ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 69, 14 December 1932, Page 13

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. “Crooner,” a First National picture, which opens at the Regent Theatre today, is a delightful comedy drama, 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 Aun Dvorak, who wifi be remembered for her excellent work in “The Crowd Roars,” ’The Strange Love of Molly Louvain,” and “Love is a Racket.” They are supported bv an unusually strong cast, which' includes such players as Ken Murray, Claire Dodd, Allen Vincent, Guy Kibbce, Sheila Terry, Edward Nugent, William Janney, Betty Gillette, J. Carroll Naish, Teddy Jovce, 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 store of the incidents m the lives of America’s most popular crooners and their struggles to win fame. The theme treats of a modest young college bay, 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. DE LUXE THEATRE. “Red Dust/’ the new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer release at thfi_De Luxe Theatre, ■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 are the interesting personalities about whom the story of 'pithless,” commencing at the De Luxe Theatre on Friday, revolves. The brilliant and thoroughly individual Miss Bankhead has a vehicle worthy of her talents in this timely drama of an heiress whose world collapses about her when the economic depression puts an end to her luxurious existence. Forced to stand on her own feet at last, the heroine follows a colourful path in search of a way out of chaos. 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 full of thrilling incidents, which are part of the life of the native race m this region of perpetual snow. The other picture is a new phase of the rum-runnmg business, the kidnapping of a girl, and her rescue after some hair-breadth escapes by a newspaper reporter. "On Our Selection.” Those who have read the novel by Steele Rudd will be awaiting with interest the screen version; “On Our Selection.” which will open a season at the Majestic Theatre on Friday. The story of the hardships and humour of the life of a family in the Australian backblocks is full of natural comedy, interspersed with touches of pathos that make for the best in screen entertainment. Phenomenal success has attended the screening of the production in Australia, for Wherever it has been shown all previous records for attendances have been broken. In Sydney the film was shown for six weeks at the Capitol Theatre, and was subsequently transferrzd to another theatre, where its success was continued. In some country towns,., special sessions commencing at 10.45 p.m. had to he arranged in order to cope with the thousands of patrons desirous of witnessing the production. This modern story of dad, mum, Dave, and all the rest of the big-hearted Australian family, characteristic of the pioneer families of the “out-back.” is indeed a triumph for Australian film production. As a stage play the story proved ■Outstandingly successful, and. the additional scope afforded by the audible screen has enhanced the humorous aspect of the entertaining theme. The gorgeous natural beauties of the Australian bush in its spring splendour have been vividly captured. No better actor than Bert Bailey could have been chosen for the principal part of “Dad.” for he had'played the character many times on the stage, as had most of the other artiste, such as Fred MacDonald, as “Dave”; Alfreda Bevan, as “Mum'’; 'Willie. Driscoll, ns ’Uncle Rudd’; and Lilias Adeson, as “Daves Girl.” All these players are Australians, and each one is said to tit perfectly into his or her pari. It may be confidently expected .that the picture will repeat , in New Zealand the success which it achieved in Australia. ! FAREWELL CONCERT TO BERNARD PAGE. This evening at the Town Hall there, will be a gathering of Wellington’s musical forces such as seldom occurs on one platform and on one occasion-yin this instance to farewell the retiring city organist. Mr. Bernard F. Page. The programme arranged is a brilliant, one. The Mayor- will give a brief address (luring the'interval, and his valedictory remarks will be supplemented by Mr. Robert Parker, C.M.G. VIOLIN RECITAL. Pupils of Mr. Eric L. Meier will present an interesting recital.of violin works in Ninimo's Hall next Saturday evening. The programme has been carefully arranged, and besides such pieces as “Gipsy Airs” (Sarasate), “Canzonetta” (d'Anibrosio), and “On Wings of Song” (Mendelssohn), will include a Haydn Quartet and a Bach duo for viola and violin. The students’ orchestra will play Schubert's “Unfinished Symphony.”

ST. JAMES THEATRE. . An intriguing study of a conflict ot temperaments is provided by “Westward Passage,” the current feature at the »t. James Theatre. Ann Harding and Lawrence Olivier provide mules and thrills. "Pajinent Deferred.” Introducing the renowned English character actor, Charles Laughton, whose success in Hollywood has been notlnuo short of sensational, “Payment Deferred., a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer attraction, will commence at the St. James Iheatre on Friday. In this astonishing story, Laughton plays the role in which he proved so superb on the stage in London, and later in New York. It is described ns an absolute dramatic masterpiece, a . thriller in every sense of the word, that is interpreted by a perfect cast, which, in addition - to Laughton, contains that very popular young Irish player, Maureen O’Sullivan, and a number of other favourites. “Payment Deferred” tells the unique story of it man who commits a perfect crime, and lives in abject terror m®st ot the time until lie is convinced that he will never be discovered.

GRAND OPERA HOUSE. Two entertaining features have been chosen by the Grand Opera House management for this week’s programme, lae first, “It’s Tough to be Famous, tells ot an American naval officer (Douglas Fairbanks, jun.), who, after he had done his duty in a wrecked submarine, suddenly find's that he has become famous. The burlesque has been cleverly done, and one cannot help gaining the impression that the inside life of an American hero has been filmed. ; burners in the Sun,” the second feature, is an old moral told in a modern setting in such a way that it completely disarms the eymc. Carole Lombard takes the part of a mannequin. „ “The Man From Yesterday. Claudette Colbert and Clive Brook are co-featured for. the first time on the screen in Paramount’s “The Man From Yesterday,” coming to the Grand Opera House on Friday next. The production is an exciting romance of the war and afterwards.

PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Bi" attendances still rule at the lavamount Theatre, where the popular picture of the hour, "Sunshine Susie, is m its last nights. The firm favourites, Rcnate Muller, Jack Hulbert, and Owen Nares, will say farewell on Thursday evening next. “Michael and Diary.’

Victor Saville, whose new methods of talking picture direction were so markedly successful in “Sunshine Susie,’ is also responsible for “Michael and Mary.” the screen reproduction of A. A. Milnes famous London stage success of 1930, which will be in its Wellington season at the Paramount Theatre at the matinee on Friday afternoon next. The English critics agree that Saville’s work in “Michael and Mary” is every bit as distinctive from that of other directors as it. Was in “Sunshine Susie.” “Michael and Mary” has been eulogised as “the finest British romance of the screen.” Beautiful Edna? Best, Herbert Marshall. Frank Lawton, D. A. Clarke-Smith, Elizabeth Allen, and every member of the cast who made the stage play such a success at the St. James Theatre, London, re-enact their original role? in the screen version.

CLEMENT MAT RECITAL. An interesting programme has been arranged by Mr. Clement May, the wellknown teacher of elocution and dramatic art, .in connection with, his sixth annual students’ recital, which will take place at the Concert Chamber. Town Hall, on Tuesday next. Dlr. May hiinr’elf will present a protean act from the work’s of Charles Dickens, among which will be the character of Scrooge the miser, from the “Christmas Carol.” This item will be given with full choral, chimes and effects in keeping with the festive season.