ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 155, 28 March 1932, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. The hundreds of Wellington film-goers who witnessed the special Easter programme, which commenced at the Regent Theatre on Saturday, must surely have been delighted with the entertainment offering. The main picture, “Splinters in the Navy,” a roaring nautical comedy, presented by Greater Australasian Films, caused one continual laugh fr.om start to finish. This great comedy is full of good, clean, British humour, which moves at a fast pace, being forced along by a splendid cast, headed by Sydney Howard. This famous London mirth-maker is in his element, and it is his antics as well as his voice that carry the snow along with a swing. He is ably supported by artists whose special parts all combine to make a great picture with characteristic naval atmosphere. The scenes take place on the lower deck of H.M.S. Stupendous, a name in, keeping with the picture, and many are the human touches guaranteed to bring the picture to the hearts of the people. Some excellent singing is to be heard—rollicking sea chanties which must grip the imagination. Of these “The Call of the Sea” is the most brilliant number. Altogether the lighter side of life in the navy as portrayed in . “Splinters” forms a delightful entertainment. There is an excellent collection of “shorts.” In an All-Australian News Reel, Viv. McGrath, the Australian boy wonder tenuis player, is featured. lu slow motion the movements of this unorthodox two-handed player are shown. Included are “Screen Snapshots from Hollywood,” “City of Monks,” scenes from the “freedom city,” Reno, and a cartoon comedy, “The Spider and the Fly.” PARAMOUNT THEATRE. “The Rainbow Trail,” oue of Zane I Grey’s best-selling novels, has been adapted to the talkie screen by Fox Films, and this picture of Arizona drew large audiences to the Paramount Theatre last Saturday. The story has been so widely read that daring feats from Shefford (George O’Brien) were expected. The film does not disappoint anybody in search of thrills, and Shefford revels in trouble in a country infested by desperadoes and renegades. It is a running story of hard riding and quick shooting, and disputes are settled without much regard for the law. Arizona, as Zane Grey dealt with it. was no place for honest men. Shefford is faced with conditions where life is very cheap when he embarks on the rescue of Fay Larkin (Cecilia Parker) from the headquarters of men beyond the law. Hot pursuits across the “badlands” keep the excitement high, and anybody who has a taste for the outlawry of the old West should find the talkie good. One of the , brightest British comedies for some ' months, “Peace and Quiet,” is also on the’ programme. GRAND OPERA HOUSE. Novels by Dickens provide sufficient material for an outstanding talking picture on account of their colour, humour and pathos. In “Rich Man’s Folly.” now at the Grand Opera House, the director has gone to “Dombey and Son" for his plot. Certainly' he has taken liberties n’Hh it. but the picture is all the better- for the changes. One secs a Dickensian moral pointed out in a modern setting, with the touch of the master novelist's bund still apparent. Bancroft as the self-centred millionaire 1 shipbuilder was outstanding, his portrayals being restrained and he displayed a fine sense of the dramatic, especially when standing by the death-bed of his ' son. The background has been well pre- I pared, scenes having been taken in enormous shipbuilding yards and a luxurious I home—a fitting background for Bancroft’s dominating personality. The j supports are exceptionally fine, the most . outstanding being “Screen Souvenirs,” j in which incidents of the early picture f world are depicted. People on Satur- ( day night laughed more heartily nt the f slapstick comedy of Charlie Chaplin i I than they do at the sophisticated efforts c of the present day. r

DE LUXE THEATRE. s Perfectly acted, produced under the supervision of a. master-director, and set . in scenes of splendour, “Ben Hur,” c Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s latest version of e the famous story by General Lew Walt lace, delighted crowded houses at the j De Luxe Theatre on Saturday. This new release of the film is a decided improve- ’ ment on the former version, for, wonder- > ful as was that version, it lacked the 3 realism that can be effected only by the ( introduction of sound.' Everything in t the hew picture is completely realistic. The story deals with the adventures of ' Ben, Prince of the House of Hur, telling ! of his unfortunate clash with the new ’ Caesar on the latter’s arrival at Jerusalem, and how he was separated from J his family and Esther, his loved one. It ’ tells of his terrible experiences as a gal- : ley slave, and his subsequent rise to fame in Rome. Finally oue sees Ben Hur 1 challenge his Roman rival, to ; the greatest chariot race of all time. Interspersed throughout the story are episodes dealing with the spread of the Christian movement. Heading the cast in ''Ben Hur” is Ramon Navarro, who is seen in the title role. Francis X. Bushman is seen as Messala, his Roman rival. May McAvoy is seen as Esther, and Carmel Myers as a most seductive Egyptian. ■ Betty Bronson, Claire McDowell, Kathleen _ Key, Nigel de Bruliu, Mitchell Lewis, and Frank Currie: are also seen in the cast. ST. JAMES THEATRE. The popularity of “Strangers May Kiss” and supporting programme now in ite second grand week at the St. James Theatre, has not abated. Crowded sessions of enthusiastic audiences still continue to be the order of the day. Possibly there is no more popular star in the film world than Norma Shearer, and in “Strangers May Kiss,” her latest offering, she appears to have attained an even greater height in her brilliant career. As usual, Miss Shearer is attired in the latest creations, which are the envy of lady patrons, while the superb settings in Mexico, the Continent, and New York are a veritable feast for the eye. Robert Montgomery, her leading man, shares equally the honours of the piece with the star. Preceding the main attraction is the latest four-reel comedy of Laurel and Hardy, the kings of comedy, whose first appearance on the screen is a signal for heavy roars of laughter from the audience. In “Beau Hunks” they excel themselves, and from one ludicrous situation to another the audience is transported amid peals of mirth. Another special attraction on the programme to-day will be the screening of the special Fox Movietone pictures of the opening ceremony of the Sydney Harbour. Bridge, with all its gala activities. The sensational Captain de Groot incident has been depicted, though this has been deleted from the copies screening in New South Wales. MAJESTIC THEATRE. Making its initial screening before a liOuse . <> n Saturday. “Over The • opened its season at the Majestic Ibeatrc, in an impressive manner. A notable feature of the production is that it brought back Mae Marsh, who retired from the screen twelve years ago. The other stars who form the impressive cast . P l® picture are James Dunn and Sally Eilers. "Over The Hill” is a drama ot home life, the story of a family as it grows from childhood to manhood. There arc some moving sequences in the film, but sentiment has not been allowed to dominate the production, and there are some uproarious scenes enacted, all of which are appreciated all the more because of the appeal of the more solemn passages. The story opens with the family going to school, all of the three boys of strikingly different temperament. Isaac, the eldest. | a parsimonious but. deceitful youth, who is ever ready to “tell tales'’: Thomas, the rascal, and Johnny, the inoffensive, upon whose head descends the trouble caused by his two brothers. Mac. Marsh is the hard-working mother, who is constantly struggling to keep the home together, with a husband who won’t work. Nearly all the scenes of tins section ol the film arc humorous. The years roll by. The family has grown up. Isaac is parsimonious and dishonest still: Jonnny, having suffered for other people in his childhood, has still to suffer for the wrong-doing of others, but ho lias developed a heart of gold and a will ol steel, and the dramatic climax, the most; glorious scene of the film, is his settling with Isaac, for (be shameful waj’

in which he had treated his widowed mother. Excellent supports are also provided. From to-day the Fox movietone record of the Sydney Bridge celebrations will be screened. The film shows the de Groot ribbon-cutting incident, which has been banned from cxnibition in New South Wales. KING'S THEATRE. Haunting romance, tropic adventure, comedy, and music are blended in Lawrence Tibbett’s latest starring vehicle, “The Cuban; Love Song,” which is being screened this week at the King's Theatre. The hero of “The Prodigal” figures in nn engrossing romance of Cuba. Lupe Velez, fiery little Mexican heroine of “The Squaw Man,” has the feminine lead. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. In “These Charming People,” to be screened at the Kilbirnie Theatre this evening, Cyril Maude, the noted English actor.’ is at the head of a splendid cast. The film is based on Michael Arlen’s brilliant Mayfair satire, and makes stimulating, sophisticated entertainment.