ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 291, 4 September 1931, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. “The Chance of a Night-time,” the farce specially -written for the screen by Ben Travers, is to be shown at the Regent Theatre for a season commencing to-day. It should be interesting to see how Travers has tackled a farce not intended for stage production. He had been told that it was all very well to reproduce his stage successes on the screen, but what about something new —something essentially “cinema”?. His answer is “The Chance of a Night-time,” and in this film we see Ralph Lynn in a new light, part-producer as well as leading player. It is said that it has been written with a view to giving Ralph Lynn .opportunities for displaying his inimitable brand of humour. “Punch” says “The Chance of a Nighttime” is very funny, thanks to Mr. Ralph Lynn’s consistent belief that family lawyers should behave like lunatics. One of his most amusing lapses is when, on leaving his client’s house, he carries away the garden gate in lieu of his attache case. Such men may be bad as legal advisers, but they are good for movie audiences. Miss Shotter as a professional dancer with a passion -for Mr. Lynn, which wquld be inexplicable were it not instantaneous, is as charming- as she always is. The picture has received other most favourable reviews, of which the following from the “Sunday Dispatch” is typical: “ ‘The Chance of a Night-time’ is a genuine film, genuinely British, and genuinely uproarious. It is therefore the best talking picture comedy which has yet come from a British studio. Its nearest rival is perhaps its stable companion, ‘Rookery Nook,’ but ‘The Chance of a Night-timo’ is in every way a better picture, and will almost certainly establish a new popularity record in this country. The most accurate description of the film would be ‘Loud Laughter,’ for that is what this brilliant picture will create wherever it is shown.” MAJESTIC THEATRO. “The School for .Scandal,” which will begin its first season in Wellington at the Majestic Theatre this morning, is a picturesque and delightful all-talking screen version of Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s immortal English comedy, which since it was first produced at Drury Lane in 1771 has been shown the wide world Over and has been noted for more “revivals” than any other play. Concerning the first screening at London “The Stage” wrote: “The illustrious 'omedy has been elaborately mounted, gorgeously costumed and admirably acted. A splendidly realistic atmosphere has been achieved by the producer, Maurice Elvey. and a magnificent cast of British players interpret Sheridan’s famous characters. A very polished and in-teresting-performance is that of Basil Gill as Sir Peter Teazle, while Lady Teazle is charmingly played by lovely Madeline Carroll. Haydn Coffin sings the old favourite ‘Here’s to the Maiden’ superbly, and Dodo Watts as Marie is also revealed as the owner of a fine voice. lan Fleming is very fine as Joseph Surface.” Instead of the usual set ,of short subjects the first part of the programme will be devoted to the screening of Leslie Fuller’s star comedy feature “What a Night,” a breezy British comedy. Box plans arc at the Bristol and also at the theatre. KING’S THEATRE. Will Rogers scores a new screen triumph in his latest Fox Movietone comedy production,' Mark Twain's “A Connecticut Yankee,” commencing at the King's Theatre to-day. Rogers reaches the very peak of his powers as a comedian in his fellow-humorist’s masterpiece. There is never a dull moment from start to finish, and the laughter is continuous. Rogers naturally carries the lion’s share of the comedy, but his supporting cast, which includes Maureen O’Sullivan, Frank Albertson, William Farnum and Myrna Loy, is excellent.

DE LUXE THEATRE, Robert Montgomery makes his bow as a star as the sailor-hero in “Shipmates,” a new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production which opens to-day at the De Luxe Theatre. The picture has a tremendous sweep in the Navy backgrounds, showing the plunging lines of battleships on the firing ranges, thundering salvos, repelling a tactical enemy in a mighty spectacle, terrifying to behold as it flashes on the screen with all the fury of the gun blasts pounding from the loudspeakers. In the shipboard scenes, Navy life is depicted in a fascinating intimacy. Harry Pollard, who directed the picture, is to be complimented for the splendid pictorial value of the production. The blending of the shore romance with the Navy interest is deftly interpolated. Dorothy Jordan, as the admiral’s daughter, plays opposite Montgomery and offers a sparkling performance. It is upon the romance between the sailor and the admiral’s girl that the story hinges, climaxing in the burning of an ammunition barge in which the hero-deserter redeems himself with the retired admiral leading him to the fiery craft that threatens destruction of the Battle Fleet as it swings at anchor. Ernest Torrence, Hobart Bosworth, and Cliff Edwards are in the fino supporting cast. There are some excellent Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer featurettes on the bill, ns well as the Orchestra Do Luxe, under Mr. L. D. Austin, and the Wurlitzer, in the capable hands of Mr. Paul T, Cullen. paramount’theatre. Two human forms swaying, tussling, lunging on a flimsy fire escape 38 stories above the street. A grim combat that can terminate only in death for one of them. That is the thrilling climax of William Powell’s latest Paramount production, “Ladies’ Man,” which comes to the Paramount Theatre to-day. The story leading up to this tragic struggle high up near the roof of one of New York’s large hotels, is a story of a New York Don Juan. William Powell plays the role of this famous character as delineated in Rupert Hughes’s well-known Cosmopolitan Magazine serial of the same name. Society women are mad about him—although he is neither, a person of money nor position. In fact, his background is so vngue that no one seems to know whence he came. But his suave manners, his quiet charm, are enough to set in flamgs the hearts of the elite ladies of the city. Powell is supported in this picture by a galaxy of competent performers. Kay Francis lends the supports. Excellent audio featurettes are included in the programme. Box plans are available at the Bristol and theatre. ST. JAMES THEATRE. “Young Sinners,” described as the most successful stage play on Broadway in 1930, will be shown in screen form for the first time in Wellington this morning. The dialogue is particularly bright and the situations cunningly contrived. The dressing of the characters are lavish, while the venue of the play shifts from city mansion to mountain cabin. To many there will be found in the reincarnation of the, drama a still more appealing note—that of the problem confronting the wealthy father whose son, seasoned in the ways of the elder, eventually defies all parental guidance and control and sets out to lead his own life in his own misguided way, then finally finds himself caught in the grip of a powerful mountain trainer who has been employed by his father to save him from himself. This dominating character of the trainer is played with distinction and force by that fine actor Thomas Meighan. The main feature will be ( preceded by the funny comedy “Hail the Princess,” and two new Movietone News Reels. Box plans are at the Bristol, and also at the theatre. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. Weird, but wondrous, “Dracula,” the Universal film which had such a successful run in the city, is at the Kilbirnie Kinema. Bela Lugosi and Helen Chandler head the cast.

QUEEN’S THEATRE. “Raffles,” starring Ronald Colman, opeus a return season in Wellington with to-night’s screening at the Queen’s Theatre. “Raffles” was to criminals what Sherlock Holmes was to detectives —a figure of mystery, aloof, aristocratic —a master artist, as sure and keen in the perpetration of a crime as the great detective was in hunting out the criminal. Ronald Colman offers to the famous character all of its traditional daring and adventure, and an added charm that is peculiarly Colman. There is an excellent supporting programme. Popular prices at the Queen’s are 1/-, 1/6, and 2/- (no tax). Box plans are available at the Bristm.