ATTRACTIONS IN THE THEATRES

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 17, 14 October 1933, Page 5

ATTRACTIONS IN THE THEATRES

Variety in Current Programmes

REVIEWS OF THE LATEST RELEASES

Entertainment being presented at the various. Wellington theatres is once more of a varied nature, and some particularly good programmes are being offered. 1 j Apopularand talented revue company will conclude its Wellington season at the Grand Opera House this evening. At the Regent there is a melodrama of the Gay Nineties, featuring a noted Broadway star. Two. of screenland s most famous comedians and a well-known singing star are at the Majestic in a film version of a tuneful comic opera. A vivid story of a wife who matches her wits with “the other woman is enacted by an all-star cast at the De Luxe, and heading the new bill at the St. James is an entertaining story of the very private affairs of a private detective. London’s most popular stage and screen comedians continue to delight audiences at the Paramount in an hilarious farce by ben Travers. “THE DOMINION’S” reviews of current programmes are given below.

REGENT THEATRE

“She Done Him Wrong”

Deliciously vulgar, brilliantly . acted, staged with a remarkable attention to detail, and tingling with romance, drama and humour, “She Done Him Wrong, the new Paramount release at the Regent Theatre, kept a large audience entertained last evening, when the blonde Mae West demonstrated to the modern world that even in the “gay ’nineties “gold diggers” existed. Mae nest is one of Broadway’s most famous ‘goodbad girl” types, and it was in this play under the title of “Diamond Lil, H iat she made her name. There is everything in “She Done Him Wrong” to commend it as excellent entertainment. It is real good old melodrama such as drew laughter and tears from theatre audiences ot the dear dead days before the war. It had its heroine, villainess, hero, and an odd villain or two, and added to that the action takes place mostly in a beer saloon in New York’s Bowery, in the nineties, when men were men and beer was full strength. Miss West is seen as Lady Lou, a singer in the saloon, with a mania for diamonds, which were supplied by her many male admirers. However, at heart she is really quite a good girl, and at one stage even sroes so far (secretly, or course), to sell some of her diamonds and buy a mission building to save it from closing down. In the ’nineties this remarkable gesture would probably have “stopped the show,” and the orchestra would have played appropriate music. However, virtue has its reward, and Lady Lou, after several adventures, ends up by marrying a detective, who had posed as a mission worker. The dialogue is clever, and at times extremely risque. Miss West, who wears some magnificent dresses of tho style of the ’nineties, is ideal In the role. Her acting is perfect, and her manner alluring. She is heard.in two numbers. “Frankie and Johnnie, Haven t Got No Peace of Mind.” The bar saloon scenes, and the sqpgs sung therein, are features of the show. The star is supgorted bv Cary Grant. Owen Moore, bilert Roland, and Noah Beery. There is an excellent bill which ineludes another of the popular “Screen Souvenirs scries. In this film, which shows pictures of by-gone days, is an old melodrama, and njso the first talking film made bv the late Thomas A. Edison in 1913. There is an excellent gazette, and a most interesting “Paramount Pictorial. An athletic novelty “Jabs and Jolts," shows boxing and wrestling demonstrations, and finally there is a first-rate Mickey Mouse cartoon. Altogether. the programme is one of the finest screened for a long time. ST. JAMES THEATRE “The Keyhole” In “The Keyhole.” a Warner Brothers’ production, which opened at the St. James Theatre last night, is presented the luxury of Park Avenue mansions, shipboard' scenes of Gaiety in tropical seas, the glamour of balmy nights . under a Cuban moon, together with glimpses ot dance-halls and attendant festivities for the purpose of v“l£oming Havana s pleas-ure-loving crowds at the height of the season. In a story which is characterised by its unusual situations and tense dramatic moments, Kay Francis and George Brent, in the principal roles, give a performance which cannot fail to have a large measure of appeal._ The plot concerns a dancer who marries a rich society man who is so jealous of her that he engages a private detective to be her shadow. The detective is ably portrayed by George Brent as a personable and charming young man about town. He does not find it difficult to be in her company, and. in fact, from the moment the two are brought face to face on the steamer bound for Havana, he rapidly falls under her spell and charm. From then on the plot takes unexpected turns and twists to a startling and surprising finish. The supports include sports thrills. “Fishing and Shooting.” a burlesque on “Grand Hotel” entitled “Nothing Ever Happens,” a descriptive film. “Dear Old London,” and a New Zealand newsreel iu which is featured the funeral of the late Mr. H. E. Holland.

PALACE, PETONE

The current attraction at the Palace Theatre, Pcone, is “For the Love of Mike,” an hilarious British comedy that keeps the audience in shrieks of laughter from start to finish. The story is just one long series of complications and piquant .situations. Heading the all-star cast are Bobbie Howes, Constance Shotter, Jimmy Godden, Hal Gordon, and Viola Tree. There are excellent supports.

DE LUXE, LOWER HUTT

“The White Sister,” screening this afternoon, to-night and finally on Monday night at the De Luxe Theatre, Lower Hutt, co-stars Helen Hayes and Clark Gable. It is the immortal story of an aristocratic Italian girl who falls in love with a soldier on the eve of her marriage to a man of her father’s choice. “Topaze,” a smart sophisticated comedy starring John Barrymore, screens next Tuesday and Wednesday nights. This picture is thoroughly amusing, with Barrymore in another perfect characterisation. A most amusing British comedy, “For the Love of Mike,’’ screens next Thursday and Friday nights, with Bobby Howes, Jimmy Godden, and Constance Shotter in the leading roles.

GRAND, PETONE

Heading an excellent bill at the Grand Theatre. Petone, is “No Man of Her Own,” as entertainig a romance as one could wish to see. The story deals with a man who always decided his fate on the throw of dice. The leading role is taken by that popular star, Clark Gable, who is seen at his host. Supporting him are Dorothy Maekaill and Carole Lombard. There is a good supporting bill.

PRINCE EDWARD, WOBURN

The current attraction at the Prince Edward Theatre, Woburn. is “Sky Devils,” one of the most entertaining aerial films ever screened in New Zealand. The stars are .Spencer Tracy and William Boyd. Commencing on Tuesday is “The Warrior's Husband.” a comedy of the last of the Amazons, where women ruled supreme. Elissn Landi and Marjorie Rombeau are the stars of the show.

MAJESTIC THEATRE

Screening of “Fra Diavolo”

The popularity of those inimitable comedians, IStan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, was made evident by the enthusiastic reception accorded their latest production, “Fra Diavolo,” at the Majestic Theatre, last evening. For a Friday the house was exceptionally large, and everyone was rewarded with the cream of entertainment. Certainly these actors’ best picture, and without a doubt among the front rank of comical films, “h ra Diavolo” is a boisterous burlesque of banditry and the piost ambitious undertaken by the pair. Several of the settings are worthy of classical production, and the singing of Dennis King and the massed voices-is enjoyable in the extreme. The story is that of two friends who turn bandits in retaliation for being robbed of their life savings just when they meant to retire. But banditry it no amateur’s sport, as they found out when one of their victims showers them with pitiful tales which reduce them both to tears. Olivero (Oliver Hardy) decides to take the place of Fra Diavolo, feared throughout Northern Italy, but when he holds up the real Diavolo the fun starts. . He is sentenced to be hanged, and Stanlio (Stan Laurel) is given the hangman’s assignment. The pair get out of that little difficulty and become the man servants of Fra Diavolo, who flirts with Lady Pamela (Thelma Todd) and steals her jewels and money. There is a hue and cry for the oandit’s scalp, and Fra Diavolo and his two servants are captured bv the soldiers and lined up to be shot. Stanlio falls into an absurd piece of luck when an opportune red handkerchief attracts a bull which scatters, the soldiers and firing so.uad in all directions. The way they escape from several other ticklish situations serves to make the picture the funniest of the Laurel and Hardy laugh epics. “Fra Diavolo is based on the comic opera written by Auber in 1830. It is excellent entertainment, and the supports are of almost equal merit. “King Kong.” Heralded as a screen sensation, “King Kong.” RKO-Radio picture., will be screened at the Majestic Theatre on Friday. Based on a weird and highly Imaginative idea conceived by Menan C. Cooper and Edgar Wallace, “King Kong” is a symbolic story of the age-old triumph of brains over brawn and of the power of beauty over the beast. The story deals with the harrowing experiences of a party of American motionpicture people who visit a strange, remote island in quest of a legendary ape god. It is their idea to find this brute Beast and make a photographic record of its reactions to Beauty—to find the dawn of man in this ape. a survival, by some weird freak, of the prehistoric ages. They not only find the ape, King Kong, but find him ruler of the island —feared by the natives, who steal Fay Wray, heroine of the adventure, to provide a sacrifice to the monster, a monster who battles and vanquishes tyrannosauri and pterodactyls. PARAMOUNT THEATRE “Thark” in Second Week “Thark,” the motion picture production of the Beu Travers farce which had such a brilliant run in London, began the second week of its successful season nt the Paramount Theatre last evening. Initareseen Tom Walls and Ralph Lynn whose combined efforts as comedians, with Mary Brough, the popular old lady of the srreen,, keep the fun fast and furious all the time. Then there is the dry humour of Robertson Hare, and the story proceeds merrily. “Thark” is a residential manor which has the reputation of being haunted, and the owner and his nephew, having sold the property, agree to spend a night in the haunted room to disprove the story. A thunderstorm lends realism to some of the weird hap- # penings of the night, in which some very mirth-provoking situations arise. Sleep of a satisfactory nature is out of the question, but finally everything is accounted for. The final, curtain rings down when lightning strikes a nearby tree, which falls on the old building and sets it on fire. The other feature is “AVith Sir Alan Cobham, to Kivu,” and shows this wonderful trip over darkest Africa in a flying boat, vast deserts and forests, and the dangerous Mountains of the Moon. The film has many jungle scenes of wild elephants, baboons, crocodiles, and some remarkable scenes of the travels following the course of the Nile and thenee over the mountains made famous in Rider Haggard's stories, bringing the adventurous trip to a successful conclusion.

GRAND OPERA HOUSE

“The Masquerader” on Monday

Having enjoyed a fortnight’s successful run at the Regent Theatre, "The Masquerader” will be transferred to the Grand Opera House on Monday. It is the story of John Chilcot, M.P., and the man who stepped into his shoes in a national crisis. Ronald Colman fills a dual role. He is the man in the Opposition who has the ability to bring about the downfall of the Government, but drugs and drink have undermined his constitution, and he collapses as he opens his attack. Chilcot prevails upon his cousin and double to take his place, and John Loader delivers n crushing condemnation of the Government, but he has failed to allow for deceiving John Chilcot's wife.

KILBIRNIE KINEMA

Commencing at the matinee this afternoon at the Kilbirnie Kinema will be "The Midshipmaiil." a most amusing British comedy, featuring the popular London actress, Jessie Matthews. The story tingles with amusing situations from start to finish. At the matinee there will be the usual cartoons, comedies and an episode of the “Jungle Mystery.” At night there will be good supports.