CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21257, 31 August 1934, Page 8

CITY THEATRES

* PLAZA GRACIE FIELDS IN "LOVE, LIFE, AND LAUGHTER" .In ''Love, Life, and Laughter," the new Cracie 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 Granau, and loved by him, but lirm 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 Grade'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 scri''j 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 for whom she has j brought back pockets full of money j tiom Granau, and in whose cause she ; hit the old king's chamberlain in the! eye with an orange. I Among the supports first place be- I longs to a coloured cartoon. "The j Little Red Hen," which makes it i appear that Walt Disney has at least I one rival. An Australian newsree], ! pictures of Venice taken by a rather I too meltingly romantic cameraman, I and a pleasantly various Pathe Pic- j Corial complete the programme. ■

MAJESTIC i "THREE ON A HONEYMOON" i "The Last Round-up ' will be I screened finally to-night at Ihe Ma-j jestic Theatre. An outstanding list of supports includes "Gaumont . Mirror," "Screen Souvenirs," "Station f TOT" (children's revue), Bing Crosby in "Just an Echo" (comedy), and special newsreels showing play during the fourth cricket test match, Eng- < land v. Australia, and the first Rugby , test, All Blacks v. Australia. .A luxurious pleasure liner forms the background for the comedy, "Three j on a Honeymoon." which will head j the new programme at the Majestic Theatre to-morrow. Sally Eilers and I Zasu Pitts have the leading roles. 1 and it would be dillicult to lind 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 Honey-1 moon" traces the romance of a dare-: devil flyer, 'Joan Foster iSally Eilers),' and a young ship's officer. Dick Charlton (.Charles Starretti, the comedy j being supplied by Zasu and her bash- : ful admirer, Ezra MacDtiff (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 oi' 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 avoid.her as much as possible, and while he is out of her sight she becomes in- 1 volved in a gambling game, which de- , velops into a brawl. Events take a i 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,

CRYSTAL PALACE j "LONG LOST FATHER'' AND I "ALL OF ME" "His Double Life" and "Song of Songs" will be shown finally to-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 to-morrow. 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 London cabaret. He meets his daughter 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. plans are at the D.I.C.

j TrVOLJ "TURKEY" TIME" A comedy with the whole delicious Aldwych team in it, Tom Walls, Ralph Lynn, Robertson Hare, and Mary Brougli, can generally be relied on to bo 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 thy cloak of suave villainy that ho wore in "Plunder," this time with the addition of a little Wild West "hc-cnan stuff." Lynn is as charmingly futile as ever; there never was so hen-pecked a husband as Robertson I-lare, and never was there a landlady so determined not to be "put upon" as Mary Brotigh, 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 i Mrs Stoatt's sister. Mr and Mrs Stoatt are pillars of society and models of 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 i r '- 1 "- : "- r| "ii Aui'vieon ii"Tsic~l.

THEATRE ROYAL "THE BOWERY" ; "Looking for Trouble," starring Spencer Tracy and Jack Oakie, to- ' gather with a rine assortment of Walt. Disney's colour cartoons and silly symphonies, will be screened for the last time at the Theatre Royal tonight. It wili be followed by "The Bowery," a fascinating and amusing film depicting life in the "gay 'ninetics" with, for background, "the livest mile on earth," the Bowery of New York. "The Bowery,'' the feature witii which the new 20th Century pictures launches its production programme for United Artists release, is full of laughter from the moment Chuck Connors enters the scene and loses his temper because his rival, Steve Brodie. has thrown rotten "mushmelons" all over the front of his saloon, to the final fade-out, when Chuck and Steve, friends at last, march away to put a speedy end to the Spanish-American War. Wallace Beery and George Raft play Connors and Brodie respectively, and Jackie Cooper, completing the star triumvirate. is Swipes, a newsboy, who lives with Chuck until Chuck brings home a girl he rescued from white slavers. Swipes dislikes women and being neat and tidy, and when Chuckgives him a sound spanking Swipes leaves home. He changes his allegiance to Brodie. out in his heart he cannot forget Chuck. In Die end it is Swipes who effects a reconciliation between the two who, despite Ihe bitter rivalry that was the sensation of the Bowery, really admire each other. "The Bowery" unites the two stars of "The Champ"—Wallace Beery and Jackie Cooper, who were lent to 20th Century Pictures by M.G.M. George Raft was lent by Paramount, while Fox contributed its director, Raoul Walsh. Feminine interest in "The Bowery" will be intense because of the emphasis placed on the part the Bowcrv girls played in the life of the romantic old thoroughfare. Fay Wray and Pert Keltou head the large feminine east. The screen play of "The liowery" was prepared by Howard Bastbrook and James Gleeson from the novel, "Chuck Connors," by Michael Simmons and B. It. Solomon. Another item on the programme which ihonid prove an attraction is "The Big Bad Wolf," another of Wall. Disney's masterpieces of coloured cartoon work. It is the sequel to the world-famous "Three Little I'igs" and is s-iid to be even better than its predecessor. plans are at the D.I.C

REGENT "RII'TIDK" AM) CHOSTIAKOFF "Aura Sally, 1 ' the eutertanuiij.; EngJisli musical comedy at present bein;* shown at the Recent Theatre will be screened for Ihe last time to-night. Norma Shearer offers another ot her magnetic and fascinating performances as a modern woman with ultramodern ideals in "Riptide," nor latest play, which will open to-morrow at the" Regent Theaa.re. Lavishly produced and brilliantly enacted by its stars, who also include the ever popular Robert Montgomery and that delightful English actor, Herbert Muri nail, this new picture stands out as one of the finest productions to come from the Metro-Goldwyn-Maycr studio. As l.a'iy Kexford in this daring, triangular romance. Miss Shearer is superb. As Lord Kexford. Herbert Mnrsbnll River one of the mo&t convincing displays «..f his career, whilst Robert Montgomery Tommy. supports Miss Shearer romantically the fifth time as iier playboy cuiir' '. r in. "Riptide." Airs Patrick Campbell, noted British actress, heads the impressive supporting east as an eccentric dowager. JLilyan Tashman is Norma s sister. Other iniporta.it roles are in the capable hands of such sterling players as Skeets Gallagher, Ralph Korbes. Arthur Jarrett, and Earl Oxford. A special attraction wilj be the a>>ucarance on the .stage of Sema Chosliakoft. the celebrated Russian tenor, who recently toured the world as the principal soloist of the Don Cossack Choir. Senia ChosfiakofT will sing a number oi his most popular somv, accompanied by an orchestra. The box tor the brief season are nov open at the D.I.C.

CIVIC ♦'THAT'S A GOOD GIRL" 10-n>ght wUI be the last'opportunity for patrons to see tho romantic comeciy-clrama, "The Lady-is Willing," now showing at the Civic Theatre. Leslie Howard is the star, and ho has never done anything so brilliant before. •Jack Buchanan, wiio will come to the Civic Theatre to-morrow, is; a star whose popularity has increased at every appearance, until to-day he is recognised as the screen's most versatile and clever entertainer. "That's a Good Girl," hit; latest production, is adapted from the famous stage success which ran for more than a year at the London Hippodrome. The London 'Morning Post" regards it as the merriest musical comedy of the day and the best yet made in England. Buchanan s charm of manner, his pure English speech, and his incomparable dancing and easy singing, get full scope in this production, which is an endless chain of humour mingled with really clever acting, enacted before a background of beautiful Riviera scenery. At the head of a supporting cast of 100 artists stands the clever Australian stage comediennes Vera Pearco and Elsie Randolph, both of whom will be remembered for their work in "Yes, Mr Brown." The supporting programme includes the latest Pathe News, in' which scenes of Royal Ascot and the second tesi, match will be shown, as well as "Nightlights of the Melbourne Centenary" and "The New Highway." An outstanding enter'i.-'nment is completed by the personal appearance of the popular organist. Miss Iris Mason. An item of special local interest will be "Where the River Avon Flows," which is being featured for the first time in Christchurch. Patrons are advised to make early application for seats at the theatre, where plans are now open.

GRAND "SHE DONE IIIM WRONG" "Alice in Wonderland'' wiJJ b£ show 11 finally to-nigh(i at the Grand Theatre. "She Done Him Wrong," which will begin a return season at the Grand Theatre to-morrow, is a picture full of action, drama, suspense, and romance. It has the New York Bowery as its background, and the swaggering gay nineties as its period. Mae "West who wrote both the story and the dialogue, gives her role brilliant and vivid treatment. She sings two songs during the course of the picture—the famous old ballad, "Frankie and Johnny,'" and "Haven't Got No Peace Mnid." Uox plans are al the D.I.C.

' LIBERTY ! "THE SILVER Sl'OON" AND "PICK UP" ! ; "Lazy Kiver," a picture as attractive as its name, and "Big City Blues," will ;be screened for the last time at the Liberty Theatre to-night. A fine double-feature programme will follow to-morrow, comprising "The Silver Spoon" and "Pick Up." the first a romance and the second a drama. "The Silver Spoon" is a romance with all the elements of a mystery thriller and none of the latter's socalled "horror" atmosphere. It is a Warner Bros.' production, with Garry Marsh, Tan Hunter, and Binnie Barnes in the ic.aciing roles. "The Silver Spoon" is trie story of two nobleman tramps, who take to the woods because of the same reason —a woman. Unbeknown to each other, they both love the same girl, and when they all meet again makes one of the most interesting stories yet brought to the screen. Sylvia Sydney and George Raft appear together for the first time on the screen in Paramount's "Pick Up." The story of "Pick Up," a B.P. Schulberg production, centres round Sylvia, who plays the role of a girl who is released from prison, to shift for herself. Her husband is still behind the bars on a murder charge. Once out, Sylvia finds herself destitute, and on a rainy night takes refuge in an empty taxi cab. Raft, the driver, orders her ovit, but when he realises the genuineness of her plight offers to help her, and they fall in love. Box plans are at the D.I.C.