ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 105, 28 January 1931, Page 14

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. A most unusual story, “Shadow of the Law,” now being screened at the Regent Theatre, 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. 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-mate. His quiet comedy and first-rate acting ; place him in the front ranks of character actors. An excellent i supp'Ortlng programme includes an interesting gazette, an attractive-singing item and two good comedies. “Animal Crackers.” The curious nicknames of the Marx Brothers, who will appear on the 1 Regent Theatre screen on Friday in their second Paramount talking comedy, “Animal Crackers,” are explained thus: Groucho Marx, who started life as Julius, got his name from the disposition he displayed when approached for a loan—on so his brothers explain it. Harpo really is Arthur, but his performance on the harp won him his stage cognomen. Chico once was Leonard—but he. became fond of poultry.' Zeppo. or Herbert, received his name from his brothers, who insist, that in boyhood he resembled a circus freak of that name. The Marx men are the whole show. For instance. Groucho plays the role of an alleged big game hunter, bounding from the dark wilds of Africa into the wild wilds of the Long Island society jungle. Harpo is a harp-playing vagabond; with an excellent taste In blondes. Chico is an Italian roughneck, who will commit bigamy or murder for a cent. Zeppo is Groucho s grinnipg “secretary.” The scene is a lavish country house on Long Island. A valuable picture is stolen, through what Groucho calls an “inside, outside job,” and the boys romp through the woods and boudoirs In what they laughingly call an attempt to find the picture, i What they find is plenty, and the picture ends with the whole ensemble knocked on its back by a shaker-full of. flit.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. The popularity of the sparkling and dramatically interesting comedy-drama, Our Blushing Brides,” continues unabated at the Majestic Theatre. Joan Crawford, Dorothy Sebastian, Anita Page and Robert Montgomery are highly popular with tne public in this picture. The success of the entertainment 13 enhanced by capital reproduction of the dialogue, which achieves a perfect and natural tone. Charles Chase s big comedy hit, “Looser than Loose, and other Metro-Goldwyn featurettes form the first part of a really good all-round programme. Only two more days remain in which to enjoy this capital entertainment seats for which may" be reserved at the Bristol or at the theatre.

“Up the River.” , A production of an entirely new character will be the star feature of next Friday's change of programme at the Majestic Theatre. “Up the River, Fox s, ills special comedy, claims to be new in every sense of the word. The story was first written by a woman—Noreen Watkins —ln book form. Its novelty captured all who read it. She then dramatised it for the screen, and its success, has turned out to be greater than ever. The American film journals describe it ns “a comedy- sensation." Satire Is its keynote, and its plot deals with a flock of gaol-birds in an ungilded cage living in state at the State s expense. The play burlesques the al fresco methods that prevail in some big American penitentiaries and cause the prisoners to regard the gaol as their home, sweet home,” with the result, it is stated, that many are nos sooner liberated than their desire Is to return once again to prison. It is said that the screening of Up tne River” is accompanied by one long scream of laughter that never ceases until the picture is finished. Several Jox featurettes WUI ” e &D oWra’ HOUSE.

In "Canaries Sometimes Sing, which is being shown at the Grand Opera House this week, Tom Walls, the successful English star, plays a difficult part to Pertectlon '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, excellently produced and brilliantly acted. "Whoopee.” As the' first screen musical comedy to which Florenz Ziegfeld gave his own personal supervision and skill stagecraft, "Whoopee." which is coming to the Gland Opera House on Friday, according to the critics, does full justice to the reputation and talents of the famous impressarlo. "Whoopee" is very much a continuation of Eddie Cantor’s stage success that ran for two years at the New Amsterdam Theatre. New York, transcribed bodily to the'films, with its huge spectacles magnified in size and beauty with the magie of technicolour to give It reality. Yet despite its mammoth size, "Whoopee” is still the same intimate comedy that, as “The Nervous Wreck,” was one of the most amusing plays ever written. Ziegfeld managed to retain the uproarious humour of the original story when he set it on the great stage of the New Amsterdam, with music and aong and hundreds of beautiful girls.

From April 1 to December 31, 1930, the Lower Hutt Borough Council instituted court proceedings against 214 persons for offences under the traffic by-laws, and only four prosecutions for breaches of other bylaws. The two well-known women swimmers, Miss Mercedes Gleitze and Mbs Lily Copplestone, have been invited by the Wanganui Swimming Centre to visit Wanganui at the time of the New Zealand amateur national championships, which will commence in the Gonville Baths on March THE HIGHEST AND LOWEST. An invitation is cordially extended to ladies to inspect the array of Furs displayed at the saloon of H. H. Blandford. Ltd., the Square. Palmerston North. The value of goods purchased from Bland ford’s has always been and will continue to be of the highest quality consistent with the lowest iu price.—Advt.

DE LUXE THEATRE. . “The Sea Wolf,” screening at the De Luxe Theatre and starring Milton Sills, continues to attract large audiences. 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, and the romance inseparable from such a glamorous atmosphere is well brought out. To make this picture Fox Films have taken Jack London’s most stirring sea story, and through their movietone studios, have converted it from printed type to the speaking screen.’ “Scotland Yard.” “Scotland Yard,” forceful Fox Movietone drama of an imposter's attempt to usurp another man's place in society, including the affections of his wife, is to have its local premiere showing at the •De Luxe Theatre on Friday next. Edmund Lowe is featured in a dual characterisation In which he displays the full range of his celebrated acting ability. As “Dakin Barrolles,” notorious thief, he brings to the screen a masterful portrayal of a smoothworking man of the underworld matching his wits with the cunning of Scotland Yard. As “Sir John Lasher,” he is the personification of gentlemanly charm, culture and poise. “Scotland Yard,” which i sbased on Denison Clift’s- successful Broadway play, has an unusually brilliant supporting cast composed of Barbara Leonard, Donald Crisp, Lumsden Hare, David Torrence, Georges Renevant, and. Halliwell Hobbes. ' PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Intelligence in pictures is always at a premium, and when such an admirable film as “Common Clay,” which is now showing at thq Paramount Theatre, 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 Intelligent way. No one could fall to be impressed by this strong and excellent story, so won-

derfully told. "East is West." . Definitely establishing herself as a most versatile aetrejs. Lupe Velez will be seen In "East Is West” at the Paramount The- 1 atre on Friday, in her latest role, that of Ming Toy, a.■Chinese’ girl. In the past Lupe has beefi seen as a .Mexican, a Spaniard, a South American, a French girl; and a Canadian, but this latest role definitely proves her ability as a delineator of difficult and decidedly- varied types.

ST. JAMES THEATRE. Edward Sheldon’s very fine drama, “Romance.” most ably interpreted as it is by an excellent cast, thoroughly deserves the big patronage, it is receiving daily at the St. James Theatre. This admirable play has the fragrance of the late Victorian period, and it touches chords of “Romance” that the modern seldom or never strike. Greta Garbo's interpretation of Rita Cavaliini is virtually flawless—her dialect English is necessary; it belongs to the part, and Greta belongs to it. It is a performance calculated to hold one completely, and it leaves a deep impression behind it and awakes reminiscences that bring back to one's memory “East Lynne,” “Trilby.” and “Camille," all pleasurable memories. Lewis Stone has never appeared to greater advantage than he does In the part of Cornelius Van Tyl in "Romance.” Everything- about the play is in excellent, taste, notwithstanding the fact that it probes passion to the core. The first part

of the programme,'which includes the wonderful talking dogs in “Not So Quiet on the Canine Front,” is a star item in Itself. Box plans are at the Bristol and also at the theatre after 8 p.m. KING'S THEATRE. The Pathe musical romance of cireus life. “Swing High.” heads the programme at the King’s Theatre. A second feature is "The New Waiter,” a hilarious British comedy. . “Sally.” Commencing at the King’s Theatre ou Friday, First National’s all-colour extravaganza, “Sally,” will be the attraction. Those of ns who recall "Sally” on the boards of the old-fnshioned theatre have always thought of it as a very elaborate production indeed. But it becomes tiny, even in glamorous recollection, when compared with the sumptuous show with which First National has surrounded its glittering star. All the eharm of the old "Sally” has been preserved, but everything Is on a vaster scale. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. Vilma Banky scores an unqualified success in “A Lady to Love,” which will be screened to-night at the Kilbirnie Klnema. The blonde Hungarian star’s work in this Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film outshines any of her previous screen characterisations.