ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 53, 26 November 1929, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

DE LUXE THEATRE. Stupendous in (he sweep of its scenes and tense and dramatic in its more intimate moments is "The Divine Lady,” First National’s biggest production of the year, which is now being screened at Hie De Luxe Theatre. Corinne Grillith has never before had a role of the proportions afforded her by the character of Lady Hamilton, after whom the picture is titled and about whom the plot revolves. There is uo more fascinating person in either history or literature than Hie beautiful Lady ’ Hamilton and her turbulent and largely unhappy life. First National has spared nothing in making “The Divine Lady,” cither in the excellence of its cast nor tlie surpassing production 'values. Without, quibbling and devoid of the two frequent tampering with history, “The Divine Lady” tells the dramatic story of Lady Hamilton’s life, from her obscure beginning as tlie daughter of a blacksiftith, through her eventual rise to fame and prominence ns tlie wife of Lord Hamilton. Her idealistic romance with Lord Nelson, England’s great naval hero and her final years of oblivion and obscurity when she sent Nelson back to command tlie Britisli fleet make a dramatic tale from history which iio novelist has ever surpassed. Good supports are also screened.

“BROADWAY.” Life flows swiftly onward in the canyons of Broadway, whirlpools of pleasure, backeddving into swirls of sorrow; cascades of gaiety, sometimes falling in broken torrents upon the rocks-below. But alnajs Broadwav, the street where there is a flame for every moth and music for all who can keep step with the tune. An atmosphere as distinctive, as impossible of duplication as it is fascinating; a world ablaze witli a brilliancy supremely its own. Here the candle burns constantly at both ends —burns, and is never constinicd Snell is? the unique and compelling “personality” of the Great White Way, and such is the subtly piquant, yet tremendously dramatic appeal “Broadwav ” Universal’s dynamic super-prodne-tio’nof life among jlie bright lights which comes to the De Luxe Theatre on Friday next, with Glenn Tryon, Evelyn Brent. Merna Kennedy, and many other stelldr players in the principal roles. Broadway at its best is the brilliancy of its night lift'—its mvriad pleasure palaces which, combined, form the world’s most colourful primrose path. And “Broadway,” as produced by Carl Laemmle, junior, presents in all s'ou'nd photography not only the enthralling action of the play which held New' York itself breathless for almost two years, but, in addition, all the colour and fascination which so essentially belong to Broadway alone. In the play as it was presented on tlie New York stage, all the action occurred in only one scene —Nick Verdis’s oflice in the Paradise Night Club. The occurrences in the night club itself were described, but not shown. In the picturisation of the play this situation offered the greatest opportunity to the producer to enhance materially the entertainment value of tlie film. An overture and entre'acto will be rendered by the recently reinstated De Luxe Orchestra under the direction of Mr. L. D. Austin. Box plans' arc available nt the Bristol Piano Co. and at Aitken's Book Arcade (Courtenay Place). REGENT THEATRE. . A clever comedy, cleverly acted. Is. “Nothing but the Truth,” the all-talking Paramount production starring Richard Dix, which is now being screened at the Regent Theatre. The story concerns a young business man, who enters into a wager - that he can tell the truth for 21 hours. His stake is money placed in his 'charge by his fiancee, for whom ho is. supposed to make an investment. Three other men are parties to the bet, one of them being Richard’s employer. From the start he nearly ruins his employer’s business by telling the truth, and he is placed in embarrassing situations because of his refusal to toll even a white lie. Events follow each oilier perfectly naturally, and Tn no part of the story is the .audience' impressed with ’ any artificiality.' Wellvaried supports'are also screened. “FAST COMPANY.” Th picture set down for screening nt tlie Regent Theatre cmmcncing on Saturday is the talking comedy "Fast Company.” in which Evelyn Brent, Jack Onkio and Richard Gallagher are the stars. The plot is based upon , a story of bpseball players written by the . great American humorist, Ring Larner. The hero, played :by Jack Oakie, is a boastful but lovable youth who, home-run-hits his way to the foreground, helping his team, the Yankees, to , win the league pennant. He ‘falls into the fast company of smart city ..folks, including a .’show girl and some crafty gamblers,v and lie almost ruins his own and his team’s chances for victory on the day' of the final game of the world's scries when something happens to change the whole aspect of the plot. Oakie is a new type of comedian on the screen, and he is expected to win thousands of admirers with his swaggering "big league" comedy capers. Evelyn Brent appears as the girl who spurns him but later warmsto his native charm. Richard “Skeets” Gallagher, another young actor who has risen rapidly in comedy roles, gives a remarkable performance as the slang-talk manager of Oakie. PARAMOUNT THEATRE.

"The Terror,” acknowledged to be the most 'thrilling and nt the same time the most amusing ot all crook plays, is now in its second week at tlie Paramount Theatre. as a Warner Brothers all-talking production. The locale is a dilapidated English manor house, supposed to hide both tlie loot of a.recent bank robbery and tlie looter. Crooks of various sorts, frightened and spiritualistic ladies, police, ami what, not, conic to tiie old house—where all are kept in chattering fear by a hidden anti mysterious monster who is forever committing some deed or other to put the already ragged nerves of the household in a state of collapse. The whole atmosphere of “The 'Terror” is English, thiis making it altogether different from’ most plays seen on the screen. “The .Terror” was adapted by Harvey Gates • from tlie phetiomenally successful. London play... by Edgar Wallace. It presents a foreign version ot the intrusion of tlie lawless into society which botii in setting and action is distinctly unlike the American erook play. "The Terror” is played by an allstar cast, including May McAvoy, Louise Fazenda. Edward Everett Horton, Mathew Betz, Alee B. Francis, Holmes Herbert, John Mil.jan, Otto Hoffman, Joseph Girard, and Frank Austin. Good supports are also screened. - , :>' GRAND OPERA HOUSE.

A fascinatingly interesting film is “The River of Romance,” the all-talking Paramount production which is now being screened at the Grand Opera House. Charles Rogers is starred and receives splendid support from a strong cast headed by Mary Brian, Wallace Beery and June Colyer. It is a story of chivalry in thesouthern States of America. Tom Ruinford has returned to bis home after a long absence in Philadelphia to fail in love with his father’s ward, pretty. Elvira Jeffers while her. sister Lucy falls in love with him at the same time. At the engagement partv Major Pattinson, on old lover of Elvira’s, turns up to assert his claim to her hand and challenges Tom to a duel, but the latter not knowing the ways of the South, laughs it off as a joke and in consequence is branded as a coward. Good supports arc also screened.

“ABIE’S IRISH ROSE?’ Anne Nichols’ famous stage play. "Abie’s Irish. Rose,” has been transplanted to the •screen' bv:-Paramount, and equipped with quality sound, featuring Cour important sequences with talking. The picture-com-mences screening at the Grand Opera House on Friday. Charles - “Buddy” Rogers. Nancy Carroll, Jean Hersholt, and J. Farrell MacDonald carry the important ■ roles, with a superb supporting east also, featuring Ida Kramer and Bernard Gor.- ' cev, who appeared in the original stage show, in its remarkable run of live and a half' years in New York. “Abie’s Irish Rose*' is not a farce comedy, nor is’it a heavy drama. It is a cross between the two, n cross section of life itself, told in a series of dramatic scenes, to which a touch of comedy lightness has been added ■occasionally. The four talking sequences are features of the production that will long bo remembered. Nancy Carroll’s singing and dancing, with “Buddy” Rogers at the piano, is one of the highlights of the production. Jean Hersholt. in an intense dramatic sequence, will startle one with his emotional acting.

HIS .MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Nat Phillips and his "Whirligigs” Company supply their usual bright anil ' brcez.v entertainment at His Majesty’s Theatre where they are now in their fourth week. As usual, Hector St. Clair. Jack Rollaway, Nat Phillips and Al Mack supply laughter in abundance/ while Irene Shamrock, Bessie Blake, Stella Lamond and Sylvia Gardner arc all that could be desired in the form of feminine grace, beauty and charm. Tim first, halt is a pot pourri of music, song and (lance, while the second half of the entertainment takes the form of a bright revue entitled “Meet Mabel.” KILBIRNIE KINEMA. . Dramatic situations and colourful and luxurious settings feature “The Midnight Sun,” a Universal Super-Jewel commencing to-night at the Klnema. The picture, a thrilling story of Russia just before the World War. has been given an all-star cast, and was directed by Dimitri Buehowetzki, noted Russian director. Heading the players are such favourites as Laura La Plante. Pat O’Malley, Raymond Keane, and George Slcgmann, “The Price of Fear,” starring William Cody and Duane Thompson, is a sensational underworld story with action every minute, anil a spectacular climax that .will give anyone the greatest thrill of their lives! Reserves are obtainable at theatre. ’Phone 14—202,

MAJESTIC THEATRE.. Starring Richard Barthclmess, supported by Lila Lee, Alice Day, Lucien Littlefield, and Tom Dugan, “Drag,” an a ltalking First National production, is the. current feature at the Majestic Theatre. "Drag” concerns a young newspaperman who goes to a small town to take over the local paper.' He .is also ambitious to become a composer of operettas. In, tlie small town he meets a young girl, finds himself engaged, and then married to her, but, unwittingly, he also finds himself supporting bci* entire family. How they keep dragging the young man down, how he struggles against it, how lie finds syiuapthy and encouragement from an unexpected source—form the framework of Hie story. The unexpected source, by the way, is that very charming dark-haired beauty Lila Lee, while Alice Day, blonde and appealing as 'ever, plays the wife whose love for her. relations is greater than her love for her husband. The ending ot “Drag” is tuneful aud colourful when “The Love Prince," a musical play, is introduced ns the work of the hero, written while beating his wings against the walls of destiny in the small town. 'J lie chief musical liit is ".My Soug of tho Nile/ and there is also a most catchy song called “I’m Too Young to be Careful.” Good supports are also screened.

“WORDS AND MUSIC" “Words and Music,” described as the talking screen’s iirst musical comedy, is a big feature to be screened at the Majestic Theatre in the near future. 'There are eight song hits— the kind that, haunt one and set the feet to patting, it is slated. 'There arc more than 100 beautiful girls in tlfc chorus and ballet, all of them charming singers and dancers. “Words and Music” is a show within a show. One is Introduced nt the outset to a crowd of cheerful students vicing with each other in the production of what is evidently the American equivalent of a capping concert. A prize of 11300. is offered for the best ensemble number. Interest centres on two rival "producers”—the college bully and the son of the local mujie store owner. There is rich comedy in the student capers that precede the opening of the competition scenes, but the character of the story remains unaltered until tlie moment conics for the presentation of the rival numbers! Tlien -‘Words and Music” becomes a musical comedy indeed —with tuneful melodics, gorgeous froeking, excellent dancing, and perfect ensembles of several kinds. Lois Moran is indeed a versatile artist. A year ago she was seen in the cream of silent pictures; when talkies opened, she made one iniuor appearance in a short comedy. Now she is a perfect musical comedy star. Her previous stage training, both as regards singin-' and dancing, has stood her well. Site dances with the grace of Pavlova, and reveals a delightful soprano voice. Miss Moran sings two little numbers—“ Beauty” and “Yours Sincerely.” David Percy, the magnificent baritone who delighted cvervonc with lys singing in “The Black Watch,” plays opposite Miss Moran, and sings. The remainder of the cast includes a number of excellent comedians and dancers, together with a clever and beautiful ballet.

KING’S THEATRE. “Innocents of Paris,” Paramount’s alltalking production starring the idol of Paris, Maurice Chevalier, is now playing a return season at the King's Theatre. The storv of “Innocents of Paris” is one of life th the French capital and of the romance of a secondhand dealer who becomes famous. Chevalier, the denier in question, rescues a little boy from drowning and in delivering a letter left by the boy's mother meets Louise and falls in love. Despite her father’s protests Louise returns his love, and so the story follows their romance to his success in the theatre. Here ills chance between love for Louise and his career brings the picture t.o a surprising climax. Supporting Chevalier are Sylvia Beecher. David Durand, George Fawcett and Margaret Livingston. Good supports are also screened. QUEEN’S THEATRE. Slurring Nick Stuart and Sue Carol, “Chasing Through Europe” heads the programme now screening at the Queen’s Theatre. The story has to do with a scheming guardian, who, in order to save himself from the consequences of having squandered a portion of his ward’s inheritance. attempts to marry her to a rakish nephew. Failing in this, he plans to send licr to an asylum for the insane. He is frustrated its the execution of the plan by an intrepid American youth who is touring Europe will) a motion picture camera. “Parisiennes,” starring Mlles Munder, Is the second feature.