ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 68, 13 December 1932, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. Gloria Swanson, brilliant as ever, is to be seen at the Regent Theatre in “Tonight or Never,”’her latest romance. “Crooner.” “Crooner,” a First National picture, which opens at the Regent Theatre tomorrow, is it delightful comedy chama, based on the lives and loves of popular entertainers at the glamorous night clubs. David Manners," the polished player who had the leading role opposite Kay Francis in "Man Wanted,” and the juvenile lead in "Stranger in Town,” has the title role being co-featured with Ann Dvorak, who will be remembered for her excel ent work in “The Crowd Roars, "The Strange Love of Molly Louvain, and “Love is a Racket.” They are supported by an unusually strong cast, which includes .such players as Ken Murray, Ulaire Dodd, Allen Vincent, Guy Kibbee, Sheila Terry, Edward Nugent, William Janney, Betty Gillette, J. Carroll Naish, 'led'b' Joyce. William Ricciardi, and William Halligan. The . screen play by Charles Kenyon, is based on the story by Rian James, the popular author who wrote “Love is a Racket” and other successful picture productions. It is a composite story of the incidents in the lives ot America’s most popular crooners and their struggles to win fame, lhe theme treats of a modest young college boy, who has made” such a success with his band in the university that he takes all the players with him in an effort to ’break in” on Broadway. They find that they are entirely outclassed by the professionals and are about to give up when a drunken night club patron hands the band leader a megaphone to sing through. The novelty catches the popular fancy and the band wins fame over night. Success goes to the college youths’ head and his sweetheart, who tries in vain to make him keep his feet on the ground. From a rather likeable youth he turns into a snob who acquires society aspirations and ’high hats” the world and his sweetheart. He lias a rude awakening, however, when his egotism causes him to lose popular favour, anil with it his job. A lively underlying romance, witli both the crooner and liis publicity promoter being in love with the same girl, affords genuine tugs at the heart-strings. Manners and Miss Dvorak both give brilliant performances, while Ken Murray, long famous as 11 radio entertainer, proves even more effective on the screen than the air. Claire Dodd rolls a pair of dangerous eyes as the society vamp, while Guy Kibbee is inimitable as the jovial drunk. f >

MAJESTIC THEATRE. A wonderful story of Eskimo life in the Frozen North of Alaska is told in the story “Igloo,”' at the Majestic Theatre. It is something right off the beaten track, full of thrilling incidents, whirl; are part of the life of the native race in this region of perpetual snow. Chee-ak, a full-blooded Eskimo is the hero of the picture. It is a triumph for Universal Films. All the performers are natives of the country. The other picture is a new phase of the rum-running business, the kidnapping of a her rescue after some hair-breadth escapes by a newspaper reporter, “On Our Selection.” With Bert Bailey as “Dad” and an all-Australiun cast, “On Oru Selection will open nt the Majestic Theatre on Friday. All the amusing incidents in the play have been eapttured in the film version of the story.

RED CROSS GATHERING. Awards to Red" Cross Society students who have gained proficiency tit the instructional classes held under the auspices of the society during the year, will be distributed nt lhe ’Lown Hall this evoninHColonel the Hon. W. E. Collins C.M.G., M L.C.. will preside, and ussociated witli him will be lhe Mayoress (Mrs. T. C. A. Hislop). Lady Luke. C.8.E., G - Shirtcliffe. and Miss S. Nathan. M.B.E.

CONCERT FOR AMBULANCE. Pupils of Mrs. Isabel Halligan. VI’CL will give a concert in aid of the Wellington Free Ambulance in lhe Concert Chamber this- evening. Many ol the elocutionists taking part gained honours in the recent Trinity College examinations. and a varied programme has been arranged.

PARAMOUNT THEATRE. The very successful three weeks season —a most unusual happening for a picture in these times—of Gainsborough s "Sunshine Susie” will terminate on Thursday evening. AU who have not yet enjoved the charm of Renate Muller, the humour of Jack Hulbert, and th? sound acting of Owen Nares and Morris Harvey should make a point of doing so within the next three days.

“Michael and Mary.” Yet another big Gainsborough offering will come to the All-British theatre, lieginning at the matinee on Friday next. The new attraction. “Michael and Mary, is from the pen of the famous British playwright, A. A. Milne. In stage form it had a phenomenally successful run ot six months at the historic St. James Theatre, Loudon. It was the outstanding hit of the 1930 season. For Gainsborough’s screen reproduction every member of the original stage cast was gathered together, with the result that [he Brisbane “Courier” refers to the acting “as the finest ever seen on the screen ;n this city.” Beautiful Edna Best, her distinguished husband. Herbert Marshal,, Frank Lawton of “Young Woodley. D. A. Clarke-Smith and Elizabeth Allen, all recreate for the screen their original roles. Victor Saville, the director of “Sunshine Susie.” is also responsible for “Michael and Mary.” GRAND OPERA HOUSE. Two entertaining features have been chosen bv the Grand Opera House management for this week’s programme, lae first “It’s Tough to the Famous, tells ot an American naval officer (Douglas Fairbanks, jun.), who, after he had done Ins duty in a wrecked submarine, suddenly finds that he has become famous. He is taken in hand by a manager, and is fully exploited. The burlesque has been cleverly done, and one cannot help gaining tlie impression that the inside life of an American hero has been filmed. "Sinners in the Sun,” the second feature, is an old moral told in a modern setting in such a way that it completely disarms the cyme. Carole Lombard takes the pirt of a mannequin, whose ambition is to possess the clothes that she wears. ■ DE LUXE THEATRE. “Red Dust,” the new’ Metro-Goldwyn-Maver release at Luxe Thea.tre, fully lives up to anything that has been written about it. The film has its action in and around a tropical rubber plantation. the leading characters being a planter, a notorious woman whose reputation will not bear scrutiny, an engineer and his wife. The acting is excellent. “Faithless.” Tallulah Bankhead and Robert Montgomery. make their first appearance together as co-stars of “Faithless,” a Metro-Goldwjn-Mayer film which comes to the De Luxe Theatre on Friday. It is an ultra-modern story, dealing frankly with an important problem of the hour. ST. JAMES THEATRE. An intriguing study of a conflict of temperaments is provided by “Westward Passage.” the current feature at the St. James Theatre. In “Westward Passage.” the story, starts where two people of spirit" endeavour to harmonise the state of matrimony. The outcome is a series of explosive interludes, and in the nortrayal of the respective wife and husband Ann Harding and Lawrence Olivier provide smiles and thrills. "Payment Deferred.”

Since the cinema embarked on its policy of adapting the finest stage talent to the talking screen, no actor has created so much public attention as Charles Lnughton. the noted English star, who will be seen in Metro-Goldwyu-Mayer’s remarkable drama, “Payment Deferred,” nt the St. James Theatre on Friday. Laughton, whose brilliant character studies and splendid vocal powers, have placed him in the first rank of preseutdav performers, portrays the same part in which he caused a sensation on the stage. Next Saturday morning, a snecial matinee will be given for th? children. 'The feature will be “White Engle.” a thrilling "Western attraction, starring Buck Jones.