ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 265, 5 August 1929, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. Paramount’s second all-talking picture, “The Doctor’s Secret,” is the current teature at the Regent Theatre. The picture is a screen version by M illiam de Mme or Sir Janies Barrie's famous play, Halt an Hour.” The story is one o£ Londou high society, of a wealthy self-made man who regards his bought-and-paid-for aristocratic wife with no little contempt. The storv has to do with her plans to find happiness with “the other man,’’ and what takes place when carefully laid plans go wrong. In the production of an all-talk-ing picture it is of primary importance that the players themselves be adapted to their roles and speak tlieir lines in a convincing. realistic manner. Paramount has given “The Doctor's Secret” cast which can do ail these things. Ruth Chatterton, who was a star in her own right on Broadway, has one of the leading roles. Opposite her is H. B. Warner, another “veteran of the stage, who portrays his character perfectly. Robert Edeson, an old-time him favourite, handles his part admirably, and John Loder, the new British actor recently imported by Paramount, more than lives up to advance notices. The remainder of the cast are equally well chosen. The sound supports include a Pathe news, “Boyhood Days," a clever sketch, a clever comedy. “The False Alarm Fire Company, and “The Carnival Man,” which gives a peep at the workings of a travelling show. “THE BROADWAY MELODY." It is doubtful if any show has ever produced a more glorious galaxy of beautiful chorus girls than are to be seen in Metro-Goldwvn-Mayer’s all-talking, singing, and dancing picture, “The Broadway Melody.” which will commence at the Regent Theatre on August 16. A bevy of sixty beautiful sirens weaving to and, fro to the rhythmic strains of specially written musical numbers will be seen and heard in one sequence, photographed in technicolour, while the revue proper displays a troupe of specialty dancers who display for the first time the “Tampa Step," created by the weil-known George Cunningham, originator of “off beat” rhythm in stage dancing. Anita Page and Bessie Love appear as sisters in a cleverly composed “sister act” which is a complete flop when given a trv-out at dress rehearsal. Charles King, celebrated Broadway baritone and musical comedy star, is seen in the male lead as a small town song-and-dance man, who eventually falls in love with the younger sister. Miss Love, as the elder sister, is forced to content herself with pairing up with a former antagonist from the chorus, in order to carry on with the act. The entire production is interspersed with novelty musical numbers, one of the musical high-lights coming from the true conception ,of a popular song publisher’s office. The cast, a notable one, includes, besides the three principals. Mary Doran. Kenneth Thomson and Eddie Kane. GRAND OPERA HOUSE. TALKIES NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT. The installation at the Grand Opera House will bo the latest and biggest Western Electric Equipment yet brought into New Zealand, and the first picture will be one that Maurice Chevalier, the idol of Paris, has made for Paramount. The latter company went to great expense In getting one of the biggest casts of popular players to support him. Chevalier has been for years one of the greatest and most popular players on the French stage. After being signed by Paramount to appear in their pictures, it was felt that it should only be right to have the French star surrounded by the best players for the parts to be filled in the story. For the role of Louise, the leading lady of the picture, the choice fell to Sylvia Beecher, practically unknown to pictures, but who was well known as one of the most accomplished of actresses on Broadway. For the role of Chevalier’s father and mother. Mr. and Mrs. George Fawcett were chosen. And then came Margaret Livingston. John Miljan. David Durand, and Jack Luden. The story chosen was “Innocents of Paris.” a story of life of the French capital of the romance of a second-hand dealer who became famous. Chevalier, the dealer in question, rescues a little boy from drowning, and in delivering a letter left bv the bov’s mother, meets Louise and falls in love. Despite her father’s protests Louise returns his love, and so the storv follows their romance to his success in the theatre. Here his choice between love for Louise and his career brings the picture to a surprising climax. A special matinee will be given on Saturday next. Box plans open Wednesday at the Brisol. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. “The Colieus and Kellys in Atlantic City,” the great talkie of this comedy series.* is the current feature .at the Paramount Theatre. As the title suggests, tlie new production was filmed mostly in Atlantic City. Director William Craft took advantage of the locale to organise one of the largest bathing beauty parades held there last summer. The parade, called a “Summer Girl Contest,” is among tlie highlights of the picture. “The Cohens and Kellys in Atlantic City" is a story of two business partners who can’t get along with each other or without each other. This time thev are in the knit goods business, and Craft took full advantage of this in showing bevies of blonde and brunette bathing beauties. George Sidney. Vera Gordon, and Kate Price portray the same roles as they did in the earlier versions. Mack Swain is the new addition as the Irishman. Nora Lane, a new Hollywood favourite, and Cornelius Keefe, provide the romance. Virginia Sale and Tom Kennedy, a capable funster-duo, are also in the east. The sound supports include the latest Foxe News. “Nap.” a clever English comedv, and some excellent musical numbers by the J. IL Squire Celeste Octet.

DE LUXE THEATRE. “Show Boat.” a super talking picture version of the Edna Ferber novel, is now in its second week at the De Luxe Theatre, with Laura La Plante and Joseph Schildkraut in the featured roles. It is an exceptional picture, and with its songs, music, and gripping dialogue, makes. a good evening’s entertainment. The pictured version of the story has been combined with movletoned ’ high-lights from Florenz Ziegfeld’s stage production of ths novel, with much of the Ziegfeld music, sung by Ziegfeld stars, including Helen Morgan and Jules Bledsoe. These numbers are well worth while. Harry Pollard, who directed the picture for Universal, reproduced with fidelity the colourful life aboard a Mississippi River show boat. The cast, including such favourites as Otis Harlan, Emily Fitzroy, Alma Rubens. Jane La Verne. Neely Edwards, and others, all do justice to their quaint roles. “Show Boat” may well be called an epic of the screen. Mr. Aarons plays “Show Boat” melodies on the Wurlitzer organ, and some excellent music is supplied by the orchestra. “UNDER THE SOUTHERN CROSS.” A screen production that should live long in the memory, particularly of New Zealand audiences, is the Universal Movietone production. “Under the Southern Cross” (“Taranga”), which commences at the De Luxe' Theatre on Friday next, August 9. Filmed entirely in New Zealand and enacted exclusively by Maoris, It is an everlasting testimony, not only to the histrionic capabilities of our remarkable Native race, but a delightful vista of the Dominion’s world-famed scenery, and a worthy record of early Native traditions and characteristics. An interesting feature, is the fact that this unique film story of New Zealand has been made in Movietone, in which no less than a well-known New Zealander. Miss Bathie Stuart, went to Hollywood and collaborated with Universal’s musical director in the making of not only a “Movietone” version, but also the production ot an excellent talking and singing introductory prologue in which Miss Stuart appears with a troupe of Maori warriors and maidens.. FOX MOVIETONE FOLLIES. The William Fox Movietone Follies of 1929, first Follies of the talking pictures, is to have its local premier at the De Luxe Theatre on Friday, August 16. The scope of the films in recording action and voices being so much greater than that of the legitimate stage, the Fox Movietone Follies is expected to provide a totally new precedent for entertainments of its nature. Those who have already seen the picture say without reservation that for size, speed, and other qualities it far exceeds the limitations of stage technique. Nine voting screen and stage favourites head the list of principals. They are Sue Carol, Lola Lane, Sharon Lynn, Dixie John Breeden, David Percy, David Rollins, Frank Richardson, and Stcpin Fetchit. Miss Carol has a fetching voice, and can. dance as well as the most talented. Her chief specialty in the Fox Movietone Follies is “The Breakaway,” a new song aud dance number of distinct originality. Miss Laue was the girl in the Fox Movietone alilalklng feature “Speakeasy.” She came to pictures from Broadway. She sings the “Big City Blues” in the Follies. Miss Lynn was in the Fox Films, "None but the Brave” and “Red Wine,” and in the talkie, “Speakeasy.” She has a highly pleasing voice, anti plays the piano well." Her main number in the Follies is “That's You, Baby.” Young Breeden entered tlie theatrical life in Vienna, and later was in a Max Reinhardt company in Berlin. He is the owner ot the show in the story the Follies tells. Miss Lee is the girl who scored so tremendously on Broadway singing the “ ’Varsity Drag” number hi “Good News.” ’ In the Follies she is heard leading the “Why Can’t I Be Like You” number. Percy, a baritone, studied voice under Emma Eames and under teachers in France. Rollins will be remembered for his roles in “Tlie High School Hero.” “Win That Girl.” “Prep and Pep.” Frank Richardson is a former Blues singer of big-time vaudeville and musical comedy. Stepin Fetchit was in “The Ghost Talks” and “Hearts in Dixie,” Fox Movietone productions. Quite a novel innovation, to commemorate tlie premier screening of the "Fox Movietone Follies of 1929” in New Zealand. Grace McDonald and David Devitt, two professional dancers, late of J. C. Williamson Limited, have been engaged to dance “The Breakaway,” tlie latest American ball-room craze, at “The Ritz..” Manners Street, every evening at 10.30. commencing Wednesday next. MAJESTIC THEATRE. “llis Lucky Day.” Reginald Denny's latest comedy for Universal, is the current feature at the Majestic Theatre. Denny plays the role of a young real estate dealer who tries to sell two adjoining mansions to his sweetheart's father. Tlie old man is to live in one of them. Instead, the prospective father-in-law only rents one of the houses. A gang nt society crooks rent the other. Then the trouble begins, especially when the crooks single out their wealthy neighbour for their depredations. But tlie girl, played by pretty Lo Rayne Du Vai. is worth fighting for, so Denny pitches in. bringing the crooks to justice, saving the girl and, by a clever twist, jockeying her father into the purchase of the twin homes. In the supporting cast are such popular players as Otis Harlan, Eddie Phillips. Cissy Fitzgerald, Harvey Clark and Tom O'Brien. The screen farce is thus unusual in having three wellknown comedy stars teamed up. Denny. Harlan and Cissy Fitzgerald. Tom O’Brien also contributes a large share ot the humour. Lo Rayne Du Vai. the heroine, is placing her first Important screen role in this comedy. She is heralded as a great motion picture “find” because of her good looks and acting ability. The supports include a gazette, cartoon and comedy, and a further film ot the Music Masters, dealing with the life and music ot Brahms. Billy Hart also sings nt the piano, and the usual excellent music is supplied by the orchestra, under Mr. George Ellwood.