AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 185, 7 August 1935, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. A vivid pictorial record of the horrors and heroics of the Great War, entitled "Forgotten Men," heads the current bill at the Majestic Theatre. It is compiled from actual photographs locked away in the archives of many nations —chiefly Britain, France and Germany—until the present world-wide movement against war and in favour of peace conspired with commercialism to bring them forth. However unsavoury may be the realisation that the world had to see these pictures as a commercial proposition, the hitherto untcachable lesson remains that war is a "racket." Men are no longer heroes defending their country, but are simply objects at which munition makers aim shells to swell their profite, the pawns by which politicians call "Check!" and "Counter-check!" War takes not into account aching hearts at home, mutilated bodies and ravaged minds, muck, slush, lice, rotting ilesh and prosperous trench rate—not so dissimilar to those complacent profiteers at home. If "Forgotten Men" can strip the glamour from war in the eyes of the populace, if it can bring home to the fiery younger generation the fact that war i≤ the ultimate vileness of which the human race is capable, then it will have served a purpose not to be measured in monetary terms. Had Religion not a record of slaughter and torturings of mind and body similar to that of War, it might have led this crusade with chancee of success iar exceeding any Church movement of the past. But it remains, as is painfully obvious, to Commercial Enterprise to show the world its greatest folly.

PLAZA THEATRE. Cosmopolitan New York, the New York of bright lights, gay crowds and theatres, furnishes tne iniipiration for the up-to-the-minute sets designed to etage the tuneful romance "Hooray Vov !«ove,' which ie to be released on Friday at the Plaza Theatre. It is a carefree story of love and ambition along the "Great White Way," a tale of a boy and girl trying to break into the theatrical game by way of night club, radio and musical comedy. As a result the sete afford fascinating glimpses behind the scenes of a great broadcasting station, a emart night club, and a musical revue. The modernistic night club is built of panelled wood and glass, decorated in chromium and bronze. A brilliantly new decorative motif ia gained through the use of huge frosted glass panels, each painted with impressionistic dancing figures, and set into the wall. Illumined from behind, these figures are thrown into sharp relief, producing a charming effect. Against a spectacular stage background is presented the lovely ballet number featuring Maria Gambraelli and her ensemble. Most unique and amusing of all the sets is the bit of a Harlem street, painted in black and white, built to stage the clever dancing act of Bill Robinson and Jeni Le Gon.

ST. JAMES' THEATRE. All the world has in former years and other films hailed the melodious soprano of Jeanette Mac Donald, and now it iinds itself praising her once again as of yore in the spectacular musical romance, "Naughty Marietta," which is enjoying such success at the St. James' Theatre. But with praise for Jeanette and her clear soprano is adulation for a brand-new singer, Nelson Eddy, baritone. These two between them render "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp," "Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life" and "I'm In Love with Someone" in inimitable fashion. Telling of bis own life, Nelson Eddy said: "I have earned my pinmoney by singing for sewing circles, Rotary clubs, for anyone who d-Jsired or could sit out a burst of vocal melody. Which goes to show that Mr. Eddy has a sense of fun. He was getting ready to leave Los Angeles when late one Saturday night an agent persuaded him to sign a contract. He cancelled 17 concert engagements and on Monday morning presented himself at the studio, ready, as he says, to join Garbo and Gable and Hepburn. Then he was told that all the actors had been put on half salary the day before. After an argument, Eddy acnieved a record. "Hired Saturday, pay cut Sunday, fired Monday." His place in "Melody Cruise" was taken by Phil Harris, and he went back to concert work. A studio, however, had made a test, and presently he became one of those curious people under contract who haunt studios, but about whom everyone is in the deepest darkness. One clay a director noticed him. "You sing?" he asked. "I used to," replied Eddy. And the song was "Daisy, Daisy," and he heard his voice afterwards, coming from a Pete Smith comedy!

REGENT THEATRE. Early in 1932, at the time when he was organising London Film Productions, with the declared intention of putting English customs, scenery, history and habits on tho screen, Alexander Korda said: "As a Hungarian who has travelled in many lands, I can assure you that the British characteristic which most completely compels the admiration of the world is the genius of British men for governing native peoples of all creeds and colours. Some day I shall make a film about it." He did. He produced "Sanders of the River," which is having its initial local presentation at the Regcut Theatre on Friday next. In 1933 Alexander Korda assigned his brother Zoltan to direct the film and sent him to Africa, where, in five months, lie travelled 1100 miles and secured 20,000 feet of film. The Sanders stories are generally regarded as the best of all the writings of Edgar Wallace. The characters of Sanders, Bosambo and Bones are among the finest of his creations, and any film in which they are brought to life is assured of success. No film of lite in Africa has been made on such a spectacular scale as "Sanders of thn River." More than 20,000 natives appear on the scenes filmed by Zoltan Korda in Africa, so that here we see a thrilling illustration of the ability of a handful of British men to rule by sheer force of character. The title part in the film is played by Leslie Banks, who is one of the finest actors of the present day, and there will be exceptional interest in the appearance of Paul Robeson as the friendly chief, Bosambo, while Nina Mae McKinney should make an enchanting Lilongo.

CIVIC THEATRE. Yet another addition to the long line of successes which Earl Derr Biggers has chalked up with his Charlie Chan films is made with the general release of "Charlie Chan in Egypt," which is listed as the Civic Theatre's principal entertainment on the new bill for Friday next. Warner Oland again stars in the role of the Oriental detective in which he has proved so popular of late in "Charlie Chan's Courage," "Charlie Chan in London" and "Charlie Chan in Paris." Involving a thrilling mystery in which the murderer's identity is not made known until the end of the story, the picture deals with eerie and uncanny happenings in and around the centuries-old tombs of Egypt. In addition to Warner Oland again in the title role, the cast of "Charlie Chan in Egypt" includes Pat Paterson, Nigel Bruce, Frank Conroy, Arthur Stone, Stepin Fetchit, Walter King, Rita Cansino and others. There is an attractive supporting programme, while a number of popular melodies are rendered on the Civic grand organ by Dennis Palniistra, an accomplished European musician. NATIONAL AND PRINCE EDWARD. Splendid success at the box office is the lot in Auckland of "The Scarlet Pimpernel," England's magnificently-staged historical romance, which is now screening in an extended joint season at the National and Prince Edward Theatres. Leslie Howard and Merle Oberon portray the principal roles of Sir Percy and Lady Blakeney in this most entertaining version of the Baroness Orczy's famous tales of the French Revolution. On the same programme, Walt Disney's brilliant technicolour "Silly Symphony" cartoon, "The Goddess of Spring," based on the legend of Pluto's capture of Persephone, is also screening. ROUSHWORTH'S SKATING RINK. An enjoyable entertainment has been arranged for presentation this evening at Rouehworth's Skating Rink, Khyber Pass Road. The evening will take the form of a "Hayseeds" carnival, in which patrons will appear in costumes representing characters from the Australian film farce, "The Hayseeds." Other enjoyable items are also presented, including a greasy, pig competition, etc.

STRAND THEATRE. The hilarious film version of Thome Smith's best-selling novel, Night Life ot the Gods," continues to amuse patrons o£ the Strand Theatre. Concerning the adventures of a group of the mythological Greek gods, goddesses and semi-deities when brought to life from the existence as museum statues by the aid of a mysterious ray evolved by a crazy scientist, whose besetting fault is a sense of humour. Alan Mowbray plays the scientist, while prominent screen and stage artists portray Jupiter, Juno, Mercury, Venus, Minerva and other of the personalities of Greek mythology.