ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 74, 20 December 1933, Page 20

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. Preceded by excellent supports, the comedy, “Mama Loves Papa, a I aramount production, now features screening at the Regent Theatre, which Mary Boh),nd and Charles Ruggles, is a mucli better comedy than the title suggests. . The story has some Human sidelights that make it extremely entertaining. . Ruggles _ figures as Miller Todd, a clerk in* the furniture house of Kirkwood's, but, cursed with too acute a sense of humour, his job is not too safe. It is Jessie, his wife, minus any sense of humour, who changes the order of their existence. A specious lecturer has persuaded her that she can lift her husband to higher things by giving him a superiority complex, me whimsical humour of Charles Ruggles and the clever acting of Mary Boland provide plenty of wholesome humour. “The Hayseeds.” Cecil Kellaway, the popular J. C. Williamson comedian, has plenty of scope for humour in “Th<? Hayseeds, which comes to the Regent me* atre next Friday as the Christinas attiaction. He plays the part of Dad, and the story opens on his farm on a peaceful Sunday—a peace, incidentally, that is soon broken. Others in the cast are Slurley Dale, the principal ot the J.C.w. “Music in the Air” company; Arthur Clarke, also of the “Music in the Air company; Kenneth Brampton, and Katie Towers, as “Mum.” Surprisingly enough, John Moore appears as the bad young man of the picture. In love with Shirley Dale, he is prepared to go to any lengths to capture her from Arthur Clarke. Glowing cabled reports of the successful premiere of “The Hayseeds” at the Civic Theatre, Sydney, last Saturday, have been received in Wellington. The ’ bun one of Sydney’s leading newspapers, said : seldom has any film had a better reception, and. judging by last night s enthusiasm, is in for a long run.” Mr. Beaumont Smith, managing-director of J. C. IVilliamson Picture Corporation, who wrote and produced “The Hayseeds, has been in receipt of the warmest congratulations on all sides on the great success his production has achieved. There will also be M alt Disney’s adaptation of a famous fairy story, J “The Pied Piper of ’ Hamelin, which in his hands takes on new signifi eance as a Silly Symphony. A special. attraction during the afternoons w ill be “The Sleeping Beauty, with 30 chil dren in the cast. The director is Mis. Victor Lloyd and the ballets will be pro* duced by Mrs. Alec Wilson.

ST. JAMES THEATRE. “The Blind Adventure” is at the bt. James Theatre. Its merits are many, and are to be found in the actnio production, photography- and story ; and considered collectively there is only om verdict for the finished Product as entertainment: it is a most enthrall! = ■show with, in fact, not one apparent >“*' nerfection. However, as far as the stoiy is concerned, the adventure is certainly blind. The whole picture is much fuller, of action than most, and it. hastne supreme quality of being feasible in spite of everything.

“Kiss Me Again.” Set against a glamorous background, and with the action taking place in Paris, “Kiss Me Again,” which is coinni., fo the St. James Theatre, is thronge with "orjreous girls. Iherc flic dozens o • . diers and officers iti gold lace and. bri - liant reds and blues—and all is taken ni natural colours. . Kiss Me A„a begins in the Maison Cecile, a ■- ■ fashion salon of Paris. p ? tr0 l ulb „ ed 1 ;.-J ladies of fashion and gay boulci ardiers, and presided over bv the magnificent Madame. Cecile hers*. - . The rendezvous is most interesting, because of in a fluttering and radiant butterfly of lan., who sews for the Madame ahd makes love on the side clandestinely to laul de St,.Cyr—fierce and mustachioed ancient general —who has arranged for 1 aul s marriage to his daughter Marie. Mane, sent by papa to the Maison Cecile to get her trousseau, has been meeting one Rene as slyly as her fiancee meets Ffi. Papa descends on the establishment .to find out why Paul spends so milch tune there, and discovers that his son is to elope that night with the bewitching Fifi. In -rage the- old Irian goes to, 11/ apartment ta-pay lier pff. .She refuses the cheque until the general convinces her that Paul’s career would be ruined by marriage to her. When Patil comes later —she explains that she has been making a dupe of him. As he leaves, ill dejection she fears up the cheque. Both I AD' Rene go with the army to Algeria. Fifi s great ambition had been the stage, and she now’ manages to get to Italy, and wins renown. Paul’s father, not knowing who she really is, invites her to a ball given in honour of his son’s return from Africa. It is not necessary to tell more. The story, always living, gay. wistful, more than once strikes the really tragic note. The interest never flags, but grows in intensity to the last fade-out.

STATE THEATRE. The British-Gaumont film version of Mr. J. B. Priestley’s “The Good Companions,” which has sold aireacy to . its 30th edition, and is well into its threehundredth thousand copy sales will be the opening attraction to the State Theatre, the first screening being on Boxing Night. It deals with ten: chief characters, six of them a concert party of the type more or less unknown in New Zealand, who tour the small towns of-England entertaining the multitude and considering a summer engagement at a seaside-resort pier the height of fame. Of the remaining four, is au American banjoist on his fourth trip round the world, working his way by joining any concert party ready to accept his services. The remaining three are a strange assortment of rebels —-a Yorkshire carpenter, a Cambridge graduate and a doctor’s spinster daughter—all of whom had rebelled against prosaic and conventional life and gone “out into the blue’.’ in search of adventure without caring, where or how tlfey were to go. Fate brings these ten people together, and they join into “The Good Companions concert party, sharing one another’s joys, sorrows, successes and failures. J. B. Priestley wrote a wonderful book when he gave the world these characters and their actions, and Victor Saville, who directed the picture for Gaumont-British, performed a marvellous feat when he brought them to life, showing with many brilliant touches their trials, tribulations and eventual achievements. There flashes on the screen the glorious English countryside; the dismal railway stations; the, numerous concert party platforms with their somewhat pathetic tinny pianos; the ever-jostling pageantry of insignificant faces. There is a big thrill winch combines with a heart-throb on the night when “The Good Companions” have their hopes of success —and the theatre in whicli they are playing—smashed by a gang employed by a rival theatre owner. The climax of this scene is when the theatre is set on fire, a panic-stricken audience flees for safety, and the firemen turn their powerful hoses on the gang to force them from the theatre. DE LUXE THEATRE.

Sigmund Romberg’s tuneful operetta, “The Desert Song,” has been presented tn talkjng picture form by 'Warner Bros., and its success in this city easily equalled that of the stage production. And now, with the vogue for musical shows, and as a result of many re<|liests. ’1 he Desert Song” has’been revived. is being screened at the De i.uxe Theatre, There are eevera\ places where /the screen production excels the stage one.. So much'more can be shown on the screen, and “The Desert Song” is one of those pictures that are very spectacular and need big sets. _ “The Solitaire Man.”

Screen followers of Herbert Marshall may have their greatest treat when they witness his - performance in “The Solitaire Man,” .Metrb-GoklwymMnyer’s sensational drama of life among Continental crooks written by Bella and Samuel Spcwack, which opens on Friday next at the De Luxe Theatre. Marshall even surpasses his brilliant portrayal of “Trouble in Paradise” in the new picture, in which he plays a’war veteran driven to superthievery by financial reverses. The restraint anil suave charm that Have established him as one of the screen’s most popular leading men are distinguishing qualities of his new role. In addition to Marshall’s performance, a notable supporting east contributes 'much to the picture. Elizabeth Allan, in the feminine lead, is given the greatest dramatic role of her screen career so far. She is more sweating than ever before. In addition,

there is a specially selected supporting programme, including a musical revue, “Beer and Pretzels,” also Charlie Chases comedy riot, “Arabian Tights.” MAJESTIC THEATRE. “Shanghai Madness,” which is screening at the Majestic Theatre, depicts the wanderings of a young man who has been discharged from the U.S. Navy for having destroyed a Chinese Communist fort.without orders. Attempts to secure work on ships are fruitless. a» his disgrace has preceded him. While tramping the streets of Shanghai he encounters an unruly mob and is able to resque ,a charming girl, .a. yjsitor; .from America, who has veiitutell into, the .native quarter. From ail outcast' he is retrieved from complete, ruin by the young girl whom he had befriended The leading role is taken by Spencer .Tracy, . “Paddy the Next Best Tiling.’’' Janet Gaynor and Warner Baxter are to be seen in their newest film on Friday when "Paddy the Next Best Thing” the latest from the studios of Fox Film, opens at the Majestic Theatre. _ The two stars were last seen together in "Daddy Long Legs,” and their success _ was so great that they were again assigned to complement each other. Her thirteenth characterisation for Fox, “Paddy,” the madcap Irish Lass, offers Janet Gaynor something absolutely new. Paddy’s greatest asset is at the same time her worst liability.' For she possesses the uncanny faculty of enslaving the affection ot those with whom she conies into contact. It is an asset because it smooths the rough spots of life —a liability because it makes her an utter stranger to discipline. Miss Gaynor has what, is reported as her strongest role to.date, .For in addition to her well-known ; wist fulness she is here required to display her newly-found spirit. Bhe is a rogue—and she is irresistibly charming. As the man who brings her down to earth and convinces her of his love, Warner Baxter is said to be in ms most popular ' element.. He is suave, handsome and the gentlest of lovers. The cast that Fox Films has gathered around its two stars is one of the most notable ever seen, on the screen. . It has AX'alter Connolly, star of the Broadway stage, . Harvey Stephens, Margaret Lindsay, Mary McCormic. Joseph M. Kerrigan, Fiske O’Hara. Claire McDowell, Merle Tottenham. Roger Imhof and Trevor •Bland. The locale of the film, directed by Harrv Lachman, is the rugged coast of Ireland. The screen play from Gertrude Page’s novel was written by Edwin Burke, who is also responsible for the dialogue direction. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. The popularity of the clever facial comedian, George Gee., increases with each successive screening of the farcecomedy. “Cleaning Up,” at the Paramount Theatre. Betty Astell and Dave Burnaby are each a tower of strength to the star in the very funny comedy scenes which abound in the play. “Cleaning Up is preceded by the striking picture entitled “Daughters of To-day.” The last two nights are announced. “Yes. Mr. Brown.” The famous Jack Buchanan, the musical comedy idol of London, and the only English artist who is just as popular on tlic other side of the Atlantic. wi(l be seen for the first time in Wellington at the Paramount Theatre on Friday next, and will be the special attraction for Christmas. The merry musical will open at the matinee on Friday next, and will be shown twice daily throughout Christmas week, including two performances on Christmas Day. The success of Jack Buchanan in "Y'es, Mr. Brown, throughout England. Ireland, Scotland, Canada, and Australia is known to all followers of talking pictures. Its popularity seems to be unbounded. The critics and the public agree that Buchanan has never previously been seen in a picture which gave full scope to his remarkable versatility as singer, dancer, and actor. Every talent he possesses gets its chance in “Yes. Mr. Brown.” He sings. If You Would Learn to Live,” “Leave a Little for Me,” and “Yes, Mr. Brown.” written by the composer of the popular ‘ Sunshine Susie” numbers,, while his Staircase Dance, .with Miss Elsie Randolph, is regarded as an epic in its way, and Ins double dunce, without u rehearsal, done on the spur of the moment with Vera Pearce is voted by the London ’Era to be “the smartest and funniest thing of its kind yet seen oh the stage.or on the screen.” The cast supporting Jack Buchanan includes Margot Grahame, Elsie Randolph, Hartley Power. Vera Venrcc, Oeorjce Rklscwcll, (Jlifford I-losi-llierley, David Baine, Anna Lee, Muriel George, Sain Lee, and a very, large ensemble. “Yes. Mr. Brown, will be preceded by especially selected all-British short subjects. GRAND QI’ERA HOUSE. A romantic drama.. “The Girl in 419, with’James Dunn. Gloria Stuart, and David Manners in Hie leading roles, is the current attraction at the Grand Opera House.