CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21551, 14 August 1935, Page 7

CITY THEATRES

MAJESTIC «THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DEOOD'f Those fastidious persons who regret that they cannot read Dickens because of his "crude style" need no longer lieny U&emselves close acquaintance«hip with his work. By going to the theatre they may have the essence of Qickent without the mannerisms of his prose; tor, at the Majestic Theatre the the .film version of "The Mystery of Edwin Drood," Dickens's unfinished and eerte novel, is having a season. ;And those who dislike Dickens from hearsay, having heard of the moral purpose of his books, need not became of that be detained from seeing this picture; the story is no more than a story, and has its origin in the most elementary human emotion. Claude Rates is cast as John Jasper, a musician, whose mind has been slightly unbalanced by drugs and completely unhinged by his covert love for one of his pupils, whose part is taken by Heather Angel- The excellence of his lormer acting is transcended l--re by bis playing of a drug-besotted ,man whose incoherence has a part in the discovery of Drood's murderer. There is in the whole of the picture no false acting,'but Rains would * have to be disregarded to make a fair assessment of the powers* *ot the supporting players And even without the embellishment* of light and shade, his work would still give to the picture the touch of evil which is the consummation of its peculiar atmosphere. AMATEUR VAUDEVILLE TRIALS A further offering of amateur vaudevill entertainers will be presented at the Majestic to-morrow evening. Included in a varied programme are mouth-organ, jazzophone. magic, and yodelling exponents. Cssh - £1 Is ere awarded in.the adult sections, while the children's, prize is 10s M. The contestants are judged; by tne audience. Entries are now being received at the Majestic box office for next week. •: civic~''T/ ; :; "THE MORALS OF JMABCP?? When an English film studio decides to turn a good play into a; film, a.-*} iecures a capable cast ofpWers, the result is entertainment of the first eager. "The Morals of Marcus, now ■tewing at the Civic All-Bntisb oSri is a striking sample: Based en the famous play by Wulianv J. j£i| brilliantly acted' by the IStaig Mexican star, Velez, fflttJMrted by lan Hunter. AdrJNoel. Madison, - the Sgducffi*X .tort will please the gust hardened critic. ,

The story briefly concerns the adventures of an escaped harem girl, half Syrian and half English, and a staid professor of science, Sir Marcus prdeyne. He takes her to his Mayfair home, where he begins the difficult task of taming her a little and educating her. She falls in love with her unresponsive protector, the delicate situation being complicated by the intrusion of a society divorcee. Lupe Velez gives a brilliant performance as "Carlotta," and her temperamental nature is delightfully offset "by the staid dignity of lan Hunter as Sir Marcus. An" excellent blending of romance and'comedy, "The Morals of Marcus" has not one dull moment from start to finish. ' j Four excellent supports complete the programme. Box plans are at the I theatre. REGENT "NAUGHTY MARIETTA" "Naughty Marietta," the sparkling musical romance, starring Jeanette MacDdnald and Nelson Eddy, which will conclude its successful extended season at the Re'gent Theatre to-mor-row night, can boast of the finest advertisement in the world—public approval. The title role is played by Jeanette Mac Donald with all the grace and ability which won her stardom, but never has she appeared in better voice. Opposite her is Nelspn Eddy, a famous operatic singer. "RUGGLES OF RED GAP" j ON FRIDAY "In the comparatively short time he has acted for the screen Charles Laughton has given the film world more shocks than any other living film player," writes an Australian critic of "Ruggles of Red Gap," which will open at the Regent Theatre on Friday. "After some sombre but! amazingly powerful acting, he has slipped into the odd clothes of the comedian in no less a farce than 'Ruggles of Red Gap.' It is the' most surprising thing that Laughton has done since he dedicated his unrivalled talents to the screen. If you had not seen him skipping) comically-as an intoxicated valet in the boulevards of Paris, rolling on the floor In a paroxysm of drunken laughter and kicking offensive persons vigorously in the seat& of their trousys, you would have declared unhesitatingly that;olair the plays you knew that might suitably jexploitXaughtpn's many-sided art, 'Ruggles of Red Gap' certainly was-not one. of them. But when you have seen the seemingly impossible accomplished so facilely, with sw h effortless abandon, you will give up forming opinions about what constitutes a Laughton part. The fact is that Laughton is that rare theatrical genius, the tragedian who is comedian. Charlie Ruggles play? the part of Riiggles's new employer in Red Gap, and Mary Boland that of a socialscheming wife. There is .one episode which shows Laughton at his dramatic best. It is When _Ruggles, in the licmor saloon in Red Gap, recites Lin•coln's farribus speech at Gettysburg. It is along.speeciu .and much of it is spoken when Laughton has his back to the audience, but its declamation in Laughton's "faultless English is. unforgettable."

THEATRE ROYAL EXCELLENT DOUBLE-FEATURE PROGRAMME The singing of Joseph Schmidt alone would be enough to make any picture worthy entertainment for all classes of theatregoers—but with a pleasant story and a Vdhetian background, "My Song Goes Round the World," which will be shown finally at the Theatre Royal, to-morrow night. Bright enjoyable. British comedy is provided in the second attraction, the Garden Wall." The story, like that of many other British comedies, is happy and carefree and is the type of entertainment that appeals to even the most cynical of theatregoers. "GRAND OLD GIRL" AND "WOMAN'S MAN" There is a wealth of variety and good entertainment in the new doublefeature programme which will start at the Theatre Royal on Friday. It comprises "Grand Old Girl" the latest success of the very popular May Robson, and "Woman's Man," a story of life in Hollywood. The school teacher "comes into her own" in "Grand Old Girl," starring May Robson. A vivid portrayal is given by Miss Robson. as the elderly principal of a small town high school. When a sinister influence in the town threatens the welfare of her pupils, she steps outside the realm of the schoolroom and conducts a one-woman campaign to eradicate it. The fight threatens to cost her her job, but that | does not check her zeal, and she "sticks to her guns" right up to a welldeserved victory. Looking after the youthful romantic interest in this novel story are Mary Carlisle and Fred" McMurray. The other feature, "Woman's Man," is described as a frank and daring exposure of life behind the scenes in Hollywood. It is a delightful mixture of comedy and drama. "Woman's Man" is said to present Hollywood in a manner in which it has never before been shown—in all its glamour, hypocrisy, tragedy, joy, strength, and weakness. The authenticity it achieves was made possible by the intimate knowledge and experience of the author, Miss Adela Rogers St. John. She removes the veneer from the screen personalities and visualises just how far the accepted movie star can go before she is tumbled from the throne on which she has been placed by her admirers. The cast is headed by Marguerite De La Motte, John Halliday, and Wallace Ford. Box plans are now open at the D.I.C. . TIVOLI "BIOGRAPHY OF A BACHELOR GIRL" Ann Harding and Robert Montgomery, two of the screen's most competent stars, appear together in "Biography of a Bachelor Girl," which is being featured at the Tivoli Theatre. I This is a comedy of the present days.

That makes it advanced. In a perfect delightful manner it reveals many secrets that a number of people would prefer to keep dark. That makes it intriguing. It has quite a number of elaborate settings. The dialogue is witty and ripples along with a sparkle and brilliance seldom achieved. In "Biography of a Bachelor Girl," there is more genuine comedy than in any other screen attraction seen in Christchurch in recent months, and taken all round it is a film that should delight everyone. It is the story of a Cleveland attractive young girl who decides to write the story of the men she has known. News of her determination reaches a number of these men, greatly to their consternation. Through the. comedy runs a rich vein of romance. Box plans are now open at the D.I.C. STATE "ROBERTA" Some films, especially of the musical kind, can be bright to the point of dullness. They give the impression that someone has spent nerve-racking weeks in an effort to be bright in a different way. "Roberta." which is having a return season at the State Theatre, is a very bright picturecrammed full of bright songs, bright dancing,-bright music, and bright dresses —yet, strangely, it flows along evenly in ways that can be said to be anything but monotonous. Unusually enougl. for a i usical comedy, too, it is well-knit and has a plot which is deep enough and complicated enough for a more decorous and emotional film. Heading the cast are Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, and Irene Dunne. "LIFE BEGINS AT 40" The humorous and dramatic acting of Will Rogers in "Life Begins at 40," which will begin a season at the State Theatre on Friday, has seldom been excelled by this actor, who has made such screen successes as "David Harum," "The County Chairman," and "Judge Priest." This, film is said to be very well served' in the way of humorous situations. The story for the film was suggested by the book of Walter B. Pitkin. Will is cast as the editor of a country newspaper, who, as the title of the picture suggests, be lieves that until the age of 40 has been reached, one does not get the best out of life. "Life Begins at 40" tells of the romance of a young school mistress and a youth who has been sent to prison, although he is innocent. Will, however, by bringing to light certain facts, manages to clear the young man and also to cause many laughs for-the audience. As the young man, Richard Cromwell plays very convincingly, while Rcchelle Hudson is exceedingly well cast as the young school mistress. She is now only 19 years of age, and one of the most talented and popular stars in Hollywood. Slim Summerville, who has been in many comedy films with the ever-pop-ular Zasu Pitts, is also included on the cast, and also supplies many of the hilarious situations. Jane Darwell is seen as a kindly old maid. ■ Others in the cast are George Barbier, Sterling Holloway, Thomas Beck. Roger Imhof, Charles Sellon, John

Bradford, and Ruth Gillette. The film was directed by George Marshall and produced by Sol M. Wurtzel. Theatre-goers are assured of excellent entertainment and will be kept in a happy mood right till the last moment of the film. Box plans are now open at the D.I.C. LIBERTY "MYSTERY OF HELEN STANLEY" AND "ROADHOUSE" "Roadhouse," a romantic comedy drama, and "The Crime of Helen Stanley," which comprise the new double programme at the Liberty Theatre are two films very different in type. The main attraction, "Roadhouse," is the film version of Walter Hacketfs successful stage play, which met with such a wonderful reception in London. In the principal roles are the inimitable comic actor Gordon Harker, and Violet Loraine, a well-known stage performer. Adapted from a real tragedy which occurred some years ago, "The Crime of i Helen Stanley" reveals some of the secrets in the actual murder of a motion picture star. Ralph Bellamy as a detective, and Shirley Grey, have the leads, and the supporting cast includes Gail Patrick. PLAZA THEATRE "SING AS WE GO" Almost any of Gracie Fields's picI tures is to be considered a piece of | good Kick, but coming as it does in a "week of festivity, "Sing As We Go," her latest film, which is having a sea•son at the Plaza Theatre, must be considered doubly as a piece of good luck. It is infectiously happy entertainment of the kind to help in the celebration of good fortune or as a balm for ill-luck. When the films coming from British studios are so much of one certain type as almost to- create in New Zealand ers the impression that all Englishmen speak with an Oxford accent, •'Sing As We Go" is a salutary remincer that many Englishmen speak the dialect of Lancashire; that if there are a Lido and a Rotten row, there is also a Blackpool. Specially written by Mr J. B. Priestley, the story, which is robust rather than subtle, bears many of the author's characteristics, especially his keen interest in individual men and women. Whether she is singing, or eluding the policeman, or joking, Gracie Fields is splendid throughout. She is for the most part m the middle of a crowd, where she is always at her best, being, it might be said, a. pleasant kind of demagogue, with a gift for handling multitudes. She has several catchy songs, including "Sing As We Go," and "My Little Top Drawer," the libretto of whieh is very clever. John Loder and Dorothy Hyson provide a charming romance, in which it is Miss Fields's task to smooth out the difficulties. One of the most important contributions to the success of the film is made by the photographer, whose impressionistic "shots" of the Blackpool fair are noteworthy.

AVON THIRD WEEK OF "CLIVE OF INDIA" The entertainment value of "Clive of India," the elaborate Hollywood film starring Ronald Colmaa in his greatest role, which is in its third week at the Avon Theatre, is high enough to compensate for its historical inac- j curacies, and its emphasis on the sentimental life of a man who is gener- \ ally regarded as a soldier and empire I builder rather than as a husband. i The first half of the programme is i notable for the screening, of the first I Mickey Mouse film in .technicolour, I "The Band Concert." Mickey Mouse j conducts his own animal band in play- ] ing a selection from Rossini.'s "William j Tell," with many peculiar and excruci- i ating variations. This film is sheer de- j light, its cleverness defies estimation, ; and it adds the highest touch of excel- : lence to a most enjoyable .programme. | This programme wiil be shown ! finally to-morrow night. CHEVALIER IN "FOLIES I BERGERE" | j "Folies Bergere," the 20th Century film which will start at the Avon Theatre on Friday, will I bring Maurice Chevalier, before his' hundreds, of admirers in an entirely new type of role. The spectacular scale and frivolous mood of the famous Parisian musical revue from which the film takes its name is retained throughout, notably in the costly "Straw Hat" and "Rhythm of the Rain" numbers. The combination of these lavish settings with the acting of Chevalier in an entirely new type of role makes "Folies Bergere" one of the' most entertaining films ever screened. * Beautiful Ann Sothern dances and sings expertly as the jealous partner of Charlier (Chevalier), the star of the Folies Bergere, whose speciality is the impersonation of the notorious French Baron Cassini. Things begin to happen when the baron goes on a secret mission to raise a loan to ■cover funds belonging to his bank, with which he has meddled, and Charlier is called in to impersonate the baron in real life, as well as on the stage. Merle Oberon makes her Hollywood debut as Genevieve, the lovely but neglected wife of the baron, who knows that Charlier is not really her husband, but pretends not to notice the impersonation. Here is a typical situ-' ation for French farce, but the developments that arise out of *„ are as fresh as they are gay and hilarious. Chevalier sings five songs, supplemented by lavish dance ensembles, which have been staged by Dave Gould (of "Carioca" fame) in the manner for which the real "Folies' Boj-gere" is world-famous. The musical numbers include "Singing a Haopy Song," "Rhythm of the Rain," "I Was Lucky." and "Au Revoir L'Amour." "Folies Bergei'e" is really a pioneer in screen entertainment. For years Hollywood producers have negotiated for the rights to Europe's foremost show-piece, a theatrical institution that has drawn visitors from all over the world since 1839. When at long* last the owners of Folies Bergere in Paris

agreed to the demands of the screen it was United Artists who captured the prize, and no one who sees the film will deny that they have taken excellent advantage of it. Box plans are now open at the D.I.C. CRYSTAL PALACE "FORGOTTEN MEN" The authenticity of the scenes which go to make up the film "Forgotten Men," which is now in its second week at the Crystal Palace, is beyond question. The aim of the film is frankly to show the dreadful destruction of men and material wrought by war. It may therefore be argued that one part of war is missed, the side of glory, thrilling action, friendship, and excitement. This film will be shown finally at the CiTstal to-morrow night. New plots for murder mysteries must by now be running low, but Associated Talking Pictures have cer- j tainly chosen an entirely new one j in "Death at Broadcasting House," which will follow "Forgotten Men" at ! the Crystal Palace on Friday. The i story concerns a radio play in which j one of the characters is to be strangled, j At rehearsal he is the despair of the ! producers, but at the actual perform- i ance he gives an amazingly realistic display. The admiration of the producer and other players turns to horror, however, when rushing into congratulate him, they find that he had really been strangled. And millions of people have heard the broadcast without realising that they have been listening to an actual murder. The crime and its solution are most' ingeniously worked out against the authentic background of Broadcasting House, with many famous stars being seen and heard at their work of entertaining listeners-in all over the world. The cast includes lan Hunter, Austin Trevor, Mary Newland, Peter Haddon and Val Gielgud, who was also responsible for writing the story. In conclusion, one cannot do better ! than quote the of the Sheffield "Daily Telegraph": "I don't think I j have ever seen a British film that was ! either as interesting or as exciting. It 1 must rank as one of the best British ' thrillers ever made." Box plans are now open at the 1 D.I.C. I ! ■— i GRAND • "HIDE-OUT" Brightness characterises "Hide Out," a romantic comedy which is having a season at the Grand this week. Robert Montgomery has the role of a racketeer, but one who is forced to go into hiding. Maureen O'Sullivan is convincing as a country g.irl, and the film contains many surprise comedy sequences which keep the fun going at a rapid pace. The supporting programme is interesting, and a further thrilling episode of the serial, "Pirate Treasure," is included'. ..,-■■.. ••■.

MAYFAIR "ONE MORE SPRING" As a. dramatic achievement, "One - More Spring," which will conclude a . season at the Mayfair to-morrow " night, is probably one of the best films Janet Gaynor and Warner Baxter together have made. They rely more this time* than ever before on straightforward dramatic ability—there are no gay dancing hails, nor beautiful homes, nor lavish dresses, nor anything that is usually associated with the -Janet Gaynor pictures that have won her the place she holds.among screen favourites. WHEELER AND WOOLSEY IN "THE NITWITS" Combining good music, thrilling mystery, and much amusement, "The l Nitwits," starring Bert- Wheeler- and- ; Robert Woolsey, which will start a j season at the Mayfair Theatre on Tri-S -day; is a very appropriate film -with I which to end National Week. These: j two well-known stars have in- this j film roles different from those in which '• i they have appeared before, but. Ac- : \ cording to many critics they are just |as entertaining as ever. With these , two actors appears Betty Grable, ali ready established in America 'as an i actress, anger, and dancer of great ability. The following songs are : amen git the si sung during the film:?— i "You Opened My Eyes," "Music in My j Heart," "The Black Widow will Get ' You if You Don't Watch Out," tunes . which have already become popular 1 over the air. . " ; The story i 3 really a murder mystery which Y/heeler, Woolsey, and Miss Grable set cut to solve in their own ■ peculiar way. "The Black Widow," a mysterious blackmailer, has been ter- ■ rorising the city with threats and ' minders. One of his many victims is Mils Grable's boss, a song publishing i magnate. Betty is accused of the crime, jas the weapon with which'the murder L dene is found in her possession. ! Althcu".h bef.>d by many suspects. Wheels v and Y\ r colsey manage during ' their amusing antics to stumble across ; the re:;] solution to the crime. I Svv - r-rting the three leading players is a =;\---t cv 4. including Fred Keati in" Eve-vn Brent. Erik Rhodes, Hale • Hamilton; Arthur Aylesworth, Dorothy , Gl ., rl r .„. ~,} Willie Best. iii,n is an RKO production, and waV directed by George Stevens.