ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 286, 29 August 1931, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. Perhaps the greatest variety of entertainment presented for many months is incorporated in the new bill at the Regent Theatre, In addition to an especially fine supporting programme, including a Vagabond Director film, Joy and Lazzerino, the amazing roller-skaters, present a new and even more thrilling act than they did last week. These two skaters, apparently devoid Of bones and nerves, perform the most astounding acrobatical feats in a very confined space. As a finale to their act, Joy, clinging by her teeth to a leather thong fastened around her companion’s neck, is whirled round and round in mid-air until the audience wonders whether she can be conscious. The star film is “Beau Ideal,” Radio’s gloriously directed adaptation of the famous P. C. Wren novel. “Beau Ideal” is a remarkable film in every way. The cast is perfect, the direction equally so, the scenery outstanding, and the photography probably the finest ever seen here. It is a story of life in the Foreign Legion and in the penal battalion of that strangely assorted body of soldiers. So vivid are the scenes in the African desert that ohe forgets that one is looking at a picture. One is transported there. ‘ Ralph Fonbes and Lester Vail as two legionnaires deserve the highest praise for their realistic performances. Their voices are a feature of the production. Irene Rich and Loretta Young also give splendid performances. “Beau Ideal” should certainly not be missed by any lover of Foreign Legion stories. , GRAND OPERA HOUSE. Preceded by forty-five minutes of light supporting programme, the British talking film; “The Sleeping Cardinal,” commenced at the Grand Opera-House last evening. Adapted from two of Sir Conan Doyle's most popular short stories, “The Empty House” and “The Final Problem,” this picture contains mystery and thrills. The photography is excellent. In the role of the well-known detective Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Wontner plays his difficult part with all the concentration and subtlety employed by the famous criminologist hiinself. lan Flemming as Dr. Watson is a refreshing character and his expressions of astonishment at Sherlock Holmes’s deductions are excellently portrayed. The other popular characters in the Sherlock Holmes stories, Lestrade of Scotland Yard, and Mrs. Hudson, Holmes’s housekeeper, are played with credit by Phillip Newland and Minnie Rayner respectively. The story begins with a mystery hinging round two bank robberies—one in Germany and the other in England—and the mysterious murder of Robin Adair, a ydung member of the British diplomatic service? Suspicion falls on several people, including Adair’s sister. Sherlock Holmes interests himself in the case “for amusement,” as ho explains to Lestrade, arid after many scenes that hold the interest the end comes suddenly,. when Holmes exposes the murderer, Colonel Henslowe, alias Professor Moriarty, a close friend of the Adairs and a criminal whom Holmes has been fighting for years. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Joan Bennfitt, the fascinating “star” playing with George Arliss in “Disrafcli,” takes the leading role in “Hush Money,” which opened at the Paramount Theatre yesterday. Her latest picture is far different from the one thnt really made her famous, but again she gives a fine portrayal of her part and it is she who makes the whole picture one that is bound to appeal to theatregoers. When she is “down and out” she meets an apparently wealthy young man and is misled by him into a series of criminal situations which eventually end in her going to prison for a year. When she comes out she works hard and secures a position in an antique shop, ■where she meets a charming young man; they are married arid are living happily when the blackmailing gang starts work. How an appalling situation isi overcome, through the help of a friendly Inspector of Police, makes excellent entertainment. Opposite Joan Bennett are Owen Moore, Hardie Albright, DOuglaS Cosgrave and Myrna Loy. supporting programme is an excellerfßfeno and includes news reels, a travel picture and a comedy. MAJESTIC THEATRE. 1 A vivid drama of South Polar exploration by air, “Dirigible,” commenced Its long-awaited session at the Majestic Theatre yesterday morning. The stars are Jack Holt, Ralph Graves, and Frank Capra, tihe same stars who were responsible for “Flight,” art aerial epic which will be long remembered by all followers of the aviation dramas of the screen, and ip this they eclipse their earlier performances. Both lighter than air and heavier than 4iv aviation have been included, giving an insight into the flying of both airships and aeroplanes, an interesting feature which has not been incorporated in any earlier aviation picture. Romance has been interwoven with tlic thrills incidental to the theme. The storj; of the picture centres around the home or "Frisky” Pierce, played by Ralph Graves, a stunt aviator, whose wife is Continually left sit home alone while her htisband. is performing cross-continental and other record' flights, and she becomes so bored by her loneliness that she contemplates divorce. Commander Bradon (Jack Holt) is about to set out upon a trip to the South Pole by airship, arid invites Pierce to come along with him, hooking his aero " plane from the hull of the airship, as was done by Great Britain some years ago. Bradon is a lover of Bierce’s wife, although a silent one, and she pleads with him to stop her husband from making the trip.. This he promises to do, .but Pierce vows that he will go to the Strath Pole too, and on an expedition of his own. Bradon’-s airship is destroyed in a trtorm, and Pierce goes on with the aeroplane project, but he crashes while alighting at the Pole. The party at the Pole undergoes great hardships, but Bradon again sets out for the Pole, this time in the Los Angeles, rescues Pierce, and the survivors of the party,-and husband and wife are united. ‘Dirigible’’, will'not be shown at the morning session to-day. MICKEY THE MOUSE. Commeinbrating Mickey the ' Mouse’s birthday, special matinee Screenings will bo held at the Majestic and St.’ James Theatres this morning. Special children’s programmes have been arranged, and each Obild attending will be given a slice of Mickey’s birthday cake. KING'S THEATRE. “Stolen Heaven,” which commenced at the King’s Theatre yesterday, is a film with two lociles, New York’s back streets and yioridd’ri sunny beaches. Ndncy Carroll is the star'of this Paramount production. Breath-taking climaxes are a feature of the film, which has a splendid theme. Besides “Stolen Heaven,” a good programme of specially selected featurettes is shown. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. The British triumph “Tons of Money,” with Ralph Lyon leading a cast which includes Mary Brough and Yyopne Arnaud, is at the Kilbirnie Kiriema and will commence its season at the matinee to-day. An added matinee Attraction will be “Th? Indians are Coming.” PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. . (A. gripping spy drama, “The Seas Beneath,” with Marion Lessing, and Warren Hymer as principals, is the current attraction at the Palace Theatre, Petone. ORGAN RECITAL. Mr. Bernard F. Page, city organitt, will rive his weekly organ recital at the Town Hall to-morrow evening, and the programme has been arranged as under:— Sonatina, by Bach; Prelude, Fugue in G minor, by Bach; Prelude, by John Ireland, 1 (a)' ‘The Fisherman’s Song, (b) Pantomime, by Manuel de Falla; Thri Sun’s Evensong, by Karg-Elert; Choral No. 3 in A rninor, by Cesar Frrinck; and Piece HerOlque, by Cestfr Franck. KING GEORGE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. Adapted from Rex Beach’s immortal story, “The Spoilers,” starring Gary Cooper, will be shown at the King George, Hutt, to-driy.

PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE, WOBURN. Ralph Lynn and Tom Walls are Starring in “Plunder,” the big attraction »t the Prince Edward

DE LUXE THEATRE. How to make love in all languages is the theme of “Women of All Nations,” in which the sengoing Don Juans, Victor McLaglen and Edmund Lowe, take tha lead. It was unfolded at the De Luxe Theatre last night, and promises to carry the public ,by storm. McLaglen as Captain Flagg, and Lowe as Sergeant Quirt, demonstrate their flair for lovemaking under any conditions in any country. The cast includes a great array of the beautiful women in filmdom, among them Greta Nissen and El Brendel. Taking a brief spell from naval affairs and about to lay siege to the hearts' of numerous women they are recalled for a world cruise, which takes them to Sweden and Turkey, where they learn something of Swedish love affairs apd a Turkish harem. Their escapades ara humorous in the extreme, and they find that it is dangerous to interfere in lova affairs in a Turkish household, having to fight their way out of a very tight corner. The supports are three good news films and a comedy. Mr. L. D. Austin conducts the very fine orchestra, with Paul T. Cullen at the organ. ST. JAMES THEATRE. The management of the St. James Theatre is fortunate in having such a splendid programme for presentation during the current week. The bill is a doublefeature one, and patrons need have no hesitation about going to see it. Last night’s audience acclaimed it as a splendid show, and it is doubtful if there was one dissentient voice. Always popular with theatre-goers, Ramon Ntvarro, who starred in “Daybreak,” delighted the crowd, and his speaking voice, with a distinct foreign accent, was a pleasure to . listen to. In "Daybreak,” Novarro portrays the part of a lieutenant in the Austrian Army. It is a romantic story of life and love in Vienna. Opposite him is Helen Chandler, the charming young musicteacher, with whom Novarro falls in love. Added to this splendid film is another full of humour, the first big picture of Laurel and Hardy. These inimitable comedians, who have a legion of followers in small pictures, have plenty of scope to exploit their talents in "Pardon Us.” Most of tha action in this film takes place in a gaol, where the two find themselves as a result of selling “sly grog” to a policeman. Their escape from there to a plantation, where the two disguise themselves as negroes, and all the fun in between cannot bitt convulse an audience. The “dumb” Laurel is continually in trouble through a “buzzing tooth” which sounds suspiciously like the popular “raspbetry.” ‘ QUEEN’S THEATRE. Reappearing at Wellington, at the Queen’s Theatre, the Samuel GoldwynFloreriz Ziegfeld musical comedy “Whoopee” commenced its season last evening with Eddie Cantor heading the distinguished'cast, the picture is a riot of fins' from start to finish, and was greatly enjoyed by last evening’s audience. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. “It’s a Wise Child,” starring Poll* Moran. Marie Provost, James and Sydney Blachmer, is now showing at the Grand Theatre, Petone.