ATTRACTIONS OF THE THEATRES

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 166, 9 April 1932, Page 5

ATTRACTIONS OF THE THEATRES

Current Programmes Reviewed COMEDY, ROMANCE, DRAMA, INTRIGUE In the current programmes at the Wellington picture houses will be found an excellent selection of films. There are also other forms of dramatic and musical entertainment offering, and next week the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company will open its second season in Wellington. A drama of hearts, with a Continental background, heads the new bill at the Regent Theatre, while the management of the St. James is catering for those who prefer stories of espionage and its attendant risks and problems. At the Grand Opera House is a domestic drama with a very human touch. Holding pride of place at the Majestic is a delightful English comedy-romance which is interspersed with catchy melodies, and at the Paramount there is a gripping drama of a woman who finds regeneration through true love. The popularity of thrillers is evidenced by the continuation of the current attraction at the De Luxe. Filling the screen at the King’s is an exciting adventure on an ocean liner, and comedy of an hilarious nature is the star attraction at the Kilbirnie Kinema. • A glance through the list of entertainments as reviewed by “The Dominion” should prove helpful in the choice of a show. .

, REGENT THEATRE “Once a Lady” The story of the mother with dubious associations concealing her identity out of consideration for her child is not new, but Ruth Chatterton’s portrayal of a role based on this situation has nothing hackneyed about it. In the Paramount production, “Once a Lady,” screened at the Regent Theatre yesterday, Ruth Chatterton eclipsed her rendering of “Madame X, itself a picture of more than ordinary merit. She is an outcast as a mother, but an idol in circles of dazzling, of doubt: ful, reputation in Paris. Emotional acting is expected from Ruth Chatterton, but it is not the soft of strained misery-mak-ing which produces a smirk in the audience. In “Once a Lady” Ruth Chatterton carries the tension just far enough, and leaves every spectator confirmed that she is a really great actress. Her part is not that of the doting,: homely mother. She begins as the Russian wife of an ambitious Englishman. The English parents are irritating people, and the son (Geoffrey Kerr) joins with them against his wife's unconventional mannerisms. The wife walks out of the prim English home into the part of an adventuress. She is a dashing cocotth, but none the less a mother with a yearning. Jill Esmond plays as the daughter, and'it is as the unknown benefactress that Ruth Chatterton is at her zenith. She does not resort to floods of tears to achieve her most impressive moments. . , . The supporting artists are good, but Ruth Chatterton is so dominant that it would be difficult for anything apart from her performance to seem other than incidental. The programme contains an exciting film of animal life in Northern Rhodesia. It is more than a travelogue, and there are some thrilling views of huge beasts at close quarters. MAJESTIC THEATRE “Sally in Our Alley” A. picture, perfect in atmosphere, technique, photography and in sound, is “Sally in Our Alley,” which commenced a season at the Majestic Theatre, yesterday. This picture has everything to commend it—a little pathos, a little spice, a fund of humour, plenty of singing, ana 'excellent acting. Behind it all is London’s revue idol, Gracie Fields, and she is just as successful on the screen. She captivates witli her naturalness, her cheer) fulness and her voice. Her rendering of “The Lancashire Blues” is perfect. There is no distortion. Her voice is as natural in' this talkie that she might be sing) ing from the legitimate stage. Her song "Sally,” sung to the man she loves, is a masterpiece,”, in which she gives full expression to every human emotion —and those emotions are carried right to the hearts of the audience. Gracie Fields is just as good an actress as she is a singer, and she has a personality which adds charm to her other attributes. She is without doubt a “star,” and she is supported by a cleverly-selected cast, each player contributing to a wonderful picture. The supporting programme, featuring seven of Australia’s best cricketers, Woodfull, Kippax, Grimmett, Ponsford, Oldfield, McCabe and Bradman, in slow motion, gives a finish to the excellent entertainment. PARAMOUNT THEATRE “The Miracle Wqman” What lends importance to Columbia’s new' picture, "The Miracle Woman," is an attempt to shed the same sort of light that Sinclair Lewis flooded the stage with in “Elmer Gantry.” The film opened yesterday at the Paramount Theatre, with Barbara Stanwyck, Sam Hardy and David Manners at the head of the cast. Mr. Lewis felt strongly enough about the hypocritical evangelist to think him important enough for a novel; and his particular kind of evangelist, from which New Zealand is generally free, is a permanent feature of the American landscape. One eye forever on the box office and the other at times turned heavenward is a squint that has never really enriched the world. Theatrical evangelism of the worst type—to which the present film supplies a clue —never looks at the world honestly. The Miracle Woman” has managed to serve up this idea in a clever form. A pleasant love story is embroidered on a theatrical, almost sensational, fabric of what the Americans might term “gospel ballyhoo. KING’S THEATRE Romance, comedy and intrigue on the high sens are in store for those who witness “Transatlantic,” Fox production which is now showing at the King’s Theatre. Edmund Lowe and Lois Moran enact the leading roles. ARTCRAFT Tom Walls heads an elite cast in "Canaries Sometimes Sing,” now showing at the Artcraft Theatre. DE LUXE, LOWER HUTT Commencing a four-day season to-day at the De Luxe Theatre, Lower Hutt, is the Fox Films romance “Merely Mary Ann,” which screens daily at 2.30 p.m. and 8 p.m. This screen treat, which stars those favourite sweethearts Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell, was adapted from Israel Zangwill’s play and tells the charming story of the love affair between a shy little servant girl, in a London boarding-house and a brilliant but unrecognised composer. “Possessed, starring Joan Crawford and Clark Gable, will show next Thursday and Friday. The theme of the drama deals with the ambitions of a factory girl and the subsequent part she played in politics to help her lover. PALACE, PETONE Now showing at the Palace Theatre, Petone. is “Bad Girl,” an adaptation of Vina Delmar's great novel, with Sally Eilers and James Dunn in the leading roles. GRAND, PETONE Wallace Berry is the star of “The. Champ,” which is showing at the Grand Theatre, Petone. He is supported by a notable cast, ineluding Jackie Cooper and Roscoe Ates.

DE LUXE THEATRE “Frankenstein” in Second Week Still drawing capacity houses nightly, “Frankenstein,” Universal’s super-thril-ler, which is the attraction at the De Luxe Theatre, began its second week last evening. It is doubtful if any dramatic play or “talkie” of recent times has created such a profound impression as has “Frankenstein,” which will undoubtedly go down in the annals of talkie history as the finest picture of its type, or of any kind even remotely resembling it, ever produced. Weird, in parts completely horrifying, sometimes a little pathetic, "Frankenstein” is always fascinating to a degree seldom reached by a film. There are moments of gaiety and touches of comedy, but these serve merely to contrast with ant) heighten this tale of a man-created monster who runs amok. Dr. Henry Frankenstein, a German medical student, discovers the secret of the spark of life. In a graceyard of shadows and fantastic shapes he becomes a scientific ghoul. Within the walls of a grim old ruin he assembles his monster, and, drawing, the lightning from a great storm, he brings his man-made man to life. Frankenstein’s half-crazed shout as he blasphemes and acclaims himself a creator in the presence of his cowering medical tutor and his fiancee is the dramatic high-light of ' the film. From then on the action is speedy, the shuddering excitement intensified. Frankenstein learns that, in stealing a brain for his creature, he has used the abnormal exhibit of a dissecting room, and endowed the monster with the mind of a brute. Excellently chosen ‘supports complete the programme. ’’ ST. JAMES THEATRE “Mata Hari’’ A spy I A woman who lived to lure millions to their deaths, but who died for love of one man —such was Mata Hari, the notorious spy, the story of whose career and subsequent death, facing a firing squad during the World War, is vividly told in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s remarkable production at the St. James Theatre. An all-star picture, “Mata Hari,” from the point of view of cast, acting, story, direction, and photography, is certainly one of the year’s most astounding releases. Featuring two of filmland’s most noted stars —Greta Garbo and Ramon Novarro —it shows these two popular idols at their best. It is impossible to imagine anyone more alluring than Greta Garbo in the role of the intriguing spy. She has that type of role that has carried her to fame. Ramon Novarro gives a splendid performance as Mata Hari’s Russian lover. His sincere acting is a feature of the show. Lionel Barrymore is at his best as a Russian general, who is completely under the exotic dancer’s spell, and Lewis. Stone gives a convincing interpretation of a German master-spy. The supporting bill includes ft splendid , finzette (with pic* tures of Phar Lap and a speech by Captain De Groot), a fisherman’s paradise film, a cartoon, and exhibitions of cricket by some of Australia’s leading players, including Don Bradman. Woodfull, McCabe. Kippax, and Grimmett. GRAND OPERA HOUSE “The Bargain”; “City Streets” “The Bargain” is a picture of everyday life. It boasts of nothing spectacular, but presents the people of an ordinary American home—their joys, sorrows, aspirations and troubles—in a lovable and wholly captivating drama. Together with City Streets,” “The Bargain” made its Weilington premiere at the Grand Opera House last evening. Lewis t Stone plays the part of a man who has missed ms true vocation, and instead of fulfilling his desire to be a great painter, works at a humble job in a soap factory. Dons Kenyon is his wife, and together they decide that their son Roderick shall be an architect—as a compensation, perhaps, tor Maitland White’s thwarted ambitions. Evalyn Knapp, pretty and petite, plays opposite to Roderick (John Darrow), and gives a delightful interpretation of a happy little role. Maitland White, the father, does ultimately follow his artistic inclinations, but then complications ensue. The details must not be disclosed here, but it is sufficient to say that the story holds one’s interest all the while, and leads ultimately to a pelasand satisfying conclusion. “City Streets,” the second feature, is a thrilling drama of gangster life. Gary Cooper and Sylvia Sidney take the leading roles. GILBERT AND SULLIVAN “Ruddigore” and “Dorothy” The revival of “Ruddigore” and “Dorothy,” two old favourites, which will be played during the return season, which will begin on Wednesday, is causing great interest among Wellington theatregoers. “Ruddigore” is so little known that its revival comes with a novelty and an appeal that are lacking from other Savoy operas, because of their very familiarity. “Ruddigore” has only been once staged professionally in this city, and although that was but four years ago, the opera will undoubtedly be witnessed on this occasion by many hundreds for the first time. Next Wednesday's performance will see only two of the original cast who appeared last time in their original roles, John Ralston and Bernard Manning, the newcomers being Ivan Menzies, Leo Darnton, Evelyn Gardner, Marie Bremner, Mary Hotham in the principal roles. The ensemble singing is a special feature of the programme, the fine finale of the first act, with its beautiful gavotte and madrigal being a very beautitul number. , The scenery is also a speciality of the production, especially the famous Picture Gallery scene of the second act, where Sir Ruthven’s ancestral portraits come to light to the vast discomfort of the descendant. The farewell season snouici be as big a success as the former. KING GEORGE, LOWER HUTT Robert Woolsey is starring in “Everything’s Rosy,” which will be presented at the King George Theatre. Lower Hutt. PRINCE EDWARD, WOBURN John Gilbert in “The Phantom of Paris” will be presented to-day at the Prince Edward Theatre. Woburn.