CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21256, 30 August 1934, Page 3

CITY THEATRES

LIBERTY "BIG CITY BLUES" AND "LAZY RIVER" An entertaining film of life in New York is "Big City Blues," one of the two new films at the Liberty this week. It is a vivid and well constructed picture of adventure and excitement, with effective scenes of New York night life. Its story is about a young man on his first visit to the city who meets by chance a city-wise , chorus girl, who proceeds to "show him the town." Joan Blondell and Eric Linden are the stars of the picture which has a large cast. The second film on the programme is a mixture of comedy and drama, and entertaining comedy and drama it is. "Lazy River" is a story of the descendants of the French settlers in the mysterious swamps and backwaters of Louisiana. Heading the cast are Robert Young, as a former convict who strays into the settlement, and Jean Parker, as one of the beauties of the place, with whom he falls in love. PLAZA GRACIE FIELDS IN "LOVE, LIFE, AND LAUGHTER" In "Love, Life, and Laughter," the new Gracie Fields film which is being shown at the Plaza Theatre, there are considerable stretches when Gracie ceases to be audacious, impudent, mocking, ribald, irrepressibly light-hearted. The cause is in the story, which gives her the part of an inn-keeper's daughter, in love with the heir to the little Kingdom of Qranau, and loved by him, but firm enough to send him away to his duty, when the king dies, and to keep him to it, when he is hesitating to make a necessary political marriage. During these parts of the film it is Gracie's business to subdue her spirits and to leave the broadest comedy to the soldiers and bandsmen and flunkeys of the Court of Granau —an accomplished troupe of clowns. Their farcical performance at the railway station and the palace, where Gracie receives the musical and military honours intended for the young king's future queen, could hardly be bettered. Gracie herself, in these circumstances, can only introduce into the pathetic song, "I'm a Failure," one of her saxophone twiddles, sad and ironical now, and scrub and dress and encourage the princess with delicious vigour. When her heroic, self-sacrificing part is over, she swings into the exhilarating song, "Love, Life and Laughter," and ends the picture happily among the orphanage children lor whom she has brought back pockets full of money from Granau, and in whose cause she hit the old king's chamberlain in the eye with an orange. Among the supports first place belongs to a coloured cartoon. "The Little Red Hen," which makes it appear that Walt Disney has at least one rival. An Australian newsree), pictures of Venice taken by a rather too meltingly romantic cameraman, and a pleasantly various Pathe Pictorial complete the programme. TIVOLI "TURKEY TIME" A comedy with the whole delicious Aldwych team in it, Tom Walls, Ralph Lynn, Robertson Hare, and Mary Brough, can generally be relied on to be amusing. There have been exceptions, it is true, but "Turkey Time," the team's latest effort which is now being shown at the Tivoli, is not one of them. On the contrary, it is as good as anything the team has yet made, a really delightful show. The team is in its best form. Tom Walls reassumes the cloak of suave villainy that he wore in "Plunder," this time with the addition of a little Wild West "henman stuff." Lynn is as charmingly futile as ever; there never was so hen-pecked a husband as Robertson Hare, and never was there a landlady so determined not to be "put upon" as Mary Brough, rejoicing this time in the delightful name of "Mrs Gather." The irrepressible Walls and Lynn are the guests of their cousins, Mr and Mrs Stoatt, Walls being engaged to Mrs Stoatt's sister. Mr and Mrs Stoatt are pillars of society and models ot respectability; care-free Tom Walls has just returned from 15 years in Montana; Ralph Lynn is Ralph Lynn.Naturally the respectable Mr and Mrs Stoatt soon begin to find their guests a little difficult. The supporting programme is entertaining, containing an excellent dancing ball cartoon, two English news reels, and an American musical. CRYSTAL PALACE "LONG LOST FATHER" AND "ALL OF ME" "His Double Life" and "Song of Songs" will be shown finally to-mor-row night at the Crystal Palace Theatre. Another first-class double-feature programme—"Long Lost Father" and "All Of Me" —will be offered at the Crystal Palace Theatre on Saturday. The attempts of a father to gain the love of a daughter whom he had deserted when she was a child are depicted in "Long Lost Father," John Barrymore's latest picture. Barrymore portrays the father, manager of a I London cabaret. He meets his daughter l after a lapse of 20 years, when she comes to dance in his establishment, and discovers that she harbours intense hatred for him for abandoning her as an infant. Barrymore's efforts to reconcile her and assume parental responsibilities over her make an amusing and delightful comedy-drama. Helen Chandler plays the role of the daughter. A talented cast, headed by Miriam Hopkins and Fredric March, appears in "All of Me." These two popular players will be remembered for their fine performances in "Design for Living." March is cast as a clever young engineer who is engaged to a wealthy girl, this part being played convincingly by Miriam Hopkins. The girl is hesitant about getting married, as it will mean that she will have to accompany her husband into the wilderness. Box plans are at the D.I.C. GRAND "ALICE IN WONDERLAND" The magnificent screen version of Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland," which was such a success at the Regent Theatre is now being shown at the Grand Theatre. Alice's wanderings in the land of phantasy and topsy-turveydom are faithfully recorded and the strange creatures she met on her journey have come to life. They are not merely clever characterisations. They are Sir John Tenniel's pictures stepped from the pages of the book. No praise can be too great for the child Alice, as played by Charlotte Henry*

CIVIC "THAT'S A GOOD GIRL" Only two more nights remain lor patrons to see the romantic comedydrama, "The Lady is Willing," now showing at the Civic Theatre. Leslie Howard is the star, and he has never done anything so brilliant before. Outstanding appreciation wherever shown has greeted Jack Buchanan's latest musical production "That's a Good Girl," and on Saturday picturegoers will be given an opportunity to witness this brilliant attraction when it begins its Christchurch season at the Civic Theatre. His delightful personality, his purity of English speech, his versatility in singing, dancing, and acting have all combined 'to make Jack Buchanan one of the greatest favourites of the present day, and in "That's a Good Girl" he is given every opportunity of displaying his ability. Supporting Buchanan are Elsie Randolph and Vera Pearce, both of whom will be remembered for their performances in "Yes, Mr Brown." The story concerns a young man who in order to inherit money, has to marry his pretty cousin to some eligible bachelor., His choice falls on the lover of a temperamental opera star, and from then on complication follows complication, in which endless humour is mingled with really clever work. The music is tuneful, and "Fancy Our Meeting," "Now That I've Found You," "So Green," and "Oo La La" are all sung in the inimitable Jack Buchanan style. Three excellent supports and the personal appearance of Miss Iris Mason at the grand organ complete an outstanding programme. Booking has already commenced, and the management asks patrons to avoid disappointment by making early application for reserves at the theatre, where plans are now open. MAJESTIC "THREE ON A HONEYMOON" "The Last Round-up" will be screened finally to-morrow night at the Majestic ITieatre. An outstanding list of supports includes "Gaumont Mirror," "Screen Souvenirs," "Station TOT" (children's revue), Bing Crosby in "Just an Echo" (comedy), and special newsreels showing play during the fourth cricket test match, England v. Australia, and the first Rugby test, All Blacks v. Australia. A luxurious pleasure liner forms the background for the comedy, "Three on a Honeymoon," which will head the new programme at the Majestic Theatre on Saturday. Sally Eilers and Zasu Pitts have the leading roles, and it would be difficult to find a more amusing pair. The story embraces comedy, romance, and thrills, and a spectacular dance number forms part of a cafe scene. "Three on a Honeymoon" traces the romance of a daredevil flyer, Joan Foster (Sally Eilers), and a young ship's officer, Dick Charlton (Charles Starrett), the comedy being supplied by Zasu and her bashful admirer, Ezra Mac Duff (Russell Simpson). Joan, who has joined the , ship to escape from her stepmother, is the daughter of the president of the steamship company to which the boat belongs, and Charlton is told to entertain her and keep her out of trouble. However, the high-spirited girl, to keep herself amused, sets herself out to make the officer look a fool, and the result is that Charlton avoids her as much as possible, and while he is out of her sight she becomes in- | volved in a gambling game, which de- ! velops into a brawl. Events take a further turn when a girl friend of Joan's, who is on her honeymoon trip, is blackmailed by a former admirer. Meanwhile Zasu has been saved from drowning by Ezra Mac Duff, and the subsequent love-making between the two provides much of the humour of the film. Box plans are at the D.I.C. THEATRE ROYAL "THE BOWERY" "Looking for Trouble" will be shown finally to-morrow night at the Theatre Royal. There is good entertainment all the way through "The Bowery," the new Twentieth Century picture which will start on Saturday at the Theatre Royal. It is riotously funny, with Wallace Beery giving perhaps the finest performance of his career, and with Jackie Cooper, George Raft and Fay Wray lending him able support. Each player is provided with equal opportunity by a story that deals with real characters who made the Bowery of New York "the liveliest mile on the face of the globe" during the period of the gay and naughty 'nineties. Wallace Beery is cast as the famous Chuck Connors, a saloon proprietor who was the most popular man on the Bowery. George Raft plays Steve Brodie, who was so jealous of Connors' popularity that he jumped off Brooklyn bridge in a bid to out-rival Connors in fame. Jackie Cooper is the newsboy, the friend and protege of Connors, until a girl (played by i.'ay Wray) brings about a misunderstanding and threatens to break up their comradeship. Pert Kelton portrays a queen of tne dance halls. Two other famous characters portrayed in "The Bowery" are John L. Sullivan, celebrated pugilist, and Carrie Nation, the fire-eating prohibitionist of the 'nineties, who called the Bowery a "den of iniquity" and once tried to clean it up with an axe. An outstanding supporting programme will include Walt Disney's latest Silly Symphony in colour, "The Big, Bad Wolf." This cartoon is the sequel to the celebrated "Three Little Pigs." Box plans are' at the D.I.C. REGENT NORMA SHEARER IN "RIPTIDE" "Aunt Sally," the entertaining English musical comedy at present being shown at the Regent Theatre will be screened for the last time to-morrow night. With Robert Montgomery and Herbert Marshall sharing leading man honours, one of the most impressive casts ever assembled is seen in support of Norma Shearer in "Riptide," Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's special production to be presented at the Regent Theatre on Saturday. Robert Montgomery, playing the part of Norma Shearer's nonchalant sweetheart, makes his fifth appearance with the star in this film. He also played with her in "Their Own Desire," "Divorcee," "Strangers May Kiss," and "Private Lives." His last roles were in "Fugitive Lovers" and "Mystery of Mr X." Herbert Marshall, the popular English stage and screen star, was last seen in "The Solitaire Man." He plays the part of Lord Rexford, Norma Shearer's husband in the new film. Mrs Patrick Campbell, one of England's distinguished actresses, makes her screen debut as Aunt Hetty, eccentric dowager. Lilyan Tashman plays the part of Norma Shearer's sister. As Lady Rexford, Norma Shearer is married to a matter-of-fact English peer, and becomes stifled in an atmosphere of smug oppression. From this sheltered life she finds exhilaration in the mad pursuit of a former sweetheart who willingly renews the chase _of earlier days. Ensuing situations bring about a marital deadlock and a most unusual climcx. A special attraction will be the appearance on the stage of Senia Chostiakoff, the celebrated Russian tenor, who recently toured the world as the principal soloist of the Don Cossack choir. Senia Chostiakoff will sing a number of his most popular songs, accompanied by an orchestra. The box plans for the brief season are open at the D.I.C.