ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 223, 16 June 1932, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAJESTIC, WANGANUI. Noel Coward's most sensational farce hit supplies the story and intriguing title of "Private Lives,” which opens at the Majestic Theatre, Wanganui, on Saturday, with Norma Shearer and Robert Montgomery co-starred. It is high farce at a break-neck pace, and the most hilarious picture offered in many months. Both Miss Shearer and Montgomery seem perfectly at home in its happy—aud scrappy—environment, and it is easy to imagine that they had quite as much fun making the picture as the audience did in laughing at its gay wit and hysterical situations. The story concerns a young couple who are divorced. They are re-wed to different mates, and by strange chance occupy adjoining suites in a French hotel on the bridal night. After quarreling with their new spouses, they discover each other’s presence and, in a mad moment of resolve, elope to a chalet in Switzerland. There the story takes a novel turn, and develops into a whirl of mirthful hysteria. REGENT, WANGANUI. “Shanghai Express,” a sensational dramatic romance, that has its setting on the so-called express that runs between Peking and Shanghai, is now enjoying a remarkably successful season at the Regent Theatre, Wanganui. Chief among the stars of the show is Marlene Dietrich, , that seductive, wide-eyed woman, whose eyery gesture carries a wealth of meaning. Miss Dietrich enacts the part of Shanghai Lily, a notorious woman whose name is known from one end of the China coast to the other. Her presence on the Peking-Shanghai express causes consternation among the small European section, especially when it is found that she favours a British Army doctor. The last-named is an old lover, and he quickly falls under her spell again. Just as tongues are wagging at top speed, the express is held up by revolutionary troops and the doctor is held as hostage for a Chinese spy who had been captured earlier in the day. To save her lover, Lily agrees to go away with the rebel leader. And then complications follow. Right until the end of the show the action never lets up. for a minute, and the curtain falls on a reconciliation which marks the end of a remarkable film. Miss Dietrich has never been seen to better advantage. Her fascinating voice, and her wonderful eyes, and her faculty to make one get a grip of a whole scene merely by ■ a gesture, make the performance of the majority of stars pale into insignificance. The object of her attentions is Clive Brook, who is in excellent form. Splendid characterisations are given by Warner Oland, Anna May Wong, Louise Closser Hale (who supplies a new type of comic relief) and Eugene Pallette.

PALACE THEATRE, PALMERSTON N.

It is interesting to note that the Tallulah Bankhead of real life, and the Tallulah Bankhead of “The Cheat” (her new starring Paramount picture), have much in common. Both crave excitement—danger—thrills; both eagerly gamble with fate I Miss Bankhead understands this character completely. And because she does she lends the role the deep sympathy and understanding which makes her portrayal one of lasting significance. You’ll find Miss Bankhead’s performance in the title role of “The Cheat” an important contribution to the outstanding portrayals of the new season. Sharing honours with Tallulah Bankhead is an actor whose few appearances on the screen have stamped him as a player of the first rank. The reference is to Irving Pichel, the righteous Cabel Evans of “The Right to Love” and the prosecuting attorney of “An American Tragedy.” George Abbott was the director of “The Cheat,” which begins a three days’ engagement at the Palace Theatre on Saturday.

KOSY THEATRE. PALMERSTON N. Warner Oland was born in Umea, Sweden, and migrated to America when he was a small boy. He made his professional debut with a small stock company. but soon found himself on Broadway playing important character roles. Oland played his first important film role in “Don Q" with Douglas Fairbanks. in 1925, a part that definitely established him as a screen “heavy.” Then he became a villainous Chinese in “In Old San Francisco,” “Wheel of Chance,” “Chinatown Nights,” “The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu.” and “The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu.” It began to look as if he was typed for life as a menacing Oriental. but when Fox Films made “Charlie Chan Carries On.” a film version of Earl Derr Biggers’s mystery story, Oland was signed to portray the role of the suave and kindly Chinese detective after more than 20 other prominent actors had failed to meet the difficult requirements of (lie part. “Charlie Chan’s Chance” screens nt the Rosy on Saturday. REGENT, PALMERSTON. An event of unusual cinema importance is the screening of “Arsene Lupin” at the Palmerston North Regent, and which marks the first appearance together on the screen of the famous Barrymore brothers. In selecting a story suitable for the combined talents of John and Lionel, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer hit upon the book and stage success of Maurice Le Blane. a drawing-room mystery-drama whos'l adroit combination of mystery, emotional situations, and whimsical comedy is said to give the famous stage and screen stars every opportunity for effective joint portrayals. The popular belief that a motion picture version of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” commencing at the Palmerston North Regent matinee on Saturday, must lie a gruesome, sordid affair is exploded through a study of the script from which Director Rouben Mnmoulian produced the picture at the Paramount studios in Hollywood. “Thrilling portions of the picture heighten the love elements, and, in reverse, the beautiful scenes with Jekyll, make the Hyde parts the more awe-inspiring.”