ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 230, 24 June 1932, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. Ben Travers must be very pleased with ' the film version of his bright novel, ’Mischief,” now screening at the Regent Theatre. If ever an author got. justice on the screen, Travers has been handed it by the splendid talent impounded for this . British Dominions Films’, production. Every reader who has been convulsed bv the wit . of Travers will find that Ralph Lynn, Winifred Shotter, Kenneth Kove, and at least half a dozen others in this film have put the breath of life into Travers’s characters. This is British humour at its best, and if there is any weakness in an artist in “Mischief,” it cannot be located in one or two sittings through the picture. For the part of Arthur Gordon, Ralph Lynn may have an equal in the film world, but he has certainly no superior. ( PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Abounding in thrills and offering something distinctly different in screen entertainment, “Disorderly Conduct’ will open to-day at the Paramount Theatre. With Spencer Traej- in the grimly powerful role of a police officer who abandons honestj’ for larceny, and an imposing list of film favourites in the supporting east, this Fox production is, heralded as the foremost dramatic offering of'the year. lie arrests the daughter of the .city’s leading politician, and is-demoted .as a consequence. Smarting under this treatment, he decides it doesn’t paj'' to be honestj and starts taking “easy, money . from various speakeasies. Sally Eilers is the "irl, and Ralph Bellamy the police captain. In addition to the main picture there will be a second attraction, “Careless Lady," with John Boles, Joan Bennett, and* Minna Gouibell as stars.GRAND OPERA HOUSE. Clive Brook, Vivienne Osborne, Charlie Ruggles, and Juliette Compton . are the principal players in the new Paramount drama, “Husband’s Holiday.” coming to the Grand Opera House to-day. “Husband’s Holiday” is an intelligent, provocative, entertaining story of a husband who becomes infatuated with anoG l61 ’ woman and plans to divorce his wife. But the wife, a courageous woman who has helped her husband in his climb to success, refuses to take'his “wanderings” too seriously. She believes -he is merely ,infatuated and hopes that he will eyentuiwly rturn to her and their two children. Her surprising attitude and her desperate struggle to hold her happiness, family, and love, as if nothing had happened, makes for thoughtful drama to strike deep into the hearts of men and women. The direction of Robert Milton is swiltpaced and dramatic, milking tlie most, ot situations that are always- interesting and off the beaten track. And the dialogue of Viola Brothers Shore catches completely the human qualities:of the story. Clive'Brook as the erring husband who finds himself in love with two women is excellently cast in one of his best roles. Vivienne Osborne is the. loyal wife, and Juliette Compton the “other’ ._ woman who has had the misfortune to.fall lulQve with a married man. MAJESTIC THEATRE, "Tarzan, the . Ape. Man,” the latest Metro-Gofdwyn-Mayer jungle .adventure picture, which opens at the Majestic Theatre to-day. is a thrilling successor to “Trader Horn.”' made by the 'same companv. Both productions were directed by W. S. Van Dyke, .the famous ex-plorer-director. An interesting portrajal in the picture is that of Johnny Meissmuller. world’s champion swimmer, chosen for the title role, because of his tremendous physical build. 1 iis- terrific niiiseu-. lar drive, developed by years of swimming. seemed to be a great aid to him in swinging through jungle trees at dizzying heights.' The clianiiiionship technique which won him many' world records ’.is amply demonstrated'’ in* the. vivid ' swimming sequences. Most African adventures succeed onl.v in being fantastic, but the producer has followed the precedent lie established with “Trader Horn, and has succeeded in faithfull.v transferring to the screen all the breath-taking thrills of the widely-read Edgar Rice. Burroughs story. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. Starring George -Arliss.: the screens most extraordinarj’ genius. “Alexander Hamilton” is the attraction at the Kilbirnie Kinerna. I

DE LUXE TIIEARTE. A movie within a movie, depicting the neck-breaking stunts of the him daredevils in a thrilling modern day romance of theair and Hollywood, comes to the De hurt Theatre to-day with the opening o£ RKO Radio Pictures’ epic, ’’The Lost Squadron,” starring Richard Dix- It h said to be his most romantic and dangeious role to date. The film is Hollywood s answer to the persistent public-plea tor an action film based on the adventurous exploits of men courting danger, for the sake of the thrill it gives them. The author of the story, Dick Grace, the screen s king of stunt aviators, makes three breathless craekups—one into the oeean and the other two are perpendicular power dives to the earth Geared as it is to the tempo and ’the unselfish’ camaraderie of men m peril, the film nevertheless supports a beautiful romance which blooms into full flower out of a chaos of wrecked planes and breathless spins. “The Lost squadron” is the story Of an air picture in the making. The gay panoply ot Hollywood s great film industry is revealed most intimately. Great batteries of cameras nil the screen on occasion; a gala Hollywood premiere is shown, and the mysterious sound stages are opened for-the .first time to public inspection. The cast is m every respect equal to the subject matter. Supporting Dix are Mary Astor, Erich von Stroheim, Joel McCrea, Dorothy Jordan, Robert Armstrong, Hugh Herbert, and others. There is,, a. wellchoseii supporting programme, comprising five exceptional subjects,

ST. JAMES THEATRE. To-day. will see the first screenings ot “Amateur Daddy” at St. Janies Theatre. This Fox production brings back the favourite star, Warner Baxter, m a role which his admirers agree suits him to perfection—that of a shy. young bachelor mothering and fathering a boiniie bunch of orphan waifs. Writing of “Amateur Daddy” during its successful Christchurch season, the “Press" says :—r*’There is an intangible something about this sterling actor which makes him as fascinating in a dust-covered sombrero as in a silk topper and without the aid of either, lit this charming romance he gives a p.ertormance that will long be remembered. The “Amateur Daddy” is a-role equally as romantic as Baxter’s immortal screen characterisation, “Cisco Kid,” and as lovable as his “Daddy- Long Legs ’...' portrayal. The stor.y delightfully combines the rugged beauty of California’s outdoors with the charm of its rural life. and. is woven around the unusual whimsical romance of a bachelor who sets out to adopt a family of waifs belonging to Ins. best-friend, who died as the result of an. accident. ” MOISEIWITSCH WITH ORCHESTRA. That the appearance of M. Benno Moiseiwitsch with the Wellington Phil’ harmonic Society to-morrow, night is being eagerly awaited in Wellington is demonstrated by the k.eeii interest which is being displayed. Tlie popular nature Of the programme 'to be submitted should prove as great an attraction to the general public as well as those better versed in musical, art. A world celebrity .of the calibre of Moiseiwitsch playing with. an orchestra of SO selected. local artists should arouse much enthusiasm. Air. John Bishop will be the conductor.