AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 257, 30 October 1935, Page 12

AMUSEMENTS.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. So full of comic situations is "Smai Girl," which begins a season at th Majestic Theatre on Friday, that eve the most blase audiences will not be abl to restrain their laughter, to judge froi the reception it has had in oversea cities. Joseph Cawthorn, as a kinc hearted liat manufacturer, whose on sorrow is his son's stupidity, is said t provoke most of the hearty laughs. Th comedy begins in earnest when (Jawtliori against his better judgment, sends hi son on an important business errant giving him a certified cheque for 100,00 dollars—to use only for the purpose c making an impression. But the son buy presumably worthless stock, which no only nearly ruins his father but involve him in a Federal investigation. Id Lupino, the young English star, is' sai to play a very clever role as a girl wh works in Cawthorn's factory and learn through her sister (Gail Patrick) that th stock is worthless. Kent Taylor is cas as Miss Patrick's husband, who sells th stock without knowing it is valueless Sidney Blackmer plays the part of ; swindling stockbroker. Tense situation interwoven with exciting action ani comedy interludes follow each other ii quick succession until a happy climax i reached. The picture is classecl by critic as an ideal entertainment for every elaa of picture-goer and is greatly enhanced" bj intelligent direction and freely-movin; dialogue. ST. JAMES' THEATRE. The promise of fast action, highly amusing comedy situations and an enter taining story is likely to draw large audi ences to St. James' Theatre on Friday when "Calm Yourself" will have its iirsi screening. The story is a novel one Robert Young, discharged by a business man who resents his making love to his daughter, establishes a confidential service, the nature of which is to handle delicate situations for those who cannot cope with them themselves. Ralph Morgan, a banker, engages Young to keep his daughter (Madge Evans) away from hie home; she was to pay her father a visit, and since Morgan had never told his second (and young) wife that he had a grown daughter, he did not want Miss Evans to appear until he had broken the news to his wife about her. Miss Evans becomes associated with Young in his business, which causes them to lead a hectic life. 'The business demands secrecy, and so they can offer no explanations, and their actions are misunderstood by almost everyone. According to advance reports one of the funniest and most exciting situations is that in which Miss I Evans, accompanied by motor cycle police, gives chase to Nat Pendleton, who, she thought, had kidnapped a baby belonging to a "case." The manner in which everything is straightened out to the satisfaction of all provokes additional comedy. Others in the cast are Hardie Albright, Paul Hurst and Shirley Ross. CIVIC THEATRE. From the dull and drab life of a small town orphanage to a sunny, palatial mansion in Southampton adequately sums up the quick rise to luxury and happiness enjoyed by Shirley Temple in her new picture, "Curly Top," now at the Civic Theatre. John Boles is cast as a bachelor who adopts Shirley and her big sister, Rochelle Hudson. His generosity takes them from the drab and dreary atmosphere of an orphanage to a sunny summer home in a fashionable part of the country. Shirley and Rochelle enter upon their new life with all the joy of two youngsters

in a dreamland of happiness. Shirley s new-found happiness blossoms forth into laughter, song and dance, and soon her charm and childish pranks form the foundation of a delightful romance between. John Boles and Rochelle Hudson. _ In "Cury Top," Shirley's talents are given full sway, and audiences will come under her enchanting spell when she sings "Animal Crackers' in My Soup" and "When X Grovr Up;" John Boles 6ings two of the hit numbers in the film. They are: "It's all So New to Me" and the theme number, Curly Top." Rochelle Hudson, who makes her singing debut in this picture,' sings "The Simple Things in Life." All five songs in "Curly Top," produced? by Winfield Sheehan - and directed fby Irving Cummings, were written by Ray Henderson, one of the most prolific and successful of America's , popular song writers. PLAZA THEATRE. "Karloff has established a unique following with his horror interpretations and so has introduced a new note in screen entertainment to audiences tired of the conventional two-men-and-a-girl situation and its multitudinous variations. His pictures have the same relation to conventional screen offerings as do Poe's tales to literature." So wrote an American critic in his review of "The Black Room,'' Boris Karloff's latest horror film, which will follow "Love Me For Ever" at the Plaza Theatre. Karloff's "The Black Room" introduces him as a super "Bluebeard," who doesn't hesitate at repeatsd murder to gain his ends. He is one of a set- of twins, and the curse of his house foretells that the family will end as it began, with twins, for one of the brothers, the younger, will slay the elder. In his role of Gregor, the elder brother, Karloff strives to forestall the fulfillment of the curse by making away with his twin, substituting his own malevolent stif in the place of his missing brother, but not before he has committed numerous killings either from force of necessity or as a whim of the moment. In support are Marian Marsh, Robert Allen and Katherine De Mille. NATIONAL AND PRINCE EDWARD. Varied and highly-satisfying entertainment is screening in a well-chosen double bill at the National and Prince Edward Theatres. Recognised as the finest dancing and musical comedy pair on the screen to-day, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers are seen at their best in "The Gay Divorcee," the - bright musical show which heads tjfe programme. Tuneful music, gay comedy..and lavish production are combined to make all that is most entertaining in films of this type. There is much humour' in' the plot itself, which tells of a young man being mistaken for a corespondent by a girl who is trying to get a divorce. Edward Everett Horton. adds to the gaiety, and Buch songs as "Night and Day",and "The Continental' are presented in lavish settings. The second film is a thrilling Western drama, "Crossfire, with Tom Iveene and Betty Furness. CRIPPLED CHILDREN'S CONCERT. In aid of the crippled children's hind inaugurated in Auckland by Lord Nuffield and the Wilson family, of Takapuna, a concert is to be given by talented performers in Hie Majesty's Theatre on Saturday night under the patronage of | the Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis. After 'several years' study in Vienna the clever young members of the Roland Family Sextet will be welcomed back to New Zealand and will present a number of items. Miss Betty Spiro will be featured in a song and dance recital, acrobatic feats will be given by members of the Y.M.C.A. gymnasium, and the Mount Albert Grammar School boys' choir will be heard in a number of items. CATHOLIC REPERTORY PLAY.

Of special interest is the forthcoming presentation by Miss Ysolinde McVeagh and the Auckland Catholic Repertory Society of the new English play "Libel," becabse of the fact that it takes place entirely in a courtroom. Written by Edward Wooll, the recorder of Carlisle, it is an accurate dramatisation of a case o£ a newspaper being sued for libel. The cast will' include the following: Messrs. Terry Agmen-Smith, Max Robertson, Rusk Harris, Alan McSkimming, Gilbert O'Sullivan, Phil. Hackett, Wilfred Dowd, Ron Bowie, Vernon'Brown, Brian Prendergast and Misses Doreen Saunders, Mary Hilton j and Mary O'Dowd. | MUNICIPAL BAND. Musical programmes will be given by the Auckland Municipal Band next Sunday afternoon in the rose gardens, Parnell Park, in Albert Park on Sunday evening, and on Wednesday evening in the Merivare Reserve, at the corner of Manukau and Ranfurly Roads. Epsom. Fresh programmes are given at every appearance of the band, comprising popular, classical 1 and descriptive selections, duets and solos.

REGENT THEATRE. Picturegoers who liked "Girl of the Limberlost" should find even greater charm in the screen version of Gene Stratton Porter's "Keeper of the Bees," which comes to the Regent Theatre on Friday. "From the production point cf view, 'Keeper of the Bees' is far better," wrote an American critic, "and the emotional appeal is ten times as strong. A pleasing feature is the discussion about bees between Edith Fellows, a girl of about ten or twelve, v/ho takes the part of the little scout, and Neil Hamilton, the hero, a gassed soldier; there is a great deal of education in that talk, of the welcomed kind. Still another good feature is the outdoor scenery—the flowers and | the green leaves and the splashing wav-is of the seashore should make those who will see this picture feel as if they were on their vacation, watching people of real life, in a real life drama. The spectator is in sympathy with every one of the characters." The story tells of an exsoldier (Hamilton), who, having overheard the doctors say that lie cannot live more than six months as a result of being gassed three years before, escapes from the hospital and makes for Chicago to have a last grand time. But he meets a girl on the way who gives liim a ride as far as she can. Awed with her beauty, he follows her to a peaceful cottage by the seashore, and becomes the Keeper of the Bees. "A NIGHT IN VIENNA." Novel scenic effects, depicting the interior of a Viennese biergarten, will be a feature of the presentation of "A Night in Vienna," by the Roland Family Sextette in His Majesty's Theatre on Wednesday, November 20. Originally announced to be held at the Town Hall Concert Chamber, the reception accorded the project has made it necessary to engage larger accommodation, and well-known Auckland artists will assist in one of the most beautiful stage presentations seen m Auckland. Special efforts are being made to convey the glamorous atmosphere of Vienna. The Sextette spent five years studying in that cfty, and the results of their studies will be evident in their playing of the melodies that never die—works of Schubert, Strauss and ethers. "SLEEPING BEAUTY." Miss Cecil Hall will present her pupils in a spectacular pantomime, entitled "Sleeping Beauty," in the Scots Hall on Thursday- evening, November 7. The entertainment will be replete with colourful ballet scenas and ensembles, attractive costuming and enjoyable song presentations.

AMUSEMENTS GUIDE.

PICTURE THEATRES,

NATIONAL AND PRINCE EDWARD— Fred Astaire In "The Gay Divorcee and Tom Keone In "Crossfire. REGENT —Grade Fields and Harry Tate in "Look Up and Laugh." MAJESTIC—Joe E. Brown and Ann Dvorak in "Bright Lights." STRAND—Marlene Dietrich In "Carnival In Spain" and W. C. Fields in "The Man on the Flying Trapeze." CIVIC—John Boles, Rochelle Hudson and Shirley Temple In "Curly Top." LONDON —Ralph Bellamy and Fay Wray In

"Below the Sea." ROXY AND TIVOLI —Joan Blondedl In "We're in the Money" and Wm, Gar gun

im "A Night at the Ritz." ST. JAMES'—Joan crawrord and Robert Montgomery In "No More Ladles." PLAZA —Grace Moore and Michael Bartlett to "Love Me For Ever." ADELPHI —"Storm At Daybreak." ALEXANDRA —"Aor Hostess." AMBASSADOR —"Speed Demon." ASTOR—"N-igH't or June 13." BRITANNIA —"Dr. Monica." ( CAPITOL —"The Daring Young Mao." CRYSTAL PALACE —"Lady TubbS." DE LUXE—"Charlie Chan in Egypt." EMPREBS —"Parachute Jumper.'' GAIETY —"No More ©refolds.". - GREY LYNN CINEMA—"Mrs. WiggS Of the

Cabbage Patch." KING'S (Northoote) —"Whistling in the

Dark." KINGSLAND —"Grandad Rudd." LIBERTY —"Child of Manhattan." MAYFAlß—"Pleasure Cruise." PRINCESS —"Worst Woman In Parts." REGENT (Epsom)—" Our Little Girl." RIALTO —"Topaze." STATE (Devonport)—"Sweepings." STATE (Onehunga) No Beer?" STATE (Bymonds Street) — "Beyond BenSTAR (Newton) —"Mystery or Mr. X." STRAND (Onehunga)—"No Man of Her Own." TUDOR—"Charlie Chan in Paris." VICTORIA—"Sand-ers or the River."

STRAND THEATRE. "Carnival in Spain," with Marlene Dietrich, and "The Man on the Flying Trapeze," starring W. C. Fields, will be followed at the Strand Theatre on Friday by a novel and highly entertaining film, "The White Parade," with John Boles and Loretta Young in the leading roles. The production and acting are excellent, and the direction intelligent arid sensitive. The story is concerned with the young women who have chosen nursing as a Career. It is a sympathetic account of their life at the hospital, with its joys and sorrows, without being too sentimental. There are deeply-moving situations, and comedy is provoked by the innocent pranks the girls play on one an'other. Added to all this is the pleasing romance between Loretta Young and Boles, both of whom give excellent performances. _