ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 68, 14 December 1931, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. All the audiences who have seen it as yet have expressed their approval of "The Outsider,” an extremely unusual film, based on the play which Moscovitch presented some years ago, which is at the Regent Theatre. The film followed the story of the play in all substantial details, although the cinema allowed a large number of particularly wonderful settings to be used. The main star of the picture was certainly Harold Huth, who took the part of "the outsider” himself, Anton Ragatzy—the astonishing genius whose position with regard to orthodox body of surgeons and in particular to the crippled daughter of one of the most distinguished of them gives the whole point to the story. The central idea and its use for the purpose of making a highly dramatic and even sensational tale is quite without parallel. The parts for the various actors are of considerable difficulty, particularly for Ragatzy and for Lalage Sturdee, the crippled girl. Huth was absolutely convincing as the unorthodox healer, and Joan Barry, a new and extremely beautiful star, handled the part of Lnlage with extraordinary care and understanding. There are many other talented performers in this British film, and the photography throughout is of extraordinarily high quality, “The Outsider” has a story quite unequalled for sheer dramatic content. Supporting films to this big feature are an interesting sound gazette, a splendid;./picture of Switzerland, and an amusing animated cartoon. GRAND OPERA HOUSE. Of unusual merit, is . “Girl of the Port,” the main attraction of a two-bill programme, which is now at the Grand Opera House. Radio Pictures have introduced a powerful love theme in which all the human emotions are expressed by a talented cast of true to life players. The setting commences on the battle fields of France, but the majority of the scenes take place in the South Sea Island, with half savage Fijians, their wild jungle dances, and a real fire-walking ceremony. Sally O’Neill plays the part of Josie and her superb characterisation of the human emotions is probably her best screen effort. The other picture, “Just for Song,” is an attractive support.

KING'S THEATRE. “Guilty Hands,” at the King’s Theatre, places Lionel Barrymore in the spot of leading featured players the most powerful role he has essayed for the talking screen. The . story was written especially for the talking screen by Bayard Y’eiller, master of mystery drama and author of many theatre hits. VIOLIN RECITAL. The violin students of Mr. Eric L. Meier will present their annual recital this evening at the Town Hall Concert Chamber. Tlie programme includes a varied selection of favourite solo pieces, together with two movements from a “Clarinet Quintet” by Mozart arranged for strings and clarinet, and "Air on G String” (Bach), arranged for solo violin and string accompaniment. A students’ orchestra of some 40 players will play "Minuet” from “Symphony in G Minor” (Mozart), “Andante Con Moto,” from “Symphony in C” (Beethoven), and “Hungarian Dance No. 5” (Brahms). KILBIRNIE KINEMA. “The Lawyer’s Secret.” which will be shown at the Kilbirnie Kinema to-day, is a picture that keeps its audience completely gripped by its swift and thrilling action. Clive Brook takes the loading role and has a strong supporting cast.

DE LUXE THEATRE. “Ex Bad Boy” is (the title of an amusing broad comedy of American rustic life which is being shown at the De Luxe Theatre. It is the comic effort of a gay old man to prevent his beautiful daughter from marrying a gigolo. The girl is attracted to this lounge lizard on account of his many affairs in the past, so the old man invents a past for. the son-in-law of his choice, by the use of a photograph of a movie star on which h? writes a lurid inscription, and makes the timid young man live up to it.\The trick works wonders, and all is going well until the movie star makes a personal appearance in support of one of her own pictures. Then things become mixed and muddled, and the fun fast and furious, but it all works out to the happy ending.

PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Humour, pathos, and stark drama are embodied in the bill at the Paramount Theatre. If one is lo take a moral from the big picture, “Smart Money, one must j-efrain from gambling and blondes, for these two mediums were the cause of an unhappy finale to the career of “Nick the. Barber,” who from a top-notch, gambler in a small town rose to affluence in New York. On his arrival in the “Big City” he was taken down by -’1 the smart men and “gold-diggers.’ until he became as shrewd as they and reversed positions. But blondes were his weakness, and eventually his downfall. Edward G. Robinson, as the wealthy lover-gambler,? gives a fine performance.

: MAJESTIC THEATRE. Crowded sessions at the Majestic Theatre during the screenings of “The Flying Fool” speak volumes for the popularity of this great British aviation production, tlhich gives ample proof of the rapid strides made by the Old Country in the motion picture field. Having the cooperation of the British Imperial Airways, the producers . have succeeded .in I filming a production that is a succession ofof thrills, one on top of the other, from the opening until the dramatic climax wherein a fast plade pursues a huge. Bentley racing car along the famous •Dover Road. Henry Kendall, a popular London stage star, makes his first appearance in talkies. He. gives a splendid convincing performance of Floyd, a smart young detective, though to all appearances a positive “chump,” and picturegoers will look forward to seeing more of the Prince of Wales’s favourite, comedian. Quite a feature of the evening performances is the parade of the avaation queens, who wear some ravishing dresses of original and futuristic design—a pageant of beauty. ST. JAMES THEATRE. Saturday . night’s large audience were enthralled and mystified, from start to finish, at the St. James Theatre, with th! most exciting mystery production, “The Spider.” Adapted from 'the .successful stage play of the same title, this brilliant masterpiece is enacted in a- theatre, the “Tivoli,’’ where “Charrtrand- the Great,” a master magician, is presenting a performance of mind-reading,-' illusions, and other magic. The stage settings are superb. Edmund Lowe, in the role of “’Chartrand,” delivers a convincing performance, and proves that he is a versatile actor of no mean degree. His diction is perfect, and he gets into-the !‘skin” of the part. ORGAN RECITAL. Mr. Bernard F. Page, city, organist, gave his weekly organ recital at the Town Hall last evening, and the programme was arranged as under :—Pastorale, by Scarlatti • Page; Toccata Adagio and Fugue in 0 major, by Bach; Second and Third Movements from Sonata in G (Op. 25), by Elgar; Serenade (No. 5), by Gouvy-Page; Elegiac Romance, by John Ireland; Meditation, from Thais, by Massenet; and Good Friday Music, “Parsifal,” Act 111, by Wagner. " ’