ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 260, 29 July 1932, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. A musical romance that has its locale in pre-war Vienna, and in Vienna of today is “Good-night Vienna,” which will open at the Regent Theatre to-day, . a bright and breezy show which stars that popular young London comedian, Jack Buchanan. . “Good-night Vienna;” a British Dominions’ release, is really a most delightful show. It sparkles with the gaiety that, earned for pre-war Vienna the title of the gayest city of the world, aild-4S the type of picture tMt makes even the most blase petsoh sit up and ‘Here is something worth looking at. Of course, since it is a Viennese story, romance predominates in every scene—romance in? a setting of beautiful’ women, glorious flowers, entrancing music, and melodious voices. The story concerns the love of a young Austrian officer for a girl who keeps a flower shop. He finds that, he must’marry a wealthy countess, and decides to elope with the flower girl rather than do so. War breaks out that night, and his message to his loved one goes astray. He leaves for the front. Broken-hearted, the flower girl thinks he has. deserted her. After the war they meet again, she a wealthy woman and Europe’s foremost singer, he an impoverished man, working for his living. What follows leads up to a most pleasing climax. Jack Buchanan is at his best as the young officer, and he is assist-. cd by, Anna Neagle, blonde and beautiful, and with a glorious voice. Features of the show are the lilting melodies, foremost among which is “Good-night Vienna,” which.is.hound to be. a firth, farouri.td.

DE LUXE THEATRE. Greta Garbo,-who may always be relied upon for something different, appears as a platinum-blonde cafe singer in her latest screen characterisation as Zara in “As You Desire Me.” The new Garbo picture, which will open at the De Luxe Theatre to-day, is a filmisation of the New York' dramatic hit by the noted Italian playwright, Luigi Pirandello, with dialogue continuity by Gene Markey. George Fitzmaurice, who recently scored with his production of Mata Hnri,” again directed Miss Garbo in ‘As You Desire Me.” In addition, there will be screened the sporting series, Olympic Events,” showing many champion athletes in action.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. No picture produced in the past year has had a greater cast than “Night World,” which comes to the Majestic Theatre to-day.. Lew Ayres is one of the most popular stars of the. screen, and Mae- Clarke is a girl whose meteoric progress in recent months has brought her to the threshold of stardom. Boris Karloff, the Monster of “Frankenstein,” is the most talked of man tbday in pictures. • In fact, the whole caste is filled .with big names. The entire story is laid in a gay night club 'in a great , city, and all the events transpire in a single night. The screen play reveals the seething undercurrents beneath the. surface in the cafe, telling ‘a storv which lays bare conditions which are totally unsuspected by the roisterin'patrons. •

ST. JAMES THEATRE. > Previously Constance Bennett has earned weak stories by sheer histrionic ability and charm, but “Lady With a Past,” commencing at St James Theatre to-day', brings a new and brighter Constance Bennett. It is a good story, brilliantly directed, with a grand sunpply of outstanding dialogue. There is said to be a smartness attached to it that is natural and human, slightly dramatic, but decidedly amusing. Constance Bennett is remarkably vital and vivacious in this rollicking comedy which concerns a girl who is unsuccessful socially because she insists upon talking about books when she should be “jabbering about nothing” On a visit to Paris she hires a clever young American man about town to put her on the right road to success

PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Based on Conan ~ Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes detective story, “The Missing Rembrandt” will be the’ attraction commencing at the - Paramount to-day. The' planning of the theft of the missing points to' the work of a master criminal, and this,narrows Holmes’s field down to Baron von l Guntermann,' who carties out-his nefarious schemes beneath the cloak of a respectable art dealer, and the clumsy blackmailing of a lady by one ot--Guntermann’s- assistants" enables him to establish Guutermann’s guilt beyond all question of doubt. Good supports will also be screened.

MID DAV ORGAN RECITAL Opportunity is being afforded to business people and others to attend a recital by the city organist, Mr Bernard F. Page, to-day, in the Town Hall, at 12.30. The programme is most attractive. The numbers to be played are: Air and Gavotte .(Wesley), Overture to “A Midsummer Night’s Drcam” (Mendelssohn), Toccata and Fugue in D Minor (Bach), Elegie (Clausmann), Caprice in G Minor (Crac--kel), Rhapsodic, Op. 7, No. 3 Saint-Saens), Arcadian-Idyll, “Serenade,” “Musette.” "Solitude’ (Lemure), and Air nnd Variations upon a theme of Handel’s ’ (Karg-‘ Elert). j

COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS’ CHOIR. The Commercial Travellers’ Choir is giving its second concert of the season in the Coiicert Chamber on Saturday, which promises to be one of the most attractive yet given by this fine body of singers. The main feature, is the appearance of George Ellwood, the talented- ’celljst.' who is acclaimed as the finest player,of the 'cello In the southern hemisphere. His numbers are “Minuefto” (Beethoven), “Liebestraume” (Liszt), “Spanish Dance” (Granados), and “Tarantella” (Popper) Supporting artists arc Molly Atkinson (soprano), Dorothy Spiller (contralto), and Will Goudie (baritone), all of whom are excellent soloists. The choir, under the inspiring direction of John Bishop, ij; now in .very fine voiem