ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 116, 14 February 1928, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. That trio of amazingly clever monkeys. Max, Moritz, and Akka, are the star atI traction at the Regent Theatre this week. Having their set tricks io do, they manage to bring in fresh unrehearsed ones, whie.li bring forth shouts of laughter. Bicycle tricks, musical tricks, tumbling (ricKs, and aerial feats, •.lie and all these clever animals perform with outstanding intelligence and remarkable ease. The film portion, of the programme is also cxceptioualy good. “Tell It To Sweeney,’’ with Chester Conklin and George Bancroft as the stars, it is an unusually clever comedy. The story concerns the rivalry between two enginedrivers. Doris Hill and Jack Ludin support the stars. Good supports are, also shown, and excellent incidental music is supplied by the orchestra. THE KWONG SING WARS. The Kwong Smg Wall troupe of Chinese players will open a short season at the .Regent Theatre on Wednesday, February 22, following Max, Moritz and Akka. A. .11500 per week attraction, headed. by their giant leader, Kwong Smg Wall, these Chinese comprise magicians, acrobats, and jugglers, including two of the must wonderful chiluieii imaginable. The feats of magic are particularly intriguing and bewildering. An idea of the success of these marvels in Australia can be gained from the fact that although it is several mouths since the Regent, endeavoured to obtain them for New Zealand, it is only recently that they were able to 1111 in dates for New Zealand, and then only by sacrificing engagements in the Commonwealth. The Kwong Sing Walls arc at present mystifying and thrilling enormous houses at the Regent, Auckland. The plan is at the theatre (phone 41—114), ami Bristol. DE LUXE •THEATRE. “Les Miserables,” the gigantic French screen version of Victor Hugo's immortal story, is the current feature at the De Luxe Theatre. One cannot see this movie masterpiece without realising that infinite patience, unlimited money, and inspired endeavour were lavished upon the production, for no item in the tremendously big tableau seems to have been too small to be worthy of the utmost care in reproducing, when actual antiques could not be obtained. Jean Vai jean, regarded by many as the most beloved character in fiction, is played by Gabriel Gabrio with a depth of understanding that makes the man of burdens live and breathe. The lovely C’osette. the terribe Javert, the crafty Thorhardier, ami Father Myriel. the saintlyall these arc brought to being on the screen with the force of truth. Special and apnronriate musical numbers are rendered, both by Mr. Aarons at the Wurlifzer organ, and by the orchestra.

"PAID TO LOVE/* There is nothing but light humour and chuckling romance in "Paid to Love/' a Fox special attraction, which commences screening at the De Luxe Theatre on Friday evening next, with a full orchestral matinee on Saturday at 2.30. George O’Brien plays the part of the youthful Prince, and Virginia Valli plays the part of the Parisian dancing girl. The story deals with a kingdom wherein the prince is more interested in mechanics than in society. Romance enters his life, however, and he encounters plenty of action in the course of it. George. O’Brien has had many fights in his screen career, hut it is doubtful whether he has ever had a more realistic encounter than that in which .he figures in "Paid to Love.’* Virginia Valli, more beautiful than ever, is cast as the vivacious Apache dancer of the Paris Montmartre, and the role calls for some of the most wonderful gowns she has ever worn. .J. Farrell MacDonald, cast as a financial commissioner, is seen at his very best. The supporting programme includes a Fox News and a really funny comedy. MrAarons at the might.y Wurlitzcr and the Orchestra Do Luxe in new items will complete a programme de luxe. The box plans are at the Bristol Piano Co., Aitken’s Book Arcade, or ring theatre, ’phoue 23—080.

KING’S TITEATKE. . , “Spring Fever.” William Hamess newest starring vehicle for Met ro-Gold-wyn-Mayer, which is now being shown at the King’s Theatre, is one long, loud laugh. The fun starts when Haines as Jack Kelly, a shipping clerk, is discovered by his' employer to be a coming golf champion, when the boss takes him along to an exclusive country club, and it doesn’t end until Kelly has overcome a mountain of opposition in winning the prettiest girl in the place. In support are a news, New Zealand scenic, and comedy, with delightful incidental music by the orchestra. ■’THE LONE EAGLE.”

The lab' world war furiiislicil plenty of malt-ria) for motion picture stories, but al the same time il has brought about an exacl nets in pictures heretofore un-

known, according to Emory Johnson, who directed the Universal war epic “The Lone Eagl.e,” which conies to the. King’s Theatre as the feature attraction on Friday. “In making- a war pielure such as “The T.onc Eagle,” explained Johnson, “every detail must be perfeel. In tho United Slates alone there arcclose Io three million potential movie patrons who saw service in France dur-

ing the war. When wo depict a street scene in a French village, for instance, if there is one little thing out of place these men, who have an indelible memory of Franco stamped in their minds, arc bound to'iiotice it. Add to this the millions of people in Europe who will sec the picture and you have an idea what a slip-shod production would mean to the producer.” “The Lone Eagle,” a story of the allied forces during tho conflict, is said io be the most historically correct war picture ever filmed. It was written by Lieut. Ralph Blanchard, a member of the U.S. air service, wliu saw two years of actual service at the front, and the .majority of the actors are ex-soldiers. The leading roles in the picture are played by Raymond Keane and Barbara Kent, two of the younger school of players who have made rapid advancement during Hie pastyear, while the supporting cast includes Nigel Barrie, Jack I‘enniek, Don Stuart, Cuyler Supplcc, and .many others. “ROSE iLARIE.’’ Audiences al toe Gjaud Opera House Continue to enjoy “Rose Marie. ’ Tills musical comedy has a siory which takes place in the Canadian Rockies. The heroine, Rose Marie, is a .L'rcueii-Caua-dian, played by Miss Harriet Bennett, whim air. .Reginald Dandy, Frederick Bentley, Noel Allan, Yvouuo Banvard, Stephanie Desie, and Mabel Lambeth

arc in the cast. Inc melodies' tnrougiicut the play are more than usually tuneful. and tnc work of the chorus much above the average. The marvellous "Totem Pole” dance shows their ability at its best. Miss Stephanie Desto performs many of the dances m the play, besides leaning the ballets. .Mr. Frederick Bentley as Hard-boiled Herman, and Miss Yvonne Bauvard ;ts Lady Jane, provide the comedy throughout the piece. This is the last week of the play, which is having a most successful run in Wellington. .HAS MAJESTY r ’S THEATRE. Joe Brennan monopolises most of the laughs in "Happy and Snappy,” the opening presentation of the Poe Brennan and Cyril Northcote Revue Company, which is now at His Majesty's Theatre. Joe Brennan is a versatile performer, who injects large quantities of humour into every piece in which he appears. George Corelli, who Ims a beautiful tenor voice, sinjs “0 Sole Mio” and “When Autumn Leaves are Palling',” besides numerous duets with Ida Vanda, Dell Barnes, and Peggy Sharp provide a most refreshing turn by doing and singing the “Black Bottom.” With Gus Dawson, .Miss Barnes also supplies a novelty song and dance. Dismal Desmond does an exceptionally clever eccentric dance. Some of the best of the many good sketches are “A Flapper's .Version of History,” “The Finding of Moses in the Bullrushes,” “Paul 'Revcre’s Famous Bide,” and “Araby.” Miss Muriel Wilton, tl'o H-year-ohl Wellington girl, is again to the fore as a solo dancer. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Richard Barthelmess's latest starring vehicle, “The Patent Leather Kid,” is the big feature now at the Paramount Theatre. Convincing, realistic, spectacularly produced and directed, to its most minute detail, “The Patent Leather Kid.” First. National’s great romance of an East Side “pug.” and a little dancnig ril, is a picture perfect in agecraft. The story is splendidly developed, absorbingly human, and the acting of little Molly'O’Day, as the lady with the past, • and Dick Barthehness as the smashing fighting hero, calls forth superlatives. The shadowy background of war provides some wonderful sequences, especially those showing the Tank Corps in action, while the comedy, the grimness, the thrills, guarantee perfect entertainment. Molly O’Day has firmly established herself for stardom. Directed by Al Santell, this is a masterpiece of coordinated romance, and thrills with laugh-enticing titles. As a prelude Colin Crane Ims arranged an athle’ic and dancing display, introducing a ballet of pupils of the Minnie Everett. School of Dancing, while the orchestra, under Mr. L. D. Austin, provide appropriate musical numbers. EMPRESS THEATRE. Tolstoy’s “Resurrection,” the llesh-and-blood di;ama of prince and peasant, love sacred and profane, brings Rod La Rocque and Dolores del Rio to the screen of the Empress Theatre in the Inspiration-Edwin Carewe film version offered by United Artists, which is now in its second week at the theatre. The most widely read classic of modern times, enjoyed wherever people read books, translated from the Russian of

Leo Tolstoy into eleven languages in the past, thirty years, “Resurrection” is of unusual interest to film-goers because il is a drama strong and absorbing enough Io have made Tolstoy beloved by the masses of the world. Rod La Rocque is the star of "Resurrection,” playing the role of the prince who sinned and sorrowed. Dolores del Rio is Katusha Maslova, tho peasant ward of his two mailen aunts, the girl whoso lovo is defiled

and sullied, only io bo won again I hrough the remorse of the prince. Good supports arc also shown, and appropriate incidental music is supplied bv I lie orchestra.

Commencing at the Empress Theatre on Fi.'idav is “Private Izzy Murphy,” a special Warner Bros, comedy. QUEEN’S THEATRE. Wallace Beery and Raymond Hatton, that inimitable pair of comedians, are now at tlie Queen’s Theatre in their latest comedy, “Firemen, Save My ( liild.” Funny as these two have been in their previous productions, they excell themselves in this, their latest. As tiremen, the pair are a huge success, that is to say,, from the comedy point of view, and every action of this absurd pair brings forth riotous laughter. Josephine Dunn makes as pretty a heroine as any fireman could wish to rescue, and Toni Kennedy also lends good support to Hie slurs. The second feature, “Nevada,” a Paramount version of the Zane Grey story, is a thrilling Western romance, with Gary Cooper. Thelma Todd, and William Powell in the featured roles. Capital incidental music is also supplied.