ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 54, 27 November 1929, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

DE LUXE THEATRE. Stupendous in Hie sweep of its scenes, and tense and dramatic in its more intimate moments, “The Divine Lady," First National's biggest production of the year, is Hie current feature at the De Luxe Theatre. There is no more fascinating person in either history or literature than the beautiful Lady Hamilton and her turbulent and largely unhappy life. First National has spared no pains in making "The Divine Lady,” cither ia the excellence of its cast, nor tlie surpassing production values. “Tlie Divine Lady" tells the dramatic story of Lady Hamilton’s life, from her obscure beginnings as tlie daughter ot a blacksmith, through her eventful rise to fame and prominence as the wife of Lord Hamilton. Her idealistic romance with Lord Nelson. England’s great naval hero and her Anal years of oblivion anil obscurity when she'sent Nelson back to command the British fleet, make a dramatic tale from history. Corinne Griffiths is starred, and is ably supported by Victor Varconi, and H. B. Warner. Good supports are also screened, and some excellent music is supplied by the orchestra. “BROADWAY.” Life flows swiftly onward in tlie canyons of Broadway, whirlpools of pleasure, backeddying into swirls of sorrow; cascades of gaiety, sometimes falling in broken torrents upon tlie rocks below. But always Broadway, the street where t-hcre is a flame for every moth and music for nil who can keep step with the tune. An atmosphere as distinctive, as impossible of duplication as it is fascinating; a world ablaze with a brilliancy supremely its own. Here the candle burns constantly at both ends—burns, and is never consumed. Such is tlie unique and compelling "personality” of the Great White Wav, and such is the subtly piquant, yet tremendously dramatic appeal "Broadwav,” Universal’s dynamic super-produc-tion of life among tlie bright lights which comes to the De Luxe Theatre on Friday next, with Glenn Tryon, Evelyn Brent, Merna Kennedy, and many other stellar players in the principal roles. Broadway at 'its best is the brilliancy ot its night life —its myriad pleasure palaces which, combined, form the world’s most colourful primrose path. And “Broadway,” as produced by Carl Laemuile, junior, presents in all sound photography not only the enthralling action of the play which held Now York itself breathless tor 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 the New York stage, all tlie action occurred in only one scene —Nick Verdis’s" office in the Paradise Night Club. The occurrences in the night club itself were described, but not shown. In the pieturisation of the play this situation offered the greatest opportunity to flic producer to enhance materially the entertainment value of the film. An overture and entre’acte will be rendered by the recently reinstated De Luxe Orchestra under the direction of Mr. L. D. Austin. Box plans are available at the Bristol Piano Co. and at Aitken’s Book Arcade (Courtenay Place). MAJESTIC THEATRE. Starring Richard Bartliclmess, "Drag,” a First National' all-talking production, is tlie current feature at the Majestic Theatre. “Drag” is about people all know. The characters are sympathetically and intelligently drawn. The story is built up and around the young man so that his burdens and struggles and aspirations grip one’s attention. “Drag” is a story of domestic strife. A young man marries a girl and finds himself the “goat,” supporting her entire family. How they drag him down and torture his ambitions until he decided upon a desperate measure forms an absorbing subject. Barthelmess lias never been better. In the supporting east Lila Lee is Ideal as Dot, and Alice Day fine as Allie, whose family is the millstone around the hero’s neck. The balance of the cast, including Katherine Ward, Lucien Littlefield, Tom Dugan, and Margaret Fielding, give excellent performances. A well-vmpcd supporting programme is also screened. “WORDS AND MUSIC” Described as tlie talking screen’s first musical comedy, “Worsls and .Music,” an all-talking, singing and dancing Fox production is the big feature booked to commence screening at tlie Majestic Theatre on ' Friday. There are eight, song hits — the kind that haunt one and set the feet to patting, it Is stated. There are more than 100 beautiful girls in the chorus and ballet, all of them charming singers and dancers. "Words and Music”, is a show within a show. One is introduced at 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 £3OO is offered for tlie best ensemble number. Interest centres on two rival “producers"—the college bully and the son of the local music store owner. There is rich comedy in tlie student capers that precede the opening of. tlie competition scenes, but the character of the story, remains unaltered until tlie moment comes for the presentation of tlie rival numbers. Then “AVords and Music” becomes a musical comedy indeed —with tuneful melodies, gorgeous Crocking,- ex-cellent dancing, and perfect ensembles of several kinds. Lois Moran is indeed a versatile artist. A year ago she was seen in tlie cream ot silent pictures; when talkies opened, she made one minor appearance In a short comedy. Now she is a perfect musical comedy star. Her previous stage training, both as regards singing and dancing, has stood her well. She dunces with Hie grace of Pavlova, and reveals a delightful soprano voice. Miss Moran sings two little numbers—“ Beauty” and “Yours Sincerely.” David Percy, tlie magnificent baritone who delighted everyone with his 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. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Based on the London stage play of Edgar AVallace, which ran for over three rears, “The Terror,” as an all-talking Warner Brothers’ production, is now in its second week at the Paramount Theatre. Those who have seen both stage and screen versions say that the latter is much more effective—on Recount of the wider scope of tile scenic possibilities lot the latter. “The Terror” runs its gruesome course in an ancient English manor house, where a group of people—crooks, cops, crazv folks, and hysterical ladies—seek hidden treasure, and try vainly by spiritualistic seances and other unusual means to solve tlie mystery of the cloaked fiend who haunts the house, casually hearing this and that one to his underground tor- . Jure chamber. Roy Del Ruth directed "The Terror," which includes in its allstar cast May McAvoy, Louise Fazenda, Edward Everett Horton. Alec B. Francis, Holmes Herbert, Mathew Betz, John Millan, Otto Hoffman, Joseph AV. Girard, and Frank Austin. A well-varied supporting programme, is also screened.

“THE GREENE MURDER CASE.” "The Three Musketeers” of murder mvsterv pictures'will be seen again at lhe I’aramount Theatre, commencing next Friday, when “The Greene Murder Case,” a I’aramount all-dialogue mystery thriller, will be presented. This amazing, trio is William I’owell, E. 11. Calvert and Eugene Pallette, the same who so successfully cleared up the mystery In “The Canary Murder Case.” Powell is the super-detec-tive, Calvert is the district attorney of New York city who lias confidence In Powell, and Pallette is the practical-mind-ed Sergeant Heath, who jumps at conclusions too quickly but who proves, nevertheless, that he is a valuable aid in the operations of the crafty Powell. In “The Greene Murder Caso” three persons are. killed and the number of suspects is even greater than in “The Canary Murder.” With these three celebrities of the screen are fourteen supporting actors, every one of whom has had prolonged stage or movie experience. They are Florence Eldridge. Ullrich Haupt, Jean Arthur, Gertrude Norman, Lowell Drew, Morgan Farley, Brandon Hurst, Augusta Burmeister, Marcia Harrlss, Mildren Golden, Mrs. Wilfred Buckland, Helena Phillips, Shop Camp, and Charles M. Evans. “The Greene Murder Case” is the Paramount pieturisation of tiie famous novel of the same name by tiie renowned author of mystery stories, 8. 8. Van Dine. KING’S THEATRE. . Maurice Chevalier, the idol of Paris and destined to become tiie idol of millions of screen lovers, is the star of "Innocents of Paris,” the nil-talking I’aramount production which is now playing a return season at the King’s Theatre. Chevalier lias ,the role of a second-hand dealer who falls in love with a beautiful girl, Louise. Her father does not think him good enough, and tries to break the romance, but Chevalier becomes a famous stage star and thus wins the father's permission as he has already won Die girl’s heart. Supporting tiie star are Sylvia Beecher, David Durand. George Fawcett and .Margaret Livingston. Tiie songs and music are among the best of any picture that has yet appeared in Wellington. An entertaining aupportiug programme is also screened. QUEEN’S THEATRE. Heading tiie double-feature programme now screening at tiie Queen’s Theatre is "Chasing Through Europe.” Sue Carol and Nick Stuart are co-fcaturnd, and furnish the romantic interest. ■ Gustav von Seyffertitz and Gavin Gordon are also prominently cast, while hundreds of extras provide the atmosphere. The story lias to do will) uh American youth, who, while touring Europe with’ a motion picture camera, rescues a beautiful girl, “Parisiennes.” starring .Miles Mandcr, is the second feature.

REGENT THEATRE. erirring Richard Dix in his first allfnikin” production, "Nothing But the ■rriitli” is the current feature nt tlie Regent Theatre. The story, an excellent comedy-di-nrua concerns a young business man wi n enters into a wager that lie can tell ?i ‘ truth for -1 hours. His singe is money , Heed in his charge by Jils fiancee, for whom he is supposed to make an investment Three other men are parties to the lot one of them being .Richard's em- > over From tlie start lie nearly ruins hu employer’s business by telling Hie truth and he is placed in embarrassing =in alions because of his refusal to <leonrt from Hie oftimes bitter trujtli. Tlie J, bnr three men scheme to make him lie, hut fail in every attempt even when his .'...lover becomes involved witli two Ji ..ms girls who have slept all night in HmKrarage, but lie still tells Hie truth to tii. 'irate wife. Perhaps hip most awkUur.l I’wment comes when his fiancee flem.,mis "to know what he lias done with e - money wins » is " a « er aH rig! " and about two .minutes after tlie twentyfour hours have elapsed lie explains every, thing by telling a jstWre of lies. The supporting programme is’ an interesting and well-varied one. "FAST COMPANY.” Tlie Regent Theatre managixuent, pursuing their tradition of getting .none but the best all-talkie pictures, have ..secured for the change on Saturday “Fast Comnanv ” a picture which is said to causa the audience to. go into roars of laughter. The dialogue is described as being rCmarkablv clear, so that nothing of what is said is lost, and the rich humour is liorught out to the full. “Fast omnanv ” in which Evelyn Brent, Jaek Oakic, nnd Richard Gallagher are the stars, is based upon a story of baseball players written bv 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 '-Irl' and some crafty gamblers, and he almost mins his own and his team’s chances for victory on tlie day of the final game of the world's series when something happens to change the whole aspect of the plot. The night before the deciding game Oakie and Gallagher attend a party in New York which Evelyn and her actress-partner, Gwen Lee, are giving. Oakie tells Evelyn liow much the letters meant to hint. She realises Gallagher’s strategy and also realises that Oakie Is daft about her. Just before tlie game, crooked gamblers pull one over on Oakie, and get his signature on a faked receipt for 5000 dollars. The game starts and Oakie, sulking over Evelyn’s indifference, hits a slump. Gallagher wants to see the Yanks win, and he makes an investigation. He finds out the gamblers’ plot, tells Evelyn and urges her to talk to Oakic. She sees tlie home-run king betumen innings, tells him she loves him, awl Oakic, now that the skies are clear, goes into the game and bangs out the homo-run tliat wins the world’s series. Oakic 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 warms to bis 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. GRAND OPERA HOUSE. Starring Charles Rogers, supported by Mary Brian, Wallace Beery and June Colyer, “The River of Romance, ’’ an alltalking Paramount production, is the current feature at the Grand Opera House. The story concerns Tom Rumford, who returns to his home in the South after a long absence In Philadelphia, and falls in love with his father’s ward. Elvira Jeffers. At the engagement party Major Pattinson, an 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 tlie South, laughs It off as a joke, and in consequence is branded as a coward. He leaves the place and goes to Natchez, where he falls in with a very tough saloonkeeper, General Orlando Jackson. Tom assumes the name ot Colonel Blake and makes a reputation for himself for dancing. Later Jackson and Blake return to look for the man who lias robbed Tom's father of his fortune, and In his new role he makes the liery Pattinson cat out of his hand. In support arc. “Hot Lemonade,” an hilarious comedy starring Louise Fazenda. Pathe and Movietone Gazettes, and scenes from tlie life of Schubert, featuring his beautiful “Serenade.' “ABIE’S IRISH ROSE” COMING TO GRAND OPERA HOUSE. Nancy Carroll, Paramount star and former musical comedy artist, slugs two clever songs in the Paramount sound picture, “Abie's Irish Rose,” which will commenco screening at tho Grand Opera House on Friday. They arc “Rosemary and "Little Irish Rose, the theme numhers to that picture. “Abie's Irish Rose is one of Pliramount’s first sound synchronised- pictures featuring a brilliant music score, some talking by Jean Hersholt. and , two XT lilting song numbers bv . Nancy Carroll. The ulav was written bv Anne Nichols, and on the stage in New York it ran for live and a half years, a record. As a picture with sound, “Abie’s Irish Rose stands on its own as superb entertainment. It tells of a romance between a Jewish youth and an Irish girl, and their dimeultles in winning the consent of their parents in getting married. It has a deep pathos as well as light humour and dramatic sequences. “Abie’s Irish Rose is not a farce comedy, nor is it a heavy drama. Paramount is responsible for the translation of “Abie” from the stage to tho silver sheet, as well as equipping it with quality sound. beautiful musical score was written tor the picture by J. b. Zamecnik, who has won world-wide fame as a composer. Mr. Zamccnik’s composition, entitled “Rosemary,” is the theme song of “Abie.” In four-of tho important sequences the picture is featured with its talking scenes. The unusual cast that was assembled for the various roles includes Jean Hersholt, as Solomon Lovy; Charles Rogers, of “Wings” fame, as Abie, his son; Nancy Carroll as Rosemary: J. Farrell MacDonald, as the, Irish father, Bernard Gorcey and Ida Krame\' as the Cohens; Camillus Prctal as the rabbi; Nick Cogley, as the Irish priest: and Rosa Rosnnova as Sarah, the deaf housekeeper in the Levy home. HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. Nat Phillips and his “Whirligig” Company continue to supply excellent entertainment at His Majesty’s Theatre where they are now in tlieir fourth week. This week the first half is a well-balanced mixture of song, music and dance plentifully sprinkld with comedy, while "Meet Mabel.” an hilarious revue fills tlie second half of the programme. As usual Hector St. Clair le tlie foremost mirth maker, but he is closely followed by Jack Keßaway, Nat Phillips and Al Mack. Bessie Blake adds her splendid voice and Irene Shamrock, Stella Lamond and Sylvia Gardner their charm and sparkling personalities to the night’s rich entertainment. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. A thrilling end run by the Caldwell football star, complete with the frenzied excitement of the crowd, is brought to tho screen In "College Love," the feature collegiate picture screening to-night at tlie Kilbirnie Kinema. The picture, completely new in story and treatment, features George Lewis,'Dorothy Gulliver, and Eddie Phillips. Tlie second feature. “Tlie Cavalier,” starring Richard Talmadge and Barbara Bedford, is the tale of a mysterious knight, errant who is feared by tlie rich and loved by the oppressed in a land of adventure. Reserves arc obtainable nt theatre, phone 14—202. SPORTS MEETING AT BASIN RESERVE. This Saturday will sec the curtain rise on athletic activities, when n grand sports carnival will be held at the Basin Reserve. There are a number of varied items, while a unique exhibition of how our fathers cycled in the "good old days” will be given by two prominent cyclists, on the old-time "penny-farthing” cycles. A band will also be in attendance.