AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 29, 4 February 1937, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS.

MAJESTIC THEATRE.

The two attractions which are advertised ae the programme to commence screening on Friday at the Majestic Theatre have ono outstanding trait in common — both are dramas of the fastmoving type. The first, "The Return of Sophie Lang," ie the sequel to an exciting film that many theatre-goere will remember with pleasure, "The Notorious Sophie Lang." According to the plot of the new film, Sophie Lang did not die, u would be supposed by those who saw the original feature, but has been in hiding under an assumed name. In "The Return of Sophie Lang" the daring woman jewel thief, making her utmost effort to keep on the straight and narrow path, ie forced to enter a complicated theft case in order that her identity will not be revealed. Gertrude Michael once again fills the part of Sophie Lang and she is assisted through the sequences of the etory by Ray Milland. Sir Guy Standing is seen as the villainous influence behind the scenes. The second fiTm is "Expert'e Opinion," the plot of which deals with the attempts of a foreign Power to gain control of the plane in the possession of a British aeronautical inventor. The twiets of the story cause a man to be murdered and an expert'e opinion is necessary. Enacting the drama are Lucille Lisle and Leslie Perrins. EMBASSY THEATRE. "Sweet Aloes," currently screening at the Embassy Theatre, has in its leading roles two players who have been teamed before with outstanding eucceee—George Brent and Kay Francis. They are assisted, however, by Frieda Ineacourt, an English newcomer, the veteran Roland Young and Patrick Knowlee. Miaa Francis takes the role that was made famous when "Sweet Aloes" was drawing record crowde as a etage play, that of a woman who loves one man and ie forced to many another since the firet ie already possessed of an invalid wife. ; Her child is lovingly cared for by the invalid wife. Then a famous playwright (Roland Young) manages to bring all the main characters of the etory together and the final result ie a happy one. Patrick Knowlee, who plays the first man, and George Brent, who ie seen as the husband, both are outstanding in roles that call for brilliant acting. Miss Inescourt seems to create a character study all of her own. ST. JAMES' THEATRE. The screen's version of one of the most popular of P. G. Wodehouses novels, "Piccadilly Jim," retaining all the typical humour of the book, is continuing to draw crowde to the St. James' Theatre. A young and brilliant cartoonist, Robert Montgomery, falls in love with a beautiful American girl (Madge Evans) whom he meets in London, and when the girl disappears he ig eo occupied with hie search for her that he loses his contract. In a moment of desperation, for hie own amusement, he begins to lampoon in drawings the newly-rich relations of the girl with whom hie father (Frank Morgan), a has-been Shakespearean actor, is in love. The cartoons immediately bring him fame and fortune, but to his dismay he finds that the girl whom he hae been seeking ie also one of the family of hie cartoon subjects, the "Richwhites." Readers familiar with the authors etory will realise that the screen etory does not stick elcaely to the original, but they may rest assured that it is just as amusing. All the famous characters of "Piccadilly Jim" are included, Ogden Pett, Mrs. Pett and, of course, the inimitable Mr. Crocker. AMALGAMATED THEATRES. Programmes at the city picture houses of Amalgamated Theatres, Ltd., are as follow: — Civic (to-morrow): Shirley Temple in her new film, "Dimples." Plaza (to-morrow): Jane "Ginger" Withers in "Pepper." Strand: "East Meets Weet" and "Everything is Thunder." National (to-morrow): "The Girl on the Front Page" and "One Exciting Adventure." Roxy and Tjvoli: Dick Koran in "California Mail" and "Hot Money." with Ross Alexander and Beverly Roberts. AMUSEMENTS GUIDE. MISSION BAY — Miller and Davey's Carnival. PICTURE THEATRES. BT. jambs* — Robert Montgomery and Madge Evans in "Piccadilly Jim." MAJESTIC—Victor Jory and Margaret Dare in "Rangle River." LONDON—Shirley Temple In "Little Miss Marker" and W. C. Fields in "Mrs. Wigrgrs or the Cabbage Patch." REGENT—Frank McHugn and Joan Blondel] in "3 Men on a Horse. , * EMBASSY—Kay Francis and George Breot in "Sweet Aloes." AMBASSADOR—Guest Tilght. ASTOR—"The Legion or Valour. ,, AVONDALE—"The Dancing Pirate." BRITANNIA—"Show Them No Mercy." CAPlTOL—"Absolute Quiet." GAIETY—"the Bride Walks Out. ,, GREY LYNN—"Timothy's Quest." KINGBLAND—Quest Right. PICTUREDROME—"The Last Days of Pompeii." PRINCE EDWARD—Guest Night. STAR (Newton) —"A Tale or Two Cities." STATE (Symond* Street) — "O'Snauglinessy's Boy." STRAND (Onahunga)—"Top Hat." ■ TUDOR—"Mary or Scotland." VICTORIA—Quest Nlgnt.