ATTRACTIONS IN THE THEATRES

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 88, 7 January 1933, Page 4

ATTRACTIONS IN THE THEATRES

British Productions Predominate CURRENT PROGRAMMES UNDER REVIEW There will be British productions screening at five picture • theatres during the coming week, and at another the star and thestory are British. At the Grand Opera House England’s most distinguished actress will conclude her season to-night. London’s most popular revue star continues to draw crowded houses at the Regent, where she is appearing in a gloom-dispelling comedy-romance. The attraction at the St. James is an hilarious farce that is said to be one of the funniest ever released from an Elstree studio. Two excellent British features, an Edgar Wallace thriller an amusing comedy-romance, are at the Paramount. A further adventure of the greatest detective of fiction is a't the De- Luxe, and filling the screen at the Majestic is a delightful musical-romance. The Dominion’s reviews of current programmes are given below.

REGENT THEATRE “Looking on the Bright Side” Gracie Fields, who is almost as populates a film star as she is as a stage artist, has been drawing such crowded houses at the Regent Theatre that the season of her latest gloom-dispelling British release. “Looking on the Bright Side,” has had to be extended, and the film has now entered the second week of its run. “Looking on the Bright Side” is an ideal production for the star, for it gives her plenty of scope to be both humorous and serious. She is excellent in any mood. As for her voice—well, everyone who has heard her records and radio broadcasts knows how entertaining her Lancashire accent can be. “Looking on the Bright Side” is one of the most entertaining films ever sent out from a British studio. 'The dialogue is clever, the music exceptionally tuneful, and the settings most unique. Miss Fields is the dominant figure in the show, and she makes the most of all the scenes in which she appears. The theme song is “Looking on the Bright Side,” a cheery number that should prove popular. Other songs are “He’s Dead, but He Won’t Lie Down.” and “After To-night We Say Good-bye.” Miss Fields has the able support of Julian Rose, the well-known Jewish comedian. Also on the programme will be an English and an Australian newsreel, a cartoon, Don Bradman in “How I Play Cricket,” and Frank Hurley’s “Jewel of the Pacific.” “Ltjcky Girl,” which screens at the De Luxe Theatre, Lower Hutt, this afternoon. to-night, and Monday night, is a British “comedy of errors.” The star of this hilarious farce is Gene Gerrard, who has the able assistance of that popular comedian, Gus McNaughton, and of Molly Lamontl On Tuesday and Wednesday, the feature will be “Mystery Ranch,” a most entertaining release, with the everpopular George O’Brien in the leading role. A new aerial comedy sensation is "Sky Devils," which has an all-star cast headed by Spencer Tracy, Ann Dvorak, ■William Boyd, and George Cooper. Excellent supporting bills will be screened with all programmes. ST. JAMES THEATRE “His Wife’s Mother” “His Wife’s Mother,” a hilarious succession to “My Wife’s Family,” formed the feature subject iu the new programme introduced at St. James Theatre yesterday, and fairly rocked a large audience with laughter last night. The star of this wholesome English comedy is Gus McNaughton, and he is excellently, supported in the merry-making by Jimmy GoddeE Molly Lamont, and Jack Hobbs. The story tells of a man who, in order to convince his mother-in-law that he has not been treading the primrose path of dalliance. impersonates a non-existent double, aided and abetted by his valet, who in turn takes the characters of a peppery old colonel, a German crook, and an American detective. The fun is fast and furious throughout, and it was good to hear the spontaneous laughter which rang through the theatre last night. The supporting films included a most interesting close-up of Jimmy Mollison and his wife (Amy Johnson), in a special aviation film, a I’athe super-pictorial, an. English gazette, and n nature study, dealing with the rearing of pheasants. KILBIRNIE KINEMA A special children’s matinee, at which the star feature will be “Fighting Caravans.” with Gary Cooper in the leading roll', will lie held this afternoon at the Kilbirnie Kinema. The picture for the evening session will lie "Life Goes On,” a -most entertaining British mystery romance which stars Hugh Wakefield and Elsie Randolph. The supports nre excellent. KING GEORGE, LOWER HUTT One of the season’s most glamorous romances is “Bird of Paradise,” which will be screened at the King George Theatre to-day and to-night, and Monday and Tuesday nights. Dolores Del Rio and Joel McCrae are the stars of this story of the love of an American youth and itn island girl. “Pagan Lndy,” with Evelyn Brent, and . Charles . Beckford will he screened on Wednesday. Thursday and Friday. PRINCE EDWARD, WOBURN

“Sky Bride,” an unusually entertaining film with an aerinl background, will be screened at the Prince Edward Theatre to-day and to-night. Richard, Jack Oakie and Robert Coogan are the stars. On Tuesday will be screened “The Woman in Room 13.” n gripping drama starring the beautiful Elissa Randi. “Might Work.” an up-to-the-minute story, will be screened on Thursday night. The supports are good.

DE LUXE THEATRE “Sherlock Holmes” Almost, everyone is familiar with the figure of Moriarty, the notorious criminal who was responsible for the greatest episode in the career of Sherlock Holmes, the marvellous detective created by Conan Doyle. An adventure on modern lines with the arch criminal is staged at the De Luxe Theatre this week, and' Clive Brook gives a masterly display of the powers of deduction on the part of the great detective. Moriarty, while under sentence of death, succeeds in escaping from the condemned cell, and plans a scheme in which Sherlock Holmes is to kill his Scotland Yard friend and rival, nnd is to hang for his murder. Holmes is about to he married when he is dragged into the case with his friend, Dr. Watson, and it brings into operation his utmost ability to thwart the evil aims of Moriarty. American racketeering methods are introduced, a bank robbery is carried through almost to the point Of success when —well, the ingenious countering of Holmes brings Moriarty to the end of his criminal career. It is one of the best of the Sherlock Holmes series yet produced. There are three news reels, a travlogue. and “Behind the Switch,” a survey of Sydney’s great electrical undertaking. MAJESTIC THEATRE “Love on the Spot” At the Majestic Theatre the current programme is one which can be heartily recommended to picturegoers. It was shown for the first time yesterday, and both the main film and the shorter supporting ones are of first-class quality. Programmes, indeed, are rarely so uniformly entertaining as this week's bill at the Majestic. The feature film, “Love on the Spot,” is best described, perhaps, as light and airy, amusing and unusual. It is adapted from "Sapper’s” clever story, “Three of a Kind.” and the director, Graham Cutts, has made an excellent job of it. The cast is a fine all-star one, headed by Richard Dolman and Rosemary Ames, who are not only an attractivelooking pair, but singers of distinction. Everyone in the cast speaks pleasant English, and as light, humorous entertainment, “Love on the Spot” is superb. The supporting subjects include an interesting Pathe variety film, a “Vagabond Adventure” film with the setting in Paris, a light lint uproarious comedy, nnd a firstclass “Mickey Mouse” Cartoon. ARTCRAFT THEATRE Screening at. the Artcraft Theatre is “Back Street.” the notable film version of Fannie Hurst’s celebrated novel of the same name. The stars of this great film are Irene Dunne and John Boles, both of whom give remarkable and true-to-life performances. “Back Street” is a show that holds the interest from start to finish. There is a good supporting bill of short features. GRAND,PETONE A highly amusing satire on Hie movie business in Hollywood is “Once in a Lifetime.” which heads the new bill at the Grand Theatre, Petone. “Once in a Lifetime” contains a wealth of witty sayin"s and is easily one of the most entertaining films of the season. Heading the brilliant cast is Jack Oakie. Sidney Fox. Louise Fazenda, and Zasu Pitts. PALACE, PETONE An attraction of outstanding merit is screening at the Palace Theatre. Petone. It is “Man About Town.” which features that handsome actor Warner Baxter. “Man About Town” is a cleverly conceived story of diplomacy and intrigue, and is one that holds the interest from start to finish. In the supporting cast nre Karen Morley, Lillian Bond, nnd Conwav Tearle. There are good supports. YOUNG AUSTRALIANS There is no doubt that the people of New Zealand have taken into their hearts the boys of the Young Australia League now touring New Zealand. From every town where they have visited comes the same report of' their excellent bearing and behaviour 'and Hie remarkable performance given by them in their concerts. The object of the trip is “Education by Travel,” and the present tour of the Dominion is part of this general scheme. .In order that their expenses may be paid they give entertainments, ami the reports of the newspapers from Auckland to New Plymouth speak in the highest terms of Hie concerts. In every case it is stated the performances given would be excellent from adult professional performers, but for boys ranging in years from S to 15. the results obtained are remarkable. Variety is the keynote of the programme, and the audience is kept on tip-toes all the time.

PARAMOUNT THEATRE “Lord Babs”; ,“White Face”, British pictures are well to the fore this week at the Paramount Theatre, where there are being screened two ot the most entertaining releases seen for many a day. These films, both British Dominions productions, are perfectly produced and are of the type that have done so much to make Britain famous in the movie world. The first, one is “Lord Babs,” a delightful comedy that contains all the essentials necessary for genuine entertainment. The story is excellent, the acting of the highest order, end the dialogue really clever. The star is Bobby Howes, a comedian of no mean ability, and the story concerns his unwilling engagement to the daughter of a pork-pie king. How he manages to set himself free and marry the girl of bis heart is told in a breezy manner that calls for much laughter from the audience. The show is excellently mounted, and is brimful of catchy melodies. The number, “Babies on Parade,” is both novel and spectacular and nothing funnier can possibly be imagined than the scene in which the hero is called upon to impersonate a year-old baby. 'The other picture is “White Face,” an Edgar Wallaee mystery thriller. Since it is a mystery story, it is not fair to divulge the plot. Suflice to say that it is Edgar Wallace at his best. The leading roles are taken by Norman McKinuel, as a police inspector, and Gordon Harker, who excels in the role of a Cockney crook. Altogether, the programme is something that is right above the average, ami that should not be missed by anyone. WORLD-CRUISE LECTURE His varied experiences in the course of a cruise round the world in his 57-ton ketch, tlie Monsuuen, are t 0 be the subject of an address to be given in the Britannia Theatre at 8.15 on Sunday evening by Captain Knud Andersen. Captain Andersen is a Danish writer of sea stories, and his works have been translated into English. His travels have provided him with material in plenty for his writings and addresses, and his experiences on the present cruise of the Monsuuen are expected to be full of interest.