AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 252, 24 October 1934, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS.

ST. JAMES' THEATRE. After ;i long absence from the screen! the incomparable Norma Shearer reaps new laurels as the gilded heroine of "Riptide," her glamorous new picture which is now playing at the St. James' Theatre. In a daring role reminiscent of her triumphs in "The Divorcee," "Strangers May Kiss" and "A Free Soul," Miss Shearer plays the part of Lady liexford, a girl who married a title and found to her dismay, that she had sacrificed the freedom and good times she loved so well. The appearance in her hour of marital discontent of a former New York sweetheart provides the sensational romantic triangle upon which the film story is based. Edmund Goulding wrote and directed the sparkling production, giving the picture an elaborate mounting in pictorial interest as well as in supporting cast. Robert Montgomery and Herbert Marshall share leading male honours as the sweetheart and husband, respectively, both acting magnificently in these roles. Included in the cast are Mrs. Patrick Campbell, Skeets Gallagher, Ralph Forbes, Lilyan Tashman, Arthur Jarrett, Karl Oxford, Helen Jerome Eaddy, George K. Arthur, Baby Marilyn Spinnert, Phyllis Coclilan, Howard Chaldecott and Halliwell llobbes. Included in the programme are dramatic news-reel pictures of the burning of the liner Mono Castle. The arrival of the Duke of Gloucester at Fremantle is also shown. A specially selected musical programme is given by the Mareo Symphony Orchestra from 7.45 each evening.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. An unusual picture filmed entirely in the Arctic, "Mala the Magnificent," comes to the Majestic Theatre on Friday. It was directed by Colonel \V. S. V an Dyke, who will be remembered for his powerful direction of "Tarzan, the Ape-Man, "Trailer Horn" and "White Shadows in the South Seas." The story is based on the books of Peter Freuchen, and attempts to present the queer moral code that exists among the Eskimos of the frozen North. 'J'hey were simple children of Nature until the coining of the white man, when sin and crime were let loose. In their primitive state they willingly shared their wives with each other, but if one was betrayed then they would fight to the death. There are many thrilling scenes included in the picture, which is 10,000 feet long. A white man is harpooned to avenge the honour of an Eskimo. The famous North West Mounted Police are set on the trail and breath-taking incidents follow, among them being a realistic hand-to-hand battle with a hunger-maddened wolf, a fight for life with a Polar bear, and the conquest of a whale by men in a small open boat. One of the most remarkable scenes in the picture is a stampede of a herd of caribou, or Arctic deer. Colonel Van Dyke will appear before the camera as an actor for the first time in his successful career as a director. He takes the role of inspector of the "Mounties." Most of the other principal actors are actual Eskimos.

STRAND THEATRE. When the musical comedy, "Thank Your Stars" closes at the Strand Theatre tomorrow, it will give way to a revival of "Only Yesterday," the brilliant initial starring vehicle of .Margaret Sullavan, with John Boles as leading man, together witii the first release of "The Aflairs of a Gentleman," Paul Lukas' latest film adapted from the stage play, "Women in His Life." In this production Paul Lucas actually has six leading ladies who make up the "affairs" referred to in the title. They are Leila Hyams, Patricia Ellis, Dorothy Burgess, Lilian Bond, Joyce Compton and Dorothy Le Baire. There J are many novel touches in the plot. A famous author is found dead in his flat, I and, though everything points to suicide, his "affairs" between them provide plenty of motives for murder. By means of an ingenious "flash-back ' the tangled threads of the author's past life and the way in which he met his death are disclosed to] the audience, who are. however, left in doubt as to whether the police will discover the correct solution. Also in the cast are Phillip Reed, Onslow Stevens and Richard Carle. ROXY AND TIVOLI. The two shows opening to-day at the Roxy and Tivoli Theatres provide wellvaried entertainment. Concerning the first film, "Come On, Marines, ' Bete Harrison, well-known New York reviewer, writes: —"This comedy is fastmoving and entertaining. It has exciting moments and holds one in suspense, particularly during the second hall when Kichard Arlen, who is cast as a sergeant of marines, is sent, together with a smallj contingent of marines, to the Philippine! jungles to rescue a group of 'children'l who were stranded due to a shipwreck,] and were at the mercy of a bandit and ins gang. Laughter is provoked when the marines learn, to their surprise and joy, that the children were none other than grown-up ladies who were looking foi romance. Exciting is the_ situation in which Alien and Roscoe Karns find that they are lost in the jungle, and stumble upon the bandit chief without knowing his identity." Pete goes on to say quite a deal about the attire of the romancehungry maidens of the forest, done mi his usual acid style. In the cast are, besides Richard Arlen and Roscoe Karns, pretty Ida Lupino, Grace Bradley, Virginia Hammond, Toby Wing, Lona Andre, Fuzzy Knight, Julian Madison and Monte Blue. The other picture with "Come On, Marines" is "Murder on the a sequel to "The Penguin Pool Murder," the new picture centring about the death of a beautiful young teacher, and the investigation of the crime. Edna May Oliver, as the humorous and keen HiLlegarde Withers, and James Gleasou, as Police Inspector Piper, join forces in solving the mystery. Their barbed repartee and mirth-provoking rivalry make the picture a fast-moving succession of laughs which are interspersed with tingly chilis and thrills. Bruce Cabot, Gertrude Michael, Regis Toomey and Barbara Fritchie play other principals in the tangled heart affairs which figure in the plot.

NATIONAL AND PRINCE EDWARD. The breezy English farce, "Freedom of the Seas," done in the style of the wel[reniembcred film, "The Middle Watch," and the mystery drama, "The Crime On the Mill," will close their joint season at the National and Prince Edward theatres to-morrow evening. On Friday the two houses will present patrons with two new releases in "The Most Precious Thing in Life" (Jean Arthur, Don Cook, Richard Cromwell and Anita Louise) and "I he Witching Hour." The plot of the latter production is built around the union between a romance of the past and a romance of the present. Young Clay Thorn (Tom Brown), about to announce his engagement to Nancy Brookfieid (Judith Allen), is brought under a hypnotic spell and is led to commit a murder. How his grandmother's long-dead romance conies to life to rescue him from the consequences of his unwilling deed is the subject of the tender and unusual plot.

"THE SPLENDID HOUR." The Navy League's Trafalgar celebrations at the Town Hall Concert Chamber to-morrow night will take the form of a naval costume play of Nelson's clay, "Tho Splendid Hour," with a full concert programme contributed by leading Auckland artists. There is a tableau of the death of Nelson in the cockpit of the Victory. Incidental songa and a ballet of dancers of the period will be given. The orchestra will be conducted by Mr. McMahon. COMMUNITY SINGING. The final midday "sing" held in aid of the Metropolitan Unemployed Kelief iJ'und in the Town Hall by the Auckland Community Singing Committee was held in the Town Hall to-day, a large crowd being present. Mr. Vernon T. Drew was song leader. Miss Rcta MacCullay rendered solo items. Mrs. Barrington Snow was at the piano. SONG AND PIANO RECITAL. A pleasing programme has been arranged for presentation in the Lewis Eady Hall by the students of Mr. Leo Whittaker on Monday evening, Octobcr 29. MISS HALL'S "PARADE." A spectacular entert; ».ment will be presented by Miss Cecil Hall and her pupils in the Scots Hall under the title ot "Parade" on Saturday, November 3,

REGENT THEATRE. | The exploits of one of the most remarkable figures of history, Benvcnuto Cellini, Florentine goldsmith and connoisseur of ladies, forms the background and basis of the plot of "The Affairs of Cellini," which will close its season at the Regent Theatre to-morrow evening, Replacing it on Friday is "Loyalties," adapted by British producers tloin the late John Galsworthy s ! novel. If Captain Daucy, D.5.0., had not j called de Levis a "damned Jew'' de Levis | would probably have overlooked the j matter of his suspicion that Dancy had | stolen £1000 from him. Galsworthy j presents the age-old battle between the Christian and the Jew is "Loyalties." I lie play is outstanding, and Basil Ratlibone pays it the tribute of a unique performance. His de Levis is a new experience for theatre-goers, and it explains, as has none of his other screen roles, his place on the English stage. About two years ago Ratlibone walked out of Hollywood and back to the legitimate, one of his effortless performances, so to speak, for the theatre knew his worth. "Loyalties" is a matter of ethics. Dancy gives de Levis a horse because he is not in a position to feed it. De Levis sells the horse to a bookmaker for £1000, a perfectly natural action from his ethical standpoint. Dancy steals the £1000, and when accused by de Levis, abuses him. Dancy's friends rally round, and de Levis is ostracised, lie takes the case to court I he is right; Dancy is exposed as a weakling and worse. But the result does de Levis no good, and brings tragedy to innocent people. As presented by Miles Mander, the character of Dancy is full of glamour. Rathbone, on the other hand, you at first find detestable. He is sleek, almost cringing at times. Gradually you tolerate him; finally you admire him. It is a triumphant victory over prejudice, and it is achieved by meritorious acting. CIVIC THEATRE. Harold Lloyd's peculiar style of comedy is found in "The Cat's Paw," which will be screened at the Civic Theatre only to-night and to-morrow evening. _ -It is to be replaced on Friday by a firstrelease season for Auckland of Marlene Dietrich's brilliant historical romance, "The Scarlet Empress," in which the blonde German star will be seen in a lavishly-presented vehicle. Many critics abroad have expressed the opinion without any qualifying additions that this is her finest role to date. In this production Maria Sieber, eight-year-old daughter of Marlene Dietrich, makes her motion picture debut. Blonde as her parent and resembling her to a great degree, little Maria was felt to be the logical selection for the childhood delineation of Sophia Frederica, who in maturity became Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia, | about whom the story revolves. Maria s i starring mother then assumes the role as I the drama develops. Various film tests of Maria were made under von Sternberg s direction, and all proved successful and satisfactory to both the director and the child's mother. With the possibility of a film career thus opened to her daughter, }liss Dietrich set aside her first unwillingness to her daughter enter the profession. Marlene Dietrich may be said to reach one of the heights of her life with the portraval of the role of Catherine in "The Scarlet Empress." It is drama exciting, powerful and thrilling. It is filled with the exotic bizarre splendour ot the Old Russians ... it has the sweep and majesty of that vast Empire, and it is a truly amazing spectacle ot pageantry, glamour and beauty.

PLAZA THEATRE. The famous George llobey is A 1 i Baba in the English film version of Oscar Asehe's immortal "Chu Chin Chow, which is now enjoying such a successful season at the Plaza Theatre. As A 1 i Baba, that tine comedian gives a splendid portrayal of an opportunist. Writing in "Ideas" on women, he once discoursed at length on curves, holding that a woman without curves is not a woman at all.

"Thin, famished women," he said, "are naturally sharp of tongue and short of temper. What sort of companion for a man is a bag of bones who thinks in terms of 'wise-cracks' and is not happy unless she is lashing the hide off someone? Plump and placid—that's how I like 'em. In 'C'lni Chin Chow' I play the part of Ali Baba and it fits me like a glove. Poor Ali, you may remember, yearns for curves. His wife had about as much flesh as a five-barred gate on her and his sentiments toward her are so exactly like my own that sometimes I find it difficult to remenv her whether I am George Baba or Ali Robey. But. to be perfectly serious for a moment. I am convinced the slimming craze has done a great deal of harm in a direction few people suspect. More than one girl has died as a direct consequence of slimming, and any doctor will tell you that half of his women patients are falling an easy prey to serious illnesses because their bodies are only half-nourished."

OMA NIUKOMA, VIOLINIST. Following a recital in Dunedin by Oma Niukoina, the youthful New Zealand violin player, who is to present a concert in the Auckland Town Hall on October 20. the musical critic of the "Otago Daily Times" wrote: "The spectacle of an eight-year-old boy attacking with untiring vigour and zest the intricacies and ramifications of several compositions that would have taxed to the utmost the resources of mature concert artists, was afforded the large audience which attended the initial recital given by Oma Niukoina in the Town Hall last evening. That the audience was completely captivated by the remarkable exhibition of technical adroitness by the young violinist was given ample evidence throughout his recital, the boy receiving enthusiastic expressions of wellmerited approbation at the conclusion of each item. This eight-year-old boy's ability to play entirely from memory Mendelssohn's famous Concerto in E Minor, to name only one composition in his repertoire, and to produce all the technical I ricks favoured by concert artists, is indeed phenomenal, his wonderful execution gaining even greater interest by the fact, that lie plavs left-handed." So naturally have Oma Niukoma's powers come to him that lie appears to be unaware of their possession. On the same programme will be hoard items by Guide Rannri s Rotorua Choir and poi dancers, numbering 25 perform or s.