ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 32, 1 November 1932, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. The inside story of modern medicine is told at the Regent Theatre in Samuel Goldwyn’s screen version of “Arrowsmith.” Sinclair Lewis’s master novel, with Ronald Colman playing the leading role of the brilliant young doctor who risks his life and everything he has in tlie pursuit of scientific truth. Helen Hayes. Richard Bennett, and A. E. Anson. Myrna Loy and Alec B. Francis and Bert Roach are also in the cast. “Women Who Play.” Commencing on Friday at the Rpgent Theatre is “Women Who Play,” which is Paramount’s screen adaptation of the .well-known Frederick Lonsdale stage success, “Spring Cleaning,” the play that caused such a sensation when played in New Zealand a few years ago by Pauline Frederick, June Elvidge, and a talented company. The theme_is daring and concerns a man who, finding that his wife has surrounded herself with a circle of doubtful types of people, decides upon rather drastic action to bring her to her senses. He hires a woman of the streets to come to his wife’s dinner party, and goads her into telling the assembled guests exactly what she thinks of them and their ways. The guests are shown up in their true colours, and the wife comes to her senses. The cast for the film is a brilliant one. Mary Newcomb, star of “Frail Women,” playing the part of the street woman. It is a show that all should see. The frocking and general settings are said to be outstanding. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. With Will Rogers offering some valuable suggestions on the proper way to handle extravagant wives, “Down To Earth” is proving to be one of the most popular vehicles of his career. It is the current attraction at the Paramount Theatre. The story tells of a business man’s efforts to balance his dwindling income with his family’s increasing expenses. “After the Rain.” One daring woman, who hated all men, brought face to face with the three men who wanted her, and forced to make a desperate choice. On this powerfullydramatic theme is founded the Fox picture. “After the Rain,” which comes to the Paramount Theatre on Friday next. MAJESTIC THEATRE. “Girl Crazy” is the star current attraction at the Majestic Theatre. Bert Wheeler, Robert Woolsey and Eddie Quillan are the comedy-aces heading the imposing all-star cast in the film version of the George Gershwin musical riot. Supporting them is Mitzi Green, the screen’s inimitable child actress. SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. The programme chosen for the final concert of the Wellnigton Symphony Orchestra’s 1932 season is apt, coming within the classical category and yet popular enough in its appeal to suit the average lover of music who has no pretentions to the highbrow music. The symphony chosen for this concert is Beethoven’s No. 5 in C Minor. The sheer beauty of this great masterpiece and its magnificent orchestration should make a memorable impression. Other orchestral items will include the overture. Magic Flute (Mozart) ; Air for the G String (Bach) : Ln Boutique Pantasque (Respighi) ; Valse Triste (Sibelius) ; and Grieg’s brilliant Triumphal March Sigurd Jorsafar. This item is being repeated by special request. . Ine vocal soloist will be Christina Onnistoii, who will sing Air des Bijoux (Jewel bong) from “Faust” (Gounod).

ST. JAMES THEATRE. “Emma.” described as the crowning triumph of Marie Dressier’s great career, is now screening at the St. James Theatre. No one but Marie Dressier can provide laughter one moment, tears the next, as she does in “Emma,” the story of a faithful old servant who mothers a brood of her employer’s children. “His Royal Highness.” When “His Royal Highness” opens at St. James Theatre on Friday, patrons will have an opportunity of seeing George Wallace, whose appearance in the days of the Fuller revue was always the sign for the house to be packed out, in his first feature-length musical film. “His Royal Highness” a product of the Efftee Studios is said by those who have seen previews oftch show, to be one of the most entertaining and melodious productions of the year. George Wallace, who is the realm of low comedy, has no rival in this part of the globe, is at his best in “His Royal Highness.” Assisting him is Marshall Crosby, who was always associated with the comedian in his stage shows. Mr. Wallace is responsible for the “book,” which he wrote in conjunction with C. J. Dennis, of “Sentimental Bloke” fame, and the music is by Alaric Howitt, a young Melbourne composer with many successes to his credit both in Australia and abroad. “His Royal Highness” is a typical George Wallace farce, with the comedian figuring first as a stagehand in a Melbourne theatre, and later as the king of a mythical kingdom in Europe. In his latter capacity he finds plenty of opportunity for lively burlesque comedy, and his game of poker with members of the Royal household is a joy to witness. He also gets plenty of fun out of a scene in which he appears with his ex-l’rirae Minister both on roller skates. The film is described as one long laugh from first to last. Many artists well known on the stage in New Zealand appear in support of the comedian, notably Beryl Walkley, whose fine voice gives musictl distinction to the film, and who will be remembered for her excellent work in numerous stage shows in New Zealand. Donalda Warne, in another singing role; Lou Vernon, the well-known musieul-comedy character actor; Frank Tarrant, a handsome juvenile lead; John Dobbie, Marshall Crosby, who has always been associated with George Wallace, and others. DE LUXE THEATRE. “Brother Alfred," the new 8.1. P. farce by I’. G. Wodehouse, now screening at the De Luxe Theatre, features that popular comedian. Gene Gerrard. “Brother Alfred” tells the story of a young man, who, having assaulted n well-known personage, poses as his own brother to escape the consequences. But he discovers that the assault was regarded as a rescue, and was then powerless to claim the reward in his true identity. A romance is, of course, blended with his. adventures, and the lady in the case is played by Molly Lamont, the debutante star. "The Roar of the Dragon.” Brandishing swords, fingering ancient pistols, a band of ravaging Mongols ride out of the night into a terror-stricken town in Manchuria. Flaring torches light a scene of panic. Chinese natives sturry to shelter. A small group of whites hastily stockade a deserted Mandarin palaeo and prepare to defend themselves. Old men nnd women join a troop of children, dragging domestic animals and cherished possessions to refuge in a missionary home. The bandits, led by a vicious halfcaste, seek as their prize a beautifv.l woman, a Russian emigre who has taken shelter with the other whites in the stockade, where a rough, cynical American river-boat captain has assumed leadership. This is the intensely dramatic situation in “Roar of-the Dragon,” the new Richard Dix film coming to the De Luxe ■Theatre on Friday.