AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 186, 8 August 1935, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS.

ST. JAMES' THEATRE. "Wanted: Forty girls, robust and healthy rather than beautiful. Strong peasant types preferred. Some must know French. All must be good sailors and able to speak lines." This was one of the casting requirements sent by Director W. S. Van Dyke to the casting director for the Victor Herbert operetta, _ "Naughty Marietta," which is now proving so popular at the St. James' Theatre. Those chosen were given important roles as Casquette girls, with every opportunity for individual excellence. The story pi the operetta is laid during the colonisation of the New World, when a shipload of Casquette girls was sent from France to become wives of the New Orleans settlers. That the girls chosen must be good sailors was important, because the various sea "shots" were made off the coast of San Pedro. The boat selected was a fourmasted sailing brig, typical of the craft of that period. Jeanette Mac Donald and Nelson Eddy are co-starred in this picture, with Frank Morgan in the comedy role of the Governor of New Orleans. The film-going world has welcomed Nelson Eddy, baritone, who spent two years in the studio without being given a single film role of size. In those two years Nelson had few supporters, but one of these was Lawrence Tibbett, who taught him voice production, and helped him on to become the full-throated songster he now is. Among the tuneful numbers of the film are "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp," "Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life" and "I'm Falling in Love With Someone."

MAJESTIC THEATRE. The memorable battles between the MeFaddens and the McTavishes in their classic feud is the background of the amiable comedy film, "McFadden's Flats,' , which is to be given initial local release at the Majestic Theatre to-morrow, in association with a brilliant half-featmo length film done in Technicolour, "Legong." "McFadden's Flats" serves to introduce Walter Kelly, famous American stage actor, to the screen. Supported by Andy Clyde, Jane Darwell, Richard Cromwell and Betty Furness, Kelly acts the role of the battling Irishman who rises from brick-laying to wealth without once relenting in his feud with his Scottish enemy. Underneath the wordy battles of these two old hardshells is a genuine affection. When McFadden gets into financial trouble, McTavish secretly supports his credit.at the bank and enables him to complete the modern tenement flats of his dreams. But McFadden, under the delusion that he is wealthy, splurges and soon gets into trouble agoin. He learns the truth, and finally conspires with McTavish to get a millionaire builder to back the business. The friendship of the two old feudists is finally cemented when their children fall in love. Richard Cromwell and Betty Furness, an appealing pair of youngsters, handle the romantic assignments in a skilful fashion. "Legong" is a lovely romance of the East Indian island of Bali, filmed by the French Marquis de la Falaise de la Coudraye, husband and ex-husband of eome of Hollywood's bestknown stars.

ROXY AND TIVOLI. Characterised by thrilling air action, intrigue and a romantic love story, the vigorous film "Air Hawks" opened yesterday jointly at the Roxy and Tivoli Theatres, dually with "Alias Mary Dow." Ralph Bellamy s stalwart portrayal of the head of an air transport company is one of his best to date, while Tala Birell returns to the screen with a splendid opportunity to show her versatility as an actress. The story deals with two rival air lines, one headed by Bellamy, who are competing for lucrative air mail contracts. Bellamy's opposition will stop at nothing to gain their goal. Through an underworld character, portrayed by Douglass Dumbrille, Bellamy's rival hires a crazed scientist who has perfected a death ray machine, which can cause destruction from almost any distance. Placed at a strategic point, the machine wreaks havoc with Bellamy's 'planes, bringing them to earth in flames. Another feature of "Air Hawks" is the inclusion of a thrilling transcontinental flight in the stratosphere by Wiley Post, world-famous one-eyed Indian pilot. His equally famous 'plane, the Winnie Mae, in which he made two record round-the-world fliphts and four attempted stratosphere fliphte. is in tne picture. A gripping emotional drama revolving round the adventures of a waitress who consents to pose as a wealthy kidnapped girl in order to save a woman's life is the film "Alias Mary Dow," in which Sally Eilers end Ray Milland are starred, is on the same programme.

CRYSTAL PALACE AND RIALTO. Few waltzes have achieved the lasting popularity of " The Merry Widow," which Franz Lehar, famous Austrian composer, wrote more than 50 years ago. Famous as a etage play throughout the world, and well known in a silent film version, " The Merry Widow " now comes to screen audiencee as a. talkie, full of spectacular dances done not in the modern blatant faehion but in the pleasing old-world romanticism of pre-war Vienna. Actually the story does not concern Vienna, being placed first in Paris, then in the mythical or Ruritanian kingdom of Marehovia, where Captain Prince Danilo of the Royal house is virtually requested to woo and win the inordinately wealthy widow Sonia, who owns 52 per cent of Marshovia and threatens to move her pereon and wealth abroad. Danilo flees the odious prospect of marriage with a widow whom he has never seen, and finds romance in Paris, where the Marshovian Ambaeeador later introduces unwilling wooer and etill more unwilling widow, who thereupon see that -they have been romancinc all along without knowledge of each other e identity. Jeanette Mac Donald playe Sonia, Maurice Chevalier is Prince Danilo, and Edward Everett Horton is a perfect Ambassador. " The Merry Widow" is the current entertainment at both the Crystal Palace and Rialto Theatres.

NATIONAL AND PRINCE EDWARD,

Alexander Korda, ttie man who produced " The Scarlet Pimpernel," which is now enjoying such a successful season at the National and Prince Edward Theatres, is a Hungarian who came before the world's notice first when he produced " The Private Life of Helen of Troy," an uproarious comedy, in Hollywood. After three years of Hollywood factory methods he departed for England, where he made "Service for Ladies." Then he formed hie own company and made " Wedding Rehearsal," "The Private Life of Henry VTTI.," "Catherine the Great," "The Private Life of Don Juan," "The Scarlet Pimpernel," and " Sanders of the River." His younger brothers, Vincent and Zoltan, have helped him immensely in building up his company. He hue secured the' world e greatest stare for his films, Leslie Howard starring as Sir Percy Blakeney in the Pimpernel production. First release of the English comedy, "Mr. What's His Name." starring Theatreland's newest knight, Sir Seymour Hicks, will be given at the two theatres to-morrow.

STATE. SYMONDS STREET. Probably no film hae ever received such faithful and loving treatment when being transcribed from novel to ecreen ae did the 1934 English talkie version of Charles Dickene' well-loved " Old Curiosity Shop. Thomas Bentley, noted director and prominent Dickeneian, wae aeeieted by Walter Dexter, president of the Dickensian Society. The characters have pleased every Dickene lover—known to be a most finnicky race where their favourites are concerned. The artiste were chosen for ability, not etar names. The picture Rcreens to-night at the State Theatre, Upper Symonds Street. To-morrows change of programme will bring the talkie version of L. M. Montgomery's famous romance of girlhood, ' Anne of Green Gables," together with a drama of the hospitals, "Dr. Monica."

TUDOR CINEMA. REMUERA. Ferenc Molnar, Hungarian playwright, who hae achieved fame in the last decade with " The Guardsman " and other plays, has hie most recent effort, " The Good Fairy," on the ecreen, with lovely little Margaret Sullavan in the principal role. Frank Morgan, Herbert Marshall, and •Man H->le bring up the supporting t:;i«it. " The Tortoise and the Hare," Walt Disney's " Silly Symphony " satirising Max Baer "and Fred. Perry together, ie on the supporting programme at the Tudor.

CIVIC THEATRE. Warner Oland takes the leading part m " Charlie Chan in Egypt," an excellent myetery drama to commence at the Civic Theatre to-morrow. The Oriental manner of this actor, together with his (skill in acting, always makes his pictures interesting to a wide number of people. Centring about an ancient Egyptian curse, which continues to take toll of human life in the twentieth century, the story is enthralling from the firet moment. In the principal feminine role is Pat Patersou, while Stepin Fetohit provides much of the relieving humour in this fine entertainment. Delightful in her childish charm, little Shirley Temple, in one_ of her best performances, " Our Little Girl," is continuing to please huge numbers of theatre-goers at the Civic. The standard of the programme as a whole is such as must attract large audiences, and it is added to by fine renderings on the Civicgrand organ by Dennis Palmistra. STRAND THEATRE. Thorne Smith's hilarious " best-seller," " Night Life of the Gods," comes to the screen as an equally hilarious film which is now entertaining patrons at the Strand Theatre. Ainu Mowbray is starred ns a crazy scientist whose one besetting f.-iult is possession of a sense of humour. With a mysterious ray, whose properties of turning flesh into stone and stone into flesh he discovered by accident, he creates wild disorder among New York's staid and confirmed " night-lifers " by hie introduction of the revivified gods, goddesses, and eemi-deities of ancient Greek mythology, taken from the metropolitan museum. Rollicking adventures continue throughout this most amusing film. HOSPITAL CONCERT. A concert was presented in Ward 6 of the Public Hospital by Johnny Negri's party last evening. Contributing artists included Misses Jesmoud Hiscott, "Ella Pliant," Mavis Sharp. Margery Pearson, "Baby Zoe," Messrs. Simms, Stan. Holthouse, Charlie Houston, Jim Bowden, Charlie Grey and Johnny Negri. Miss Simm and Mr. Mullins were accompanists.

AMUSEMENT GTJIDE.

TOWN HALL—Ychucll Menuhin. Farewell Recital. HIS MAJESTY'S—NeIIie Bramley and Company In "Tons of Money." PICTURE THEATRES. REGENT—Fritz Kortner and Nils Astlier In "Abdul the Damned." MAJESTIC—A u then tic War Film, "Forgotten Men." STRAND—AIIan Mowbray in "Night Lire or the Gods" and Roger Pryor In "I Like It That Way." LONDON—SIim Summervllle in "Her First Mate" and Victor Jory in "The Devil's In Love." ROXY AND TIVOLI—SaIIy Eilers in "Alias Mary Dow" and Ralph Bellamy In "Air Hawks." ST. JAMES'—Nelson Eddy and Jeanette Mac Donald In "Naughty Marietta." PLAZA—Arthur Wontner and lan Fleming in "The Triumph or Sherlock Holmes." ClVlC—Shirley Temple lm "Our Little Girl" NATIONAL AND PRINCE EDWARD— Leslie Howard and Merle Oberon in "The Scarlet Pimpernel." ADELPHI—"Fast Lire." ALEXANDRA—"Are You a Mason?" AMBASSADOR—"When Strangers Meet." BRITANNIA—"BehoId My Wire." crystal PALACE—"The Merry Widow." DE LUXE—"Danny Boy." EMPIRE—"The Painted Veil." EMPRESS—"Turn Back the Clock." GAIETY (Takapuna)—"The Party's Over." GREY LYNN CINEMA—"GirIs Abou't Town" KING'S (Northcot«) —"Love's Old Sweet Sang." KINGSLAND—"Ready For Love." LIBERTY (Parnell) —"Beauty For Sale." MAYFAIR—"The Last Company." PRINCESS—"The Little Colonel." REGENT (Epsom)—"Danny Boy." RIALTO—"The Merry Widow." STATE (Devonport)—"Fighting Stock." BTATE (Onehunga)—"Made On Broadway.'' STATE (Symonds Street) — "The Old Curiosity Shop." STAR (Newton) —"A Bedtime Story." STRAND (Onehunga)—"Radio Parade or TUDOR—"The Good Fairy." VICTORIA—"Father Brown, Detective." WEST END—"Fast Workers."