ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 63, 8 December 1930, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. Tremendous success has been scored by the feature film, ‘‘On Approval,” Frederick Lonsdale's comedy masterpiece, which is now In its second week at the Regent Theatre. The production may be regarded as one of the outstanding films of the year—not in the way of spectacular settings, enormous casts, or gorgeous revues —but the superlative acting of a simple and unusual story, laid wholly in an English locale, goes to make up a picture of extreme fascination. It kept London laughing for a year. Like all Lonsdale plays, it sparkles with the most subtle and modern wit. The self-centred Duke of Bristol loved the adorable Helen Wayle, and Richard Weyms, a real genial Englishman. loved Maria Wislak. a shrewish woman with an Income of £25,000 a year. Maria did not know whether she really liked Richard or not, so she decided to take him on approval for one month. They go to her Scottish mansion, anly to find that Helen and the Duke have also gone there. And then the fun starts. At the end of three weeks they become heartily sick of each other. Rieliard thinks Maria was the world’s champion nagger, and Helen thinks the Duke was the most selfish person on earth. Each one of the injured party tells the other the truth. What happens then forms the most piquant of comedies, and leads up to a climax that eould have originated only in the brain of so accomplished a writer as Frederick Lonsdale. '■Grumpy.” Opening its season at the Regent Theatre next l<’rlday is the feature film, "Grumpy,” with Cyril Maude, one of England’s most famous actors, in the titlerole. As the irascible tempered old man who hid u nimble brain and heart behind a stormy exterior, he is in a never-to-be-forgotten role. MAJESTIC THEATRE. The sensational newspaper story, "In the Headlines," which attracted very large attendances to the Majestic Theatre on Saturday, to the satisfaction of all preseut. is possibly the most intelligently constructed newspaper drama that has been seen upon the screen. It shows the inside of the journalistic' world and reproduces the atmosphere attached to a great modern “daily” with more faithfulness than any other picture on the same subject that we have seen. The plot recounts the facts connected with an actual murder mystery which baffled the entire police force of America, and which was subsequently unravelled by a clever reporter with the power of the Press behind him. Grant Withers, himself an ex-journalist, plays the leading role of the reporter, Marian Nixon is tlie ehlef lady of the cast, Clyde Cook principal comedian, while Edmund Breese, Pauline Garron, Hallam Cooley, and Spec O’Donnell characterise congenial roles. The first part of the programme is one of quite exceptional merit. It is a long time since an admirable set of talking novelties have been seen together on one programme. Box plans arc at the Bristol and also at the theatre. KING'S THEATRE. Starring Joseph Hislop, the magnificent English sluger. ‘‘The Loves of Robert Burns,” now showing at the King's Theatre, adds another film to the lengthening list of British talkies that deserve worldwide recognition. The producer. Herbert 11 ileox, has increased his fame in a film of the Scottisgh poet. “The Loves of Robert Burns” represents the greatest, the most classical achievement in the history of talking pictures. QUEEN’S THEATRE. Great entertainment results from the double feature programme now being shown at the Queen's Theatre. “The Awful Truth,” a talkie attraction, which is even greater on the screen t,han on tin l stage, is the first of the two big picture Ina Claire is the star of the production Thrills, romance and laughter are pro vided by "The Sophomore.” an all-action student drama. In addition to the evening sessions, there will be a matinee this afternoon, and the box plans arc at the Bristol.

ST. JAMES THEATRE. The massive musical romance or opera bouffe, "The Bride of the Regiment,” which is made radiant by technicolour embellishments, is a production of outstanding merit. As screened and reproduced at the Et. James Theatre, its musical, vocal, talking and scenec beauties are revealed to the best advantage and to the complete satisfaction of the large attendance attracted by it. “The Bride of the Regiment" is based on “The Lady of the Rose," the musical comedy which Gladys Moncrieff and Claude Fleming made so popular with Wellington audiences some years ago. The three singing stars of the cast, Vivienne Segal, who is seen as Marianna, Miss Moncrleff’s former role, Walter Pidgeon and Allan Prior, the famous stage star of “Student Prince” celebrity, do adequate justice to the excellent yocal numbers. Allan Prior is especially effective in the “Disappointed Lover.” Four comedians, Lupino Lane, the great English dancinff comedian, Louise Fazenda, Myrna Lov and Forde Sterling, are genuinely funny in capital roles and evoke roars of laughter. The production is as colourful and entertaining as one could wish for and the short subjects of good qualitj. Box plans are at the Bristol and also at the theatre after 6 p.m. DE LUXE THEATRE. ' Powerful drama with many an excellent touch of sophisticated comedy makes great entertainmetn in the big feature film ‘‘Lawful Larceny," now being screened at the De Luxe Theatre. In this new up-to--the-minute talkie, Bebe Daniels is starred in a role differing from her more usual vivacious characterisations, and she acquits herself more than creditably in her passages of tense and emotional acting. The story concerns a well-to-do man who Is unfaithful to his wife in her absence, and who gets into serious financial trouble. His confession ruins his wife's happiness, but with an unusual display of spirit, she sets out to revenge herself on the woman responsible. That other woman is a seductive adventuress who conducts a select gambling house, and bleeds men of both their honour and their money. The extra features comprise a news special concerning the Australian cricketers, a sound cartoon, a singing and dancing “short,” a sporting series novelty, and an animated cartoon. PAKAMOUNfI? THEATRE. Called by mistake a talking film, one of the most exhilarating tonics ever compounded was presented at the Paramount Theatre on Friday evening, and sent tlie audience home well entertained, well amused, and well satisfied. The picture was "Shooting Straight,” starring Richard Dix, and it is being shown for the remainder of the week. Gambler, pseudoreformer. and gangster, but really—like all film heroes—the whitest man on earth, Dix gets an opportunity in this fast-mov-ing story of showing how five sequences, a scene, and a couple of situations can bo put through In less time than it takes the average producer to work a fade-in. Speed and action are the ingrdients of good entertainment. and “Shooting Straight” abounds in both. The supports include “Spills and Thrills.” a water rodeo with racing launches, and a comedy and variety turn. “The New Waiter,” both good items. The box plans are at the Bristol and the theatre. KILBIRNIE' KINEMA. What happened in Temple Tower is powerfully told in “Temple Tower,” the Fox Movietone all-talker, the spine chill which introduces local film fans to something new in the way of screen entertainment. a film now showing at the Kilblrnie Theatre. Excellent sound featuretets, in■ltuling the P:i£ha versus Coleman wrest'ug match at tlie Town Hall, are also prentegj, Reserve at theatre and Bristol.