ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 15, 12 October 1932, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. “Life Goes On,” now at the Regent Theatre, is a mystery story interspersed with romance and refreshing comedy. Apart from a brief introductory scene, the whole action takes place in a leading London hotel, and ,a fine mystery story is enacted within this compass. Hugh Wakefield, best remembered for his work as the prominent star who answered the query in the successful film “Aren’t We All, is easily the leading man in “Life Goes On. The plot is very clever, and the audience will find itself trying to sort out a murderer from the several well-groomed patrons of the hotel

“The Strange Case of Clara Deane. “The Strange Case of Clara Deane, which will open at the Regent Theatre on Friday, is poignant drama of n mother’s heroism—a mother’s courage to sacrifice her own love for her child’s happiness. It pulsates with humanity s strongest emotion—mother love. its heart-touching pathos strikes a responsive chord in any audience. As (Jara Deane, Wynne Gibson, first appears as an eager young girl, as the-story unfolds she grows older —wisery-with the pitte_rness that comes from disillusionment. At the picture’s powerful climax, she has become a careworn middle-aged woman, whose tired eye 3 tell of a frustrated life —a pathetic figure that stirs one s deepest sympathy. The story takes the audience over a span of about twenty years, and the gradual metamorphosis of the hapless Clare Deane through the years of trying circumstances is shown with all the production value, all the skill of advanced artistry in the. use.of make-up for which Paramount is famous. Married to a worthless man, on the eve of his sentence for embezzlement, she struggles valiantly during the next file years to bring happiness to the life ot their little daughter. Freed from prison, her thieving husband gets into trouble, and when finally he is caught, Clare Deane is accused and sentenced as his accomplice. Her daughter is adopted by. the detective chief of the city, who brings her up as his own. Released from prison, Clara Deane gets a j°b as a seamstress. She reads with ironic joy that her daughter is about to be married to a worthy young man. Discretion keeps her from making herself known to the young woman. Meanwhile her busband learns of the daughter's happy position in society —and threatens a blackmail campaign which will ruin the happiness of the young bride-to-be. The climax is an unusual one! Miss Dixon is supported by Pat O’Brien and Frances Dee. ST. JAMES THEATRE. Humour and humorous situations are perfectly balanced- in “The Impassive Footman,” now at St. James Theatre, but the picture has just , enough of the dramatic tone to make it definitely a drama without emphasising sordidness or clandestine love affairs. Owen Nares, who gives a sterling "performance, is one of the finest-of British actors, and Betty Stockfield has a strong role, in the feminine lead. , - “Burnt Offering.” Set. in German West Africa, and played with hundreds of natives furnishing a colourful background, and with a cast that includes some of the most popular screen personalities in Hollywood, “Burnt Offering,” Fox melodrama of the tropics, will open at the St.’ James-Theatre on Friday. Elissa Landi portrays the leading role, one that gives her ample opportunity for a display of her talents. It is said that in no previous picture has she; enjoyed "a role so well adapted to her capabilities, not excepting even “The Yellow Ticket.” The story revolves around the misadventure of a young army, officer who falls in love with the first white woman he has seen in. many months. Without investigating her past he marries her to save her from imprisonment in a detention camp. MAJESTIC THEATRE. Described as the most unusual mystery of the year, “Miss Pinkerton,” a picture based on the story by Mary Roberts Rinehart, is now at the Majestic Theatre. Joan Biondell is a nurse from a hospital who co-operates with the detective force in the solution of a murder mystery. There are one or two “spooky” incidents, and also a few touches of humour. George Brent is the forceful young leader of the detective forces and the lover of the nurse. “State’s Attorney.”

John Barrymore and Helen Twelvetrees head the cast of “State’s Attorney,!’ the RKO Radio picture coming to the Majestic Theatre on Friday. Telling a fast-moving story -which combines colourful romance with tense drama of the. criminal court-rooms, “State’s Attorney” presents Barrymore as a debonair prosecutor .who wins ■ the ladies and convicts the criminals with his dash and fire. Miss Twelvetrees plays a girl who teaches him what love really means. Starting with a police raid on a fashionable club, the action swings swiftly into a night court where Barrymore and Miss Twelvetrees, have their dramatic meeting. Murder trials, a battle in a prize ring, a secret wedding where the wrong girl gets the gold band, and a street shooting affray, all play their part in leading up to a dramatic climax in which Barrymore ; bares his soul in an impassioned plea ’ before a jury. “BACK STREET.” “Back ; Street,” which will make its premiere at the De Luxe Theatre on October 21, has a theme that is not new, but the fine acting, intelligent direetion and perfect mounting of the production puts it in the first grade. Opening in a small town..in. .the days when motorcars were just coming over the horizon, one sees the . very beautiful and bright Ray Schmidt (Irene Dunne), loved by many men, willing to have a good time with any of. them—but finishing there. Then she meets Walter Saxel (John Boles),’and there begins the story which spans a period of -25 -years, and tells of a love which lusted from the first glorious moment of their .meeting to the tragic second of death. “Back Street” is a picture superior by far to the average film: it is a splendid touching drama of a woman whom marriage would have made a woman among women. Yet true love kept her in the “back street” of a man's life while he climbed to fame. There has been no picture so faithfully produced, so splendidly acted; and so sincere in purpose as this version of Fannie' Hurst’s famous novel.' Irene Dunne gives, a superb characterisation of Ray Schmidt, while John Boles does the best work of his career as the young banker -‘who rises to wealth ’and fame. John M. Stahl, that master director of human, domestic drama, has caught the mood of Fannie Hurst’s great, novel and has made a picture which will be remembered long in the'hehrts of those who see it. LEX MACDONALD TO-NIGHT. “One of the world’s best” .was the verdict of the musical critics of Sydney when they heard Lex Macdonald sing, and subsequent hearings only confirmed them in that opinion. Others call him “the boy with the golden voice,” and it is certain that his ability is not overrated by these descriptions. He has to be heard to be appreciated. Ou the records he is good, also over the air, but, neither does him justice. Under the conditions pertaining to the concert, hall he sings at his best, and Wellingtonians will have one opportuity of hearing this wonder boy soprano in the Town Hall this evening. During the past week-end he visited Nelson, where he received a tremendous reception. The hall was filled to capacity on each of his three, appearances. Wellington has the chance to hear this talented youth tomorrow evening. Associated with him on the programme will be Ernest Jenner, solo pianist, the Harmonic Society, which is arranging the programme, a male quartet, duet, and double quartet party. Lex will appear three times during the evening, and the public will find him generous with his numbers. The concert will not be broadcast.

BOXING TOURNEY. Wellington Boys’ Institute boxing championships will commence this evepj ing in the institute gymnasium at f.4;> o'clock, concluding to-morrow _ evening. Record entries have been received, and some, good). Clean sport should be witnessed.

DE LUXE THEATRE. Described as a “whimsical absurdity, full of laughs and embellished with catchy songs,” “Lucky Girl,” starring Gene Gerrard, is now at the De Luxe Theatre. Gerrard plays the part of a young man who has just come to the throne of a pocket-handkerchief kingdom, and, finding the treasury empty, goes to London to raise some money on the crown jewels. London suggests amusement, and when the new king meets with a comrade of the war they, set out together. “What Price Hollywood.” Of its people and made by its people, Hollywood writes its own biography in “What Price Hollywood,” which brings the smart vivacity of the glamorous Constance Bennett in her latest RKO Pathe starring production, coming to the De Luxe Theatre this Friday. Miss Bennett is purported to surmount the charm and elegance she displayed in her previous film success, “Lady With a Past,” which won a host of new fans for the screen star. With a galaxy of celebrities m support, Miss Bennett unfolds the intricacies and intimacies of the inner and more notable circles of the film capital. Lowell Sherman, Neil Hamilton, Gregory Ratoff, Louise Beavers, and others aid the star to present an authentic scrutimsation ot Hollywood life. The action traverses the thoroughfare of social life coupled with a delightful tale. Malibu Beach, the Brown Derby Restaurant, glittering Hollywood Boulevard, Agua Caliente, a Chinese theatre premiere, and the princely estates of Beverly Hills partake of the film footage to enhance the story. Moreover, every phase of the talking picture making is frankly revealed.

PARAMOUNT-THEATRE. Phillips Holmes, Walter Huston, Anita Pago, Lewis Stone, and Jean Hersholt head the impressive cast of “Night Court,” which will open to-day at the Paramount Theatre. This picture offers one of the most sensational stories of political corruption ever presented on the screen. It focuses its attention upon a night court magistrate who uses his office to further his activities in the underworld. Huston plays the unscrupulous jurist who presents a respectable side to the public, but shows quite another to his nefarious associates. Holmes, is seen as a taxi driver whose home is undermined by the machinations of the crooked magistrate, but who ultimately brings the dishonest judge before his own bar of justice. Miss Page enacts the chauffeurs wife who is “framed” on a morals charge and sent to prison to seal her lips from judicial investigators.

GRAND OPERA HOUSE. “The Misleading Lady,” new Paramount thrill romance, which will open at the Grand Opera House on Friday, is said to contain every ingredient of firstclass entertainment. It has plenty of romance, plenty of robust and subtle comedy, and its moments of dramatic intensity and action. “The Misleading Lady” co-stars Edmund Lowe, who’ has a strong way with women, and Claudette Colbert, who has a silent, but equally effective way with men. Stuart Erwin, George Meeker, Selena Royle, Robert Strange and William Gargan are among those accorded conspicuous supporting parts. Stuart Walker directed. Miss Colbert lures Lowe into a proposal of marriage in order to win a wager. He retaliates by kidnapping her-and breaking her spirit with the help of chains and an escaped lunatic. Before the final scene is allowed to disclose an all s-well-and-happy solution, a reporter, two drunks with a mystery they never quite spill, an avenging lover, and two other visitors from the asylum, are involved in complications that transpire in a mountain rendezvous, far from law and order, telegraph or the railway.

“HAPPY AND GLORIOUS.” “Happy and Glorious,” which will be presented by the Margaret Rawlings Company at the Grand Opera. House this evening for a brief two nights season, is said to be a play quite different from anything else that has yet- been -seen in New. Zealand. Miss Rawlings states that she has chosen “Happy and Glorious” for her secoud Wellington production because of its intense originality, its nobleness of theme and its simplicity of character. She says that it must stnke home to anyone who thought anything of life not to let things slide. It has. a message for all, no matter what his or her creed, politics, or -beliefs might be; and yet despite it being a play of * * message” it is, as all‘ good plays must be a plav of arresting humour and interest. Although it-brings in the war, “Happy and Glorious,” strictly speaking, is not a war play like “Journey's End. It treats the war in perspective, and ends right in the present day. Coni; meucing in the stormy ‘'suffragette days of 1911, the women’s war, it leads on to the man's war of 1914-18, and culminates in the ex-service or economic war of the present day, showing that civilisation can only be saved through freedom in service with man and woman equal in life’s yoke. The idea is symbolised in the personal histories of two unknown English people, she and he, of 1911 and the Great War and after. In Miss Rawlings ns the eternal she and Mr. Barnes as the indomitable he, every person in. the audience will find an echo within himself. As a suffragette who harangues the mob from the base of the Nelson Column in Trafalgar Square in Loudon, and later as the woman help-, ing a war-wrecked man back to a realisa-’ ation of the truth of life, Miss Rawlings is said to rise to the_ greatest heights of her histrionic ability. A special feature of “Happy and Glorious” is the embodiments of the latest developments in lighting as perfected by Reinhardt in Berlin, which must be new to this country. ■ / , “Happv and Glorious” will be preceded by “Blockheads in Love,” which was written by Gabriel Toyne. and produced at the Cambridge Theatre in London last year. “The Barretts of Wimpole Street.” The final performance of this popular play will be given in the Grand Opera House .at a matinee this afternoon. THE MAROTTAS. G.illi-Curei has come, has conquered and has gone on. In the minds of many it may seem presumption to s'peak in one breath of the great Spanish-Italian artist. Galli-Curci. and the young. New ZealandItalian artist, Yvonne Marotta; yet, although the t.wo prima donnas may not be compared because of the difference m style of voice—the one being coloratura, the other lyrical—already musical critics of the old world are predicting for the latter a-career as bright, as successful, ns great as any of her predecessors. Whether Signora Marotta will live up to these predictions remains to be -seen, but oji Saturday week, at the Town Hall, Wellington will have an opportunity of .nidging for .itself. ’ A full programme of grand opera gems will be presiented.'nnd those who have heard the Signora since her return from Italv state-that her voice and style have developed almost beyond recognition.’ Not- the less interesting will be the appearance of Signor Nino Marotta, the noted grand opera basso. “The Chaliapin of Italv” was used, by a recent musical journal to describe the Signor, and indeed there are many points of comparison with the famous Russian. Assisting artists will be Mr. Richard Maunder, violinist, and Mrs. Stuart Cunningham, pianist.