ATTRACTIONS IN THE THEATRES

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 273, 13 August 1932, Page 8

ATTRACTIONS IN THE THEATRES

Excellent Variety of Subjects Offered REVIEWS OF LATEST PROGRAMMES Of particularly high standard are the new programmes at the Wellington picture theatres, some of which are screening productions of a most unusual type. A Ben Travers farce, enacted by one of London’s most famous casts, is delighting audiences at the Regent. A very modern society drama heads the bill at the De Luxe, and at the Grand Opera House two most entertaining features form palatable fare. A vivid story of life and people in a great city is the offering at the St. James. An amazing drama, dealing with the- somewhat unusual rise to fame of a surgeon, is the attraction at the Majestic, and at the Paramount there is a fast-moving story of the adventures of men in the radio police patrol. The Kilbirnie Kinema is showing a British mystery-romance, featuring two popular stars. The Dominion’s reviews of current programmes are given below.

DE LUXE THEATRE “Letty Lynton” j “Letty Lynton,” a sensational drama I of modern society and its reckless diver- I sions, heads the entertaining film programme screening at the De Luxe Theatre. In “Letty Lynton” the leading roles are taken by Joan Crawford and Robert Montgomery. The story is that of an heiress whose preoccupation with the new “feminine freedom” entangles her in a dangerous affair with an ardent South American lover. When she ultimately leaves him for her true love she is followed by her former lover and is subsequently involved in a sensational scandal which results in the South American’s death with all fingers pointing to her as the murderess. The outcome makes for an intriguing drama of the first order, giving both Miss Crawford and Montgomery every opportunity for effective portrayals. Among the film’s chief episodes are the dramatic scene in which the girl attempts to break off relations with the ruthless South American and the sensational discovery of his death in a New York hotel. There are several enjoyable supporting films, including gazettes depicting latest events of universal interest. A special novelty attraction is the presentation of “It’s My Caravan” by the popular Wellington tenor, Mr. Herbert, Wood, to the accompaniment of Miss Iris Mason at the Wurlitzer organ. GRAND OPERA HOUSE “Ruling Voice” and “This Reckless Age” The double bill at the Grand Opera House will take a lot of beating for technical and narrative quality. “The Ruling Voice” is a strong, upstanding drama of racketeering exploits in New York. The leader of the gang pursues his ruthless course until his daughter ascertains the source of her father’s wealth, and turns from him with loathing and’disgust, and fijjaUy be is shot by a man he has ruined. The acting of Walter Huston. Dudley Digges, and Loretta Young is excellent. The Paramount picture “This Reckless Age” draws a rather brutal picture of the selfish heartlessness of America's younger set toward their parents, and yet when real trouble faces them they rally round in great style—the moral being that if they are loose in habit they are sound at heart. The leading parts are safe In the hands of Richard Bennett, Frances Starr, Charles Rogers, and Francis Dee. ST. JAMES THEATRE “Symphony of Six Million” Touching the heart strings with its deep pathos and its rendering of a sublime romance, an exceptionally fine picture opened at the St. James Theatre yesterday. The film is RKO-Radio Pictures’ “Symphony of Six Million,” cofeaturing Ricardo Cortex and Irene Dunne in a story of deep human feeling by Fannie Hurst. Its theme is based on the inherent idealism of man and the eternal quest for romance of woman. It starts with a boy in the slums, who becomes a famous doctor, despite social and economic barriers. It shows him as a dreamer, wishing only to heal the sick, never caring whether he is paid. He is forced by his ambitious family to move to a Park Avenue office, where the rich live. There he makes money and becomes the most noted surgeon of his city. The doctor is a sympathetic character, and Cortez plays the role with subdued shadings and a vast amount of sympathy. Miss Dunne presents a noble, high-mind-ed type of American womanhood. The supporting programme includes a comedy and a Pathe news reel. MAJESTIC THEATRE “Alias the Doctor” The powerful First National talking drama, “Alias the Doctor,” which headed the new programme introduced at the Majestic Theatre last eveping, tells a moving story of a surgical genius who longs to get away from the profession and back to the girl and the farm he loves. That gifted actor, Richard Barthelmess, has never had a role which suited him better than that of the brilliant young medical student, who goes to prison in order to shield his worthless foster-bro-ther. Beautiful Marian Marsh makes a most lovable heroine, and excellent work is done by Lucille La Verne as the ambitious mother who is responsible for most of the tragedy in the drama. The supporting films included another edition of “Adventures in Africa,” “Sports Slants,” and an entertaining News of the World reel. GALLI-CURCI SEASON Of outstanding interest is the announcement by Messrs. J. and N. Tait that Amelita Galli-Curci, the world-renowned soprano, will give two concerts at the Grand Opera House, Wellington, on August 25 and 27. Among celebrities it is difficult to find a more modest, unaffected woman than Galli-Curci. She does not believe in the sincerity of the so-called "artistic temperament. She recognises a definite responsibility to het public, and she makes it a point to fulfil, on the exact minute, every engagement arranged by her managers for her. Altogether, she is one of the great figures of her generation, carrying forward the traditions established by her most distinguished predecessors. History will enshrine her name among the immortals and only time will be able to fathom the depths to which her art has reached. Future generations Will remember her name as the present one remembers those of the great singers and composers and virtuosi of old time. To hear her is a privilege that will lie remembered, and those who listen to her to-day will, in future years, tell those who come after them how, in earlier years, they heard, in some famous role, or in some famous sung, no less a personage than GailiCurci herself. KING GEORGE, LOWER HUTT The most original and hilarious comedv of the year is “Ladies of the Jury, the Radio release which will lie screened this afternoon, to-night, Monday night, and Tuesday night at the King George Theatre. Lower Hutt. Edna May Oliver is the star. A feature of the afternoon s matinee is a free bicycle offer by the management. “The Blue Danube will be the attraction for Wednesday. Thursday sud Friday*

REGENT THEATRE J “A Night Like This” j Almost any cast could stage a story I from the pen of Ben Travers, and an audience would at least be amused, but “A Night Like This,” released at the Regent Theatre yesterday, is in the hands of the famous Aldwych Theatre team, and that is a guarantee that one gets the very esseuce of Travers. The author must be a very grateful man so long as he is interpreted by Tom Walls, Ralph Lynn, Robertson Hare. Winifred Shotter. and Mary Brough. These people seem to get to grips with the characters drawn by Travers, and in this latest British-Domln-ions picture one gets sheer farce at its best. A finished comedy of this calibre I practically banishes the consciousness of ' the mechanical miracles which reproduce i great British stars on a Wellington screen. After hanging on the words of Tom Walls and Ralph Lynn for an hour, one almost , needs a jolt to bring home the fact that all this entertainment comes out of strips , of celluloid. “A Night Like This” opens ’ with glimpses of London in the throes of a . real “old man” fog. Tom Walls has the part of a constable whose zest for promotion lends him into lone-hdnded probing into the operations of a swindling ; night club management. Winifred Shot- , ter is one of the very attractive ballet in ' | this resort, and the dancing and jazz ' music is no insignificant part of this pie- ■ ture. Ralph Lynn lives up to the finest traditions of screen nonsense, and Mary Brough is a proper old lady whose sense of the fitness of things is continually outraged. Claude Hulbert is the complete idiot, and looks it. He has cultivated an inane expression which is only second in absurdity to the facial control which Ralph Lynn exploits so well. The story ’ deals with some pretty competent blackmailers, but there are nd dramatic moments on this account. True farce is supreme throughout. The supports in--1 elude another Bobby Jones golf feature, a “Mickey Mouse” cartoon, gazettes, and a ; nature film.

PARAMOUNT THEATRE “Radio Patrol” 1 The public are shown the modern methods used in the American police force in the prevention and detection of crime in the new feature at Paramount Theatre. It is called "Radio Patrol,” and illustrates how police cars on patrol duty throughout the great cities are kept in constant touch with headquarters. When a crime is detected in the act a radio call goes out concentrating the whole motorcycle and car patrols on a given spot. With crimes occurring at the rate of one a minute extraordinary methods have to be adopted, and radio is proving its value in the detection of crime in all the great cities of the world. Of course, the men in the radio patrol have to carry their lives in their hands in the war on gangdom, and the picture shows the deadly nature of the warfare against criminals who hold life cheaply. There is drama and I tragedy well told in this thrilling film. A couple of news reels, a sports reel, cartoon, and a comedy, “Doctor’s Orders,” make an excellent programme, HARMONIC CONCERT The second concert of the 1932 season of the Wellington Harmonic Society, under the conductorsbip of Mr. H. Temple White, will be given in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on Thursday at 8 p.m. The choir numbers have been ; most carefully chosen from the society's extensive library, and will include the polonaise with chorus, “Noble Chief. Thee we Hail,” from Glinka’s “Life for the CzaP’; Coleridge-Taylor’s “The Lee Shore’; “O Happy Eyes’’ (Elgar) ; “Awake, Awake” (Granville Bantoek) ; two folk songs by Brahms, “In Silent Night” and “Love. Fare Thee Well’ ; “Celtic Hymn” (Roberton); a “Choral Rhapsody on Welsh Airs,” arranged by Percv E. Fletcher; and a setting by H. Balfour Gardiner of John Masefield s “News from Whydah.” Miss Hilda Chudley, the popular contralto, will sing “Hills” (La Forge), “Do Not Go. My Love” (Richard Hageman), and “Cherry Ripe” (Cyril Scott). Mr. Trevor Thomas (bass-baritone), has chosen for his numbers “The Lute Player” (Allitson). and “The Two Grenadiers” (Schumann). Of particular interest will be the appearance of Miss Elvira Wycherley, a talented young ’cellist from Palmerston North, who will plav “Le Cygne” (Saint Saens), “Arlequin” (Popper). "Orientale” (Cui), and “Guitarre” (Moskowski). ARTCRAFT THEATRE To-night’s big attraction at the Artcraft Theatre is “The Easiest Way,” a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer release, which stars the popular Constance Bennett. In the supporting cast are Robert gomery. Adolphe Meujou, Clark Gable, and Anita Page. The story tells of a beautiful girl who chooses the easiest rather than the recognised conventional way of living. DE LUXE, LOWER HUTT The most amazing story of a dual personality ever written and adapted to the MM is “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” the Paramount picture, starring Frednc March. Miriam Hopkins, and Rose Hobart which screens to-night and Monday night at the De Luxe Theatre, Lower Hutt. That home-town girls sometimes overlook the real happiness at their own doorstep for the more dazzling promise of the cities, is dramatically portrayed by Joan Bennett in "She Wanted a Millionaire.” which screens on Tuesday night only. The star attraction on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, with a matinee on Thursday afternoon, will be “Shanghai Express,” which stars the alluring Marlene Dietrich and Clive Brook, and a number of well-known actors and actresses. KILBIRNIE KINEMA A British film of outstanding merit is “77 Park Lane,” the intriguing mysteryromance at the Kilbirnie Kinema. In this unusual production the leading parts are taken by beautiful Betty Stockfield and Denis Neilsen-Terry. In addition, there is a particularly attractive supporting bill. GRAND, PETONE A detective mystery story that is something right out of the ordinary is “Charlie Chan’s Chance.’' a Fox production, which tells of further adventures of that celebrated Chinese detective of fiction, Charlie Chan. The leading vole is taken by Warner Olatid, and H. B. Warner is seeh i.s a Scotland Yard inspector. Marion Nixon and Linda Watkins have the leading feminine roles. There ire gooc supports.

ROYAL ROLLER RINK v The final of the Wellington two-step competition is advertised to take place at the Royal Roller Rink this evening. Over 100 couples have competed in the three heats, and the nine finalists represent the pick of Wellington’s skaters. In connection with the judging of the contest, the public are to be asked to select the champion couple, while a special prize is to be awarded to the couple selected by the judge. Mrs. Galbraith, New Zealand’s champion woman skater, who so delighted spectators and skaters alike two weeks ago with her dazzling exhibition, is also billed in a novel and spectacular exhibition. PALACE, PETONE Heading the mew bill at the Palace Thea ie, Petone, is “The Easiest Wny, in which Constance Bennett is seen aa a beautiful girl who throws conventions to the winds in order to satisfy her longing for jewels and beautiful clothes. Robert Montgomery, Adolphe Menjou. Anita Page, and Clarke Gable support the star. In addition there will be a specially selected programme of entertaining short features. PRINCE EDWARD, WOBURN Bicycles are to be given away at Prince Edward Theatre, Woburn, matinee this afternoon, when Harold Lloyd vrill be seen in “Feet First.” To-night “The Cheat, starring Tallulah Bankhead, will be shown. This film is recognised as one of the finest screen performances of this popular actress. “The Easiest W a Y* / ea " turing Constance Bennett, is the feature for Tuesday, and on Thursday, Josephine Dudd will be starred in “Sob Sister. INSTRUMENTAL TRIO An interesting programme will be given by the well-known Maunder-Barton-Eyre trio at Nimmo’s Hall next Wednesday at 8 p.m. Trios by Beethoven and Arensky will be given, and a cello sonata (Beethoven). The trio will be assisted bv Mrs. Majorie Bennie (vocalist) and Miss Gertrude Johnston (pianist). JUVENILE ENTERTAINMENT Patrons of the popular Sunday night entertainments at the R>tz will be given a special treat to-morrow evening ln J‘? e fo-_ of a special juvenile night The nr .mime will be opened by Eric Sharp, who will give “The Hungarian Rhapsody” as a violin solo. Other performers will be Dell Sandlants. song. The Ouaker Girl”; Jackie Rhuban. song. “The Recruit”; Phyllis Andrews, song. “When Y’our Hair has Turned to Silver”; and Wallace and Maizie Ryan. duet. "Lady Be Good.” WAYSIDE CABARET The Wayside Cabaret, Trentham. announces the grand final of the big Monte Carlo dance. The “Pennsylvanians" provide excellent music. I