of Gregory La Cava, Brain." the supporting feature, with Ceorge E. Stone, Phillips Holmes and l<ay Wray is a story of a man who fleeced a nation with faked securities, and h« was always within' the law. It holds the interest throughout. FREE SCREENING. An announcement is made of fre< screenings at the Tivoli Theatre of a nev \ustm sound film, "Wheels Onward. There will be afternoon sessions to-claj and to-morrow, the last screening bemf at 615 pm. There will be a mornmj screening on Saturday and a screening 01 Monday between 12.30 and 1.30 p.m. 1 is an interesting picture of the history o British road and rail transport. CIVIC THEATRETTE. •\ daily programme of film "shorts,' travel features and such productions « offered from 11 a.m. continuously at tin Civic Theatrette, situated in the site o: the old Civic midget golf course. Ihn week's programme includes several specu features. DRAMATIC RECITAL. A dramatic recital was given at Lewis Eady Hall lust evening by juvenile pupil: of Mrs. Culford Bell. The programme was interesting and the children gave a gooc performance. There were recitations, ant several sketches, a lengendary play, The Story of the Willow Pattern Plate, bemf well done. There will be another recita this evening. HOSPITAL CONCERT. The weekly concert arranged by Mrs. Raeburn and Mr. A. Hambhn at the public hospital was held in ward 27 on Wednesday evening. The concert party was organised by Mrs. Ernest Asher. Those who assisted were: Mesdames • Charles Simpson. Ernest Asher, L. M. Grace Misses Gladys Stormont, Edna Woolford, V. Robinson, Messrs S Stephenson, W. Saul, Master Noel Mathe- . son. LESLIE ORPHANAGE CONCERT. i The Crimson Rambjers Revue Company ; visited the Leslie Orphanage last evening ' and presented an attractive programme. i The, following assisted:-Misses Nora ; Knight, llza Rookcs. Gwen Wilkms, Betty, I Marjorie and Doris Tilney, Rene Doming; t Mary Thompson, Mavis Adams, Messrs, i Archie Boyd. Michael O'Brien, Charles 1 Mctge and Fred Irvine. Miss Brooks was accompanist.