ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 174, 20 April 1931, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. Making a deep impression on audiences at the Regent Theatre since its opening bn Friday evening is the wonderful United Artists: production," Du Barry—Womau of Passion.” The play is not new to Wellingtonians, and many arc there in this eity Who can look baek on the brilliant, performance of. Miss Nellie Stewart In tho title role of the stage production. This time wo have Miss Norma Talmadge, who eclipses all her previous performances in the role of the little milliner, who becomes tile toast of Paris and the favourite of the King of France. In all her splendour she is unhappy, and pines for her first lover, who now despises her, and lends the oppressed people against her. They cry “Death to Du Barry,” nnd when the revolution breaks out they sentence net to death. CoSse, her lover, in a final scene, realises how much the unfortunate woman really loved him, and, forsaking his republican views, rushes to her side, and gladly faces death with her. As the 111fnted Du Barry Miss Talmadge rises to heights that acclaim her as the talking screen’s most brilliant emotional actress. Highest praise must be given to Mr. William Fariium,- who portrays the King of Prance. Conrad Nagel is tho perfect lover in the role of Cosse, and Hobart Bosworth, as tho Count de Brissac, deserves special mention. Tho staging and the frocking is a feature of tho production. There is a supporting programme of exceptional interest, every film having been specially selected. DE LUXE In “A Lady's Morals,”- starring Grace Moore, Reginald Denny and Wallace Beery, which is being, shown now at the De Luxe Theatre, tho producers have taken tho famous and Jenny Lind as the central figure in the story, and this affords to Miss Moore ample opportunity for revealing the glorious quality of her voice. Memories of tho "Swedish Nightingale” still linger ' like a fragranee with those of the older generation who were privileged to hear her. In all tho scenes it is Miss Moore’S captivating singing that is the dominant feature. As Paul Brandt, Reginald Denny has tho part of an imperious and Infatuated lover of Jenny Lind, who declares his love for her by a sons© of duty to fly from her when he finds that he has lost his sight. Wallace Beery, tho accomplished character actor, gives another of his inimitable performances as P.- T. Barnum, tho num who made Jenny Lind famous, and who reunites the two lovers. Exquisite scenery in a_Swedish fiord, and-charming . songs and dances of welcome bv the Swedish peasantry, are introduced in one of the most delightful passages of the picture. The specially selected featurettes and further delight to this excellent programme. Mr. Paul Cullen presides ably at the Wurlitzer orchestral unit. ’ ■ ST. JAMES THEATRE. That Wellingtonians appreciate a really good entertainment when they get it was again demonstrated on Saturday, when that extra special attraction, “Let Ub Be Gay,” which undoubtedly ass'sts people in living . up to its title, attracted capacity houses to St. James Theatre at both the afternoon and evening sessions. As the picture is now in its third consecutive week of exhibition, the long-sustained public response is a big tribute to the power of its appeal. The last four nights of the season are an-' nounced, and “Let Us Bo Gay” is one of the few films that should not be missed. Quito apart from the brilliancy of its dialogue, the interpretation of the play by the unusually fine cast of .players is a source of enjoyment, so well are the parts sustained. Norma Shearer and Marie Dressier are a host in themselves. Intending patrons' are advised to avoid disappointment by booking seats at the Bristol. KING'S THEATRE. Well-balanced comedy, burlesque dancing, singing, and patter interludes follow one another in illicit succession, and the comedy is rich, in “Elstree Calling." at the Kings. Theatre. As a stage revue it is thoroughly enjoyable, and one of tho most satisfactory pictures yet presented.

PARAMOUNT THEATRE. ’ "Tbe Texan,” *a screen adaptation of O Henry’s “A Double-Dyed Deceiver,” is the current attraction, at tho Paramount. The Texan is Gacv Cooper in the role of a cowboy, Llano Kid, wanted for a holdup. Later, in self-defence, ho kills a man who was cheating at cards. He is next led into an impersonation of the runaway son of a Spanish woman of wealth, whose good graces he is to secure to enable him and tbo man. behind him "to rob hot. A charming girl, Consuelo, conies on the scene, and the old lady lavishes such mother love on him that he repents of the scheme to rob heri.and he also falls in lore with Consuelo. He is consgicnce-strlcken when he learns through a tattoo mark that the cardsharper he killed was the son of tlie old lady, and fears for her when she learns the truth. The sheriff tracks him down, but tho "Kid’s” conduct in a fight with desperadoes impresses 'him that the sheriff is .satisfied to claim one of the’ dead marauders as the "Kid,” legying the young man to make the old woman’s remaining days happy, and to make good with Consuelo. Fay Wray plays Consuelo cleverly, with able artists in support. Other items are Fox’s News, cartoon and song, a clever • and laughable comedy, and a sketch, “Just a Pal.” The box plan is at the Bristol and the theatre. GRAND OPERA HOUSE. Few shows can hit ■ the level of entertainment that is reached by “Follow '1 ru,” the big Paramount film now showing at tho Grand Opera House. Audiences are rating it as one of. the brightest pictures of the year. - Its breezy tale is told in a golfing atmosphere, which is something almost entirely new, and it gives the picture a fresh flavour that is altogether acceptable to film-goers who are apt to be bored these (lays by plots on a few well-known and well-worn backgrounds. The stars are Nancy Carroll and Charles (“Buddy”) Rogers, but the cast itself is an all-star one, ,qnd the comedy and bright dancing and singing provided by Zelma O’Neal, Jack Haley and Eugene Pallette are a treat to watch and listen to. Only at rare intervals docs the story become anything but light-hearted, and even when It does strike a pensive note, laughter is back again In a moment or two. The entire film Is in excellent technicolour. and full exploitation has been made of. this. Almost on a par the tunes and first-class music. Deserving special praise is the comparatively short masqueride party scene, which is rich in colour, comedy' and cleverness. It is a bright, fast-moving film that no one who likes real entfeftalnment should miss. Supporting films are of good quality—particularly a singing cartoon. MAJESTIC THEATRE. A crowded house at the Majestic Theatre on Saturday evening was demonstrative in its approval of the capital comedy-drama "Remote Control,” which is something refreshingly different from the usual film picture. It has love interest and thrills, yet overshadowing both is a fund of brilliant comedy that induces merry laughter and lifts the picture to a high entertainment level. As tho breezy director of a non-paying radio broadcasting station, popular William Haines, Metro-Goldwyn’s star, is at his best. Owing to a dearth of artists he is obliged to contribute nearly nil the first evening’s programme himself, and he does it to the delight of his audlenc.e The story takes a deeper turn when Professor Kruger, a clairvoyant, and one of the nightly "features” of tho-radlo programme turns out to be the leader of the criminal “Ghost” gang, who uses bls radio personality as a .means of instructing his followers. Haines receives excellent acting support from Polly Moran, Charles King, John Mlljan,. Mary Doran, and others. The supporting subjects are of good quality and well varied. Box plans are at the Bristol and also at tho theatre. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. Adapted from Captain Reginald Berkeley’s play, which is one of the most brilliant successes of the English stage, "French Leave,” an excellently produced talkie, is now at the Kllbirnie Klnema.