ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 74, 20 December 1929, Page 14

ENTERTAINMENTS

DE LUXE THEATRE. A new aud mgu,y eu,ei'turning “talkie'' eutcriuiuiuL-ui cuuiiucuces Uns uneruoou at the De .Luxe Theatre, screeuiug tucrcalter uighlly 8 o’clock auU daily at 2.30, tor the season of one weclt; tliere being two presentations on Christmas Day. Ou the broad, . palm-lined avenues of Havana, amid the sugar plantations, at Balboa, in the Canal Zone, aud on board a liner passin- through the Panama Canal, scenes of “The Girl From Havana,’’ all-talking hox Movietone production, were filmed aud recorded. Benjamin iSlolotf, director, aud his players, with Lola Laue anti Paul 1 age in the featured were accorded every facility by Cuban officials, the Havana police the commandant of Alorro Castle, and other persons in public life on the beautitiul island, to obtain the authentic backgrounds and scenic locales written into the story by John Stone and Edwin Burke “The Girl Brom Havana,” played beautifully by Lola Lane, is a detective who is sent from the Cuban capital by Jewellers’ Detective Agency, to Balboa, to intercept a passenger liner Havana-bound, upon which a gang of jewel thieves have taken passage from Los Angeles. They have with them the loot of a diamond robbery perpetrated in broad daylight upon a Los Angeles jewellery establishment, the intriguing incident with wheh the picture opens. Their attempt to land at Morro Castle before the steamer docks, and the denouement when the clever girl detective not only springs her trap, but finds a threatened romance of her own, marks a colourful and vastly exciting climax to this most unusual Box Movietone production. Players of note in the cast supporting Lola Laue and Paul Page are Natalie Moorhead, Joseph Girard, Warren Hymer, Adele Windsor, Kenneth Thomson, and Juan Sedillo. The popular Orchestra De Luxe, under the direction of Mr. L. U. Austin, plays an overture, “The Merry Wives of Windsor” (Nlckolai) and as entr’acte, “Coppelia” (Delibes), tn addition to furnishing an excellent music accomnaniment to some really outstanding silent short subjects, which Include a music master featurette dealing with the life and work of Brahms, and a brilliantly illustrated Rathe Pictorial. Other supporting Hems are Fox Movietone News, and an hilarious all-dialogue Fox Movietone comedy. The management intimates that a special and appropriate ®" sle will be presented on Christmas nl o ht, th. Orchestra De Luxe and Wurlitzer Orchestral Unit both contributing. Among other numbers “The Lost Chord, by Su - livau will be rendered by both orchestra and Wurlitzer Unit. Box plans are available at Bristol and Aitken s.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. a wife who wanted a career—a hqsband wto her a Übn-a rom^lthis Ob auaHet in Your Man,” the nil-talking Universal production will commence screening at the Majestic U’lieatrc to-day. Laura La Plante has the starring role in this hilarious Universal dialogue farce-comedy, and she gives one of the most polished P ert .°r’ na ” ces p lallt e rllstincuished career. Miss La 1 lanre plays g the role of the girl wife who Is atflicted by desire for an artistic career and more romance than her hard-working lawyer husband is willing or able to provide She hies herself to Paris leaving her husband at the mercy of an old flame. In the colourful French capital willing ear to the flowery words of her model, the “Count de Rastignac. Then come her busband and the girl he Intends to marry as soon as a Paris divorce clears the way. A rainy night imprisons the principals in ono apartment—and affairs “te ironed out to the tune of some of the fast-est-moving and funniest actions the camera has ever recorded. Opposite Miss La Plants appears Walter Scott. Eugene Borden and Mildred van Dorn also must be credited with highly successful renditions of their' parts B 'Action In “Hold Your Man” shifts from New York to Paris. Most of the action takes place in the French capital Emmett Flynn merits highest praise for his work in directing “Hold Your Man.” He has achieved a rapidly moving production, with no weak spots, and has utilised to the fullest extent the rich, humorous opportunities afforded by the plot. The Him Is based on a story written by Maxine Alton. An entertaining supporting programme is also promised.

PARAMOUNT THEATRE. “Noah’s Ark,” Warner Brothers’ sound synchronised and part dialogue spectacular parallel between the Flood and the war, commences its Wellington second week at, the Paramount Theatre to-day. The opening scene depicts Noah and his family giving thanks to Jehovah for having brought them safely through the Flood. Next comes the Tower of Babel, followed by a brief glimpse of New York Stock Exchange in one of its most hectic moments. The story then switches once more to a train speeding from Paris to Constantinople. Among the passengers are Marie, a beautiful German dancing girl, two American youths. BUI 'lravls and Al, a Russian officer and a kindly old preacher. The two friends are next seen in the trenches. Meanwhile Marie entertains troops behind the lines. The Russian recognises her, and when she repulses his advances proclaims her a spy. Blindfolded and about to be executed she is recognised by Travis, who is a member of (lie firing party. He dashes forward and rescues her. and in the midst of the explanations that follow a shell bursts, catapulting the group into the cellar of a ruined house and burying them. While waiting for death tlie preacher compares the war to the ancient deluge, and the scene switches baek to the times of Noah. The rain comes crashing down in one solid sheet, temples collapse and wild confusion follows. Japheth manages to escape, finds Miriam, and makes bis way to the Ark in safety, and all kneel in thanksgiving. The scene then returns to the cellar, where rescuers have just broken in, and back on the surface they find that the Armistice has been signed. “God's covenant with the new world.” as the chaplain explains. George O’Brien is cast as Travis, Dolores Costello as Marie, and a beautiful- and charming Marie she makes. Paul McAllister is the minister, and Noah Beery the Russian. There will be two screenings on Wednesday next—Christmas Day aud night. KING’S THEATRE. That far-reaching arm of tlie police service—the Forest Rangers—is involved vitally in one of the thrilling sequences of “The Million Dollar Collar,” 'Warner Bros.’ underworld story starring Rin Tin Tin, which conies to the King’s Theatre to-day, commencing at the matinee at 2.30, and showing thereafter nightly at 8 p.m. and daily at 2.30 for the season of one week. There will be two screenings on Christmas Day. The San Bernardino Runge, in Southern California, provided the locale, and its area is under the constant surveillance of the Forestry Department. “The Million Dollar Collar,” however, does not coniine its ac-. tion to the wilds, for it is essentially an underworld story, with its opening sequences dealing with a sensational daylight robbery in a great city. Rin Tin Tin, as tlie star, appears as an unwilling party to tlie robbery, after which he, with the other members of tlie gang, takes refuge in a mountain hotel rendezvous while the affair "blows over.” “The Million Dollar Collar” boasts an excellent speaking cast. Tom Dugan is tlie comedy element in “The Million Dollar Collar," and he keeps the audience in roars of laughter from start to finish. Philo McCullough, Grover Llggon, Allan Cavin, mid other members of the cast also have speaking roles in the picture, Ah excellent line-up of supporting souud subjects are Included in the programme. THE QUEEN’S THEATRE. Thrilling scenes of wild life iu Africa are contained In the Paramount epic of the Sudan, “The Four Feathers," which shows at the Queen’s Theatre commencing to-day at the matinee at 2.30, and screening thereafter nightly at 8 o’clock and daily 2.30 for the season of one week, including two presentations Christmas Day. Ernest Schoedsack and Merinn Cooper, the producers of the picture, “shot" most of these scenes iu the Sudan, aud the remainder in Portuguese East Africa. One remarkable scene shows thousands of warriors streaming across the desert wastes on their racing camels, to give battle to the British forces. Later they arc shown attacking a British square. Another impressive sequence shows tlie mad lilglit of a herd of hippopotami before the driving flames ot n bush fire, and their plunge to safety down the precipitous banks of a river. A herd of baboons Is also seen in flight. Richard Arlen lias the role of the young British lieutenant who went tn the wilds of the Sudan in an effort to retrieve his lost honour. Part of the picture was filmed on tlie actual location of the story in Africa, by Merian Cooper and Ernest B. Sehoedsack, famous for their production of “Chang.” Ollier featured roles in lliis miglitv screen sensation are played by William Powell. Fay Wray. Clive Brook and Noah Beery.

KIL BIR NIE KINE M A. A lot lias been written about the sacred shrines of the East, especially their inaccessibility to Europeans, and in “Afterwards," u fine British-made picture to be shown at tlie Kllblrnie Theatre to-ulght at 8, nn absorbing prologue centring around one of these mysterious shrines ends with the death of tin English girl wlm dared to penetrate its forbidden walls. Afterwards tlie fiance of the dead girl wrecks bis vengemie-.' on Hie girl’s companion witli remorseless cruelly, following him Io Eng land and his own sister's lieauliful English home, where the unusual plot takes s qncor twist. Tim second feature, “On to Renn.” shirring Marie Prevost and Harrison Ford, is a fiireli'nl story of matrimonial nitx-nps. Reserve at theatre. ’Phone 14— 202.

REGENT THEATRE. “The Coeoanuts,” Paramount’s all-talk-ing hilarious musical comedy success, showing those incomparable comedians, the four Marx Brothers, is the current feature at the Regent Theatre. The locale Is Florida, and the story, or satire, one which ridicules with much hilarity the real estate boom amid the sumptuous, colourful environment of Palm Beach and Cocoanut Grove. A debutante is “wintering” in one of the exclusive hotels with her socially ambitious aunt. The girl and a poor hotel clerk fall madly in love, so, of course, the clerk falls for the get-rieh-qulck schemes with dire results, until the happy ending. There is a slight plot with an array of richly-dressed girls and lavish scenes and sets. “The Cocoanuts" introduce Mary Eaton andd Oscar Shaw, as well as the irresistible antics of the four Marx Brothers. Singing exquisitely, Mary Eaton and Oscar Shaw supply the romance. " hen My Dreams Come True’ is tlie principal song hit of this entertaining show, which also includes some wonderful dancing, an< ~ the dancers are from some of the most famous ballets tn America. The supporting programme is an exceptionally good one, and includes an excerpt from Rigoletto,” the latest Gazette, and a side- splitting comedy. GRAND OPERA HOUSE. Probably the most amusing ami entertaining all-talking production yet released in Wellington is “Three Live Ghosts, which is now in its second highly successful week at the Grand Opera House. “Three Live Ghosts" is based on the New York and London stage success, and revolves around the adventures of three British soldiers, who escape from a German prison camp and return to their former haunts in London to discover themselves officially dead in the eyes of the Government. “Three Live Ghosts” was directed by Thornton Freeland and Max Marcln, noted playwright, who has many notable stage successes to his credit, prepared the screen treatment and dialogue. Prominent among tlie all-star cast are Beryl Mercer and Charles McNaughton, who portray tfie roles they created on the New York stage; Claud Allister, Robert Montgomery, Joan Bennett, Hilda Vaughan, Shayle Gardner, Harry Stubbs, Jack Cooper, Jocelyn Lee, Nancy Price, and Tenen Holtz. “The Pagan,” John Russell’s celebrated novel of the South Seas, with Ramon Novarro as the hero, is the second big feature. This new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture was filmed ip its entirety in the Islands. It is a vivid drama of a young Islander’s struggle against the encroachments of civilisation, and has a charming love story. Supporting the star are Dorothy Janis and Renee Adoree. An interesting Pathe News is also screened. “STREET GIRL,” A spirited and tuneful drama that clearly shows the possibilities of the new form musical film entertainment is the picture, “Street Girl," which will be the holiday attraction at the Grand Opera House, commencing on Thursday next, December 26. The picture is distinctive in that the movement of the story and the musical sequences arc naturally dependent. Betty Compson, who baa reached new heights through the medium of the talking screen, heads a east of stage and screen favourites. This talented star is the possessor of a rieh, sweet voice, and a wealth of dramatic power, and can also play the violin with artistry and feeling. The picture Introduces four new song successes in “My Dream Memory.” “Broken Up Tune, “Lovable and Sweet," and "Prinee of Good Fellows.” There Is a dazzling cast of sopg and laugh artists, one hundred dancers, and male chorus of eighty voices. It is alltalking, all-musical, all-sensational. Box plans will be opened at the Bristol Plano Co., the Berkeley, and the Grand Opera House on Monday morning.

“WHOOPEE!" Mr. Stanley Grant was in Wellington yesterday In connection with the coming tour of the Williamson Musical Comedy Company, which is to play “Whoopee and other musical comedies. The tour will commence at Auckland on Boxing Day, and the company will probably reach »elIlngtou early in the New Year. I* Of some months past Mr. Grant has been on tour in Australia—ranging from Queensland to Western Australia —with a similar company, playing new and not-so-new comedies, including “The Student Prince, “Lilac Time,” “The Maid of the Mountains," and other successes, in which Miss Lillian Crisp, a very attractive soprano, Is stated to have done conspicuously good work. Mr. Grant mentions that the "Whoopee” Company will include the talented Kendals (who were imported by J. C. Williamson, Ltd., for the Noel Coward revue, “This Year of Grace”), They are celebrated for their dancing.

“CELANESE" MODEL PARADE Al MAJESTIC THEATRE LOUNGE. To-day is the last day of the mannequin parade when exquisite “Celanese” models for day and evening will be exhibited at the Majestic Theatre lounge at 3.30 p.m. and at 10.15 p.m. There is a chance, too, of winning a frock by voting.