AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 45, 22 February 1934, Page 15

AMUSEMENTS.

ROXY AND TIVOLI. The story of what goes on behind the thousands of persons who daily vanish mysteriously, seemingly from the facc of the earth, was revealed for the til'st time j oil the screen yesterday in the picture "Bureau of Missing Persons," which opened at the Roxy and Tivoll Theatres. The picture gives a kaleidoscopic view of . the actual workings of that branch of the police departments of every large city, whose duty it is to locate missing persons. The "Bureau of Missing Persons" relates the cases that have come under observation during Captain John Ayres' r fifteen years as chief of the New York City Bureau. The many cases of strange I disappearances and kidnappings depicted . in the. picture are based on those in real life as recorded by the policc. The various cases presented touch every form of human emotion. Many are tragic, some extremely pathetic and others decidedly humoroup. The recent increase in kidnapping prompted First National to turn the screen's spotlight on the various phases connected with most disappear- : ances. There is an underlying plot in the picture that carries one of the strangest romances pictured on the screen, the love ' of a detective for a girl who is missing from another city and wanted on a ■ charge of murder. It is set in an unusual r picturesque background, which includes, ; besides the policc bureau, the docks along the waterfront of the East River, New York's aristocratic section, and the ' tenement districts. The cast, an exccpi tionally capable one, includes, besides IJette Davis in the stellar role, Lewis Stone, Pat O'Brien, Glenda Farrell, Allen Jenkins, Ruth Donnelly, Hugh Herbert an I Alan Dinehart. The Roxy and Tivoli are also screening "The Narrow Corner," a human emotion drama, featuring Douglas Fairbanks, jun., and Patricia t Ellis, with Ralph Bellamy and Dudley Diggcs in supporting roles. ST. JAMES' THEATRE. Another great multi-star cast picture. "Night Flight," comes to the St. James' Theatre. Under the direction of Clarence Brown it presents John Barrymore, Helen Hayes, Clark Gable, Lionel Barrymore, Robert Montgomery and Myrna Loy. The story concerned is a vivid tale of the air mail in South America with John Barrymore as the stern manager of an air line; Clark Gable and Robert Montgomery as pilots who brave dangerous storms; and Helen Hayes and Myrna Loy as women who wait at home. The tremendous success of past multi-star offerings, presenting more than foui' stars, should indicate packed houses for its season, here. When a play has a number of roles strong enough to carry stars, its success is automatic. The vivid realism of "Night Flight" is guaranteed by the fact that its French author, Antoine de Saint-Euxpery, was a flyer over the very line he writes about, and that the director, Clarence Brown, is probably the most adept flyer in the film colony. This is Helen Hayes' first co-starring appearance with the two famous Barrymores; her first appearance with Clark Gable since "The White Sister"; and her first joint role with Robert Montgomery since their recent co-starring appearance in "Another Language." It is also the first joint vehicle of Robert Montgomery and Myrna Loy since "When Ladies Meet"; the fourth co-starring appearance on the screen of John and Lionel Barrymore; and the first time Clark Gable and Robert Montgomery have appeared in the same picture. PLAZA THEATRE. "I Was a Spy," Victor Saville's splendid drama of wartime espionage in Belgium, is doing as well in its season at the Plaza as probably any English dramatic film lias done at an Auckland cinema house, in proportion to capacity. It tells the pathetic story of Martha MacKenna, now living in England, who was then called Marthe Cnockhaert. When the Germans occupied Roulers. Marthe was pressed into the enemy's medical service as a hospital nurse. Her humanity took precedence of of her nationality; but when her intense patriotism was appealed to and her susceptibilities played upon, she accepted the dangerous role of a spy as a duty to her country. The Secret Service had no more ardent spirit in its ranks than this gentle and beautiful nurse. Her honour she sacrificed to obtain information of a projected visit of the Kaiser. By this time, however, the German counter-espionage suspected Marthe and the enemy took advantage of a chance discovery to lay a trap into which she fell. At the subsequent court-martial the evidence against her was irrefutable, and although offered her life if she revealed the identity of ,lier accomplices, declined the boon and was sentenced to death. To save the woman he loved, her associate. Stephan, shouldered the blame and was shot in her stead. I STRAND THEATRE. J Clara Bow, the ever-fiery, makes her i latest screen appearance in "Hoopla," her second starring film to be released since | her screen retirement three years ago. In | this story of carnival life that dramatises tlie hatreds, the desires, the romances and the loves of the "big top," Clara Bow is said to reach the highest point of achievement in her colourful career. In "Hoopla" Miss Bow depicts the part of a fiery carnival dancer, and the environment of the open-air show forms a kaleidoscopic back-ground-i'for. her constantly-changing emotions and the fire of her personality. The cast in support of Miss Bow is headed by Preston Foster and Richard Cromwell, and further includes Herbert Mundin, James Gleason, Minna Gombell, Roger Imhof and Florence Roberts. Frank Lloyd, director of "Cavalcade" and "Berkeley Square," is also responsible for the direction of this production. CRYSTAL PALACE THEATRE. Janet Gaynor's charming personality, allied with the upstanding yet romantic style of Warner Baxter, makes " Paddy, the Next Best Ting," a highly suitable vehicle for showing at the Crystal Palace Theatre to-night. LONDON NEWS REEL CINEMA. In addition to the usual batch of news reels, the London News Reel Cinema_ is screening at the moment " A Parisian Romance," with Lew Cody. Gilbert Roland, and Marion Shilling in the leading parte. AMUSEMENTS GUIDE. PICTURE THEATREB. ROXY AND TIVOLI—Lewis Stone In "The Bureau of Missing Persons" and Ralph Bellamy in "The Narrow Corner." NATIONAL and PRINCE EDWARD—LesIie Fuller In "Hawleys of nigh Street" and Carole Lombard In "Supernatural." REGENT —Stanley Lupino and Jose Collins , in "Facing- the Music." STRAND—Norma Shearer in "Strangers May Kiss" and "Flying High." ST. JAMES'—Lewis Stone and Benita , Hume In "Looking Forward." ClVlC—Fredrio Maren and Gary Cooper In "Design For Living." MAJESTIC—.Toe Vaill and rat Hanna In "Waltzing Matilda." PLAZA —Herbert Marshall and Madeleine Carroll in "I Was a Spy." LONDON NEWSREEL — "A Parisian Romance." ADELPHI—Guest Night. ALEXANDRA—Guest Night. AMBASSADOR (Point Chevalier) — "The Little Damozel." AVONDALE—Guest Nlg-lit. BRITANNIA—"TharK." CAPITOL—Guest Night. CRYSTAL PALACE—"Paddy the Next Best Thing." DE LUXE—"Smllin' Through." EDENDALE—Guest Night. EMPRESS —Guest Night. EMPlßE—"Diplomanlacs." GAIETY (Takapuno)—"The Crusader." GREY LYNN CINEMA—Guest Night. KING'S (Northcote) —"One Man Journey." KINGSLAND —"The Rebel." REGENT —"Paddy the Next Best Thing." SOUTHERN CRoßS—"Tell Me To-night." RIALTO—"King or the Ritz." STATE (Onehunga)—"Ex Lady." STATE (Symonds Street) —"Penthouse." STRAND (Onehunga)—"The Love Contract.". TUDOR —"Fra Diavolo." VICTORIA—"The Lost Chord." WEST END—Guest Night.

NATIONAL AND PRINCE EDWARD. ' Sylvia Sidney is starred in the film version of Theodore Dreiser's "Jennie Gerhardt," which comes, together with the action romance "Man of the Forest," featuring Gary Grant in a typical Zane Grey "Western." to the National and Prince Edward Theatres to-morrow. She plays tlie title-role, with Don Cook, Mary Astor, H. B. Warner and little Cora Sue Collins. "Jennie Gerhardt" is the story of a woman who, as the result of her beauty and attraction for men, is caught 'by I forces far too strong for her to battle. But she is, at the same time, ready to sacrificc everything for the man she loves. RIALTO THEATRE. Hilarity and music in true English revue style predominate in " King of the Ritz," which will present Stanley Lupino and Betty Stockfield at the Rialto Theatre, Newmarket, this evening. Gina Malo, Continental star, is also in the cast. STATE THEATRE. A novel action drama, with more than its due shsare oi pure romance, will be offered to patrons of the State Theatre this evening. This is " Penthouse," starring Warner Baxter and Myrna Loy, and the story tells of life and Jove in New York's sky-scraper top " penthouses " or " love nests."

HOSPITAL CONCERT. The weekly concert arranged' by Mrs. Kaeburn and Mr. A. Hamblin at the public l hospital was held in ward 20 last evening. The programme was provided by Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Bailey and consisted of songs, elocution, dancing, cornet solos and humorous items. Those taking part were: Mesdames Edwards and J. W. Bailey, Misses Ivitty Manners, Patty Payne, Winifred. Waite, Norma Dennis, Patty Curran and Betty Birch: Messrs. A. McSkimming, .Tack Buckley, Mick Orr and Ken Evans. Miss Marjorie Yorks was accompanist.

TUDOR CINEMA, REMUERA. Acclaimed 'everywhere as one of Liurel and Hardy's finest comic attempts, ".Ira Diavolo " is also remarkable for tlie splendid singing of Dennis Kins in the title part. The film is to be screened to-night at tb.e Tudor Cinema, Ecmuera. % ===== ,