ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 64, 9 December 1930, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

KEGENT THEATRE. But three more days remain in which to see “On Approval,” a sophisticated English comedy film, now at the Regent Theatre. The production may be regarded a.s one of the outstanding films of the year—not in the way of spectacular settings, enormous easts, or gorgeous revues—but the superlative acting of a simple and unusual story, laid wholly in an Euglish 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. “Grumpy.” . Cyril Maude, the distinguished actor, makes his debut in pictures with the talking Paramount picturlsation of the famous plav in which he has appeared all over the world. Many will remember “Grumpy" on the stage, and now many more thousands will enjoy this tale of a lovable, irascible old man who solved a mystery and helped along a budding romance. “Grumpy” will be presented for the first-time in Wellington, at the Regent Theatre, on Friday next. Cyril Maude is one of the greatest actors of the English stage. He has played in Australia, America and England, but with the exception of one appearance in films some twelve years ago, Cyril Maude has devoted his life to the stage. Paramount, and the Invention of talking pictures, lured him from retirement, and he has made a marvellous picture In “Grumpy.” This. story of an old man who hid an active brain behind irascible, garrulous temper, and who solved a mystery and brought a romance to conclusion, is said to be one of the best that has ever been seen on the talking screen.

ST. JAMES THEATRE. None can cavil at the truly good fare submitted at the St. James Theatre just now, the main attraction of which is the musical play “Bride of the Regiment, which reproduces “The Lady of the Rose, a Wellington stage success of some years ago, for the attraction Is well calculated to suit every taste, and quite obviously it has been constructed with that object In view. The story is decidedly interesting, the dressing and the mountings are exceptionally rich and in good taste, while the whole production is embellished by the use of technlcolour. Vivienne Segal, Alland Prior, and Walter Pidgeon, attend to this department in especially effective fashion. There is much comedy in the piece, and this is supplied and excellently well done bv Lupino Lane, Ford Sterling, Louise Fazenda, Myrna Loy, and Claude Fleming. An excellent assortment of supporting films is shown. One of these subjects, “The Question of To-day, is a one act play of outstanding merit, which deals in effective fashion with the question of ladles’ dresses, manners, and morals of the moment. Box plans are at the Bristol and also at the theatre after 6 p.m. ' , For Frldav next, “The Lady Surrenders,” an unusual play, is underlined for presentation. It will Introduce for the first time In New Zealand the celebrated stage star Genevieve Tobin, who is heralded as Ruth Chatterton’s most serious rival.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. No talking screen play could be followed with a greater degree of appreciation than is the newspaper tragi-comedy "In the Headlines,” which is now showing to big attendances at the Majestic Theatre. This play, with its atmosphere of murder and intrigue, appeals very strongly to the public, for just as it is full of dramatic moments it also possesses comic relief in the .shape of real laughter-creat-ing dialogue and episodes, and in addition it forces its audience to do some rapid thinking so that there is no time for dullness while the film is unfolding. Grant Withers plays effectively as the reporter who elucidates the mystery, and Marian Nixon, a press-woman, who is in love with Withers, which enables her to combine business with pleasure, does everything necessary as the leading lady of the piece. The short subjects shown in the first part of the programme are good, and the English Rathe super-sound gazette contains matter far above average. Box plans are at the Bristol and also at the theatre. For Friday next the main feature of the new’ change will be lhe Midnight Mystery,” with Betty Compson, Hugh Trevor, Lowell Sherman, and a strong supporting cast.

DE LUXE THEATRE. In “Lawful Larceny,” now at the De Luxe Theatre, Bebe Daniells 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 wlrn 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, sbe 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. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Gambler, pseudo-reformer, and gangster, but really like all screen heroes—the whitest man on earth —Richard Dix, in “Shooting Straight,” now at the Paramount Theatre, gets an opportunity of showing how' five sequences, a scene, and a couple of situations can be put through in less time than it takes the average producer to work at fade-in. Speed and action are the ingredients 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. 1 Tlie central situation of “The Storm.” to be presented this evening at the Kilbirnle Kinema, is dramatic to a degree. Two men, old friends, are penned up iu a snow-bound cabin in the Canadian wilds with the girl whom both love. While death bv starvation closes down upon all three, the love hunger in the hearts of the men hourly brings each other eloser 'and closer to the other’s throat. KING’S THEATRE. Starring Joseph Hislop, the magnificent English singer, “The Loves of Robert Burns,” now showing at the King's Theatre, adds another film to the lengthening list of Brltisli talkies that deserve worldwide recognition. The producer, Herbert Wilcox, 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 than on the stage, is the first of the two big pictures. Ina Claire is the star of the production. Thrills, romance and laughter are provided by “The Sophomore,” an all-action student drama.