AMUSEPMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 223, 20 September 1934, Page 10

AMUSEPMENTS.

REGENT THEATRE. Long queues at day and night sessions of "The House of Rothschild," George Arliss' latest historical characterisation, are frequent sights at the Regent Theatre just now. This picture is proving highly satisfactory to the film palates of local enthusiasts. ' One of its features is the final scene in techni-colour. This was filmed • in Hollywood by one of the most remarkable instruments in the world to-day. This is the newly-perfected techni-colour camera which takes motion pictures in their exact natural colours. The camera turns out three films at once, each one receiving iru- , pressions in a different primary colour of the scene photographed. The means by which this extraordinary feat is achieved is so intricate as to baffle the most ardent follower of "Popular Science Monthly." In fact, it requires almost an Einstein to .understand the mathematical and optical problems involved. While the new process has been in use for some months by Walt Disney for his Silly Symphonies, "The House of Rothschild" is the first feature picture with human actors to employ it. The special camera was used for the final scenes of the picture, because those scenes were judged to be too magnificent a spectacle to bo wasted on merely black and white. The scenes photographed in colour show George Arliss, as Nathan Rothschild, the English representative of the famous banking family, being publicly honoured at the Court of St. James in recognition of his aid to Wellington in defeating Napoleon at 'Waterloo. ROXY AND TIVOLI. Lew Ay res has the enviable task of making love to Alice Faye in "She Learned About Sailors," the comedy-romance which opened at the Roxy anil Tivoli with Joe E. Brown's hilarious comedy, "A Very Honourable Guy," hist evening. Lew is the champion heart-breaker of the U.S. Navy, and Alice is a night club entertainer in the' picture. This gives Alice a splendid opportunity to sing "Here's the Key to My Heart" in a manner that is reminiscent of her "Nasty Man" number in George White's "Scandals." Aiding and abetting these two with the comedy are those knockout slapstick artists. Mitchell and Durant, who are Lew's shipmates in the picture, and Harry Green, a South American impressario. The story takes them from an Asiatic port, through the vicissitudes of life 011 shipboard to a cafe in Sail Pedro, California. "Feet" Samuels, in "A Very Honourable Guy," is one of the most curious of the swarm of humanity whose sphere of social activity is on the edge of the law. His pseudonym, "Feet," was probably earned by a quickness of the cards to elude deceptive manipulation, for "Feet" is an unsuccessful gambler. Illluck dogs "Feet," a splendid role for Joe E. Brown. He, however, has a high sense of honour. He is a man of his word. Hortense (Alice White), the subject of hia admiration, and to him the incarnation of honour and purity, jilts him in favour of the prosperous Dr. Snitzer (Robert Barrat). Laughter' succeeds laughter as the situations develop, until the world's largest crop of trouble descends on the unfortunate head of "Feet." Throughout the film is most enjoyable. STRAND THEATRE. The two entertaining films now screening at the Strand Theatre, "The Mystery of tlie Wax Museum," a mystery film done entirely in Technicolour, and "Charlie Chan's Courage," in which Warner Oland is once again cast as the popular Chinese detective, will be replaced to-morrow by a revival of the George Arliss historical study, "Voltaire." This production is done along lines similar to those seen in "Disraeli" and other Arliss epics. Madame Pompadour is seen in striking scenes, Doris Kcnyon achieving a personal triumph in this glamorous role. Margaret Lindsay has the feminine juvenile lead as the victimised girl, daughter of a political victim of the insane royal autocracy which ruled France just prior to the Revolution. CRYSTAL PALACE AND RIALTO. Done in the brilliance of Technicolour, "The Mystery of the Wax Museum," which forms half the current programme at the Crystal Palace Theatre, Mount Eden, is one of the "meatiest" of horror dramas. It deals with romance and adventure, primarily adventure with a tendency towards horrific mystery, taking place in a waxworks. Lionel Atwill, Fay Wray, Glenda Farrell and Frank McHugh have the main roles in the piece. The Crystal Palace is a]so screening the hilarious all-star comedy, "Convention City." Current entertainment at the Rialto Theatre, Newmarket, consists of j the two films, "The Crime Doctor," a thrilling mystery drama of the detective variety, and "Every Woman's Man," with the handsome world's boxing champion Max Baer starred. STATE THEATRE. The tender beauties of Louisa May Alcott's characters in the story of "Little Women" is brought out perfectly in the screen version, which is to close a highly successful season at the State Theatre, Upper Symonds Street, this evening. Tomorrow's change of programme will introduce State patrons to Miss Graeie Fields, the brilliant Lancashire comedienne, in her latest musical comedy, "Love, Life and Laughter." This picture affords Gracie a typical role in which she displays all the talents that have made her the world's highest-paid entertainer —at £150,000 a year! TUDOR CINEMA, REMUERA. This evening's entertainment at the Tudor Cinema, Remuera, will be composed mainly of the thoroughly amusing comedy, "Sons of the Desert," .in which Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy combine their talents for laugh-making with those of the popular Charley Chase. "MASSES AND MAN." The annual W.E.A. play will be presented in the association's theatre in the Old Grammar School, Symonds Street, for the season September 22 to 26. The play selected is "Masses and Man," by the German Communist, Ernst Toller. An anonymous cast will be used. Mr. Arnold Goodwin is producer. AMUSEMENT GUIDE. PICTURE THEATRES. REGENT—George Arliss in "Tlie House ol Rothschild." LONDON —"The Mystery Train" and "Chinese Bungalow." STRAND —Warner Oland In "Charlie Chan's Courage" and "The Mystery of the Wax Museum." ST. JAMES'—Laurel and Hardy In "Hollywood Party." CIVIC —Carl Brlsson and Kitty Carlisle Jn "Earl Carroll's Vanities." ROXV AND TIVOLI—Joe E. Brown in "A Very Honourable Guy" and Lew Ayres in "She Learned About Sailors." PLAZA—Ann Harding and John Boles In "The Lire or Vergle Winters." NATIONAL AND PRINCE EDWARD— Stewart Home in "Reunion" and Stuart Erwln in "The Party's Over." MAJESTIC —Walter Connolly . and Doris Kenyon In "Whom the Gods Destroy.?' ADELPHI —Guest Night. AMBASSADOR—"Cross Country Cruise." ALEXANDRA—"The Dover Road." AVONDALE —Vaudeville and Pictures. BRITANNIA—"The Silence or Dean Maltland." CAPITOL —"Four Frightened People." CRYSTAL PALACE—"The Mystery or the Wax Museum."DE LUXE—"The House on 56th Street." EDENDALE—Guest Nigllt. EMPIRE —"Fugitive Lovers." EMPRESS —Guest Night. QAIETY (Takapuna)—"ir I Were Free." GREY LYNN CINEMA—Guest Night. KINQSLAND—"FIying Down to Rio." REGENT (Epsom)—" The Cat and the Fiddle." RIALTO—"Every Woman's Man." STATE (Onehunga)—"Morning Glory." STATE (Symonds Street) —"Little Women." STRAND (Onehunga)—"Counsellor at Law." ITUDOR—"Sons or the Desert." | VICTORIA—"On tho Air." 'WEST-END—Guest-Nigflrt. ' V • -

"THE DUCHESS OF DANTZIC." Costuming and stage effects for the Mareo Operatic Society's presentation of Ivan Caryll's beautiful light opera, "The Duchess of Dantzic," which is based 011 the famous story of "Madame Sans-Gene," are insured for some £2000, and include 12 tons of dresses from Australia. The producer, Mr. Eric. Mareo, estimates the cost of the Emperor's robes, used in the finale, to be approximately £75. These dresses were mostly worn by the Dorothy Brunton production of the play in Australia some four years ago, when the reason that the stage effects were too unwieldy was given for the fact that the New Zealand tour was not carried out. The play, which Aucklanders saw produced some eleven or twelve years ago, with Florence Youug in the title-role, will be played on the present occasion by a cast of well over 100. including full chorus, orchestra, ballet and principals.