ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 184, 3 May 1934, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS.

STATE THEATRE. “Waltz Time,” British Gaumont’s successful screen adaptation of the Strauss operetta “Die Fledermaus,” will be screened finally at the State Theatre this afternoon and to-night. The beautiful Evelyn Laye is the star, “Friday the Thirteenth.” Many women, and some men, read a novel by commencing at the last chapter to decide whether the development of the story is worth following to its conclusion. This common habit of readers is unique in film presentations, but it is exploited cleverly in "Friday the Thirteenth,” which will open to-morrow at the State Theatre. The audience sees a late bus travelling through London streets on an evening of rain and thunderstorms. The passengers, many and of varied types, are recognised in their entrances and exits. Then comes the tragedy. A huge crane used on a new building is struck by lightning and crashes into- the street. The bus swerves suddenly to avoid disaster from above, and meets it by crashing at high speed into a crockery warehouse, to provide a sensation for next morning’s papers. Then the clock is put back, and the audience follows the day’s adventures of the passengers concerned. In the story told by this remarkable picture one follows the day’s events of a husband preparing a surprise for the wife already planning an elopement with another map, the fortunes of a big speculator who trusts delivery of an important letter to a forgetful wife, the career of a blackmailer, an exciting day in the adventures of a thief, the love affair of an impetuous chorus girl, the vamping of a simpleminded fellow who unknowingly parts with his pocketbook, and the humorous incidents of auntie and nephew who are doing the sights ot London. Jessie Matthews as the chorus girl torn between fame and love, Edmund Gwenn as the worried financier thinking he has; bought on a collapsing market, Gordon Harker as the blithering ass. Robertson Hare as a husband at the end of a dog-leash—-these are but some of the intriguing people into whose private lives the audience peeps to discover how the happenings of a fateful day end. The supporting films are said to be of a particularly entertaining -nature. ST. JAMES THEATRE. The final screenings of Ann Harding’s latest romance, "The Right to Romance," will take place nt the St. James Theatre this afternoon and to-night. The star is supported by Robert Young, Sari Maritza, and Nils Asther. “I Like It That Way.” . Gloria Stuart, the screen’s busiest leading lady, will be seen to-morrow at the St. Janies Theatre with Roger Pryor in Universal’s musical, “I Like It That Way.” The blonde beauty and acting talent of Miss Stuart are stated to have never been seen to better advantage than in this Stanley Bergerman production. Just a year and a half ago Miss Stuart was “discovered” by Carl Laemmlo, junr., on the stage of the Pasedena Community Playhouse and signed to a long-term contract. Some of her pictures sineb then include “The Old Dark House,” “Secret of the Blue Room," “The Invisible Man,” “Roman Scandals,” “The Kiss Before the Mirror” and “Beloved.” Her work in “I Like It That Way” has been highly praised wherever the film has been screened. The show is said to be one of the brightest musicals screened for many a day, the settings being both elaborate and original. One of the star scenes from the show is that depicting the famous Deauville Club at Monte Carlo. The lavish settings and brilliant lighting effects in this one scene alone cost many weeks of effort and money. Particular pains were taken by the studio to reproduce in every detail as near as possible the atmospheric and structural spirit, of a modern extravagant gambling establishment, where modern Neros come to fiddle while their money burns! From there the story swings over to a beautiful cafe floor where a bevy of dancing damsels disport themselves in an array of spectacular and bizarre costumes. Of special interest is the nudist number in this picture, which is said to be particularly daring yet beautifully done. The singing is led by Gloria Stuart as Dolly La-Verne, glamorous hostess of the establishment. The east is headed by Gloria Stuart and Roger Pryor, and features Marian Marsh, Noel Madison. Lucille Gleason. Shirley Grey, Merna Kennedy. Lois January, and a ballet of exotic young ladies. Harry Lachman, noted European director, wielded the megaphone on this picture, while Conrad, Gottler and Mitchell, famous New York song writers, wrote, the musical numbers, which include such already popular hits as ‘Miss 1934.” “Let’s Put Two and Two Together,” and “I Like It That Way.’ Also on the programme will be several entertaining short features. DE LUXE THEATRE. Mr. George Arliss, star of numerous stage and screen successes, will be seen at the De Luxe Theatre for the last time in “Voltaire” to-day and to-night. In this historical romance he has the able assistance of a. special cast headed by Doris K,enyon. Laurel and Hartly Again The ever-popular Stan Laurel and. Oliver Hardy will open at the De Luxe Theatre to-morrow in their latest comedy, “Sons of the Desert.’’ It is one of. those domestic comedies in which the two comedians find themselves in one scrape after another. They have to invent an excuse to elude their wives and get away to a lodge convention in a distant city. Many difficulties beset them, and their return home results in even more diflicultiee than their attempts to get away. On arrival, the two find that the vessel they are supposed to be re- • turning on lias sunk and that, while no passengers have been lost, they are being brought back on another boat due to arrive a day later. How they come out of this mess and the trials and tribulations that result from their attempts to extricate themselves brings the film to a climax. The programme of supporting featurettes includes a Colourtope musical revue, “Hello, Pop”; a Pete Smith sporting series, "Block and Tackle : a Fitzpatrick travel talk. Papua and Kalabahai”; and two latest Metrotone news reels. Paul T. Cullen wffi be heard in a new presentation at the Wurlitzer organ.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. Irene Dunne and Clive Brook, who have been appearing: at the in “Jf T Wore Free,” a screen version of John Van Druten’s “Behold We Live.” will be seen for the last time, this morning. this afternoon, and to-night. “Duck Soup,” Why it should be funny to sec Harpo Marx produce a pair of scissors from his belt and snip the tails oft'a respectable man’s coat, or to see Groucho Marx perform a scandalous dance before the Cab)net meeting over which he is presiding, nobody knows. The fact remains, though, that it is funny—exceedingly funny. Ihe four Marx brothers, Harpo. Groucho, Chico and Zeppo whose latest him “Duck Soup” will open to-morrow nt. the Majestic Theatre, have given to the cinema n form of humour so completely unlike anything that the stage can give or which anyone else in the cinema has given, that it defies reason and logic ami explanation. Several scenes stand out. There is. for example, the one in which Chico and Harpo. in partnership at the peanut Mall, hopelessly, outwit, and bamboozle the proprietor of a neighbouring stall: host of all. perhaps, is the one in which Harpo and Chico dress up as Groucho. Groucho himself appears, and three Grouchos chase each other round the house in which Freedonia’s war plans are concealed. Harpo sees in a frame what be thinks nt first is n huge mirror After n moment he begins to wonder whether there is a mirror there at all. and performs wonderful antics in front of it, all of which are faithfully copied by the figure on the other side, who turns out tn be Chico, similarly bewildered, on the other side of an open doorway. Finally, there are the battle scenes—the four brothers besieged in an old farmhouse and broadcasting for help.

REGENT THEATRE. “Catherine the Great,” the romantic story of Russia’s most famous empress, will be screened finally at the Regent Theatre this morning, this afternoon, and to-night. Elizabeth Bergner, Douglas Fairbanks, junr,, and Flora Robson are the stars. "A Southern Maid.” Commencing to-morrow at the Regent Theatre is “A Southern Maid,” British International Pictures’ screen version of the well-known musical-comedy, which was played in Wellington a few years ago by a J.C. Williamson company headed by Gladys Moncrieffe, Claude Fleming, Nellie Payne, and William Perrymfiu. AR who saw the show will remember the wonderful lighting effects that were such a feature of the production. The very tuneful vocal items in “A Southern Maid" were written by Harold Fraser Simson, who wrote the score of “The Maid of the Mountains.” Bebe Daniels is the star of the screen production, and she has with her in the supporting cast several players who have won popularity and even fame on the English stage. As is usual in such productions, the plot is somewhat slender, but for all that it forms the basis of an interesting story to which the many tuneful melodies with which, the picture abounds serve as incidentals. The first part of the action takes place a generation ago. when, during a fiesta in the South American city of San Georgio, a young Englishman falls in love with the winner of the local beauty competition. Through a series of colourful incidents he woos the young beauty, but he has to surmount many obstacles, principal among which is the fact that her hand has been promised to Don Fernandez, who is by way of being a most important person in the land. It is all cleverly worked out. and, although at no time is there anything particularly serious about the narrative, so logically are the comedy and musical position of affairs, and he follows the girl to San Georgio, where she is returning after a world’tour. It is not until she is being entertained, at a banquet given in honour of her return that she is apprised of the arrangement to marry her to Fernandez, and when she is told she expresses herself fluently and forcefully. Rawton urges her to elope with him, and she agrees, but Fernandez haslearned by experience, and is more difficult to circumvent. Nevertheless, Rawton is successful in smuggling her away and Fernandez is once more the disappointed lover. There is an abundance of music in the picture. In addition to Harry Welchman’s songs, Miss Daniels provides several tuneful numbers, and Nancy Brown, who created a decidedly favourable impression by her work in “The Maid of the Mountains,” also presents two excellent solos. In. addition to “A Southern Maid,” there will also be a specially selected programme of short features, and on the stage, Rene Rich, violinist, and Rex Desmond, saxophonist, will present new numbers from their extensive repertoire. The programme should prove one of the most popular ever presented at the Regent Theatre. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. "The Wandering Jew,” which has been screening at the Paramount Theatre far the past two weeks, will conclude its season there to-night. Conrad Veidt plays the Jew, and is supported by Marie Ney, Anne Grey, Joan Maude, and Peggy Ash- * croft. “Going Gay.” Special interest will attach to the first screening in New Zealand at the Paramount Theatre to-morrow of WindsorSterling’s successful film, “Going Gay.” This film recently created a furore at the ' Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne. Noting the record-making success of “Tell Me To-night,” Windsor-Sterling are making six pictures along exactly similar lines —a combination of grand opera with comedy and romance, with a background of the scenic beauties of the world, and acted by world-famous stars. The first of the six is “Going Gay.” Magda Schneider, the girl who was so popular in ‘Tell Me To-night,” a famous international operatic prima-donna, who has been classed by the London “Era” “as the finest lady singer on the screen," will be heard in gems from “La Belle Helene and “The Daughter of the Regiment. " and also in modern songs. Arthur Riseoe and Naughton Wayne, two English comedians, will supply a fund of brilliant humour. A eoterie of picked short subjects will precede the main feature,, as well as vocal and instrumental specialties by Paul T. Cullen, on the .new Wurlitzer organ.