CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21334, 29 November 1934, Page 13

CITY THEATRES

O CIVIC "THE NIGHT CLUB QUEEN" As the theatre will be otherwise engaged, there will be no pictures screened at the Civic All-British Theatre to-day. To-morrow British Dominions Films will present the final screening of "The Night Club Queen." Lovers of good acting and a logical story should not miss seeing the famous actor, Lewis Casson, and Mary Clare, in this absorbing drama. "THE BROKEN MELODY" John Garrick, who appeared recently in "Lily of Killarney," will be seen again on Saturday next at the Civic Theatre in the latest British success, "The Broken Melody." Like its successful predecessors, "In a Monastery Garden" and "The Lost Chord," th ■ film offers entertainment seen only too seldom. Eased on the immortal melody of the same name, the production has every claim to the title it has earned —"The picture beautiful." John Garrick is given every opportunity to exploit his talent in this film, and his singing of the beautiful melodies is a feature that will linger long in the memory of all who hear him. "The Broken Melody" is an enthralling romantic drama which holds one's interest from the time the story unfolds to its dramatic close. Romance and dramatic suspense blend into a fine and interesting story. Garrick is supported by a cast including the screen's new sensation, Merle Oberon and Margot Grahame. Box plans for this attraction are now open at the theatre, where scats may be reserved at no extra cost. PLAZA "BULLDOG DKUMMOND STRIKES BACK" There are few people who have not the capacity to enjoy a real honest-to-goodness melodrama like "Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back." Those who go to sec "Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back" at the Plaza will go as much lor Ronald Colman. who returns as the redoubtable Captain Hugh Drummond, as they will for Sapper's full-blooded story. Colman acts so well and has such a keen sense of humour that he succeeds in making (he extravagant, adventures of the master sleuth seem to be almost possible. Throughout Drummond faces his antagonists with remarkable coolness and escapes when his life seems to be hanging in the balance. The whole action takes place on a single, foggy night in London. After attending the wedding celebrations nl his friend, Algy, Drummond embarks on an adventure in which he ultimately saves his country from a major disaster. The film is highly melodramatic and thrilling, but has a good deal of comedy as well as some very bright dialogue. Prominent in the supporting programme is Mickey Mouse's latest adventure, among the Lilliputians, a delightful and charming fantasy of Walt Disney. "TWENTY MILLION SWEETHEARTS" A distinct innovation in film entertainment is offered in Warner Bros.' "Twenty Million Sweethearts," which will be shown at the Plaza Theatre on Saturday. The picture, which is based on the story by Paul Finder Moss and Jerry Wald, is a combination of comedy, romance, drama, and rare musical numbers. Dick Powell takes the lead as a singing waiter who leaps to fame as Ax radio crooner. Opposite him plays Ginger Rogers, who has frequently sung over the radio and also in musical comedy on the New York stage. They are ably supported by a strong cast, including Pat O'Brien, Grant Mitchell, the four Mills Ivo'.hers, and Ted Flo Ri'o and his band. S"veral novelty numbers are given bv ihe four Mills: brother.-, including "It Wasn't. Told to Me—l Only Heard." and "How'm I Doin":," while "Fair and Warmer," another excellent "hit," is given by Ted Fio Rito's orchestra. As the radio star, Powell sings some excellent numbers, and in "I'll String Along With "ton," which has rhythm, swing, engaging words, and is sung with all his engaging personality, the star excels himself.

The production, which combines drama, comedy, and romance in a well-defined plot, wives an inside piclure of radio entertainers and their task of pleasing the public. The story deals with their romances, their joys and tribulations, and their struggles and successes. TIVOLI JESSIE MATTHEWS IX "EVERGREEN" Is it because of any material or spiritual instability of our own time that the world seems to take such increasing delight in excursions into the past? When C. B. Cochran produced "Evergreen" on the stage, he dipped deeply into th social life of Edwardian days, and if. does seem from tne glimpses given in the film which followed, that the days of the Edwards were rollicking and jolly in a way that the newer generation can keenly appreciate. Give us more glimpses as entertaining as these and we might actually be envying the young days of our fathers and mothers. In any case it is said that London took this staac play to its heart and it sccn.s that the film based on the play is having a similar good fortune universally. liven the clever impersonation of that vivacious and ingenuous young star, Jessie Matthews, cannot make less marked the distinct line of cleavage which separates the social life of our \generation from that of the last. The very effective and spectacular staging of the film play emphasises this cleavage all the mpre as the world swings from the* polka to he Great War and from champagne bottles to bullets. The same thing makes all the more improbable the very pretty and ingenious story of a girl who masquerades a- her mother, a former stage favourite of Edwardian days. As her mother, Jessie Matthews trips and trills delightfully through the gay inconsequential scenes which make most of the entertaining film. She has a voice of elfin quality: she dances with sprightly grace at times, at others with sinuous meaning; she sings the songs which many of us heard at a time when we had no memory to speak of. and they delight us the more for that. Sonnie Hale bears very well the task of providing most of the laughs. His style is fresh, sincere, and crisp. Betty Balfour makes a welcome return and shows us that there were even Edwardian gold-, diggers. There is also considerable success for Barry Mackay, enterprising publicity man whose best "stunt" implicates him in a crime which the country and the courts find it easy to forgive. The film is well put together, spectacularly staged and provided with splendid music.

THEATRE ROYAL "THE REGIMENTAL LADY" "The Regimental Lady." which is now being screened at the Theatre Royal, is even far more delightful than its name. It is a musical romance so finely balanced and so well acted that it earns recognition as one of the best films of its kind—a most refreshing kind —that it has been the pleasure of Christchurch to enjoy for some time. There is music, there is comedy, there is dancing, and there is romance in plenty in "The Regimental Lady," but of none of them is there too much. The balance preserved all through the film, the gloriously funny story with infectious music blended as an indispensable part, an achievement of which so many other musical lomances have fallen short. And not only / are the story and the music so good, but the acting of the whole cast is pleasing; the players have caught the sprut of the story and expressed it far better than did the players in so many other musical romances. In this "The Regimental Lady" is a tribute to the Sound City studios, from which a succession of equally good films has been produced lately. The appearance of new stars—at least new because of their so infrequent appearance in films that have come to Christchurch —contributes a great deal to the enjoyment of the picture. Tamara Desni, the Russian star, who leads the feminine cast, has not been seen here since she appeared a good many months ago with Jack Hulbcrt. It is a pitv more is not seen, and heard, of her. With her plays Harold French, a young London musical comedy star, who as the philandering duke whom women find it impossible to resist, is gloriously funny, and has a pleasant voice that is heard in several songs, particularly the infectious "We must have music every day," the theme song of the nlm. The story is pleasantly light—that is one big reason why it is so attractive—but it is not one of those for which, as so often in musical romances, excuses have to be made. The gorgeous situations into which it places the principal players arc sufficient in themselves to be satisfying. The strong cast includes Mcrten Sclton, who is French's tolerant chief at the embassy, and Reginald Gardiner, who is the secretary to the embassy and the duke's "warder."

McGregor and Walker, the New Zealand airmen who came fifth in the Melbourne Centenary Air Race, will appear in the Theatre Royal to-mor-row night and will tell some of their experiences.

"STRIKE ME UCKY" Hoy Rene, who will be remembered as a most popular member oi' Fuller's vaudeville companies some years ago, will be seen at the Theatre Royal on Saturday in a film entitled "Strike Me Lucky," an Australian comedy which had great success in the countiy of its production. The central figure is of course Roy Rene, the most popular of Australian comedians, in his inimitable role of "Mo," and his film is one which contains much laughter, romance, thrills, and human interest. To see Rene once more is. like welcoming an old friend, for there is no doubt that he and his partner were tremendously popular in their vaudeville days. Plenty of scope is provided in the picture for Roy Rene to exploit his particular talents, more scope, in fact, than the stage ever offered. Writing' of this comedy, one critic said: "One laughed to see him as the blundering handyman in tho second-hand clothing shop of Lowcn- : tein, as the 'tough' man in a speaki asy, as the stunting aviator, gold prospector, lover, and conqueror of a gang of robbers. And one sympathised with him when he was deprived of his ill-gotten gains, and when he was turned out on the street because ho had overlooked a matter of a few months' rent. ~For Rene has a way of getting under the skin, as it were, and linking the audience live his life with him. Beautiful girls are not lacking' in this film, and there is even a replica of a famous Hollywood star. She is called June East, but she has the voice and looks of Mae West." There is a big supporting east, including Lorraine Smith and John D'Arcy, Yvonne Bancard, Eric Masters. Dan Agar, and the six-year-old Pamela Be van. An added attraction on Saturday will be tho appearance on tho stage of the world-famous prima donna, Madame Elsa Stralia, who will sing several songs. MAJESTIC "MIRDER OX THE BLACKBOARD" "Stamboul Quest" will be shown finally to-morrow night at the Majestic Theatre. Tragedy, and mystery invade the schoolroom in "Murder on the Blackboard." starring Edna May Oliver and James C.leason. which will begin at' Ihe Majestic Theatre on Saturday. A sequel to the popular "The Penguin Pool Murder," the new picture centres about the death of a beautiful young teacher, and the investigation of the crime. Edna May Oliver, as the humorous and keen Hildegarde Withers, and Gleason, as Police Inspector Piper, join forces in solving the mystery. Their barbed repartee and mirth-pro-voking rivalry moke tho film a fastmoving succession of laughs, intersnersed with chills and thrills. The finger of suspicion points to the school principal, the assistant principal, the janitor, and the murdered girl's roommate. Hildegarde challenges death in her pursuit of the murderer, but unravels the mystery in a series of thrilling events. Bruce Cabot. Gertrude Michael, Regis Toomey, and Barbara Fritchic are also prominent in the tangled love afi'airs which figure in the plot, and Edgar Kennedy provides his share of* comedy as a "flatfoot" detective. "Murder on the Blackboard" is based upon the bestselling mystery story, written by Stuart Palmer, author of "The Penguin Pool Murder." Box plans are now open at the D.I.C. LIBERTY "WHOM THE GODS DESTROY" AND "PRIVATE SCANDALS" The double feature programme at the Liberty Theatre this week is made up of "Whom the Gods Destroy" and "Private Scandals." The first is a tale about human emotion., and the second i: a murder mystery. "Private Scandc 1 -" presents Zasu Pitts and Ned Sparks, two popular comedians, Phillips Holmes and Mary Brian and Lew Cody. Cody plays the part of an embezzling financier who is found dead. He had threatened to commit suicide, but when suicide is advanced as a theory for his death Sparks does not accept it. "Whom the Gods Destroy" is remarkable for the freshness and vigour of its plot, and for the acting of Walter Connolly. Doris kenyon and Walter Young, who have prominent parts, act very well, but the whole picture is dominated by Connolly.

REGENT "BRIGHT SIDE UP" Jan Kiepura, who is well remembered in "Tell Me, To-night," is starred in "My Song For You," which heads the fine programme at the Regent Theatre this week. Romance, music, and a rich vein of humour are the major features in "Bright Side Up," which will commence at the Regent Theatre on Saturday. It is a film satire on Hollywood, and includes in the strong cast, John Boles, Pat Pater son, Thelma Todd, Spencer Tracy, and Herbert Mundin. John Boles has the part of a rival in love and he makes the most of it, singing and acting with delightful zest. The faster the pace the more he seems to like it, and the song, "Waiting at the Gate for Katie," gives him an opportunity that must be one of the best of its kind in his varied career. The story tells of the experiences of three merry adventurers who have screen ambitions and ideas. They plan to carry Hollywood by surprise, sign up contracts by sheer bluff, and are well cast in leading parts before the scheme is unmasked. From their first meeting with the girl who becomes the heroine, to the time when they are on the way to fame, the film ripples with almost continuous comedy, and when the true identity of the girl and her companion is revealed it becomes an uproar of fun. How it is all straightened out makes the most entertaining part of the show. Especially good are the scenes in which John Boles and Pat Paterson sing some popular numbers, including "Little Did I Dream," "I'm Throwin' My Love Away," and "Turn on the Moon." Pat Paterson has a voice that should win her a wide circle of admirers, and she is an accomplished actress. Spencer Tracy gives a breezy performance where everything depends on action, Herbert Mundin gives a sirong lead to the comedy team, and Thelma Todd, as a Hollywood actress, rises to her best. Box plans are now open at the D.I.C. CRYSTAL PALACE "DOUBLE DOOR" An unusual mystery story is presented at the Crystal Palace Theatre this week in "Double Door." In it Ann Morris appears as a sort of female Frankenstein, except that she is her own monster. She is certainly thoroughly convincing in her portrayal of a bitter and evil old woman, whose desire for power nearly wrecks a wiiole family. Beside her, the other characters are unimportant; they do little more than provide her with material to work with. Evelyn Venable makes a charming heroine as the young wife whom the old woman particularly dislikes. The story, the action of which takes place in 1906, tells how Rip Van Brett, the heir of a wealthy New York family, who is under the guardianship of his aunt Victoria, marries, in spite of a great deal of opposition from his aunt, Anne Darrow, who, as a mere nurse, is an outsider. Rip retains confidence in his wife, and elects to leave New York with her and finally to break with his aunt, even though she controls his fortune. Then Victoria lures Anne into a secret sound-proof room built by Rip's father and forgotten since, and leaves her to suffocate. The end is unexpected. The story belongs to a type that was popular some years ago, but it is admir-' ably adapted to the screen, and even if its events are not always credible, it is certainly entertaining and well acted. GRAND "THE CAT AND THE FIDDLE" Both Ramon Novarrc and Jei.nette Macdonald pevorm srvndidly „n the spectacular musical romance, "The Cat and the Fiddle," which has begun a return season at the Grand Theatre Some of the later scenes are in colour, and help to display the handsome pair and their settings. Frank Morgan i« the rich bad man who tries to stop.l Jeanette from Novarro, and Chnrle? i Butterworth supplies excellent comedy. Box plans are now open at the D.I.C.