ATTRACTIONS IN THE THEATRES

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 59, 2 December 1933, Page 4

ATTRACTIONS IN THE THEATRES

Programmes of Exceptional Merit

REVIEWS OF THE LATEST RELEASES

There can be no question as to the merit of all the picture programmes at present being offered to Wellington audiences. Each theatre is presenting a bill that should, appeal even to the most critical, and as all types of films are being shown, picturegoers should have no difficulty in choosing a show to suit their individual tastes.

At the Regent “the world’s sweetheart” returns to the screen in a beautifully-acted romance in which she has the support of a popular London star. An Australian comedy-romance, breezily acted by a cast of well-known actors and giving excellent glimpses of country life in Australia, heads the new bill at the Majestic, while screening at the St. James is an ultra-modern story of what happens behind the scenes in an up-to-the-minute salon. England’s most noted actress, supported by a cast of equally noted stars, is at the Paramount in a screen version of a famous play by Stanley Houghton. One of Hollywood’s most popular screen teams continue to please at the De Luxe in a very human romance that is brimful of laughter and tears. “The Dominion’s” reviews of the latest releases are given below.

MAJESTIC THEATRE .“Waltzing Matilda” Full of Australian slang and sturdy humour, “Waltzing .Matilda,” in which Pat Maiina -seizes the numerous opportunities to raise roars of laughter, commenced a week’s screening at the .Majestic Theatre yesterday. Comical dialogue, ridiculous situations, and an essentially funny plot, that runs parallel with a pretty romance, are combined in a story that' is told amid settings of unusual 'beauty: .Most of the action takes place on an Australian sheep station “as large as Belgium.” but by the ingenious use of the radio the audience is conveyed to urban and coastal localities so that an interesting variety of scenes is presented. Yctthe views of Australian country with rolling hills, broad creeks, and tall bluegums, under blue and white skies, are a joy. The peculiar qualities of, the Australian scene are exploited with great success. The characters, which move across the screen, are true to their background, except in the case where they make a ludicrous contrast. Pat Hanna and his friend, Joe Valli. are inhabitants of a .Melbourne boardinghouse, who, the morning after “visiting a brewery,” and getting into a scuffle with a stranger, read in a newspaper that a constable had been, seriously injured in a street fight and the detectives expect to make a prompt arrest. They take alarm when a solemn man arrives to interview them, and leave him bound up in their room while they leave with visions of a hanging on the tramp to a sheep station. whore the overseer, a wartime pal as a Scot almost as Scotch , as Harry Lauder, can give them a job. Broadcast announcements of a nationwide man hunt hasten their steps, and when they come upon a pretty girl in trouble with her car and set it going again they accept her offer of a ride with alacrity. Arrived at the station, they are given jobs as boundary riders, but they do not know that their lady acquaintance has interceded on their behalf. In fact, she has let them believe that she does not even live at the, station, although she is really the daughter of the owner. The friendship of the girl and Pat’s friend ripens into love amid the beautiful surroundings of the station, but all does not go quite smoothly. After their engagement and in fear of immediate arrest for murder Joe makes a clean breast of the affair to his fiancee who thereupon spurns him. However, the same night the two old friends are informed that it was another man of the same name that was wanted by the police for assaulting a constable, and that they themselves were really wanted so that their commendable action in knocking down the man the constable was trying to arrest, could be recognised. The man they bound up they find was really trying to tell Joe that he had been left £lO,OOO. Pat Hanna has ample opportunity for his special brand of humour when his clumsy, untidy, uncouth figure is introduced intrn the drawing-room of the homestead. A short comedy, a Graham McNamee news reel, and a gazette, which includes pictures of the inter-house girls’ display in WcllingtiXt are the supports. DE LUXE THEATRE “Tugboat Annie” So great is the popularity of “Tugboat Annie” that it is still attracting to the De Luxe Theatre, where it began its second week last evening, audiences which show no signs of diminishing, either in numbers or in enthusiasm. It is a triumph for Marie Dressier. Regarded by practically everyone as the screen’s greatest comedienne, she adds new laurels to her already heavy crown in "Tugboat Annie,” which is a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer release. Miss Dressier, who usually carries the whole picture on her capable shoulders, once more has the assistance of the popular IVallace Beery, who was her partner in that excellent film, “Min and Bill.” “Tugbo: t Annie” is somewhat similar to “Min and Bill.” but is really a greater production. Miss Dressier is seen in the role of an aggressive female tugboat captain whose husband (played by 'Wallace Beery) is a lovable but shiftless old drunkard. Their life is wrapped up in their only son, for whom the father makes an heroic sacrifice. The acting of every member of the east, which also includes Robert Young and Maureen O’Sullivan, is perfect, and the whole show is liberally besprinkled with laughs, thrills, and tense drama. One of the highlights of the picture is a rescue from a wrecked shin, one of the most exciting scenes ever filmed, nnd a collision at son. Miss Iris Mason’s items on the Wurlitzer organ are features of the entertainment. PARAMOUNT THEATRE “Hindle Wakes” With that magnificent actress, Dame Sybil Thorndike, in the role that she made famous on the stage, “Hindle Wakes,” a brilliant British Dominions’ production heads the new bill at the Paramount Theatre. Dame Sybil is one of those stars whose work is an education, and in “Hindle ’Wakes,” which really means “Hindle Holidays.” she has a part that gives her full scope to demonstrate that dramatic ability that has placed her at the topmost rang of the ladder of fame. ‘•Hindle Wakes,” which is the screen version of the well-known Stanley Houghton play, is a simple story, with Sybil are Edmund Gwenn, the noted Sybil are Edmund Gwenn, the noter character actor, Norman McKinnell. John Stuart, and Belle Chrystal. Some admirable shots of holiday time at Blackpool are shown in the film. There arc excellent supports. GRAND OPERA HOUSE “I Cover the Waterfront” The thrills and adventures which befall a reporter in search of “copy” on the waterfront of a Californian port are woven into an exciting story in “I Cover the Wjterfront,” which is now showing at the Grand Opera House. Claudette Colbert. Ben Lyon, and Ernest Torrenee are the stars. The supports, which cover a wide variety, are absorbing in . their interest.

REGENT THEATRE Mary Pickford in. “Secrets” Miss Mary Pickford’s appearance in "Secrets,” at the Regent Theatre last evening witnessed the triumphant return to the talking screen of that popular actress. The story is a thrilling one, and tile role of Mary Carlton gives Miss Pickford the opportunity of displaying all the winsome charm and sweetness which captured the world twenty years ago. Mary is the daughter of a wealthy New England shipowner, who has arranged that she shall marry an effete member of the English aristocracy, Lord Hurley, but Mary has other ideas. John Carlton, a young clerk, has won her heart. There is a gorgeous elopement, which kept the audience simply shrieking with apprehension and delight, and away they go to the golden west, where they live, and love, and fight through tears and smiles to happiness and prosperity. Carlton, not by any means without human weaknesses, battles away, until the years see him returned as Governor of the State. The story covers a period of fifty .years, and it .is wonderful what the Carltons crowd into the moving panorama of their lives. Miss Pickford wears some wonderful gowns? She is admirably supported by Mr. Leslie Howard as Carlton, C. Aubrey Smith as the shipowner, and other clever people. The programme also included a gazette, the pretty technicolour musical comedy, "Flower Garden,” and a Walt Disney eartoon. A distinct novelty in the flesh was "Ice Ballet,” performed by 18 young people, who were extraordinarily graceful and well drilled. The Regent management is to the fore in augmenting its front-of-the-house staff by employing a member of the new Corps of Commissionaires. DE LUXE, LOWER HUTT “The Midshipman,” screening at the De Luxe Theatre, Lower Hutt, this afternoon, to-night and Monday night, is one of the most popular successes to have einanated from any British studio. It concerns fiin aboard a battleship, when, the star, Jessie Matthews, takes 'charge of the junior officers on board and runs riot. Others in the cast are Fred Kerr and A. W. Bascomb. “Pleasure Cruise,” the new Fox film with Genevieve Tobin, Roland Young,. Herbert ' Mundin, and Minna Gombell, screens next Tuesday and Wednesday nights. The action takes place in a luxury liner that sets out with a' group of merrymakers. 'There is plenty of romance, laughs and entertainment. Jean iHarlow. and Clark Gable are reunited as co-stars in “Hold Your Man,” showing next Thursday and Friday nights. In it Miss Harlow plays the part of a girl who is willing to allow herself to become the lure in a “love racket” for the sake of her man. HISTORICAL PAGEANT . In response to insistent universal requests, the carnival executive has arranged to give two more performances of the Pageant next Saturday afternoon and evening. The wonderful production was received with such enthusiasm and with so much favourable comment when presented during carnival week that public opinion demanded a return visit so that those who were unable to view this pageant of episodes of New Zealand history will now have an opportunity to do so. The pageant will probably rank as one of the most entertaining and instructive of the Carnival Week features, for it brought home to all present the marvellous changes which have transformed this land so magically in the last hundred years. 'When scenes are presented by living people in the costume of the period the impression given is a vivid nnd lasting one. - This is the case with the presentation of the various events in the carnival pageant which was produced under the supervision of Mr. Maurice Ralph. APOLLO SINGERS To-night, in the Concert Chamber, Town Hall, the final concert for the 1933 season of the Apollo Singers will be given. On this occasion the Wellington Boys’ Choir will also appear. The boys will be associated with the adults in Bach’s chorale, “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.” which has not been heard in Wellington in this form. They will 'also contribute Purcell’s “Nymphs and Shepherds.” A short cantata, new to Wellington, “The Ballad of the Golden Sun,” will be sung, with the soprano solo by Kythe Maciver, who will also render other solo items. H. Temple White will conduct both choirs, and Ernest Jenner, of Christchurch, will be the accompanist. The other assisting artists are Madame Evelyn de Mauny, Messrs. J. M. Caldwell. R. M. Porteous,. A. IL Outtrim, E. Rishworth. R. R. Orr. B. H. Mayall. and K. Strong. “THE MESSIAH” There is no question about the musical greatness of “The Messiah.” From its first performance it was realised that Handel had written under inspiration, so great was the ideal, so wonderful its complete realisation. “The Messiah” stands alone among the oratorios. The Royal Wellington Choral Fnion will perform this great work on Wednesday evening next in the Town Hall, under the conductorship of Mr. John Bishop, with Mr. Lawrence Hag.gitt at the grand organ, and a choir and orchestra of 400 performers. The following soloists have been engaged: Sonrnno. Miss Alma Clegg: contralto. Miss Glndvs Hibberd: tenor. Mr. Ed win Dennis: and baritone. Mr Russell J. Lnnrenson.