CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21250, 23 August 1934, Page 5

CITY THEATRES

CIVIC | "THE LADY IS WILLING" I i Only two more days remain for patrons to see "On the Air," the current attraction at the Civic Theatre. A sufficient guarantee of the quality of this production is the applause that has greeted it at each session. Leslie Howard, who to-day stands out as one of England's foremost actors, is the star in "The Lady is Willing," the romantic comedy drama beginning at the Civic on Saturday. Other members of an exceptionally strong castare Binnie Barnes, who will be long remembered as "Catherine" in "Henry VIII," Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Sir Nigel Playfair, Nigel Bruce, and Claude Allister. Leslie Howard is cast as a suave, engaging, find fascinating rogue with a flair for fun and a weakness for women. "The Lady is Willing'' is a smart, amusing story with plenty of romance, and a brilliant combination of humour and wit. Gilbert Miller, the famous theatrical director and producer, directed "The Lady is Willing," and everyone will agree that he has succeeded in producing a brilliant entertainment. Miss Iris Mason, who has delighted large audiences with her delightful I novelties on the grand organ, will also i be heard in a complete change of programme. I Box plans are now open at the Civic 1 Theatre, where seats may be reserved at no extra cost.

MAJESTIC "THE LAST ROUND-UP" "Manhattan Melodrama" (Clark Gable, William Powell, and Myrna I Loy) will be presented finally to-mor-row night at the Majestic Theatre. ! The haunting melody of the song that has swept the world in the last I few months and which gives its title to the film, runs through "The Last ! Round-up," which will begin on Sat- • urday at the Majestic Theatre. Adapted I from Zane Grey's famous novel, "The Border Legion," the story is given a splendid interpretation by a wellselected cast of players. Plenty of fast action and wholesome romance temper the more thrilling and grim sequences to a really enjoyable plane of entertainment. The young leadingman, Randolph Scott, whose recent portrayals in many different types of roles have made him extremely popular, takes the principal role, while other players are Monte Blue, Fred Kohler, and "Fuzzy" Knight. The excitement and glamour of the life led on the great ranches have been admirably captured, and the film is good entertainment throughout. The story is a vivid account of the raiding Border Legion, with whom Scott is forced to share his lot. Box plans are at the D.I.C.

KITE-FLYING CONTEST The management of the Majestic Theatre will conduct its annual kiteflying championship for the boys of Christchurch at Sydenham Park on Saturday morning at 11 o'clock. The prizes will include a watch, a foun-tain-pen, and tickets for Zane Grey's "The Last Round-up," which will be the next feature at the theatre. Any style of kite may be used, but ail competitors must have "The Last Round-Up" written on their kites.

CRYSTAL PALACE "SONG OF SONGS" AND "HIS DOUBLE LIFE" "Search for Beauty" and "The Witching Hour" will be shown finally to-morrow night at the Crystal Palace Theatre. "His Double Life" and "Song of Songs" will comprise the entertaining double bill at the Crystal Palace Theatre on Saturday. "His Double Life" is a genial and charming production which combines the artistry of Liilian Gish and Roland Young. The film is replete with mirth-provoking situations, and tells an interesting and unusual story that is never obvious or dull. The hero is a shy, artistic genius played by Roland Young. His valet has been buried under his master's name, imd rather than correct the error Young decides to assume the valet's personality. "The Song of Songs," the talking film adaptation of the Hermann Sudermann literary classic, is a beautiful and artistic production with a good story, and an abundance of tense situations. Marlene Dietrich, the exotic German star, has never been seen to better advantage than in this great drama. It is easily her best film to date, and she gives a brilliant portrayal of a difficult role. Box plans are at the D.I.C. GRAND "KING OP THE JUNGLE" "Buster" Crabbe, the holder of world swimming records and a former American Olympic Games representative, has the leading role in "King of the Jungle," the ' .rilling animal picture which is having a return season at the Grand Theatre this week. The story deals with the remarkable adventures of a young man who has been brought up from infancy by a pack of lions. A Government publicity film of Mount Cook, a cartoon, a comedy, and newsreels complete an entertaining programme.

worship of the multitude. Fairbanks Hives a strong characterisation in a role calling for acting ability above the average. PLAZA "LIFE, LOVE, AND LAUGHTER" "Fashions in 1934" heads the current programme at the Plaza Theatre. "Life, Love, and Laughter," Grade Melds's latest musical comedy, is one of her best and brightest to date. Characteristic of all Gracie Fields films, as the name implies, "Life,-Love, and Laughter," which comes to the Plaza Theatre on Saturday, is full of clever comedy, entertaining dialogue, and a number of catchy melodies that promise to become "hits." The songs, "Out in the Cold, Cold Snow," Cherie," "Life, Love, and Laughter," "I'm a Failure," arjd "Riding in the Clouds," are particularly bright numbers, and are sung as only Gracie Fields could sing them. The story ailords the Lancashire comedienne ample opportunity to display her acting ability. From the opening scene to the iinal fadeout, the action is fastmoving. The fun begins when Nellie Gwynn (Gracie Fields), an innkeeper's daughter, who spends most of her time working for charity, throws an orange to a particularly handsome young man from a float she is riding in during a hospital day procession. She accidentally hits another gentleman in the eye, and is arrested. She is charged with a breach of the peace, and it transpires that the "handsome young man" was Prince Charles of

Granau (John Loder). After being acquitted, she is met by Charles, who invites her to attend a court reception. Nellie does so, and this is where most of the comedy takes place. Everything possible goes wrong. Box plans are at the D.I.C.

REGENT

"AUNT SALLY" | The screen version of Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" heads the programme at the Regent Theatre this week. The world's funniest apache dance, performed by a great comedienne and an American gangster, is one of the many highlights of the bright musical comedv, "Aunt Sally/' which will cometo the' Regent Theatre on Saturday. Cicely Courtneidge is Sally, and her dance with a gangster who is determined to kill her manager is among the cleverest things in comic acrobatics yet seen on the screen. The picture not only ranks with the most lavish of Hollywood spectacles, but discloses the star as the most versatile mirthmaker among British comedy actresses. "Aunt Sally" moves along with irresistible swing, with spectacular dancing ensembles, with a bevy of pretty show girls, lilting songs with magnificent choral work and comic sequences. In support are Sam Hardy, who came from America to play his role of the night club king; Hartley Power and Ben Weldon. as gangsters, and Billy Milton, Phyllis Clare, and Tubby Cipen. Debroy Somers's Band, England's most famous broadcasting combination, is also featured. Box plans are at the D.I.C

THEATRE ROYAL "LOOKING FOR TROUBLE" "Palooka" will conclude its season at the Theatre Royal to-night. Starting on Friday, the Theatre Royal management will present the fast-moving action-romance "Looking For Trouble," starring Spencer Tracy, Conslance Cummings, and Jack Oakie. Owing to the phenomenal success at- ■ tending the screening of the special V/alt, Disney first-half during the last week, and in response to numerous requests, the management has decided i to retain on the programme for another week the three Silly Symphonies | in colour and the two Mickey Mouse cartoons which have proved so popular. "Looking For Trouble" is a comedydrama, in which most of the artifices j of picture construction are pressed ] into service. It has its moments of tense drama, its periods of gripping j suspense and excitement, and, above all, it has its full measure of romance. Each aspect takes its proper place and a generally well-balanced story is the result. Through it all there is a splendid note of comedy, and one appreciates it for this perhaps more than for any other virtue. The humour flows naturally through the principal channel of crisp repartee; the fact that the situations themselves rarely give risr> to a laugh exacts an unusually heavy toll on the ability of the players. Spencer Tracy and Jack Oakie take the important roles, those ot linesmen whose work in coping with

the defects that arise in a complicated city telephone system leads them into inanv eh) exciting experience. Tracy dour and taciturn, dominates most ot the scenes, but Oakie, irrepressibly i voluble, contributes most of IK I comedy. T-.Tr* Box plans are at the VAX..

TIVOLF ! "H RKEY TlMli'' j "Beloved," a musical romance, star- j ring John Boles and Gloria Stuart, i heads the current programme at the Tivoli Theatre. Another comedy with the Aldwych Theatre team of comedians, will begin at the Tivoli Theatre oa Saturday, under the title of "Turkey Time." With Tom Walls and Ralph Lynn in the leading roles, it is claimed to be one of the funniest farce-comedies Ben Travers has yet written. Ralph Lynn and Tom Walls, cousins this time, are, as usual, tumbling in and out of hot water, causing many amusing complications. As guests of a family party for Christmas at a seaside resort, they rescue a Pierrette (Dorothy Hyson) under very noble circumstances. This leads to a misunderstanding that involves most of the members of the happy Christmas party. Robertson Hare, as the husband, is given an epportumty of showing his qualities, and there are some amusing episodes between him and Ralph Lynn. The grasping lanelady, Mrs Gather, is played by Mary Brough, and is an example of that greedy, self-righteous type of woman who rules some of the boarding houses of English seaside resorts. She is temntcd by the spirit of Christmas to indulge in a little gin. which has disastrous effects on her usual staid mode of behaviour. Box plans are at the D.T.C.

LIBERTY "IT'S TOUGH TO BE FAMOUS" AND "HOLD THE PRESS" Two widely differing types of films in "Hold the Press," a thrilling drama, and "It's Tough to be Famous," a comedy-drama, comprise the double bill at the Liberty Theatre this week. Tim McCoy has the lead in "Hold the Press." a film dealing with the efforts of a newspaperman to uncover racketeering by gangsters. Douglas Fair-, banks, jun., has never appeared to better advantage than in "It's Tough to be Famous." His role is that of a naval officer who becomes the hero of the nation after his submarine has been wrecked. He proves an unwilling subjest, however, and dislikes the hero-