ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 128, 24 February 1930, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. Marion Davies marches right into fresh triumphs in "Marianne." her new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer starring vehicle, which is showing at the Regent Theatre tills week. Incidentally, it is Miss Davies s first alltalking picture. With her usual gay drollery the comedienne enacts one of the most difficult roles of her career, and emerges with new honours for an incomparable performance. Her voice is very pleasing. As the courageous French peasant girl who mothers a brood of war orphans, as well as the regiment of Allied soldiers who billet in her barnyard, the dainty star brings a sparkling characterisation that at once charms and captivates. She is right at home in the hilarious comedy moments which afford her an opportunity for another screaming male impersonation when she dons a French .officer s uniform to save her sweetheart from gaol. Marianne,' it develops, believes her French lover dead in the war, and is willing to accept her Allied soldier sweetheart when he urges her to return home with him. Just as she is about to admit her love for him, her French lover, blinded in the conflict, returns Remorseful and moved deeply by pltv she resolves to send her American sweetheart away, giving her life to caring for the blind man. He howeevr, senses her real love for the other man, and realising what a burden he would be for her, finally sends her back to the arms of her new lover. Lawrence Gray appears opposite Marlon Davies, with Cliff Edwards (Ukulele Ike) as Benny Rubin in the principal supporting roles. A Metrotone news songs, entitled Loilta, Duna,and "Until?’ by William O’Neill, and a comedy. "Men of War.” featuring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, complete an excellent programme. "THE HOLLYWOOD REVUE.” “The Hollywood Revue,” Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s spectacular, all-musical extravaganza, which comes to the Regent Theatre next Friday with the reatest cast of stars ever assembled for one motion picture, could not have been the tremendous revue achievement it is wthout an equally powerful driving force behind it—a gigantic studio, thobbing like a great majestic mill, with the world’s best in kinema genius to guide it. This revue has an abundance of materal to an extent unprecedented upon stage or screen. Indeed, it took tons of concrete brain twisting problems of engineering, the assembling of complicated electrical units, with the “system” alone costing £l6 a minute. Behind “The Hollywood Revue” is the greatest sound stage installation in the world. "The Hollywood Revue” differs from "The Broadway Melody,” M-G-M’s other talking singing and dancing production, in that it is distinctly of the revue school of entertainment rather than of the musical comedy type, consisting of songs, dances, skits, tableaux, and “blackouts,” with no connecting story. It is said to be patterned after the more ambitious Broadway stage revuds, and to lllustf-ate effectively the possibilities of the audible screen for this type of production. In the cast of “The Hollywood Revue,” are most of the prominent players at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio. Marion Davies, John Gilbert, Notma Shearer, William Haines, Joan Crawford, Lionel Barrymore, Buster Keaton, Karl Dane, George K. Arthur, Marie Dressier, Conrad Nagel, Gus Edwards. Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy and Gwen Lee all appear in the new picture, in addition to the trio featured In’"The Broadway Melody”—Anita Page, Charles King, and Bessie Love. Their talents are supplemented by such stage luminaries as the Brox Sisters, Nattacha Nattova, Cliff Edwards (Ukulele Ike). Jack Benny, the Rounders, and the Albertina Rasch ballet.. Some idea of the scope of the new production is conveyed in the information that more than 1500 persons were involved in making it, while more than three million feet of film were photographed to obtain the final footage of 11.000 feet. One hundred and fifty chorus girls and show girls were selected by Director Charles F. Reisner and Sammy Lee. who supervised the dance numbers. Twenty original song numbers were prepared by the large staff of writers and composers. These include “Singin’ in the Rain,” "Orange Blossom Time.” and "Your Mother and Mine.” PARAMOUNT THEATRE. The lives of the boys and girls who work in the big department stores of a big city are cleverly portrayed by Clara Bow and an interesting supporting cast in the Paramount production, "The Saturday Night Kid,” which is beiug screened at the Paramount Theatre this week. Miss Bow plays the role of Mayme, a sales girl in Ginsberg’s store, who falls in love with James Hall, a young clerk in the store, who' is headed for promotion and eventual success. But Jean Arthur, the younger sister, creates trouble when she decides that she will win the love of Hall away from her sister. There are a number of complications, . some of them exciting, others amusing. Critics will have to right to say that Clara Bow gives an amateurish performance In certain scenes of the picture, for that is what she and her supporting east are supposed to do. The scenes referred to are those in which the employees of the Ginsberg store gave a benefit pageant for the store's welfare fund. To be a real representation of such an event, the director, A. E. Sutherland, decided that it must look extremely amat teurish. The results of the players’ efforts are highly satisfactory, and the pageant scenes are said to be the most funny bits of the kinema satire since the advent of talking pictures. Several Paramount sound "featurettes,” including a talking graphic, a comedy, and a first-rate vocal item, complete the programme. “THE COCK-EYED WORLD.” Big and impressive elements are always essential if a motion picture, as a rule, is to reach the scale of being an impressively worth-while- production. Fox Movietone officials realised this when they determined to produce an all-talking picture about the buttles and loves of two marines. As a result, “The Cock-eyed World,” written by that capable pair, Laurence Stallings and Maxwell Anderson, who wrote "What , Price Glory,” achieves first rank among the talking pictures of the season, it is stated. The east, beaded by Victor McLagen, Edmund Lowe, and Lily Damlta, is one of the important reasons for this picture's success. McLaglen and Lowe are again playing their roles of "Flagg” and "Quirt.” McLaglen made an outstanding success of his part in that Broadway special, “The Black Watch,” "Captain Lash,” “Strong Boy,” and other Fox specialists. Lowe's work in "In Old Arizona" and other features was also outstanding, while Lily Damlta, one of France’s finest beauties, a former star of the Folies Bergere, scored repeated hits iu a number of big American productions. Other big elements not to be neglected in enumerating the salient facts about "The Cock-eyed World" are the song hits written especially for this picture, "So Long, now a marching song for the Marines: "Elenita,” sung by Miss Damlta, and "So Dear to Me," beautifully rendered by Bobby Burns. I Seven orchestras are seen iu the picture: two U.S. Navy bands, one from Mare Isliind, Vallejo, California, and another from the Marine Base at San Diego; a Russian Balalaika! Orchestra ot twelve soloists; the famous Mexican Baud of Agua Caliente; also Jose Arias s Spanish string band Serenaders; the "hottest jazz orchestra in California for the special Coney Island sequence, and the U.S. Naval Barracks orchestra. A number of the most capable stOnic artists in the country were selected to design the huge set. An entire tropical town was constructed and hundreds of Central American's were used as extras to maintain the true atmospheie ol tMs interesting story. The same held true when the entire Russian colony of Los Angeles was "conscripted” for the Russian episode which includes a picturesque inn Coney Island with all its glitter and bauble was also conceived for one of the most colourful situations in the P lctl,r ?; Notable troupers in this picture which Raoul Walsh directed are El Brendel, Joe Brown Ivan Linow, and Bobby ,surn!> ? The trend of the story takes the marines clnatlng than ever, Is tueir gir tropics; Leila Karnelky their Russian and Jean Bary their New Tork girt Cock-eyed _ k „„ f or real pastime: humour" sparkling dialogue hectic love lhe cock ejc Paramount plXYe available at Bristol and theatre.

has decided the management of His _Mnj nstv’s Theatre upon making a further e.x tension of its season in Wellington. It will accordingly be shown again ‘" s None of that crudeness which has marie ed other and earlier attempts at re P™ tlu . t ' ing the hues of nature is “ o ‘’ ce “,^ le "On With the Show, which is the nrst 100 per cent, natural colour, talkln J-’ ing. and dancing production. “ *s tcafly a wonderful effort on the part ofits pro dneers. The speech, songs, and music all leave little to. be desired. Jrs to do with a company of » tran , dt ‘ l who, during their amusing adventures, are playing a musical fantasy, "Ihe 1 Imntom Lover." The east of "On With the Show, the first product of a comparatively unknown New York advertising m aa -. H ” m „ l ' l '' rev Pearson, is a particularly brilliant one. Included in It are Betty Compson, Arthur Lake, Sallv O’Neill. Joe E. Brown, Louise Fazenda. Ethel Waters, William Bakewell, the Fairbanks Twins, Sam Hardy, Lee Moran, Wheeler Oakman. Harry Gribbon, Thomas Jefferson, Harmony Emperors Quartea, Josephine Houston, and a beautiful chorus of one hundred. Robert Lord adapted the story to the screen and Alan Crosland directed.

DE LUXE THEATRE. "The Great Divide,” the settlug of which is the end of the Great Divide just north of the Mexican border, is an all-dialogue, singing, and dancing production, which is being screened at the De Luxe Theatre this week. The leading roles are taken by Dorothy Mackaill and lau Keith. Their acting is splendid. The theme soug of the picture is "End of the Lonsome Trail,” sung by lan Keith. Myrna Loy sings the number, “Si, Si, Senor.” A Mexican fiesta forms the background of the musical features. Ruth Jordan, a spoiled darling of the modern jazz age, journeys from New York with a party of friends with the object of visiting a mine of which her father had formerly been a part owner. At a Mexican fiesta she meets a man called Stephen Ghent. He at one time had been her father’s partner, but of this fact she is not aware. On the contrary, she is led to believe that he is a notorious bandit. Playing up to this impersonation, Ghent ardently makes love to her. A pretty little halfbred girl, who loves Ghent, but' whose love is not returned, then appears on the scene, and Ruth, believing the worst, leaves him in disgust. She is followed and carried off into the mountains, the rough life in which he considers will break her spirit. There she realises his true worth. Instead of repelling her, he attracts her and wins her love. Later she protects him from the law, which has pursued him through mountains and over desert. In addition to this splendid feature, there are a number of supports of high quality. They include a duet in character from “Il Trovatore,” sung by Rosa Raisa and Rimini, a Paramount News, and a Pathe Gazette. "SHANGHAI LADY.” It is no wonder that Shanghai has become one of the storied spots of the world when such pictures as "Shanghai Lady,” which commences at the De Lirxe Theatre on Friday next, are made with such a background. “Shanghai Lady” is said to be distinguished by two outstanding creations—the characterisation of Cassie Cook, played by Miss Nolan, and the Oriental atmosphere of the entire film. As the white girl "hostess" who- somehow has drifted to the Far East, there to “entertain” the habitues of Madame Polly Voo’s "tearoom,” Miss Nolan is superb. The story, taken from the stage success by John Colton, is unique, fast-moving, and dramatic. Packed with comedy and laughs, in each laugh there nevertheless is the tenseness of the drama beneath it. Two bits of flotsam who somehow wound up on the China Coast, two human bits of wreckage—until they met each other. James Murray, as the white who has lost caste even In the eyes of the native until his love for the girl whom he believes to fie "refined” restores his self-respect, could scarcely be better cast. Special mention, too,, Is due Wheeler Oakman, the half-caste “heavy,” Lydia Yeamans Titus as Polly Voo, Anders Randolf as the mandarin, and many others who have important roles. MAJESTIC THEATRE. Two great stars, an all-star supporting cast, a delightful story, plenty of .comedy, and a number of sensational song hits, is the combination presented In "Sunny Side Up,” a Fox Movietone musical comedy which is being screened at the Majestic Theatre this week. Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell, making their musical comedy debut, give an amazing performance. Their voices, both singing and speaking, are pleasant, while Miss Gaynor also displays talent as a dancer. A supporting cast of unusual strength surrounds the stars, Including Frank Richardson, Marjorie White, and El Brendel. In addition, there is a chorus of 100 dancing and singing beauties. The musical numbers include “A Talking Picture of You,” “Sunny Side Up,” "I’m a Dreamer,” “Turn on the Heat,” “You Find the Time, I’ll Find the Place,” and "You've Got Me Pickin’ Petals off of Daisies.” Miss Gaynor is a free-care resident of Yorkville, New York’s upper East side. Despite her lowly station she has some ambition, and her dreams .suddenly begin to materialise when she charms Charles Farrell, a wealthy young society man from Southampton, Long Island. Molly Carr, the East side girl, meets Jack Cromwell, the wealthy young spring from Long Island, aud learns that 'he has 'quarrelled with his girl. She advised him to evoke the lady’s jealousy by flirting with someone else,and Jack conceives the bright idea of installing Molly in the next-door house as a -“distinguished guest from Detroit.” Everything is progressing well when Jack's mother learns that her son is paying the rent of the house'next door, and at a big charity fete tells Molly that she cannot stand for such an affair going on in her house. Heart-broken, Molly returns to her shabby little East side flat. Jack then realises that he loves the beautiful Cinderella, but he has to pretend that he has every ailment under the sun before his fiancee eventually is only too glad to escape from a nervous masculine wreck. Jack's mother discovers Molly’s diary, and, learning the. truth, sends Jack to bring Cinderella to the palace. An Interesting supporting programme includes a Fox Movietone News, in the New Zealand section of which, the Prime Minister of the Dominion (Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward) gives a short address. In the same section is another snapshot of interest to Wellington, showing views of the Wellington Racing Club’s last meeting at Trentham, including Concentrate's victory. KING’S THEATRE. With a romantic setting in old California, in the days prior to its annexation by the United States, “Senor Americano,” Ken Maynard’s latest talking picture, is being shown at the King's Theatre this week. The atmosphere is essentially an historical one. Ken Maynard, a young American cavalry officer, falls in love with a beautiful Californian girl. Carmellta. Winning all the honour and glory at a brilliant and elaborate rancho festival, Senor Americano arouses the emnlty of one Ramirez, a dashing young Caballero, who is also attracted by the charm of Carmellta. Ramirez becomes the tool of Maddux, the crafty outlaw whose men are doing their best to raise trouble in Southern California. As lie is riding from the north with news of California's admlslson to the Union, Senor Americano is captured by the outlaws and denounced by Ramirez to Carmellta and her father as an unscrupulous adventurer. C'armelita, however, has faith in the prisoner and helps him tb escape by bringing assistance from San Rosario while the young American holds the rancho against Maddux’s men. The part of Carmellta is charmingly taken by Kathryn Crawford. Her voice is heard to advantage in the soft Spanish love songs in which Maynard accompanies her on his guitar. Tarzan, Maynard's wonder horse, must also lie mentioned with the leads. The management have, in addition, secured a fine supporting programme, including late news reels and comedies. OPERA HOUSE.

Walter Huston's voice, which for years thrilled vaudeville audiences In America, and later was heard from the New York legitimate stage, is one of the outstanding features of "Gentleman of the Press, the Paramount all-talking production, which is showing at the Opera House this week. This picture, from the famous stage play by Ward Morehouse, is one of the best products of the group being produced at the Paramount’s Long Island studios. Green lampshades swing low over battered typewriters, a circular copy desk is covered with paste pots and news copy; there is colourful litter and disorder. The story deals with a veteran newspaperman who has given up everything in life for his business. When his daughter was born he was covering a prize-fight; when his wife died he was on an assignment covering a Mexican uprising: when his daughter graduated from high school he was writing about Lindbergh. The only thing he has not given up is his fatal susceptibility for a pretty woman. The other picture, entitled “Jazz Heaven,” concerns the efforts of a young man to win success by song-writing, and how a girl from his boarding-house assists him in achieving his object. They rise to sudden fame as the result of being accidentally broadcast while they are practising their "hit" together. Sally O'Neill and Clyde Cook, assisted by Johnny and Jack Brown, and Joseph Cawthorn, take the lending roles. An interesting Patlie sound news is also Included on this line programme. KILBIRNIE KINEMA GOES “TALKIE.” The management announces that the Kilbirnle Theatre will be closed for the short period of four days from to-night (Monday), in order to carry out extensive alterations and to instal the latest Western Electric talking equipment. This set is in all respects similar to equipments now being installed in the leading citie theatres of the world. This fact, coupled with the big picture policy now being planned, will make the Kinema a most popular, house of sound entertainment. The opening attraction announcements and box plan arrangements will be extensively advertised in further editions of the dally papers. ORGAN RECITAL. Mr. Bernard F. Page (city organist) continued his series of weekly recitals at the Town Hall last night. The programme Included Brahm’s Choral-Preludes (Op. 122. No. 3-5), Mendelssohn's Sixth Organ Sonata. “Serenata.” by Albenlz (Op. 105. No. 4), Rebikoff’s Psychological Poem. "Berceuse,'' by Faulkcs. and Cesar Franck's Priere In C Sharp Minor.