CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21728, 10 March 1936, Page 16

CITY THEATRES

LIBERTY "BLOSSOM TIME"

AVON

“THE MELODY LINGERS ON” “The Melody Lingers On.” which is now having a second week at the Avon Theatre. is a film in praise of music, and is the best that has been shown in Christchurch for a long time. Apart from the musical side, the film is drama with a very high standard of acting, and it brings to the screen, in grand opera excerpts, a new and a beautiful voice—that of George Houston.. His rich,baritone voice reproduces very well, and his co-star, also a comparative newcomer to the screen, Josephine Hutchinson, has a long and exacting part to perform, which she handles with ease and grace.

"WITHOUT REGRET" A film combining romance, mystery and drama, "Without Regret," the screen adaptation of a famous stage play, will commence a season at the Avon Theatre on Friday. Superior performances on the part of Elissa Landi, Paul Cavanagh, Kent Taylor, and Frances Drake in the leading roles complement the strictly problem-play tenor of this tensely interesting picture. Miss Landi especially brings to her performance all the artistry and emotional depth of her particularly individual, but thoroughly versatile tclents.

Cast as a young English girl travelling through China, fate throws a dashing ne'er-do-well aviator in the person of Kent Taylor in Miss Landi's path. Intrigued by his irresponsible life she is swept off her feet by his gay indifference, his devil-may-care attitude toward life. After their first meeting, Taylor jilts his former sweetheart, Frances Drake, and marries Miss Landi.

Catering expressly to the sentimental and romantic in human nature, "Without Regret" will appeal undeniably to feminine film fans. With the eternal love triangle, theme uppermost, this film is ably supplemented with mystery and action. Miss Landi portrays her role with an honest sincerity and frankness of feeling. Cavanagh is his accustomed, well-bred self, giving the assured, well-poised, finished performance in the good taste that the part requires, and doing it unusually well. Kent Taylor departs from his usual romsntic leading man characterisations, and plays an unsympathetic role in a surprisingly sympathetic way, establishing himself as a character actor of no mean ability. Miss Drake also acquits herself competently in an equally unsympathetic role.

PLAZA

FINE DOUBLE-FEATURE

PROGRAMME

Two widely-contrasted types of entertainment are offered this week at tI-2 Plaza Theatre in "Wanderer of the Wasteland" and "Here Comes Cookie." The first picture is typical Western drama, brimful of excitement, and depending for its success on the rapid and unchecked development of a simple plot, in which the characters are clearly defined from the start of ths story. The second feature gives the audience that clever, polished comedy that is always acceptable. The contrast makes each picture the more enjoyable, the entire programme being richly entertaining.

"INVITATION TO THE WALTZ"

One of the most stirring periods in world history, the beginning of the nineteenth century, forms the background to the story of "Invitation to the Waltz," which will be shown at the Plaza Theatre on Friday. Those were the days when every county in England was craning its neck to see what France was doing; for the destiny of France was in the hands of a remarkably able and ambitious young man—Napoleon Bonaparte, a Corsican who had seized the reins of power and talked of conquering all Europe. Jenny . Peachey, the heroine of the story, was only a humble little ballet dancer in the chorus at Drury Lane, and no one would have expected that she was to play an important diplomatic role in connexion with the war. Her big chance came when a delicate situation arose, between England and one of the German State* Wurtemburg. She had met a young fellow in London who had introduced himself as the Duke of Wurtemburg. Having married an English princess, the Duke was considered an ally of England's against Napoleon, but with the rising tide of fortune there grew in him a greater sense of independence, and he began to waver between the two rivals. Jenny resolved, from both personal and patriotic motives, to win her way into the Duke's favour, and by excessive extravagance ruin- him, thereby forcing him back on to dependence on England. Achieving considerable fame as a dancer, she had little difficulty in getting the Duke's favour, but the first 'difficulty arose when she discovered that the young man of the London episode was not the Duke at all, but only one of his adjutants, who now opposed the foreign favourite in frustrating her plans. Other misapprehensions follow, some serious, others less serious, and the story rises to a thrilling and entertaining climax. The charming star of this film is Lilian Harvey, who is given W fine chance of displaying her undoubted ability, and she gives a brilliant performance. The rest of the cast is no less talented, among the artists making appearances being Esme Percy, Carl Esmond. Hay Petrie, Richard Bird, and Harold Warrender.

CIVIC "WHERE'S MY MAN"

Now in its second week at the Civic All-British Theatre, "Where's My Man," the Gaumont comedy starring Tom Walls and Cicely Courtneidge continues to attract and delight large audiences. That Tom Walls and' Cecily Courtneidge are seen together for the first time makes it an attraction of more than usual interest, and although a lot may be expected of these two stars, it is safe to say that nobody will be disappointed. Based. on the story of one of the campaigns of the Duke of Marlborough, the story gives wide scope for amusing situations and comic results in the manner which so befits these two stars. An excellent performance comes from Tom Walls, who. tackling a role widely different from his normal style, gives a finely, restrained study of the intrepid .Marlborough. As "Kit Ross," Cicely Courtneidge again proves herself a superb artist, and the honours of the film go to her".

With Cicely Courtneidge to supply the fun and the "situations" and, Tom Walls offering a new.angle of his personality, "Where's My Man" is a film that can be seen .more than once and new fun and new enjoyment gained from it each time. A splendid supporting selection of newsreels and special features completes an attractive programme. Box plans are at the theatre. v

The tributes that have been universally paid to "Blossom Time,". which is having a season at the Liberty Theatre, have not been overstated. To say that much of the success is due to Richard Tauber, who is a very good actor as. well as a wonderful singer, is true, but insufficient. His contribution is an outstanding one, an exceptionally fine piece of work. But if someone else is to be singled out for praise, it must surely be the producer, Paul Stein, who has imparted to this film a genuine romantic air and has made the action to flow.

"Sing As We Go" is the title of Grade Fields' new musical production, which comes to the Liberty Theatre on Friday. J. B. Priestley, the author of "Good Companions," wrote the story specially for Miss Fields, and this alone should ensure an excellent entertainment. The story tells of her adventures in Blackpool, where some first-class comedy sequences are filmed. The supporting programme is of an equally high standard.

TIVOLI

"THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH" The gangsters have come to London. They make their first appearance in "The Man Who Knew Too Much," which is having a season at the Tivoli Theatre, carrying a little less ammunition than they did in Chicago, but skilled enough in the art of kidnapping, menacing, shooting, and being generally unpleasant to give their public a wonderful evening's entertainment. Their guns are always loaded, and they hit the mark. The film tingles with high tension from the moment the first murder is committed, about 100 feet after the start, until the story ends in a suicide. The situations are cleancut and crisp, the cast has been chosen with wonderful care, and the whole production makes one of the finest British thrillers in many months. The story is full of realism and suspense, and is as convincing as such a story could be expected to be. The supporting programme includes a film of the funeral of King George V.

REGENT

"THE TERFECT GENTLEMAN"

An almost all-English cast makes its appearance in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's newest comedy, "The Perfect Gentleman," which will begin a season at the Regent Theatre on Friday. With the exception of Frank Morgan, who plays the leading .character role, the entire cast is English born. Cicely Courtneidge, the noted British star, heads the list, which includes Heather Angel, Richard Warwick, Herbert Mundin, Una O'Connor, Forrester Harvey, Henry Stephenson, Mary Forbes, Doris Lloyd, and others. Morgan plays an impoverished exarmy officer, who goes to fantastic and often comical devices to "put up a front." •Thrown out of his apartment for non-payment of rent, he goes to visit his son, vicar of a country church, manages to disgrace the son in front of his bishop, and is packed back to London again. He finds a theatre ticket, and attends a show where a former favourite, a music hall comedienne, enacted by Miss Courtneidge, is "given the bird." The doughty major rises to her defence and upbraids the crowd for disrespect to the woman who popularised "Tipperary." The upshot of the episode is that he is employed by her for her act. They become a tremendous hit. But the bishop-thinks they ought to be married. They quarrel—she tries to do a "single" and fails—but he is in the audience to come to the rescue, for the sake of the vicar's son who wants a better vicarage, and for the sake of the act that can't succeed without them both.

Hilarious details of an English music hall performance, comical contretemps at the vicar's garden party, at the fashionable watering-place, the major's escape from the bill collectors, and other humorous details, spice the romance. Miss Courtneidge sings several English comedy songs.

"DANGEROUS"

"Dangerous" is the title of the film which is now showing at the Regent Theatre, and it deserves that title. There is power seldom] seen in- film acting, and the - prodt@on x has been masterfully handled. Tse. film stars Bette Davis and Iranchot Tone. The screen play of the film was written by Laired Doyle and it required actors and actresses of the first order to carry it through." The response of those who have seen the Aim is proof that the splendid work of the stars is appreciated.

CRYSTAL PALACE A DOUBLE-FEATURE PROGRAMME

"Beggars' 1 in Ermine," and "Music Hath Charms," are shown in a doublefeature programme which is having a season at the Crystal Palace. The two pictures combine to make a programme full of variety—with thrills and the drama of revenge in "Beggars in Ermine," and dancing, music, and song in the bright and extravagantly-staged "Music Hath Charms." The first picture on the programme, "Beggars in Ermine," is essentially a one-man picture; Lionel Atwill takes the part of the steel mill owner who loses his legs in an accident—an accident that was manoeuvred by his enemy—and then loses his fortune and his wife and daughter through the foul play of a dishonest assistant This is« a Monogram picture, and is full of the good outdoor photography that characterises these pictures. There are some' splendid shots of the various working parts of the huge and successful steel mill. Then when Flint Dawson has lost his mill and his fortune and is going round the world as a beggar, there is much good photography in the many queer places he and his friends visit.

GRAND THREE BIG FEATURES

Three big features are on the new programme which is now having a season at the Grand Theatre. "Murder in the Private Car," featuring Charles Ruggles and Una Merkel, is an adaptation of a thrilling stage play which met with marked success wherever it was shown. The film is an* enjoyable mixture of mystery and" comedy, and is excellent entertainment.

The second feature, "You Can't Buy Everything," ,is the story of the schemes and ramifications of a whimsical old lady in the world of finance. The first chapter of a new serial, "Tailspin Tommy," is a film depicting aviation.

STATE THEATRE

“THIS IS THE LIFE” After seeing “This is the Life,” the current attraction at the State Theatre,' in which a young actress, Jane Withers, has the leading, part, it is natural to compare the star’s performance with that of another juvenile actress who has established a reputation as one of the best juvenile actresses appearing von the screen • today—Shirley Temple. That by the comparison Jane Withers loses nothing is the highest praise one can give her. She is a different type of actor to Shirley Temple, her performance being much more forcible. “SEVEN KEYS TO BALDPATE” • Bringing fb the screen a brilliantly modernised version of one of America’s favourite mystery tales, RKO-Radio’s production, “Seven Keys to Baldpate,” offers an outstanding treat to picturegoers. As many will recall, “Seven Keys to Baldpate” deals with a bet made by a young novelist that he can write a complete book in 24 hours. Selecting the desolate mountain inn as the ideal place in which to write, he finds himself immediately involved in a rapidfire series of events that build up the ingenious plot. Gene Raymond is perfectly suited for the role of the debonair novelisthero, a role that enables him to give full rein to his comedy talents as well as his romantic ability, Margaret Callahan, the newcomer who scored so notably in “Hot Tip" and “His Family Tree,” has the feminine lead, with Erin O’Brien-Moore as the other woman in the case.

Moroni Olsen, the giant Porthos of "Three Musketeers," and the Buffalo Bill of "Annie Oakley" is an ideal selection for the part of the crook leader, and Eric Blore, whose comedy abilities have made him a nation-wide favourite in the Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers musical films, adds plenty of laughs in a mysterious portrayal. Ray Mayer, Grant Mitchell, Henry Travers, Murray Alper, Harry Beresford, and Emma Dunn, all excellent character players, round out a well-balanced cast.

Although mystery and comedy predominate, there is a delightful love interest. With its brilliant acting, its thrill-packed story, and the eerie atmosphere given it by unusual setting and clever photography, "Seven Keys to Baldpate" is rated one of the real events of .the motion picture year.

MAYFAIR

"THE LAST DAYS OF POMPEII"

Magnificent as a spectacle and powerful in its drama, RKO-Radio's film "The Last Days of Pompeii," which is having a season at the Mayfair Theatre, is an ambitious production. It is a story of a historic Roman city at the height of its power and splendour, and as arena combats, luxurious banquets, pagan rites, soldiers, nobles, demagogues, and slaves pass in review it takes its audience back to the gilded days of the first century. The scenic highlight of the film is the eruption of Vesuvius, which brings about the destruction of Pompeii. Fear-mad-dened mobs caught between toppling walls and rivers of molten rock make a spectacle which, for magnitude, can have few equals on the screen. The tale is about one, Marcus, "8h embittered young blacksmith, who becomes a professional gladiator after the deaths of his wife and child. He engages recklessly in any deal, from slave trading to horse thieving, provided it pays. At the end of 20 years, rich, powerful, popular with the mob, he is master of the arena, director of the spectacles which cost the lives of thousands to amuse the multitudes. His only interest is his adopted son, whom, he hopes to make a leader in the Empire. Then, because of the boy's defiance of the Roman law, the father finds himself in a position where his power and wealth, instead of raising his son to leadership, condemn him to death. The terrible eruption of Vesuvius brings the story to an impressive climax.

MAJESTIC

"WOMAN WANTED"

The Majestic Theatre has specialised, as much as a theatre can specialise, in films packed full of action, and "Woman Wanted."' which is now showing there, is well up to the standard set by the fast moving thrillers which have been shown there recently. It goes further than most, however, because there is an excellent story to provide the director with hisK>pportunities for action.

The actors in the film accomplish all that is asked*of them. As Ann Gray, Maureen O'Sullivan has the hardest part to play and is the most convincing. She has many moods which she has to portray, and in not one of them is she found wanting.

"CHINA SEAS"

Crosbie Garstin's famous story "China Seas" has been transferred to the screen in a most thrilling manner. The film, will be shown shortly at the Majestic Theatre, and judging by the way in which it was received by large audiences in other centres it ' should have a most successful season in this city. It is said that the picture occupied two years in production, and certainly the lavishness with which the many spectacular scenes are presented indicates the intensive preparation which must have been necessary. On its spectacle alone the' picture would command a high place in the year's productions; but the directors have taken every care, and its cast is a list of famous screen names. The major roles are played by Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, Wallace Beery, but, in addition, lesser parts are taken by such well-known actors as Lewis Stone, Rosalind Russell, Dudley Digges, C. Aubrey Smith, Robert Benchley and Lilian Bond. The story is laid in the last nest of piracy, the stretch of sea off the south coast of China. It is no work of fiction in this regard. From time to time cable reports tell of the depredations of river and sea pirates along this coast of sinister repute. In the close-guarded bays and coves of the rugged coastline the sampans of old China lie ready for their work of blood. Their method is simple. Coastal and overseas steamers passing in the night are boarded by these villainous ruffians, their crews murdered and their passengers robbed. The story of "China Seas" deals with the adventures of a group of three white people aboard a liner off this wild coast. Beaten by typhoons and imperilled by the activities of pirates, their story is one of thrills, yet possibly the drama of the surroundings is not so interesting as the drama played out on the ship among Gable, Beery, and Jean Harlow.

Gable as the "hard-boiled" skipoer of the vessel, Beery, as the "trader" whose major task is the planning of the pirate raids, and Jean Harlow, as the sophisticated, wise-cracking lady-of-the-world, are brought together in a triangle romance which holds as many surprises as the scenes of greater action. Each gives a fine presentation, but it is a picture of fine characterisations, the smaller roles being excellently portrayed.