ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 36, 6 November 1928, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

“OUR BETTERS.” Somerset Maugham must have been in his most cynical ot humours when he wrote "Our Betters,” and London playgoers enjoyed the somewhat cruel joke perpetrated on their American sisters with a side-hit at themselves. Truly the English refuse to see the difference be-, tween Americans so long as tliey are well gilded, but It seems hard to believe that the most hardened money-seeker could really have been taken in by the Duchesse de Surennes, inimitably played in the production now at the Grand Opera House by Dorothy Dunckley. With Lady George it would be easier to make a mistake, especially it she were really like the Lady George of Margaret Bannerman, beautifully groomed, exquisitely dressed, and consummate actress, although she might surely be a little more subtle in life than the stage allows. Louis Goodrich, as Arthur Fenwick, is sufficiently appalling, and Ellis Irving is a nicely natural Fleming Harvey. Kerry Kelly, the simple maiden, is pretty and natural, and Cecily Jonas, as the Princess, is right in the part of a handsome member of an effete aristocracy. Frederick Hughes, Kay Souper, and Geoffrey Miller are’all in ‘the picture in their various parts, the play running on oiled wheels, as it were. The Chinese room in the first act is a startling revelation of what some people can manage to live with — perhaps.

“SEXES AND SEVENS.” “Sexes and Sevens," which will be presented to-morrow night and Thursday at the Grand Opera House by the Anthony Prinsep Company, under the direction of J. C. Williamson Company, Ltd., is a comedy adapted by Arthur Wimperis from the French of Alfred Savoir, It is said to be a typically French play, the characters in which are described as being frequently unpleasantly frank in the discussion of their amorous pursuits. The principal figure is a beautiful and wealthy girl with big business interests and of independent character, who refuses to consider marriage because it would mean surrendering her independence, but who, being human, “subsidises” a handsome young man, whose physical qualities appeal to her, though she regards him as mentally greatly her inferior. Australian critics were as highly enthusiastic over Miss Bannerman’s acting in “Sexes and Sevens” as they were over her acting in other plays. Throughout the play also she wears some pretty frocks. A tribute was paid to Miss Bannerman and her company for the remarkable manner in which the most risque situations were dealt with. They were made free from all trace of vulgarity by a fine understanding of the requirements. Box plans are open at the Bristol. REGENT THEATRE. . “Four generations of Hicks have lived in this house and we ain’t leavin' now.” With those words Old Man Hicks-breathes defiance to Old Man Beagle and a bloody feud in the Kentucky mountains is on in “The Big Killing,” the Paramount Wallace Beery-Raymond Hatton team comedy now playing at the Regent Theatre. The Hicks and the Beagles had stopped/‘feuding” for the more profitable pastime of making corn whisky, but, when one of the Beagle boys finds his sister in the arms of young Jim Hicks, the stills get a rest and the rifles come into' use again, Beery and Hatton are the round pegs in the square holes. They stumble into the thick of the feud when they think they are getting a soft job. Then they And themselves busier that they have ever been before, dodging bullets. Supporting the stars are Marr Brian, who is the cause ot all the trouble, Gardner Janies, Lane Chandler and Anders Randolph. Something new in motion pictures—a street carnival with its scores of shilling catching sideshows and concessions—forms the background for the romance of “The Sawdust Paradise,” Esther Ralston's new Paramount picture which is the second big feature. Supporting Miss Ralston are Hobart Bosworth, Reed Haines and Mary Alden. A gazette is also screened and very acceptable musical items are supplied by the orchestra under Mr. Ivan Fosello. DE LUXE THEATRE. “Sunrise,” the great William Fox production, directed by F, W. Murnau, and starring Janet Gaynor and George O’Brien, is the big attraction now screening at the De Luxe Theatre. The tale Is of a man, and his wife, who have a farm, and are happy until a woman from the city enters their lives. She instills in the young husband a desire to kill his wife. “Drown her,” she says, “and make people believe she fell overboard accidentally.” In his passion for the city woman the man would yield to the temptation of ridding himself of his slender, lovely young wife, but is saved by his conscience. However, the voung wife is horror-stricken, for she has perceived her husband's intentions. She dashes off to the city, and he runs madly after her, and at last she is won over to him again. They spend the day in the big city, and then they sail home by moonlight. A storm arises and the wife appears to be drowned; The wishes of the city woman seem to be gratified, but just as the man is about to kill the temptress in revenge the wife is found, alive. The story is superior moving picture fare, but in the hands of a different director it would have been just another picture. Janet Caynor is tenderly charming, George O’Brien is strong and vigorous. Margaret Livingston is really wicked, “Sunrise” is preceded by an elaborate prologue, and Mr. H. F. Wood sings “Sunrise and You, while special music is supplied by the orchestra. “THE BUSH CINDERELLA.” “The germ of the story of ‘The Bush Cinderella’ came to me in a corroboree with James Thorne, one sunny day in Sydney,” writes Henry Hayward. “Thorne was a free lance, dabbling in literature, politics, pictures, making a slender Income on the fringes of the arts, but all the while getting a better dividend out of the realities of life, love, and laughter than most other men with fatter purses. We used to meet at the Chinese Cafe, eat noodles, bamboo tips, and occasionally birds’nest soup, and in between our talks on philosophic anarchism, picture shop, and Einstein's relativity, invent new scenarios. One day a few months ago Rudall, my wildly-imagin-ative nephew, who seems to be New Zealand’s own movie picture producer, having tired of trailing around with Te Kooti, said, ‘Don’t you think it is time we made another picture?’ and I, forgetful of the untold wealth that has ‘gone West’ in New Zealand picture producing, said, ‘Yes! and then remembered the story of The Bush Cinderella’ that had lain fallow in my mind for half a dozen years. So the next morning, in bed, before cockcrow, I wrote up the draft of the scenario and handed it to Rudall Hayward. The picture is made—and in mv humble opinion Rudall has shot the best movie yet made in New Zealand.' Wellington will be able to judge of this for it will be the next picture to be shown at the Strand Theatre, commencing next Friday. GRAND OPERA. To-night a short return season of grand opera at His Majesty’s Theatre will commence, and “Lucia di Lammermoor” will usher in nights of unalloyed pleasure.and delight for all music lovers. Grand opera as a form of entertainment is unsurpassed, and the opera ehosen for the first supports this statement. It gives more than just a few crammed hours of enjoyment; it gives keener appreciation and unforgettable memories that revive with every hearing of the music. The story of “Lucia di Lammermoor” is known to everyone, and, armed with this knowledge, not all the ignorance of the Italian tongue can serve to lessen the enjoyment of the opera. The story is told so graphically,, the music and the actions are so descriptive that it can be followed without the slightest difficulty. In to-night’s performance the names of Signorina Poletti and Signors Rota and Scamuzzi appear in the leading roles, and three such names would guarantee the success of any production without .the backing of chorus and operatic orchestra. Tomorrow night Verdi’s “La Traviata” will be presented, and on Thursday “The Barber of Seville” will offer some comedy to relieve the tragic .atmosphere that permeates Italian operas. The box plan for the operas is at the Bristol, while grand circle seats may be booked at the theatre two days ahead of the production. Day sales of certain tickets are available on the day of production at the theatre. STRAND THEATRE. “The biter bit” is always a popular theme on stage or screen. It is proving a great hit on the screen in “The Butter and Egg Man,” First National's adaptation of the stage success of the same title, now at the Strand Theatre. An ambitious youth gets roped in by unscrupulous play producers, to invest his last penny in a "flop.” However, in the riotous comedydrama, in which Jack Mulhall is featured in the title role, the unexpected happens. A one-night “hitt” that cannot “repeat” induces the tricksters to buy back from their victim at a high figure , and the hero retires triumphant. Greta Nissen plays opposite Mulhall. William Boyd is the star of “Dress Parade,” the second feature. The story deals with the life of a military cadet at West Point, and there is a real thrill when Haldane accidentally gets bis. foot wedged between two boulders and is left behind in a barrage of fire. A gazette is also screened and appropriate music is supplied by the orchestra. . QUEEN’S THEATRE. Starring Mary Carr, “Over the Hill,” a re-issue of the popular film shown here some years ago, is now screening at the Queen's Theatre. “Over the Hill” is an unusual picture. It does not depend upon the eternal triangle for its sustained interest, nor require mol) scenes to bolster up shortcomings in plot. There is something so sweet and wholesome and interesting in the story that the blase New Yorkcr, so particular and discriminating in his choice of theatrical entertainment, has seen fit to give it his patronage and

unaualified enthusiasm ever since it was first shown there in September, 1920. Good supports are also screened and appropriate musical items are supplied by the orchestra. PARAMOUNT THEATRE Starring Chester Conklin, ‘The Big Noise,” a First National Picture based on a story written directly for the screen by Ben Hecht, the prominent short story writer and novelist, is the feature now screening at the Paramount Theatre. Hecht has drawn from his vast experiences as a reporter and feature writer in Chicago dalies for his plot for “The Big Noise, which involves a political campaign in which a nonentity is made famous through publicity for a short space of time, then dropped back into oblivion when the purpose has been served. Chester Conklin has the best role of his career as the “headliner” who rises to fame with breathtaking rapidity and sinks into obscurity at the same bewildering speed. Alice White and Jack Egan have the ingenue and juvenile leads respectively, and Sam Hardy and Ned Sparks, both veteran troupers, play important comedy roles. A comedv and Gazette are also screened and a delightful musical programme is supplied by the orchestra under Mr. R. A. Caulton. KING’S THEATRE. Ramon Novarro is to be seen at the King’s Theatre this week in A Certain Young Man,” his latest starring vehicle for Metro-Goldwyn-Maycr. The story finds Novarro in the centre of London s social whirl as an ultra-modern young nobleman with more admirers than he or his valet can remember, so he decides on a fishing ■expedition to the Continent with a bachelor friend. He meets the one and only girl and they fall deeper in love as each day passes. ‘Just after he proposes complications arise through the arrival of a London belle who cleverly intrigues him into a dramatic situation on the strength of past friendship. Supporting the star are Marceline Day, Carmel Myers, Renee Adore? and Bert Roach. Also screening are a gazette, New Zealand Topical, giving glimpses of Kingsford Smith and showing the final take-off from Blenheim for the return flight to Australia, and a hilarious “Our Gang” comedy, while delightful music is supplied by the orchestra. HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. The Whirl of Mirth Revue Company, headed by George Ward (little Hermle Schultz) gave its final performance at His Majesty's Theatre last evening when the same jolly programme presented last week was repeated. . Al Maurice. _Harry Sherwood, Gus Dawson. Dave Merediths Melodv Five. Jean Keith, and the Radio Six all contributed to the evening, and the company as a whole was given a hearty send-off. KILBIRNIE KINKMA: “The Night of Love" and “The House of Marnev” arc the two features to be screened again to-night at the Kllbirnle Kinema. Ronald Colman and Vilma Tlnnkv are the stars of A Night of Love, which is a story of love in old Spain. The House of Marnoy,” the second feature, stars Alma Taylor and John Longden in a sea story of love and villainy staged on the Essex coast. The box plain is at the confectioners next to the theatre (phone 14—202).