ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 244, 16 July 1928, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. "Sporting Goods,” starring popular Richard Dix, is. the current feature at the Regent Theatre. Dix is cast in a typical "young American" role, that of a happy-go-luckv golf suit , salesman, who gets into tremendous ■ (and comic) difficulties when he allows. a. ■ girl ■to think he is a multimillionaire-. The' girl was portrayed by Gertrude Olmstead. Dix's deception gets him into deep water—some of it muddy water, too —but eventually he extricates himself, saves the girl’s fortune, and then gets one himself, besides.his heart s desire. One! of the most humorous sequences in the picture is Dix’s poker game, in which the villain, played by Philip Strange, and two other men." try to cheat Dix out of Ins money, only to be foiled, .by. their own trickery. In support are a gazette and comedy, with delightful music, by the orchestra, under Mr. Ivan Fosello. An additional attraction is-the new programme given by Miss Florrie Le 5 ere and Mr. Lou Haudman.

WATER -LIONS AND DIVING. .NYMPHS. The announcement that Captain winstone's water, lions and diving-nymphs are to appear at the Regent Theatre on 1-ri-dav next in conjunction with’the' picture "Something Always Happens." Esther Ralston's screen success, will arouse the interest of all. As a spectacle. Captain Winston’s water lions and diving nymphs is paid to eclipse anything yet attempted in Wellington. The whole Regent stage is transformed into an . aquarium, and the equipment covers all the available space. The tank holds <lOOO gallons of water.-a. two-inch thickness of glass, together with a elever underwater lighting system making «verv inch of the tank visiblo. Under water the sea lions seem to have just as keen knowledge of their master’s direction as when they are on the stage. A whispered command is Immediately answered, although Captain Winston may be two or three feet away from the tank. Everv member of the company has a high degree of skill, and many of the diving feats are stated to be of a highly sensational type. Everything the girls attempt is imitated by the sea lions. A life-saving “drama" with the sea Hons as "lifeguards” is an amusing feature of the programme. The box. plan will open at. the theatre and the Bristol this morning. DE LUXE THEATRE. Featuring Polly Moran, Marie Dressier, .1. Barrel McDonald, Gertrude Olmstead, Jules Coles and Tenen Holtz, “Bringing Up Father.” now screening at the De Luxe Theatre, is an unusually good comedy. Although the new picture is laughable right from the first scene, and never lets up.for a moment, the fun grows furiously when-Mrs. Jfggs decides to hold a'"coining out.” party for her daughter Ellen, towards whom a young nobleman has indicated mope. . than a brotherly interest. Mrs. Jiggs asks here sister-in-law to act as maid at this pretentious function, and her, brother-in-law to. be-'the butler. Then the fun starts. Good supports and the usual excellent, music completes a, thoroughly satisfying programme. "METROPOLIS." ' Towering buildings connected at different levels by traffic viaducts, and with aeroplanes gilding casually round them, peopled by a.race of pleasure-seekers, and the business men who make their pleasures possible, are seen in “Metropolis.” Below them, burled, deep lu the earth, is art unending vista of gigantic machinery attended .by- a strange race of broken-spirited beings, who live down below with their work and do not know what pleasure is. "Metropolis” depicts the-condition'to which the world may come In another 100 years. The film is to be shown at the De Luxe Theatre on Friday. So advanced mechanically are these people that they have perfected an automaton resembling man, and so advanced are they in the use of-elec-tric energy that they are able to transform that automaton into living flesh and blood. The figure is made nt the order of John Masterman, the' wealthiest, man In Metropolis. In the form of a girl of the working people who has been preaching equalityof birth to the slaves of the machines. By his orders she goes down to their meeting-place to preach obedience and subservience. Her maker, Rotwang, however, loses bis power to control her, and -she preaches class hatred and revolution. She inflames the crowd, who wreck the machines they have tended for so long. The result is that their homes are flooded, and their children, whom they had forgotten, in danger of drowning. They are saved by the intervention of Masterman's sou and Mary the girl in whose image the automaton was made. Brlgette Helm makes Mary a wistful and attractive figure, and the manufactured woman equally attractive In a totally different way. Gustav Frolleh as Erie Masterman is a liner and helper of the people, whom bis father (Alfred Abel' hopes some day to .replace .altogether by machines,.

KING'S THEATRE. After a highly successful week at-the De Luxe Theatre the "Leves of Carmen” beads the big double feature programme, screening at the King's Theatre. Glamorous Spain is shown at the height- of its picturesque beauty, in. "Lores of Carmen? which has Victor McLaglen, Dolores del rio and Don Alvarado in the principal roles. Aside from the. great dramatic, quality of the narrative: the background is one of unusual colour. "Dressed to Kill” is the second feature. A polished exterior i clothes in the mode, manicured nails, "patent leather" hair) marks the master crook of to-day's underworld. He is like the thug of other days only in the blackness of his heart and bls coldbloodedness and his failure to give the otb»r fellow a real chance. This is well exemplified in "Dressed to Kill, which stars Edmund Lowe and with. Mary Astor and Ben Bard. A Gazette is also shown and delightful music supplied by the orchestra. ■*

PARAMOUNT- THEATRE. Undoubtedly the best picture .of the Yukon country yet filmed: is ■ Neath Arctic Skies,” which heads the big programme now screening at the Paramount Theatre. This Is a masterpiece of photenlnv and scenic beauty, and combines adventure and the drama .of vast, silent spaces, (he mystery, and lure of nature at its wildest. Two years in. the. making. "’Neath Arctic Skies'! recites the .pictorial experiences- of ’ Captain Jack Robertson, noted explorer, and, Arthur H. Young, world’s champion'bow-and-arrow shot and big game archer, who set out. across the rim of the Arctic, pledging themselves to carry no. weapons of offense or defence save bows and arrows. The second feature is-. “The Rejuvenation of .Aunt Mary, featuring May . Robson, Fhyllis Haver, Harrison Ford, and Fraklin Pangborn. Racing cars and night clubs- figure prominentlv in this. A Pathe gazette is also screened, and excellent music is supplied by the orchestra, under Mr. K. F.‘ Caulton. "THE KING OF KINGS." "The King of Kings” is to be screened at the Paramount. Theatre next Friday. With, its release in New Zealand the, industry has reached a pinnacle of motion picture art. "The King, of Kings”, is unquestionably proof that art and beauty can. and does, move with the times. It is the crowning effort of the man who fought down all prejudices, left no stone unturned to make the-perfect motion picture. ■ It is the life's, work of Cecil B. De Mille, and a monument to the industry's highest ideals. The exceptional musical score which was specially arranged for "The King of Kings” ■vill be plaved by the orchestra under the direction of Mr. Robert Caulton. There will be special matinees dally at' 2.30 during "The King of King’s” season. The box plan is now open-at the. Bristol and the Utility Stationery Shop (next to the Theatre).. . ,

’ HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. In response to a large number. of requests that the farewell performance of "The League of Notions” be ■ given on Monday, July 30 instead of Saturday, July--28 as previously announced, it has now been ' arranged ' to comply with these requests,' and in order to avoid disappointing such a large section of "The League of Notions's” admirers (all of whom could not possibly be accommodated at the Saturday’s performance) a grand farewell request programme will be presented on July 30. To-night (he company,will stage their ninth programme for the first.time. All the items are- new-and some very original sketches are included in the list. Among these are "Sons of the Sea.” “The Four O'clock Train” (declared to be so mysterious and “creepy” that the company themeelves are afraid of it), “Modern Wireless Telephony.” and “The Big Store.' Syd. Beck should be entirely diverting-In his burlesque song. “Tho Man From Lle-tlttle-ten”—in other words, “The Man from Lyttelton ’ Queenle Paul and Mike Connors will be heard in “Here Am I Broken-Hearted.” and It: Is safe to assume that at least three encores will be demanded of the popular pair. One of the latest dance erazes will be Introduced in an item by Phyllis. Baker and Gerald Connelly. The clever eccentric dance duo, the Paulasto |ioys, will present film capers.” and ’.a specialty dance will be provided by Roueal and Rayne. Pearce will sing “Because They All Love You," and be seen in a song and dance scena entitled “In Dreamy Hawaii, and the popular number “Honolulu Moon. Other members of the company will be seen In various parts in the numerous sketches tnr presentation. QUEEN'S THEATRE. "Brooding Eyes” and "Daredevils Reward"” ate the two big features now screening nt the Queen’s Theatre. ‘Brooding Eves” features Lionel Barrymore. Ruth Clifford, and Robert Ellis, and is an intriguing mystery.picture. It is a'Powerful drama of a man with position who joins a cans of crooks. Tom Mil is the star of “Daredevil’s Reward,” which is a mvsterv 'talc of the Texas ranges. For more than a hundred years, the name of "Texas Rancer” has stood for fearlessness in facing danger and for any uncanny skill in the use of firearms. Capital music is also supplied. STRAND THEATRE.' '■ Nornta Talnvadges latest starring 'ehlele "The Dove,” a. United Artists production. b- no"’ i" I'* ”ilrd week at the Strand Theatre. Supporting the star are Noah Be»ry and Gilbert Roland. The Dove" is a colourful, Last-moving atct£ pi

a virtuous dancehall girl, a courageous young American employed In a gambling saloon, and Don Jose Maria y Sandoval, a caballero. Against a background of guitars, stilletos, roulette' wheels and picturesque characters. Mies Talmadge as Dolores "The Dots,” comes to glowing life. Directed by Roland West, the star has a role of loving, defying and yielding. Good supports are also screened and delightful music is supplied by the orchestra. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. A double-feature programme Is being presented at the recently opened Kilbirnie Klnema. The first attraction is “Tilly S Punctured Romance,” with Chester Conklin, W. C. Fields, and Louise Fazenda as the leading characters- It Is the story of a woman’s desire to join a circus—a falling which proved hereditary—and this hilarious comedy keeps the audience thoroughly amused. The second picture is a story of the Wild, Wild West, “The Last Frontier,” and it Is thrills and action from start to finish. An Empire Bulletin completes a good programme. The Kilbirnie Symphony Orchestra plays appropriate musical fare. "STUDENT PRINCE." There were good houses ou Saturday afternoon and night for tho "Student Prince,” which will conclude its Wellington season-at the Grand Opera House tomorrow night. J. C. Williamsons have presented nothing more spectacular in staging effect, while the men's choruses are unequalled. Miss Bepple de Vries captivates with her charm, while Mr. James Llddy as the Student Prince secures a great triumph. He possesses a magnificent tenor voice. Mr. Arthur Stigant and Mr. Mason Wood provide the wealth of flue comedy. Miss Vera Spaull is a delightful Gretchen. The drossings are lavishly done. "COUSIN KATE" On Friday and Saturday "Cout,in Kate" will be presented b£ the .Victoria College

Dramatic Club. This finely constructed plav bv H. H. Davies is remarkable for its subtle portraiture and the rare talent with which the author infuses a romantic atmosphere into a realistic plot. Entertaining, whimsical and delicately absurd, it is generally regarded as the author's masterpiece. The cast includes Mies Mary Cooley, who plays the title role; Miss Freda Line, Miss Dorothy MartinRoberts. and Miss Peggy McDonald, and Messrs. A D. Priestley, D. Edwards, and A. E. Campbell. "Cousin Kate’’ will be presented at the Concert Chamber. ORGAN RECITAL. The customary organ recital was given at the Town Hall last evening by Mr. B. F. Page, city organist. The programme comprised: Fantasia in G Major, by Bach; two choral Improvisations, On. 65 (Nos. 12 and 15), by Karg-Elert; cahtablle, Op. 37 (No. I', by Jorgen: Canzona (Op; 90', No. 35, by Gullmant; Good Friday music (from Act 111, ‘Parsifal”), by Wagner; "Piece H»roique,” by Cesar Franck.