AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 39, 15 February 1934, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

REGENT THEATRE. The charms of Tudor days are humorously outlined in the highly successful English light comedy film "The Private Lite of Henry Vill.,'" Alexander Korda's uriliiant production, which closes _ its season at the Regent Theatre to-mglit. it will be replaced to-morrow by Stanley jjiipino's latest English musical comedy, "Facing the Music," which is reported by one writer to be "a brilliantly conceived and originally staged, riotously funny comedy." The story, in_ the main, concerns "the adventures of a young man who is spurned by a girl with whom he falls in love at first sight during a pel*" i'ormance of *'Tristan and Jsolde. He visits her at her hotel, where he discovers she is the famous prima donna s niece, but he is thrown out; he disguises himself as her chauffeur, but suffers an untimely discovery, and even volunteers as one of the soldiers' chorus for "Faust," but all to no effect. Eventually he manages to insinuate himself into the good graces of the prima donna herself, and as her publicity agent arranges a stunt by which she shall wear and have stolen, her own jewels during the singing of the "Jewel Song." The jewels are in truth stolen, but not by Jack, whose efforts to regain the jewels before the thief leaves the o.P c! ' a house are wellnigh breath-taking," and as as anything yet seen on the screen. The fact that the chase after the thieves takes place during a performance of "Faust" gives the director a splendid opportunity of" introducing some of Gounod's best known numbers, superbly. mounted. Jose Collins, the famous musical comedy star-, makes a brilliant talkie debut as the prima donna, and Xanc.v Burne, a charming newcomer to the films, plavs opposite Lupino. Lester Matthews, Dennis Hoey. Nancy Browne, and Morris Harvey also play leading roles. ROXY AND TIVOLI. Continuing the unusually high-class dual programmes offered every week at the Roxy and Tivoli Theatres jointly, Wednesday saw a change of features in the course of which Constance Bennett's latest picture, "AJter To-night," was screened together with a splendid British romantic comedy, "Early to Bed." The latter stars the appealing Heather Angel, whom we last saw in "Self-Made Lady," with Fevnand Graavey, the young hero who has made his name on the screen in the unreleased "Bitter Sweet." Sonnie Hale, of "Tell Me To-night" fame, and Edmund Gwenn, the Jess Oakroyd of "The Good Companions," are also given prominent roles. A beautiful spy in whose charms and intelligence are vested the power of an army corps is the type o: role played by glamorous Constance Bennett in "After To-night." She definitely wins new honours in one of the most difficult roles of her career. Wringing secrets from the enemy, she must appear in various kinds of raiment and in various occupations, ranging from that of a seamstress to a cafe singer, and then a nurse at an Austrian base hospital. The dramatic trend of the story comes when, disguised as a peasant girl, she falls in love with a counterespionage officer, who little dreams of her real identity. Later lie is assigned to capture her. Succeeding, he knows he must sentence her to death or himself become a traitor to his country. NATIONAL AND PRINCE EDWARD. The famous rubber-faced comedian, Leslie Fuller, seen in so many successful English farces previously, is once again to amuse Aucklanders, this time in "The Hawleys of High Street," which comes to the National and Prince Edward Theatres jointly to-morrow, on a programme which also includes the dramatic "horror" film, "Supernatural." "The Hawleys of High Street" boasts an exceptionally fine comedy cast, including Amy Veness, the famous mother-in-law of "My Wife's Family," Jimmy Godden and Hal Gordon, great favourites with Australian audiences, and Wylie Watson, the screamingly funny clergyman in "For the Love of Mike.'" Australians will also be particularly interested in the leading lady, none other than our own Judy Kelly, becoming more charming with each screen appearance. "Supernatural" stars Carole Lombard, with such supporting players as Randolph Scott, Vivienne Osborne, H. B. Warner and Allan Dineliart, and was produced byVictor and Edward Halperin. makers of 1 the nightmarish "White Zombie."

HOSPITAL CONCERT. The weekly concert at the Public Hospital arranged by Mrs. Raeburn and Mr. A. Hamblin was held in Ward 4 last evening. A delightful programme under the direction of Mrs. Boyle and Miss Kathleen Boyle was provided, consisting of songs, choruses, and other items. Those taking part were Misses Rakanui Simeon. Teenie Peterson, Yvonne Lovatt, Betty Crew, Jean Martin, Helen Coney, Valerie Haw, Joyce Chapman, and Master Douglas Martin. The second part of the programme was tinder the direction of Mme. Dunn, and the artists were Miss Aklwyth Dunn, Mrs. Ernest Asher, Messrs. Ron Jenkins, S. Stephenson, and F. McKniglit. Mrs. Boyle and Mme. Dunn were accompanists. STRAND THEATRE. Claudette Colbert gives a most emotional performance in the leading role of "The Torch Singer," the film on the programme now being shown at the Strand Theatre. It is an unusual theme giving a vivid character sketch of a girl who is a popular vocal artist over the radio. Norma Shearer and Robert Montgomery appear in "Strangers May Kiss," the main picture on the double-feature programme to be shown to-morrow. The other revival with "Strangers May Kiss" is "Flying High," in which Bert Lahr and Charlotte Greenwood contribute their antics to one of the most consecutively funny pictures seen for many months. CRYSTAL PALACE AND RIALTO. Pathetic in many ways, yet inexpressibly tender in its emotion, "Smilin' Through" is one of the most beautiful pictures to have been seen on the screen for years. "With Norma Shearer cast as Moonyeen. supported magnificently by Fredric March (Kenneth Wayne), Leslie Howard (Sir John Carteret), and O. P. Heggie (Dr. Owen), the film will please patrons of the Crystal Palace and Rialto Theatres this evening. TUDOR CINEMA, REMUERA. In addition to an interesting film record of the Waitangi centenary celebrations, the Tudor Cinema, Remuera. this evening will show the striking English dramatic romance, "Lord Camber's Ladies/' featuring Sir Gerald du Maurier, Gertrude Lawrence, Benita Hume and others. Tomorrow Lionel Barrymore and Miriam Hopkins will be seen in "The Stranger's Return." LONDON NEWSREEL CINEMA. "Seencs at Waitangi" heads the newsreel features listed at the London Newsreel Cinema at the moment, where the main film on the bill is the English farce, "Their Night Out," with Claude Ilulbert.

CIVIC THEATRE

Coming after the amazing run of theatrical box-office successes enjoyed by that miracle of the late 1920'6, Noel Coward's film version of hie 6tage play "Design For Living," to be released initially in Auckland at the Civic Theatre to-morrow —replacing the thrilling Clive Brook-George Eaft melodrama "Midnight Club" —comes acclaimed by overseas critics as one of the most delicately handled stage adaptations done for the screen in a long time. That is indeed a tribute, as every keen filmgoer will realise. Noel Coward has risen to fame through the stage plays and subsequent film versions of "Cavalcade," "Bitter Sweet" (film as yet not released), "The Queen Was In the Parlour" ("To-night Is Ours" on the screen), and others. "Design For Living" received excellent praise from the New York and London critics on its production in those cities a year or two ago, and when Hollywood decided to place that master of film direction Ernst Lubitsoh (he of "One Hour With You" fame, also "The Smiling Lieutenant," "Love Me To-night" and "Trouble In Paradise") at the directorial helm in this new film, the writers prophesied a brilliant effort. This appears to have been borne out in the ultimate product. The acting of the four principals, one New York reviewer tells us, is "artistic." _ Fredric March, Gary Cooper, and Miriam Hopkins are the chief players in the film. Edward Everett Horton, -who has been seen in several pictures recently, also has a prominent role. CIVIC THEATRETTE. The beautiful photographic work and natural action sequences of the missionary romance of the Pacific Islands, "Pia Pago," has pleased patrons at the Civic Theatrette for several days past. This feature provided a vehicle to open the theatrette after two or three months' "closed season."