ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 182, 1 May 1931, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

BEGENT THEATRE. Miss Ruth Chatterton is the star of the new Paramount drama, “The Right to Love,’’ which begins its season nt the Regent Theatre to-day. It is a stirring and poignant love story, told in a straightforward, Inspiring manner. It reveals three generations of women (all played by Ruth Chatterton), in her desperate tight to win the love that is every woman’s rightful heritage. Acted with the restraint that makes for intensified, absorbing drama, “The Right to Love” emerges as a picture to command the attention of every man and woman who is interested in first-class entertainment. The direction, keen, emotionally alive and alert to every dramatic possibility, is a tribute to the sympathy and understanding with which Richard Wallace has endowed every moment of this picture. In “The Right to Love,” Miss Chatterton plays three roles. At first she is seen as Naomi Kellogg, a young, imaginative girl, to whom a brief, intense love brings a life of sor.row. Later, she plays Naomi Evans, the old and disillusioned wife of a man she lias never loved. And, finally, she is cast as Brook Evans, Naomi's impulsive, romantic daughter, who, like her mother, years before, seeks the love which will make her life full and complete. In these contrasted roles, Miss Chatterton does the finest work of her career. DE LUXE THEATRE. Tlie eagerly awaited Warner Bros.’ Vitaphone all-talking adaptation of the great Sir John Galsworthy play, “Old English,” starring the famous George Arliss, opens at the De Luxe Theatre to-day, screening twice daily at 2.30 and 8 p.m. By special arrangement, this production, said to be “too big for one theatre,” screens simultaneously at both St. James and De Luxe Theatres for the season of one week only. Vitaphone's version of John Galsworthy’s really great play may well bo considered one of the high-lights of the new season. Warner Bros., who presented Mr. Arliss in “Disraeli” and “The Green Goddess,” are of the opinion that his performance as the rakish old rogue, in the present picture will mark a triple triumph for this great artist. The film has drama, comedy, subtlety and satire. A splendid cast surrounds the star. Mr. Paul T. Cullen will present a specially arranged musical programme on I the Wurlitzcr unit. Box plans are available at both Bristol and theatre. GRAND OPERA HOUSE. Clara Bow, the breathless, darning redhead, Skeets Gallagher, Ch'arlie Ruggles, Ralph Forbes, and Rosita Moreno, the charming heroine of “The Santa Fe Trail,” are prominently cast in the new Paramount farce comedy, “Her Wedding Night,” comlug to the Grand Opera House to-day. “Her Wedding Night” is first-class, honest-to-goodness entertainment that gets more hearty laughs than any other Clara Bow picture since the advent of talking pictures. Concerned for the most part with a marriage mix-up in which Clara marries one man and gets two husbands for her trouble, “Her Wedding Night” is carried along to a breezy and happy conclusion by the peppery, up-to-the-minute dialogue and the splendid work of those two incomparable comedians, Gallagher and Ruggles. The second feature on to-day’s big bill is a line British Dominions film, "Call of the Sea,” in which Henry Edwards, whose fine performance in the silent blag Lieutenant” series is still fresh in the memory of picture-goers, onee again portrays the bright and breezy naval officer The story deals witii mysterious happenings on Pablo Island, which prompt the naval authorities to send Lieut. Good (Henry Edwards) to investigate. ST. JAMES THEATRE. George Arliss, the genius of the screen, who is coming to the St. Janies Theatre—the scene of his “Disraeli” triumph—this jaorniii.if, quite obviously rctuins his popularity with Wellington audiences, for the applications for reserved seats at the Bristol are very heavy. Both on the stage and on the screen George Arliss has registered many outstanding successes yet it Is generally admitted that the finest acting he has given in his career is shown ni the remarkable character of “Old En--iKh,” in the play -'Old English,” fro7n tie pen of the skilled British playwright John Galsworthy, who considers it his chef d’ ouvre. In “Old English” Arliss has, supporting him, a cast selected bv liimself, which includes Doris Lloyd, Betty lawford, Ivan Simpson, Harrington Kevrolds, Reginald Sheffield, Murray Kinnell Henrietta Goodwin, Joan McLain, Ethel Criilies and Henry Morell. A polish not usually associated with screen performtnces is noticeable in ail Arliss pictures tnd, writing on this angle, Sime, the thief critic of "Variety,” says:—“After hatching George Arliss making ‘Old English’ and talking with him, I gathered that he learned early that the work of linking motion pictures is subject to the lame human laws as other work, and he lever works more than seven hours a day, ind refuses to permit his players to lie overtaxed, for he believes that tired people cannot turn out work on the higher plane.” Supporting subjects include: Fox News; Herbert Rawlinson in humorous dialogues; Charlie Rogers in “The Movie Man”; "In Australia” (travelogue), and "Paper Dolls.” Box plans are at the Bristol and also at tlie theatre. KING’S THEATRE. Action and excitement abound in plentiful quantities in Victor McLaglen's newest vehicle for Fox Movietone, “A ; Devil with Women,” which commences its ’ season to-day at the King's Theatre. Representing a new type of story for die noted “lie man” of the films, it introduces McLaglen as a reckless, hard-bitten soldier of fortune in the service of the Federal army of a little "banana republic” along the Caribbean. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. While die town's still chuckling over "Tlie Cocoanuts,” now die Marx Brothers leap in with a brand now. even funnier laughter-piece, “Animal Crackers,” which opened its season at the Kilbirnic Kinenia last evening. Excellent sound supports are ; also presented. Reserve at dieatre and Bristol. QUEEN'S THEATRE. Not a moment of dullness mars the delights that abound in “Border Romance,” which opens to-night at the Queen’s Theatre. It tells the story of a brave young man who wins a fair young maid in a bold and daring manner. Armida, the petite Mexican, jilays the heroine. The gay cavalier, who makes love to her, is played by handsome Don Terry. There are excellent I supporting audio featurettes.

PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Marie Dressier and Wallace Beery, as a character team, will provide the central figures for "Min and Bill,” Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s vivid drama of the waterfront, which commences at the Paramount Theatre to-day. Miss Dressier, best known for her eomedy, surprised the world with her first character role in “Anna Christie,” and this time is a dominant, forceful figure, who rises to supreme dramatic heights. Beery, who played the sinister Butch in "The 3ig House,” presents a character lovable rather than awesome. The story depicts the struggle between a foster mother and natural mother for the happiness of a girl, and the tremendous denouement that solves the problem is a decidedly new note in the drama of the screen. There is not a letup in the breathless interest in this astounding story, and despite its poignant drama, there are many comedy moods, as well as a charming love romance, to lighten its more sombre moments. Miss Dressier is a dominant figure as Miu, keeper of the waterfront dive, and Beery plays her lover Bill, fishing smack captain, with deft skill. There is an outstanding supporting programme, including Metro-Goldwyn- special short feature, Laurel and Hardy comedy, “Devil’s Cabaret,” a Colourtone Review, and a Metrotone News. Box plans now open at the Bristol and theatre. Telephone 21-8-12. MAJESTIC THEATRE. Merry Marlon Davies will start her laughing season at the Majestic Theatre to-day in Metro-Goldwyu-Maver’s latest talking success “A Bachelor Father,” in which the blonde star is said to show up to rare advantage. It is regarded as an ideal vehicle for her undoubted talents. This Belasco stage lilt enjoyed a tremendous international success two seasons ago, playing to capacity houses on Broadway for nine months, and afterwards establishing a record run in London. Heading the supporting cast, and again playing the title role he created on the stage in America and England, is C. Aubrey Smith, British veteran of the theatre, who was imported from London to play in this screen version. Ralph Forbes, popular leading man, plays opposite Miss Davies In the roriiantie lead. “Metrotone News,” “Airtight” (Boy Friends comedy), “The Soup Song” (Flip the Frog cartoon) will form the first part of the colossal programme. The usual late shoppers' session will take place this afternoon at 5 o’clock, and finish at 7 p.m. Box plans are at the Bristol and also at the theatre.