ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 53, 26 November 1930, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. A love triangle in English society and the struggle between convention and love’s fulfilment make between them the plot of "Strictly Unconventional,” an entertaining film adapted from Somerset Maugham’s play, “The Circle,” which is attracting large audiences daily to the Regent Theatre. Catherine bale Owen, the picturesque English beauty, is in her element as the neglected wife who pines again for the thrill of love, extinguished in her political-minded and thoroughly conventional husband. The supports to this feature film are a talkie news, a short drama of Scotland Yard, “Baby Iconics,” and a New Zealand Sporting News talkie. . "On Approval.” Frederick Lonsdale's successful comedy, "On .Approval,” has been announced for the Rdgent Theatre on Friday next. With faultless recording, splendid photography, a tried story and a magnificent comedy team, this British talking comedy has proved elsewhere to bb exceptionally good entertainment fare. In Lonsdale’s bright plot the Luke of Bristol professes great concern as to his friend Richard’s welfare. He considers that, as Richard is anxious to suffer the bonds of matrlpiony, the sooner he arranges with Marla Wislak, a wealthy though temperamental widow, to share them with him, the better it will be —for him. The Duke heartily and thoroughly dislikes "dear Marla,” and as this is entirely mutual he feels that the least he can do is to part her and some of her wealth by marriage to impecunious Richard. As for himself he is-weighing up the possibilities of honouring Helen Haylc, also wealthy, but with the added attraction of good looks, by asking her.to accept the title of her Grace, thus doing her a favour and assisting his own somewhat depleted banking account. Now Maria and Helen both love their prospective husbands, but Marla, who had previously been married for eighteen years, possesses quite a subtle, though somewhat acid, sense of humour and she decides to take Richard "on approval” for a month to her house in Scotland. Helen also .was certain that a holiday in Scotland would do her good, and, strangely enough. My Lord the buke had similar sentiments, The results of this situation •can be guessed, biit it is only the adroit Lonsdale who can do justice to it. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Wheeler and Woolsey, the bland pair of idiots who punctuated the film "Rio Rita” at frequent intervals with broad comedy that sent gales of laughter through the audience, do the same thing at the Paramount Theatre this week in their latest picture, “The Cuckoos.” "Man Trouble.”’ Store than 100 fashionably-gowned women appear as guests in the night club scenes of "Man Trouble,” the Fox Moviei tone all-talking drama which opens Its engagement next Friday at the Paramount Theatre. The gowns which they wear are the latest creations of Hollywood's most famed designer, and have’' already been copied by many smart and exclusive modistes. During these delightful sequences DorOtlly Mackaill and Sharon Lynn, who enact the featured feminine roles, each sing two songs, composed especially for the picture and for these two artists by James Hanley and Joseph Me- . Carthy. Milton Sills and Kenneth MacKenna play the leading masculine parts. The story deals with the love of two men for one woman and the struggle does not end until the hand of Fate reaches out and permits genuine love to win over menacing influences. Plans for reservations arc now open at'- the Bristol and theatre. MAJESTIC THEATRE. The up-to-date talking comedy production, "Strictly Modern,” with Dorothy Mackaill giving satisfaction to everybody In the leading feminine role, will terminate its successful Wellington season at the Majestic Theatre to-morrow evening. “The Man from Blankleys.” A particularly noteworthy ail-talking attraction, “The Man from Blankleys,” will be the chief feature of next Friday’s complete change Of programme, when the famous actor, John Barrymore, will be seen for the first time on the talking screen iff a stellar comedy role. “The Man from Blankleys,” by an English author, was originally produced in London, with enormous success, by . Sir Charles Hawtrey, the leading light comedian of the English stage, who scored a big hit in the principal part of "Lord Strathpeffer.” Barrymore has now personally selected an English cast of distinguished nlavers to support him, ■ produced the piece as his second great talking feature, and as before stated, he will be seen in it at the Majestic Theatre, commencing on Friday next. The members of the supporting cast are worthy of special mention. They include D’Arey Corrigan, the Irish actor, a man of many parts who has also been a university professor and a British Ambassador: Albert Gran, the "Sugar-Daddy” of "Gold Diggers of Broadway” who was last seen in New Zealand with J. C. Williamson’s companies: Diana Hope, an English star from Drury Lane- William Austin, also from Drury Lane and the Adelphi Theatre, Loudon: Dick Henderson, the popular eomediaa from the London Gaiety; Emil Fitzroy, remembered in Australia, as leading lady for George Rignauld and also for Wybert Reeve; Dale Fuller, Louise Carver, and Loretta Young. Box plans are at the Bristol and also at the theatre. KING’S THEATRE. Sunny’ Spain, with all its glamour and glorious romance, is brought to tlie audible screen in "The Gay Caballero.” a Fox Movietone all-talking musical operetta, now screening at the King’s Theatre. “The Divorcee.” In “The Divorcee.” which opens on Friday next at the King’s Theatre. Norma Shearer again proves conclusively that she has few coinpeers on the talking screen. Miss Shearer is seen as Jerry Bernard, daughter of a physician, who after three years of married life discovers that Ted, her husband, has recently carried on a liaison with Janice. Bitterly hurt, she forces herself to accept the explanation of her husband that he still loves het only and that the affair was. simply an unimportant phenomenon of the current moral code of modern civilisation. The action which ensues carries with it many interesting situations. The work of Miss Shearer’s supporting cast cannot be too highly praised. QUEEN’S THEATRE. Revealing the depth and power of emotion ’ undergone by a young woman on trial for the murder of a man. Metro-Goldwyh-Mayer’s film transcription of "The Trial of Mary Dugan” is showing at present at the Queen’s Theatre. It is an intensely dramatic and engrossing treatment of the play, which ran for more than a year on Broadway. KILBIRNIK KINEMA. Trapped In a crippled submarine 95 feet below the surface —with water slowly entering through an inaccessible leak, and the torpedo tubes, the only avenues of escape, fouled by the collision which sent the vessel to the bottom —is tlie perilous situation confronting the players in “Tlie Adventures of 513,” now attracting audiences to tho Kilbirnle Kinema, . .

DE LUXE THEATRE. . Following upon tho outstanding success of the excellent All-Bi’itlsh two-feature programme ‘(Loose Ends” and “Not So Quiet on the Western Front,” which concluded .an extended season last night, the Do Luxe management announces for today and onwards, for a term of eight days, an entertainment of similar calibre, quite the eqtial in quality and quantity to that mentioned above. "Inside the Lines” and “Amateur Night in London” arc the two forthcoming productions which are confidently expected to repeat the success of the splendid British bill now being presented. From the first foot to the last fade-out, “Inside the Lines,” . Radio Pictures’ all-talking, drama featuring Betty Conipson is interesting, thrilling, and entertaining, according to advance reports. It Is not a war plqture, but a story of espionage at Gibraltar during tho World War. Roy .Pomeroy, the director, has succeeded in making the intimation of war more powerful, more pathetic, more gripping than the countless noisy and awe-inspiring spectacles could. The story is of two lovers, German spies, who meet unexpectedly in the heart of the British fortifications at Gibraltar. They both have been charged with the task of blowing up the Gibraltar fleet. Miss Compson is supported by a cast of English stage and screen stars. The story is from the pen of Earl Derr Biggers (author of “Behind That Curtain”). The second feature Is the ali-British comedy-drama “Amateur Night in London,” said to be a worthy successor in laughs and thrills to “Not So Quiet on the Western Front.” It is reported to be another "straight from London laughter riot,” and deals with some of London’s would-be talkie and stage stars, and the hilarious results of a public "audition.” A particularly line east includes some of England’s foremost stage and screen "headliners” such as Billy Caryll, Duncan and Godfrey, Charlie and Billy Rego. Jessie Hitter, Harry Rodgers, Archie McCaig. Don and Luis, and the Plaza Boys. Box plans ate available at Bristol and Aitken’s, intending patrons being advised to secure early reservations. ’•- ST.. JAMES THEATRE. ; s The brilliant talking, singing, dancing and dramatic attraction, "The Show Girl in Hollywood,” will ternlinate its successful run at the St. James Theatre ou Thurs.day evening so that only two days remain for those who have not already enjoyed the film to repair their omission and see it. “Love Among the Millionaires.” For Friday next at the St. James Theatre Sir Benjamin and John Fuller announce the premiere in Wellington of the noteworthy Paramount picture production, “Love Among the Millionaires,” which claims to be “the most popular production of its class throughout America.” It is said to reveal a now and altogether different Clara BOW, the girl who in thq past has been .associated with “it.” Since her last appearance in talkies Clara Bow has made an earnest study of the dramatic art under English stage managers, and it is claimed that she now possesses not only "it” but ‘.everything” in the shape of artistry, emotional power pathetic appeal, dramatic polish, nigh-class comedy finish, without impairing the broadly comic aptitude she always possessed. A feature Of the production is the excellence of the acting presented by the members of an exceptionally strong cast. Mlltze Green, the gifted, child act-' ress, is said to show ability that warrants her standing forth as a rival to any of the adult actresses of the screen. Stanley Smith is the Kero, the comedy roles are in the safe hands of Skeets Gallagher and Stuart Irwin, while Charles Sellin and Claude King, who have few' equals in character parts are well placed, and -Barbara Bennett, a beauty actress, who also boasts exceptional histrionic ability, le afforded special opportunities, for displaying it. A full cOiffpleihent of all-I’ara-mount novelties will be shown In support. Box plans are at the Bristol and at the theatre after 6 p.m.