ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 104, 27 January 1931, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. A powerful drama, “Shadow of the Law,” which is now being screened at the Regent Theatre, is successful in holding an audience in rapt attention from beginning to end. A most unusual story, It deals with life In Sing Sing, and the efforts of a man accused of. murder to find sufficient evidence to prove his Innocence. The man is portrayed by. William Powell. He is seen as Jim Montgomery, who, rushing to the rescue of a woman, who is being ill-treated by her protector, accidentally pushes the latter out of a window. Death follows the fall, and Jim is accused of murder. Ethel, the woman, the only witness who could help Jim, has disappeared. He is found guilty and is sentenced to life imprisonment. With the aid of his cell-mate lie escapes from Sing Sing, and going into business in another part of the country becomes a popular and prosperous man. He is almost engaged to his employer's daughter, and his happiness is almost complete, when once again Ethel comes into his life. Through her actions the police find Jim and want to take him back to the “Big House.” What measures Jim takes to prove his innocence, and how lie effects them, lead up to a most unexpected yet thoroughly satisfactory conclusion to a most entertaining film. Natalie Moorhead, sleek, blonde, and ' faultlessly groomed, is ideal, as Ethel Barry. Marion Shilling makes a charming heroine. A splendid performance is given by Regis Toomey, who enacts the role of the cell-puite. His quiet comedy and first-rate acting place him in the front ranks of character-actors. There is a very good supporting programme, including a sound gazette show; ing pictures of the. famous Dornier Do. X flying boat. A most amusing comedy stars two comedians, Smith and Dale, and a “Sportlight” film, “Somewhere Out,’ is more than interesting. “Office Blues’ is an attractive singing item, and finally there is a screamingly funny sound cartoon. GRAND OPERA HOUSE. The screen adaptation of the famous Aldwych Theatre farces that have become so popular in New Zealand per medium of the talking screen. “Canaries Sometimes Sing,” is now being presented at the Grand Opera House. It is written by Frederick Lonsdale, one of England’s most brilliant and witty playwrights, whose shows are always rated among the season’s foremost successes. The star of “Canaries Sometimes Sing is Tom Walls. He was wonderful in “Rookery Nook” as the debonair impish man who flirted with danger and even with a most proper, church-going daily-woman. He was even more wonderful in “On Approval,” when he gave a positively remarkable performance as a selfish, spoiled Duke, who met his match in a shrewish woman who was the bane of his existence. Now, in “Canaries Sometimes Sing,” we have him in his most famous role of all. Miss Yvonne Arnaud, who will be remembered for her performance in “On Approval,” of the woman who cried, not because a man had told her she was forty-one, but because she really was forty-one, has the role of leading lady. Another prominent member of the cast is Athole Stewart, who has an exceptionally good part. Altogether “Canaries Sometimes. Sing” is a typically modern farce, ex.cellently produced, brillianlly acted, and one that should not be missed by anyone who is looking for a night’s genuine entertainment.

DE LUXE THEATRE. The critic who declared that those who saw “The Sea Wolf,” now screening at the De Luxe Theatre, viewed Milton Sills in the greatest role of his illustrious career, did not either over-rate the production or Sills’s part in it, or for that matter, that of any of the others in the cast. It is indeed an excellent entertainment, staged in the colourful setting of the old windjammers. Romance, with the rollicking spirit of those times, lives again in this great all-talking production. The supporting programme Includes a Fox Movietone News on Australia and New Zealand, Fox Audio Review, and an interesting travel talk, “From Barcelona to Valencia.”

ST. JAMES THEATRE. “Romance,” the stirring all-talking screen version of Edward Sheldon’s tremendous stage play (In which Doris Keane played continuously for three years at the Duke of York Theatre, London), is still continuing to win the approval of large audiences. Magnificent performances by Greta Garbo, Lewis Stone and Gavin Gordon, and charming settings and costumes make this production undoubtedly one of the most beautiful yet produced on the talking screen. Greta Garbo gives us her greatest performance, as Rita (,’avallini, the opera singer—she IS Cavalllni. Her interpretation of the one love in the life of Cavalllni, a love that is hopeless because of the past, is vivid and will live in memory for some time. Much sympathy is aroused for the heroine by Miss Garbo’s superb characterisation and there is restraint, dignity and human appeal in all scenes. Lewis Stone demonstrates his histrionic ability in a sterling portrayal of “Cornelius Van Tyl,” while Gavin Gordon, who makes his first appearance on the screen, gives a polished performance of the young rector, Tom Armstrong. A strong first part of supporting featurettes include an interesting Metrotone News. “The Clock Shop,” a phantasy in technicolour, and “Not. So Quiet on the Canine Front,” featuring Metro’s clever troupe of performing dogs.

I’ARAMOUxNT THEATRE. In “Common Clay,” now, showing atthe Paramount Theatre, Constance. Bennett is magnificent, »ji<l gives probably the finest performance she has ever gi\en in fl career full of important, well-handled parts. Tntelliircuee in pictures is always at a premium, and. when such an adniirable film as "Common Clay” reaches this country, it is worth while spreading the good news •abroad’that the best talkie producers can handle what is basically good material in an altogether ’“telUgent way. No one could fail to be Impressed by this strong and excellent story, so wonderfully- toll!. Supporting short features are also of good standard. There are excellent so nd gazettes and a first-class short feature, which is In effect a brief vaudeville entertainment. "East is West.” "Like a ripple 1 seem,” sings Lupe Valez., playing the colourful role of Ming Toy” in Universal’s talking version of "East is West,” which commences at the Paramount Theatre on Friday. Her voice combines the. fire of Mexico vsith the of the Orient and in her portrayal ot this role she enters into the spirit ot the part and sings “The Chinese LuHabj divinely. Rich in romance and the intrigue of the Orient, this talking picturisation of 'Tast is Vest is said to be more enjoyable and more entertaining than the stage play or even me silent picture made some years ago. Lupe Velez, who is rapidly rising to popularity, is said to be adorable in the role of piquant Miug- Toy. who is sold by a heartless father to the operator of a Chinese "love boat.” Lew Ayres plays Billy Benson, tlie wealthy American youth, who falls lu love with Ming Toy, while Edward G. Robinson is cast as the menacing Charlie Yong, half-caste Chinese ruler of San I rancisco's Chinatown. Box plans for “East is West" are now available at the Bristol Piano Co. MAJESTIC THEATRE. “Our Blushing Brides,” with Joan Crawford, Anita Page, and Dorothy Sebastian, is a sparkling, invigorating, and dramatically interesting picture, which is holding the attention of large audiences at the Majestic Theatre. The thkree girls are-sup-ported by a male contingent, which includes debunair Robert Montgomery, Raymond Hackett, and John Miijan, as engaging a trio of rogues who ever unwittingly did their best to bring unhappiness into the lives of the three young girls. Miss Crawford has never been seen to greater advantage, and adds an amazing iiiteusity to her more familiar "dancing daughter" characterisation. The bulk of emotional work, necessitated by scenes in tills up-to-tfie-minute plot, falls on Miss Crawford, who plays’in an unrestrained manner and gains distinction in a very exacting part. The piece is conspicuous for a number of excellent spectacular effects, including a very fine fashion parade n tlie grounds of a country seat. Partcularly good supporting subjects includes the big comeuy, “Looser Than Loose,” in which Charles Chase supplies much merriment from start to finish. Box plans are at the Bristol and also at the theatre. KING’S THEATRE. With a cast including Chester Conklin, Ben Turpin, and Dorothy Burgess. "Swing High” is being shown at the King's Theatre. I A complete circus troup was engaged for filming of the picture, witli all the clowns, acrobats, bare-back riders, trapeze performers, wild animals, spangles and glitter that go to make up “the greatest, show on earth.” playing a part. The second attraction is an all-British comedy, “Tlie New Waiter.” KILBIRNIE KINE.MA. Viliua Hanky scores an unqualified success in “A Lady to Love,” her first alltalking picture, which will be screened to-night at the Kilbirnie Kinerna. The blonde Hungarian star's work In this Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film adapted from a story by Sidney Howard. New York playwright, outshines any of her previous screen characterisations. Excellent so.und supports will also be screened. Reserve at theatre and Bristol.