ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 65, 10 December 1930, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. With its locale set wholly in the British Isles, and played by an accomplished English cast, “On Approval,” which will conclude a two weeks’ season at the Regent Theatre to-morrow, provides patrons with some of the most sophisticated English comedy, seen here for a long time past. 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 plfiture of extreme fascination. It kept London laughing for a year. Like all Lonsdale plays, it sparkles with the most subtle And modern wit. “Grumpy.” “Grumpy,” which opens at the Regent Theatre on Friday, is an apt combination of comedy, romance, and melodrama. Above ail it is a comedy, with the other ingredients present in happy proportions. Cyril Maude, the celebrated international star, created the title role of “Grumpy” in 1913. Since that time he played the part 1300 times on the stage in all the Englishspeaking countries of the world. ‘‘Grumpy’ is a play built around a character. As that character, Cyril Maude carries with him the full burden of the show—furnishing comedy, thrills, delicious bits of amusing subtlety and withal a grand exhibition of real character acting. For as so many others have said with full truthfulness, “Grumpy” the play is Cyril Maude the actor. Most of the action takes place In the luxurious country estate, near London, of the aged but far from dim-witted Grumpy, a retired criminal lawyer who hid gained renown In his younger days before the bar of justice. Comes to Grumpy’s home Phillips Holmes, a young Englishman who hah been dispatched-from South Africa by his employers in possession of a valuable diamond which he is to deliver to a trading firm in London. Holmes is in love with Frances Dade, Grumpy’s granddaughter. Another guest at the Grumpy home is Paul Cavanagh, a society ne’er-do-well. During the night Holmes is robbed of the gem. Grumpy, being responsible for the welfare-of his bouse guests, takes up the hunt for the thief. The ensuing action is filled with plot suspense, and of course with the effective and amusing character work of Cyril Maude. Cavanagh is finally brought to justice as the criminal by the crafty work of Grumpy, and Holmes and Miss Dade are left to their contemplation of future happiness. . PARAMOUNT THEATRE. For fast action and thrills aplenty, “Shooting'Straight,” starring Richard Dlx, now at, the Paramount Theatre, is a hard film to beat. In it Dix 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 Walter,” both good items. The box plans are at the Bristol and the theatre. “The Border Legion.” Zane Grey's thrilling romantic West, is brought vividly to the all-talking screen in Paramount’s latest gripping drama of the outdoors, “The Border Legion,” which opens at the Paramount Theatre on Friday. Richard Arlen is the hero of the story; Fay Wray is the her'oine, and Jack Holt, the beloved portrayer of Zane Grey Western roles, is his own swaggering, handsome I self as the leader of the daring robber band. Arlen has the role of Jim Cleve, a young cowboy who, through the operation ,of frontier justice, is forced to become a member of Jack Holt’s ruthless group of desperadoes. Arlen is making a new name for himself in these popular roles. Of the twenty-four Zane Grey stories filmed by Paramount. Holt played roles in eleven. He has a villain part in “The Border Legion.” , but he is a swaggering, masterful villain who wins audience sympathy. Fay Wray has the only important woman role in the story. The pint, set in the riotous goldrush days in California, is a man-plot, a story of virile and stirring action, into which Miss Wray introduces a glowing touch of love and romance. QUEEN’S THEATRE. Great entertainment results ftom 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,” aji all-action student drama. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. “One Romantic Night” will be screened at the Kilblrnle Klnema to-night. Th's picture is Miss Lillian Gish’s first serious work for some time, and brings the charming screen heroine of “The Birth of a Nation,” “Way Down East.” “Broken Blossoms,” “Intolerance,” and “Hearts of the World.” back in /i talking picture, worthy of her talents. Reservations mny be obtained at the Bristol Piano Co., or by telephon- , lug the theatre, 14-292,

DE LUXE THEATRE. Bebe Daniels is starred in "Lawful Larceny” now at the De Luxe Theatre, and in It she appears I na role differing from her more usual vivacious chataCterlsations, and she acquits herself more than creditably In her passages of tense and emotional acting. The story concerns a wel-to-do man who is unfaithful to bls wife in her absence, and who gets into serious financial trouble. Bls confession ruins his wife’s happjpess, but with an unusual display of spirit, she sets out to revenge herself on the wqman responsible. That other woman is a seductive advetnuress who conducts a select gambling house, and bleeds men of both their honour and their money. ST. JAMES THEATRE. The 'distinguished singing. stars of legitimate opera. Vivienne Segal, Walter Pldgeon, and Allan Prior, in combination with the four star comedians, Lupino Lane, Ford Sterling, Louise Fazenda, and Myrna Loy, have won tho favour of large audiences during the week at the St. James Theatre in the gorgeously-coloured reproduction of the musical play ‘Bride of the Regiment,” tJie final screening of which will take place to-morrow evening. "A Lady Surrenders.” Sir Benjamin and Mr. John Fuller will present at the St. James Thatre, commencing on Friday next, at the early matinee session, “A Lady Surrenders,” the first production selected from Universal’s 1931 Merit Pictures, to be shown in Wellington. Much interest among picture followers will attach to the first appearance of the celebrated legitimate stage star, Genevieve Tobin, who, according to the American journal “Variety,” “challenges by her splendid art comparison with popular Ruth Chatterton.” She made a great success in the leading role in "Fifty Million Frenchmen” and also in "Polly Preferred,” which production she was the popular star. “A Lady Surrenders” is an intriguing story based on John Erskine’s best book, "Sincerity." A fine cast of players supporting Miss Tobin, in tjiis screen version Includes ' Conrad Nagel, Rose Hobart, Carmel Myers, Basil Rathbone; Ffanklyn Pangborne, and Vivian Oakland. The success of “A Lady Surrenders” throughout America has been unusually pronounced, and its advent in New Zealand should attract much atten- . tion. Special featurettes will precede the screening of the. main attraction. MAJESTIC THEATRE. The baffling - mystery play, “In the Headlines,” a sensational newspaper story of merit, which has been drawing large attendances to the Majestic Theatre throughout the week, will finish its Wellington season to-mqrrow night. It is well acted by Grant Withers. Marian Nixon, Clyde Cook, Edmund Breese, and a strong supporting cast. "Midnight Mystery.” The popular favourite, Betty Compson, supported by an exceptionally strong cast, which includes Hugh Trevor, Lowell Sherman, handsome and debonair, June Clyde. Rita Laroy, the celebrated "vamping” lady, Raymond Hatton, the favourite comedian, Marcelle Corday, Ivan Lebedeff, a musician of distinction, William P. Burt, and Sydney Dollwell, will appear at the Majestic Theatre on Friday morning next, in "Midnight Mystery.” a thrilling play that strikes a new note and . sweeps through one electrifying night of intrigue and romance in a way that keeps the audience in « state of high tension and suspense. The Interest is said to never wane —in fact, it increases as the drama works up to a stirring climax, while holding the solution of the mystery back right to the end of the picture. Betty Compson is credited with scoring a triumph in the character of a female "Sherlock Holmes” who outpoints and outwits the cleverest brains of the crime world. KING’S THEATRE. Starring Joseph Hislop, the magnificent English singer, “The Loves of Robert Burns,” now showing at the Ring's Theatre, adds another film to the lengthening list of British 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.