ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 139, 8 March 1930, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE. A sterling dramatic picture of life in Mexico is presented in "A Romance of the Rio Grande,” the picture screened at the Majestic Theatre. Here is a thrilling and very possible story, with love, hate, and revfinge playing their parts among a proud yet passionate people. It is admirably acted and directed. The characteristic scenes are illuminated with clear dialogue in which no words are- wasted, and it is free from the “slangy" American talk which becomes so reiteratingly tiresome. Once more; too, Mr. Warner Baxter in the heroic role is disclosed as an actor of vital strength, magnetic personality. Very fine acting also distinguishes the performances of Mary Duncan and Robert Edeson. It is seldom that so strong a story comes out of Hollywood. Pablo Cameron, a half-bred Mexican-Americano, is in change of a railroad gang when it is raided by bandits. While riding for help he is shot, but he makes his escape on one of the bandit’s horses which" has been stolen from the Santa Margarita ranchero. The horse with its helpless rider returns home, and Pablo is found by dark-eyed Manuelita. the ward of old Don Hernando, who owns the ranchero. His arrival there is not welcomed by Juan, the Don’s nephew, who is a much-hated bully. The old man discovers in Cameron his grandson, and has him nursed back to life. When Pablo realises where he is he desires to leave at once, as he is udder the impression that Don Fernando had ill-treated his mother (the Don’s daughter). But Don Fernando, a fine, dignified caballerot explains that away, and takes the young man to his heart. Full of hate towards Pablo, Juan decides to get rid of him. Don Fernado sends the two away together on a mission, knowing full well that only one will return. Out in the desert camp Juan attempts to stab Pablo, but the latter is too quick on the trigger, and Juan escapes Into the night. Later Juan finds occasion to stab the girl. An alarm is raised. There is gun play, crashing glass, and Juan throws up his arms, a dead man, leaving Pablo to find happiness with the faithful Manuelita. There is a fascinating love soitg. and some charming Mexican music to lend relief, and a whirl of gaiety is Introduced in the form of a Mexican fiesta, which is admirably done.

, The shorts include a clever, if gruesome, trick picture entitled "The Skeleton Dance.” “The Salesman” is a good comedy which will tickle every motorist," and a Movietone Gazette gives some glimpses of the efficient Czecho-Slovakian army at drill and on the march. . « KING’S THEATRE. After a very successful season at another theatre a few weeks ago, the English picture “Blackmail” commenced a season at the King’s Theatre last evening, and met .with a reception that was quite remarkable for its warmth. It is to be doubted whether a more eminently satisfactory talkie has yet been screened here. The story is thrilling, the artists for ma magnificently capable team, the photography and voice-produqtion leave nothing to be desired, and the voices speak perfect English in a completely unobtrusive way. For entertaihmetn the film is superb. Providing the technique—mechanical and otherwise—Of a film is good, the worth of the picture depends on the plot, and it is hero that "Blackmail” scores. The fortunate combination of technical excellence with everything that a film needs most has resulted in “Blackmail” setting a new standard as far as talkies are concerned. There are people who have a dislike for English films. But the present film beats the Americans at their own game. The story is a thrilling one, and holds the complete attention of the audience from first to last. It is hard to guess how the director. Alfred Hitchcock, has achieved this without a second view of the film. For Ine critical ones who take their pictures seriously, subtleties crop up all along the line. This excellent picture reminds ono of King Vidor’s work. When talking Ulins were first launched on the picture-going public, much controversy as to the effect thev woul dhave on the British film industry was aroused. It was stated by some that it would be the downfall of Britain s newly-erected studios at Elstree. whereas others foresaw that pertec Englih poken on he creen, and he muical geniuses of the Continent who are in easy reach of British producers, woxild prove the foundation of England as the foremost Picture producing country tn the world. Blackmail” supplies a proof of the latter theory. The leading roles are played by John Longden. Anny Ondra, Donald Calthorp. and Cyril Ritehard, all of whom ar ® cesses on the London stage. Tl {® raent has risen to the occasion by supply Ing a list of supporting short features of a quality approaching that of the main pic tore itself. Box plttns are available at the Bristol and at Aitken’s.

paramount theatre. Since packed houses have been the order o£ the day at the Paramount Theatre, it is only natural that the management should see lit to extend the season of The ■ Cock-Eyed World,” the Box Movietone comedy-drama which has broken all records wherever it has been screened. The fact that Victor McLaglen is in the. cast is alone sufficient to ensure the popularity of the film. Also in the cast is Edmund Lowe. Captain Flag and Captain Flirt always vie for first place in the heart of the same lady, -they cla sh badly in Russia, and in New York, and they clash even worse on a tropical island, where they find Mariana, a maiden of many smiles. Their love affairs, would till a volume, but even though they are always rivals, there is really a great friendship between both, the men. They go through many adventures in their pursuit of the fair Mariana. On being recalled they arc relieved to hear that Mariana is not going to tell their general of all their doings, and that with the money she has collected from them is going to buy presents for her wedding with her new lover. Lily Dainita is as beautiful ■as she is vivacious, and she has ”100 per cent. vivacity. Others in the excellent cast are El Brendel Bobby Burns, and Joe Brown, llieie are" some tuneful and catchy theme songs running through the film. lhere is a splendid sound gazette, and an Austialian news film containing'an address by Kingsford Smith. REGENT THEATRE. ‘"The Hollywood Revue” was such a success at the Rqgeut Theatre during the past week that the management have decided to extend the session for another week, commencing last night. The cast, an all-star one, includes Marion Davies, Conrad Nagel, John Gilbert, horßia Shearer, Bessie Love, Anita Page, William Haines, Karl Dane, George K. Arthur, Oweu Lee, Joan Crawford, Polly Moran, Buster Keaton, Marie Dressier, Charles King, Natacha Nattova, "Ukulele Ike (Cliff Edwards, the Brox Sisters, Gus Edwards, Jack Benny, the Albertina Rasche ballet, and many others, to say nothing of a full dancing chorus and dozens of showgirls. Special songs, special dances, lots of "gags,’’ abundant laughs, tuneful melodies and crackling dialogue—and, of course, the girls. Reminiscent of her great successes in musical comedy before she joined the films is the striking act presented by Marlon Davies, assisted by an all-masculine dancing ensemble, no man under six foot four. John Gilbert as "Romeo” and Norma Shearer as “J uliet” provide a choice tit-bit. Who before knew that Joan Crawford and Conrad Nagel are excellent singers? Bessie Love has a number of appearances in the picture, and appears in several musical comedy numbers with Polly Moran and Marie Dressier. This trio is matched for comedy by a masculine one: Charles King, "Ukulele Ike” and Gus Edwards. Gus Edwards proves himself one of the greatest singing stars of musical comedy, with a chorus interpreting his own original number, "Lon Chaney’s Goin’ to Get You If You Don t Watch Out.” HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. “The Hottentots,” the film of laughs and thrills, which has been drawing capacity houses to Ills Majesty’s Theatre during the last week, will commence its second session to-night. A Warner Bros.’ Vitaphone production, this picture has Edward Everett Horton heading the all-star cast. VictorMapes and William Collier, co-authors of the original stage comedy from which Harvey Thew prepared the Vitaphone adaptation, wrote this hilarious comedy of the race track around a fiery steed and a group of society folk, one of whom was obsessed by a deadly fear of horses. Their search for a name to fit the nature of the horse was finally settled by the use of the word Hottentot—name of a barbarous people .who inhabit dense forests of Africa. The allstar cast of this Vitaphone comedy, “The Hottentot,” also includes Patsy Ruth Miller, Edmund Breese, Edward Earle, Stanney Taylor, Otto Hoffman, Douglas Gerrard, and Maude Turner Gordon Roy Del Ruth directed, together with excellent supports.

"THE ISLE OF LOST SHIPS.” A highlv imaginative story based on scientific fact from tho pen of Crittenden -Marriott, and a startling First NationalVitaphone film adapted from the story, have resulted in the first exploration of the Sargasso Sea. The story of “The Isle of Lost Ships,” a thrilling dramatic film coming to the De Luxe Theatre next Friday, takes for granted that the Sargasso Sea is inhabited. Apart from thrilling air views of this sea of the dead the Him abounds on close-ups of an area scarcely penetrated by man and feared by mariners. Virginia Vallf, Jason Robards, Noah Beery, and an all-star supporting cast appear in the film, which Irvin WLllat directed.

QUEEN’S THEATRE. The popular Queen’s gone "talkie.” This Theatre, 11 lastnig it nprformaiice can be taken as a ciiteiiou, is admirably adapted for the screening ol sound films. The instaHatiou appears to be of a very high grade, and ot all the films screened last through distinct. The voices aU came througn clearly and there was an entire of nnv rnsn or harshness, lhe supporun 0 films all reproduced excellently, there being a varied programme of talkie short. Among these films was one ot lito Sclilp , the famous operatic tenor whose numbere were perfect. There was also a sound cat toon which dealt with the old song, the Ball.” A Universal News Reel, and selections by the Harmony Boys completed the first half of the bill, lhe star attrac tion was an all-talking version of the Virginian,” based on Owen Wister s it m ous novel of the same name, Featured in this picture are Gary Cooper (tlit Ai ginlan), Mary Brian and Richard Arlen The dialogue, settings, and the plot are up to a high standard. The story deals with a community of the Old Most, w here cattle-stealing is the worst of sins. Into this community comes Steve, a lad, who joins a gang and turns to the excitement of cattle rustling. His pal, the Virginian, knows of it, but being foreman of the ranch, places his duty first, and owing entirely to his tracking, the gang Is rounded up, Including his pal, and lynched. There Is a quarrel between the Virginian and the man whom he suspects to be responsible for the cattle rustling and his friend’s fall. There are many outdoor scenes of great beauty in the picture, especially those dealing with the mustering of the cattle. DE LUXE THEATRE. To gain some idea of the excitement of night life in the gay French capital one needs to see the very tine production, lhe Battle of Paris,” which opened at the De Luxe Theatre last night. It is an alldialogue and singing attraction, featuring the famous English musical comedy star, Gertrude Lawrence, and she is supported by an outstanding British, cast. Gertrude Lawrence is a beautiful actress with a fascinating personality on the stage, and her ability is undoubted. She has previously been starred in two noted Broadway successes, and her threefold attributes of singing, acting, and dancing have achieved for her a full measure of popularity. Charles Ruggles, the musical comedy, star, introduces a new vein of humour which is thoroughly entertaining. It is the lighter side of the war which is dealt with in the "Battle of Paris,” for it depicts soldiers of the Allied armies seeking relaxation from the grim work of the trenches. A young artist has his wallet "lifted” by a youthful song-seller on the streets,-but in a tit of remorse she returns it to him. Sympathetic with her story, he persuades her to become his model, and as an outcome they fall in love with each other. Then comes war, the girl's lover leaving for the front, while she turns to nursing in the hospitals. Here she becomes the friend of three soldiers. Her lover returns, but becomes Infatuated with another girl. Unavailing are the attempts of the three soldiers to bring them together, until she is kidnapped, when the soldier-artist suddenly awakens to the danger he is in of losing her. There are some reckless scenes until he recovers his betrothed, and is assured of forgiveness, and the curtain rings down with the bells announcing the Armistice. In addition to the big film, the programme includes a Pathe News picture, Fox Movietone News, Pathe Review, and sound cartoon, the last a popular De Luxe number, together with songs by the famous operatic tenor, Giovanni Martinelli. The box plans are at the Bristol and Aitken’s Arcade. KING GEORGE THEATRE.

“The Last of Mrs. Cheyney” is the talkie picture being shown at King George Theatre, Lower Hutt, to-night. On her performance in this picture Norma Shearer must rank among the leading actresses on the talking screen. Her voice production can well be characterised us faultless, and the standard of her acting is too well known to need further reference. Briefly, the story concerns Mrs. Cheyney. a woman who has been compelled to live by her wits, and whose charming manner wins her warm friends among English society. That she may not fail the gang with whom she has been working, she betrays the hospitality of her hostess at a week-end party and steals the lady’s pearl necklace. Detected by Lord Dilling, a handsome aristocrat, who has offered her marriage, she summons the household rather than allow him to continue to think that she is not morally a good woman when he has locked himself in her room. OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. "Skinner Steps Out,” starring Glenn Tryon and Merna Kennedy, is the chief attraction to be screened at Our Theatre tonight. It is a farce comedy depicting a young couple’s efforts to get on in the world. The 1 second feature, "Home, James,” starring Laura La Plante, is a sparkling comedy of love in a department store.

KILBIRNIE KINEMA. Harold Lloyd has produced his first alltalking comedy. “Welcome Danger,” which commences to-day at the matinee, 2.15 p.m., at the Klnoma Casting all the traditions of the talking screen aside, Lloyd has brought to the screen a comedy with just as much action packed in it as he ever put in ills silent comedies. Harold Lloyd is the meek young botanist, whose chief ambition in life is to perfect a new flower. Fate intervenes, and he is whisked off to San Francisco to take the place his father had occupied in tho community years before —that of tlie police officer whose very name was law. Here he has to match wits with the underground Chinatown, and in a series of hairbreadth escapes he produces some of the most laughable comedy ever brought to the screen, sound or silent. Two excellent all-talking short features will also be screened. Reserve at theatre, confectionery. ’Phone 14—202.

PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. “The greatest all-dialogue production vet ” is the description applied to “The Black Watch,” a spectacular Fox Movietone visualisation of Talbot Mundy’s famous story, “King of the Khyber Riffes, which will be shown at the Palace Theatre to-night. The officers of a Highland regiment are dining together on the eve of their departure for France. The toast is “The King.” One of their number. Captain King, is detailed for special duty in India. His mission is to defeat a plot hatched .among the hill tribes above the Khyber Pass to invade India. He is sworn to secrecy, and part of his task Is to leave his regiment on the eve of active service under suspicion of cowardice. Victor McLaglen is in the leading role, and plays to perfection the part ot a hard-working, conscientious British officer, concerned only in doing his job. Miss Myrna Loy is the seductive Yasmani, and these two sterling players are supported by an immense cast of important stars, all of which speak only perfect English.

ARTCRAFT THEATRE. "The Awakening,” with Louis Wolheim and Walter Byron in the leading roles, will be shown at the Artcraft Theatre to-night. It, portrays Miss Banky in the role of a simple Alsatian peasant girl meeting her first love in the days just preceding and immediately after the outbreak of the World War. The conflict of emotions between this lovely peasant and the dashing Gorman officer, who, having been attracted to her as a passing fancy, only to discover that he is deeply in love with her, makes a moving picture. "Five and Ton Cent Annie” is the other feature, starring Louise Fazenda. There will be good supports. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. The programme at the Empire Theatre, to-night will be headed by “Tenth Avenue,” starring Phyllis Haver. The story concerns two men who both love a girl. In an endeavour to lielp her in an emergency, each resorts to his crooked ways, and one of them commits a murder. On Ibis circumstance is built a dramatic picture. 'The supporting programme is headed by an excellent feature film. “Black Gold.”