ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 143, 13 March 1931, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. A British sense of humour that will have a real appeal to all British people, that Is the keynote of the new which made its appearance at the Regent Theatre last night. Plunder Is a Biitlsh and Dominions production, a talking farce that keeps the audience rocking with laughter, and it is mainly round Ralph Lynn as D’Arcy Tuck-an Algy typerf character —that the fun is built. Mary Brough in the role of Mrs. Hewlett, who really commits bigamy In marrying old man Hewlett for his money, also shows herself to be a clever comedienne, whilo Winifred Shotter does justice to the part of the heiress and granddaughter of Hewlett D’Arcy Tuck falls in lore with her oni the way home from New Zealand, but ou arrival they find the housekeeper has married the old man, whose death allowed her to succeed to his property. D Arcy plots with his pal Freddie Malone, played by Tom Walls, to get the woman s jewels as some recompense for the loss bis fiancee had sustained. How this was achieved, how Scotland Yard was called in, and how the experts were beaten byithe coolness of Freddie, and the simple innocence of D’Arcy enable the production of a story that is enjoyable from start to finish. It is as good as "Rookery Nook.” The supports, a Paramount News, cartoon, and strange features and doings in all parts of the world, were of a high standard,- making a very fine programme. The box plans are at the Bristol, or ’phone the theatre, 44—144. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Regarded as easily the outstanding screen achievement of those celebrated funmakers Charlie Murray and George Sidney, “The Cohens and Kelly in Africa,” Universals hilarious comedy attraction, will commence its season at the Paramount Theatre today. The riotous comedy introduces Cohen and Kelly as piano manufacturers whose business is at the point of ruin because of a shortage of real ivory for their piano keys, and who are persuaded by a pseudo-explorer to embark on a trip into the wilds of Africa. The inimitable comedians become involved in almost every conceivable tangle on their memorable expedition, including the loss of their wives. An excellent cast supports George Sidney and Charlie, notably their old screen wives, Vera Gordon and Kate Price, in addition to‘Frank Davis, Lloyd Whitlock, Nick Cogley, Eddie Kane, and tribes of Arabs, Negroes and wild animals. In addition to "The Cohens and Kelly in Africa,” and an exceptional selection of Universal short subjects, there will be presented on the stage the Great Tyler’s College of Comical Monkeys,” a marvellous troupe of monkeys in amusipg and instructive entertainment. The management of the Paramount Theatre wish to emphasise the .fact that this is a genuine stage presentation and not a picture. Box plans are available at the Bristol Piano Co., or at the theatre (telephone 21—842). MAJESTIC THEATRE. Edmund Lowe, the screen’s most versatile lover, who, during his long and successful career, has played the masculine lead opposite .such renowned screen favourites as Dolores Del Rio, Colleen Moore, Corinne Griffiths, Constance Bennett, Joan Bennett, Jeanette Macdonald, Leila Hyams and other ad infinitum, is the leading man in “A Part-time Wife,” the Fox superfeature drama which will begin its first season at Wellington at the Majestic Theatre to-day. The play is an adaption of the widely-read book, “The Shep-per-Newfounder,” by the well-known author, Stewart Edward White. A homely little mongrel dog affectionately classed by his youthful owner as of the “ShepperNewfounder” breed shares some of the humours of the play with Lowe and his proud owner, Tommy Griffiths, whose splendid work in this piece will increase the popularity he won in “Song o’ My Heart.” Leila Hyams is credited, with giving her finest performance to date as the “part-time wife and lady champion golf player,” while others with strong parts are Walter McGrail and Lois Payne. A full first-part programme of Fox featurettes will round off the big bill. The usual late shoppers’ session will begin today at 5 o’clock and finish at 7 p.in. Box plans at the Bristol and also at the theatre. QUEEN’S THEATRE. A good two-feature programme opens at the Queen’s Theatre to-night at 8 o’clock, headed by the Warner Bros.’ Vitaphone all-talking production, “Tiger Rose.” The supporting cast includes Tully Marshall, H. B. Warner, Grant Withers, Rin-Tin-Tin and others. “Tiger Rose” is a thrilling adventure romance of the famous NorthWest Mounted Police and provides great entertainment. The second feature Is the Warner Vitaphone all-talking drama of youth and modern society, “Second Choice,” finely interpreted by an excellent cast of players. * KILBIRNIE KINEMA. Marion Davies reaches new triumphs in “The Gay Nineties,” which opened last evening at the Kilblrnie Kinema. In this new picture Miss Davies brings quaint recollections of the Ws—the “good old days.” “Monte Carlo,” starring Jeanette MacDenald and Jack Buchanan, is the best musical comedy that has been produced this year, and opens at the Kinema to-morrow. Supports, both to this evening’s feature film and to-morrow’s, are excellent. Reserves are available at the theatre, and at the Bristol.

DE LUXE THEATRE. A strong two-feature programme commences to-day at the De Luxe Theatre, headed by the First National and Vitaphone all-dialogue, singing and musical adaptation of. the successful New York musical comedy, .“Top Speed,”, featuring Joe E. Brown, Bernice Claire, Frank McHugh, Jack Whiting, and Laura Lee. “Top Speed” is said to be a colourful, fastmoving comedy enacted principally in one of America’s most exclusive pleasure resorts. Hilarious situations, excellent acting, and some outstanding motor-boat racing thrills all contribute toward a splendid fast-moving entertainment. The second feature is “A Notorious Affair,” a richlymounted, engrossing drama of English high society, which claims a brilliant east of players, including Billie Dove, Basil Rathbone, Kay Francis, Montagu Love. Strong dramatic situations and a vivid love story are the outstanding features of “A Notorious Affair,” which is a First National and Vitaphone all-dialogue drama. Box plans are available at Bristol and theatre. ST. JAMES THEATRE. William Powell, who created on 1 the screen the fascinating role of the master detective, Philo Vance, in Van Dine’a popular mystery stories, is said to present a flawless characterisation of the clever fictional detective and connoisseur of arts in the latest Van Dine thriller entitled “The Benson Murder Case,” which, founded on fact, and first published in book form, has now been made into a great talking picture by Paramount. "The Benson Murder Case” will begin at the St. James Theatre to-day, and judging 'by the big reception accorded®) it in Auckland and elsewhere it should attract special notice and achieve much success. It is described as "easily the most exciting of all the Van Dine series,” for the crime is committed while the detective is in the house, and the startling nature of the crime and the daring of the criminal create a nerve-tingling climax. New Zealand’s own May Beatty is the “Mrs. Banning” of the play, and other reputable artists are Eugene Pallette, as the silly assistant detective, E. H. Calvert as the District Attorney, William Boyd as “Harry Gray,” Paul Lukas, Richard Tucker, and Charles McMurphy. Box plans are at the Bristol, and also at the theatre, where seats may be reserved free of booking fee. KING'S THEATRE. “Men of the North,” Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s adventure romance of the North woods, with Gilbert Roland and Barbara Leonard heading a large cast of wellknown players, will be the attraction today at the King’s Theatre. The play deals with the adventure of Louis the Fox, French-Canadian trapper wrongly suspected of theft and dogged through the snows by the North-West Mounted sergeant, Mooney.