AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19986, 22 July 1930, Page 16

AMUSEMENTS.

CRYSTAL PALACE. "THE HATE SHIP." .V grim drama of iialo and revenge is worked out in the magnificent setting of a palatial steam yacht in "The Ilato Ship," the main attraction at the Crystal Palaco Theatre this week. Following -upon such successes as "Blackmail" and "Atlantic," this all-talking picture confirms the. impression (hat British producers are ablo to compete more than favourably with tho olderestablished American firms. "Tho Ilate Ship" has all tho attributes of a great picture —strong dramatic plot,, plenty of laughs to relieve tho severer features of tho story, and a brilliant cast of players. Jameson Thomas and Jean Colin arc in the leading roles. Vernon Woife is tho owner of tho steam yacht Livonia, for which subsequent events earn tho name "hate ship." It is on this vessel that Wolfe plans his coup to obtain wealth and power. He invites a number of wealthy people for a cruise in the Mediterranean, but before the ships has been five days out Arthur Wardell is found badly wounded In the smoking-room. The efforts of the master of tho yacht and WardeU's friend to ,trace his assailant lead to startling conclusions, but those conclusions do not work ont as they should. It turns out that Count Boris, an apparently intimate friend of Wolfe, is his deadly enemy, and that Wardell was shot in mistake for tho villainous owner of the yacht. Tho method of the crime is ingenious in the extreme, a concealed gun being accidentally fired by the striking of a certain chord on tho saloon piano. Thus it turns out that tho theme song of the piece, a delightfully haunting melody, is instrumental in the shooting. The Count, however achieves his end, and after shooting Wolfe gives himself into custody, revealing that Wolfe had Bhot tho former owner of tho yacht, tho Count's father. "NO, NO, NANETTE." The musical and talking picture version of that popular stage success, "No, No, Nanette," will open a season at Crystal Palace on Monday next. This picture is said to be one/ of tho most ambitious productions ovor attempted in Hollywood, and it has more vast and spectacular scenes than most pictures can boast. Tho "Nanetto" story, as played by the best companies, was a show whoso story proper was never overshadowed by ballets or choruses, and (he sponsors of tho picturo havu followed this excellent lead. Though the picturo is almost a succession of gorgoous scenes, it is first and foremost tho story of Nanetto, her guardian, Mr William Smith, the Bible publisher, and a cotcrio of cattish wives and pretty young women. Tho two singing stars of the picturo are Bernice Clairo and Alexander Cray, considered by ruany people to tho best vocalists now in tho talkies. Next to them in importanco arc the four pcoplo who supply most of tho comedy, Lucion Littlelleld (in the role played hero by Jimmie Goddeu), Bert Roach. Louise Fazenda. and Lilyan Tashman. The box plans will open at The Bristol Piano Company on Thursday morning.