ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 98, 19 January 1933, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE “Horse Feathers,” featuring the Four Marx Brothers at their best, is now at the Regent Theatre. A topical film which is a?6O screening, gives closeup views of the second cricket Test match between Australia and England at Melbourne and a Paramount News and an Australian Cinesound give interesting peeps at world happenings. “Movie Crazy.” Harold Lloyd’s new picture, “Movie Crazy,” which comes to the Regent Theatre to-morrow, is stated to contain more laughs than any picture he has yet- acted in. Eight minutes of laugh-producing incidents have been roled into one “faction” of “Movie Crazy,” according to reports of the picture at different previews. Previous to the magician’s coat sequence in “Movie Crazy,” which sets the new laugh-making figures, Lloyd rated his greatest series of continuous laughter, the football scenes aud the basted suit episodes in “College Days.” In “Movie Crazy,” one gag rolls into another, and to the satisfied amazement of Lloyd, neither dialogue nor music is heard in the entire ballroom situation, .which runs virtually the length of an entire reel. There are three, among the numerous laugh factious in “Movie Crazy” which stand out in relief, and it is going to be difficult to find any two persons who will agree as to which is the funniest. Constance Gumming’s heads n supporting cast, that is of exceptional excellence. Her role is an exacting one, and she lives up to its every requirement. The second male lead is in the competent hands of Kenneth Thompson, and Louise Glosser Hale shares honours with stellar comedian in the most hilarious of the many hilarious sequences. Lloyd has had a notable career. When his father was injured in a motorcar collision, the family decided to use the insurance money to give Harold a start in a theatrical career. They all moved to San Deigo, California, and Harold, while attending high school, joined a stock company and performed the duties of an assistant histrionics instructor in a small dramatic school. When the family moved to Hollywood, he got small jobs in films, in the various studios. His first big job was with Hal Roach comedy-making company. Next came “Willie Work’ ’and '“Lonesome Lake” comedies in which he was starred. Later he changed his make-up into the well-known spectacles trade-mark which he has used ever since, and began the climb to fame via full-length comedies which he produced himself. • ST. JAMES THEATRE. “His Wife’s Mother,” which is in its second week at the .St. James Iheatre, is stated to be even funnier than the popular “My Wife’s. Family. The star of this really brilliant British Intelnational Pictures comedy is Gus McNaughton, and he is supported by Jimmy Godden, Molly Lamont, and Jack Hobbs. “A Bill of Divorcement. A film that everyone should enjoy is “A Bill of Divercement,' the RKO Radio picture starring John Barrymore, which will commence a season lit the St. James Theatre to-morrow. Primarily superb entertainment with brilliant performances by Barrymore, Billie Burke, and Katharine Hepburn, this film also is one which raises questions one carries out of the theatre vO think and talk about at home. A shellshocked English veteran returns to his lime after a long stay in the hospital He finds there is little place for him in the world that had. sent him away wit.i flags flying. His wife has divorced him and is preparing to marry another man. His daughter knows him only as a man. His friends have only memories of him; no hands to help in trying readjustment. There are situations in the play that will strike a responsive note in the thoughts of those who have watched a first love die. Making her return to the screen. Miss Burke reveals the glamour and charm which made her a toast of the public. Commenting on the picture the Now York “Herald-Tribune” said: “A Bill of Divorcement” is now on. display in a sensitive aud effective motion picture version. Faithfully, adapted by the firm-makers, produced with taste and mteligence. and admirably acted by John Barrymore. Katherine Hepburn, and Billie Burke, it provides a . poignant photograph of a well-written, intelligent, and sanely tragic stage play. MrBarrymore, showing surprising restraint, when yon remember that he is a Barrymore playing a madman, is splendid as the escaped father, providing one ot ins finest cinema characterisation. RETURN OF VAUDEVILLE. Miss Ella Shields, Mr. George Mallace and the members of Frank Neil s 1 audeville Revue Company will arrive tro.n Auckland after an extended record season on Saturday, January 28, and wi t present, under the direction of J. C. n nliamson, Limited, the sparkling musical revue “Pleasure Bound,” which has just j terminated a record tour ,of the principal I States of Australia. There is likely to be a large demand for seats when the plans are opened for the first six. days and nights of the season. Ella Shields s name became a household word in England. America, Australia, and New Zealand through her brilliant interpretation o. tho character and song. “Burlington Bertie,” but since tlie days when she first snug this number she has appeared successfully in a number of musical, playc and revues, and it. is said that in her latest songs, which she introduces m “Pleasure Bound.” she has achieved tier most noted triumphs. New Zealanders have pleasant memories of. George n ullace. It, is said that he is at his very best, in “Pleasure Bound.” Mr. Frank Neil has procured for the supports an excellent combination of singers, dancers, specialists, aerobatic performers and comedians, and a feature will be Maurice Diamond's bullet and show girls. 'I wo performances daily will be presented. The season will begin with a matinee performance on Saturday week.

DE LUXE THEATRE. Two Kentucky families a longstanding feud which is endeavoured to be patched up by the younger members, but with disastrous results, are well depicted in “The Golden West,” which will be screened finally at the De Luxe Theatre to-day. The leading roles are portrayed by George O’Brien and Janet Chandler. A film of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith’s arrival at New Plymouth is also shown. “Tess of the Storm Country.” The latest Fox production, “Tess of the .Storm Country,” will commence at the De Luxe Theatre to-morow. It features Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell in the leading roles. Statements from Hollywood to the effect that Janet Gaynor has gone in for tense dramatic action as well as romance in her latest pictures appear to be borne out with the announcement of “Tess of the Storm Country.” This Fox film version of the Grace Miller White story is said to have a wealth of exciting action and suspense along with its hectic love affair. The plot revolves around the efforts of a sailor girl and her sea-captain father to start a new life ashore only to encounter many unexpected obstacles. In the role of a sea captain’s daughter who comes to live ashore for the first time in her life, and who finds both her bravery and her tempestuous disposition severely tried by the various obstacles she meets, Miss Gaynor gives one of the best performances of her career. Farrell, as the millionaire’s son who is disowned by his irascible father because of his interest in the heroine, likewise comes through with a flawless portrayal. Alfred Santell’s fine direction and the brilliant work of a supporting cast headed by Dudley Digges, Claude Gillingwater, and June Clyde, add to the realism and entertainment qualities of this Fox Film production. Special features will be “Guardians of the Sky,” showing manoeuvres of the Royal Australian Air Force, and a picture of the second cricket Test match at Melbourne. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Their Excellencies the GovernorGeneral, Lord Bledisloe, and the Lady Blcdisloe and suite, were among the large audience present last evening at the Paramount AU-British Theatre to witness the performance of Gainsborough’s outstanding English musical comedy, “Jack’s the Boy,” which was greeted with the heartiest kind of laughter. Jack Hulbert found great favour when seen here as star comedian of ‘‘Sunshine Susie.” Now he enhances his reputation by even more admirable fooling, singing and dancing in “Jack’s the Boy,” in which he shows that a London policeman’s life may be a very happy one, Gilbert and Sullivan notwithstanding. His clever wife, Cicely Courtneidge, is seen to real advantage as the half Scottish half Cockney proprietress of the Loch Lomond Cafe, and her song is put over in the true Courtneidge manner that has endeared her to Londoners for many years. The romantic interest is well taken care of by Winifred Shotter. and the whole show moves with a swing from start to finish. The programme is one that everybody should see. “Jack’s the Boy” starts its second week to-day. GRAND OPERA HOUSE. A picture which is delighting audiences nt the Grand Opera House is “Lady and Gent.” which features that popular actor, George Bancroft, who is supported by a cast of exceptional merit. “The Mouthpiece” and “The Expert. Two pictures-which should prove highs' entertaining will be screened, at the Grand Opera House, commencing tomorrow. One is “The Mouthpiece (the criminals’ name for lawyer), starring Warren William and Sydney box. It is the inside story of a notorious lawver. William acquires the appellation of “The Mouthpiece,’’ when he gives up his usual law practice after his pro- ‘ sedition lias sent an innocent man to the electric chair. He hits the down grade and changes completely, his association with shady characters leading to the development - of a “legnl-loonhole” practice. The other picture. “The Expert,” is describeil ns a real doom chaser, and features Chick Salo. Dickie Moore and Lois Wilson. MAJESTIC THEATRE. A thrillin? mystery picture. Iho Ola Dark House.” with Boris Karloff and a strong cast*, will lie screened finally al the Majestic Theatre to-night. “The Most Dangerous Game.” Wanderers in the earths forgotten places Merian C. Cooper and Ernest L>. Schoedsack have pooled their knowledge of jungle stratagems to bring to the screen RKO Radio Pictures’ production of “The Most Dangerous Game,’ which commences screening at the Majestic The; at re to-morrow. Cooper and Schoedsack. makers of the screen classics, Grass,’ ■'Cluing.” and "Four Feathers,” have injected into this, their first studio-made film, ths same daring and primitive realism that. has made their names synonymous with colourful adventure. In an eerie setting—-a jungle island of the Caribbean—the film-makers picture the startling theme of Richard Connell s prize-winning short story, “The Most Dangerous Game.” A beautiful girl is at the mercy of a mad nobleman whose lust is to kill his fellow-men. The barbarian. who for days has entertained the girl and her sweetheart in the courtliest fashion, drives the pair into the jungle to bunt them down like beasts! About this situation revolves one of the strangest man-and-woman themes that has ever been screened, it. is said. Leslie Banks, of the London stage, portrays Count Zaroff, whose weird trophy room holds the scalps of his many victims. Robert Armstrong enacts one of the roles —a victim of Zuroff’s deadly Tartar war bow. Joe! McCrea ami Fay Wray portray the romantie pair whom the sinister man hunts in the jungle fastnesses.