ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 251, 20 July 1934, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. “Red Wagon," British International 'Pictures’ mighty £BO,OOO picturisatiou of Lady Eleanor Smith’s epic of the circus, is coming to the Regent Theatre today. "Red Wagon” , claims , the great open spaces for its background, and the gay-hearted, hard-boned sons and daughters of the circus and the gypsy encampment for its intimate revelations of half ■primitive passions. From this welter of interest, there emerges the central story of Joe Prince, born of the circus and orphaned in his infancy, who by years of struggle and resolution at last reached what he believed to be his life's ambition. He became the owner of the circus. But what life gave to him with the right hand it snatched away ruthlessly with the left. He broke the most rigid of circus conventions and married the gypsy girl Shdba. The years of hardship and self-denial he had endured for the .circus were nothing to the months of heart-break which marred bis love life wjth Sheba, and then when she left him for her gypsy lover, taking with her his dwindling “nest egg.” the circus seemed to come to an end. He had headed emptyhanded for the empty road again, when something reminded him of an urge even greater than his . love for the sawdust ring: the liberty horses, the elephants, the clowns, the fun of the Big Top. There ■was Zara, the woman who tamed tigers. (He had loved her once and they might have been happy... Perhaps he had been to blame. Perhaps lie had cheated her and fate had c’heated back. So new and more tender hopes began to possess him: he must goback and take up the broken threads of less sober years. With Zara he did it: together they built again . . . •the circus . . . Prince’s Circus . . came back to the dusty road and verdant field of old England. And then he knew that his greatest ambition had still to be realised. Joo Prince and Zara could build •a circus, but who could carry on after they’d gone? Zara, lovely lithe Zara who tamed tigers, subdued the rebellion in the heart of Joe Prince. She gave him a new philosophy. . ■ MAJESTIC THEATRE. Real comedy and real mimic—that ie the exceptional lure offered by the Majestic Theatre to-day, where Paramount’s' spectacular. musical film, “Sitting Pretty," je playing. From the opening to The final crash the picture is jammed with comedy, music and beautiful girls. You see the inside of the song writing business and find out how Hollywood makes its musical films in many intimate scenes behind the screen. The locale is Hollywood, and the characters are songwriters, stars,, producers and others Jack Oakie, Jack Haley and Ginger Rogers arrive in Hollywood. The boys want to be song-writers, and Ginger wants to appear in pictures. In the maddest melee ever conceived by a Hollywood scenario writer the boys do get a chance when Thelma Todd, a star, hires them. American ibdio stars such as the Pickens Sisters, Arthur Jarrett and 'Virginia Sale do the big song hits that were written for this picture: “Many Moons Ago,” “Did You Ever Sec a Dream Walking,” “You’re Such a Comfort to Me,” and “Good Morning Glory.” This sensational musical film was produced by Charles. R. Rogers and directed by Harry Joe Brown. The amazing musical routines were the work, of Larry Ceballos. It is said to beat all other musical films in grandeur, beauty and colour—not to mention the comedy. This evening the Majestic State Preservation band of 12 performers will make their debut.' STATE THEATRE. "What do you know of your own coun-,, try!” That is a question that can be asked of countless persons in the Dominion, and it is a question that in maiiy instances receives a most unsatisfactory and discouraging answer. In order to allow all New Zealanders the opportunity of learning something of the romantic history of the'country and of seeing the beauty spots and tourist resorts for which it is so famous, Filmcraft, Ltd., - a New Zealand company, with the co-operation of the Government ■ Tourist and Publicity Department, hae produced a tyonderful film, entitled “Romantic New Zealand,” which presents on the screen a never-to-be-forgotten succession of glimpses .of native life, scenie gems, bird life and historical scenes, and which will begin its second week at the State Theatre ' to-day. ■ The picture opens with the arrival of the first Maoris in their historic canoes. The • Natives and their customs are the subject of a fair proportion of the picture. Commencing with the thermal region of the North! Island, the outstanding tourist attractions of all parts of the country are covered from many angles. In the hot lakes district and around Rotorua the cameraman has let few matters of interest escape him, and the might of the great glaciers of the Southern .Alps is graphically' shown. . ' DE LUXE THEATRE. An amusingly told tale of woman’s emancipation’in this modern day and age is unfolded in “Uncertain Lady.” Universal’s romantic and witty comedydrama, which is adapted from the London stage success, “The Behaviour of Mrs. Crane,” and which begins itei season at the De Luxe Theatre to-day. Genevieve Tobin portrays, the fascinating role of a modern wife who is a business woman first, while Edward Everett Horton supplies a barrage of laughs with his comic capers, so familiar to picturegoers. “Uncertain Lady” is a “new deal” for American wives who wonder where their wandering hubbies are at night. There have been pictures that depict women who place pleasure before business, but there is one who reverses the formula successfully. Miss Tobin and Horton are ideal running mates in this film, with a large supporting cast of players, including Paul Cavanagh, Renee Gaad, Mary Nash; Dorothy Peterson, George Meeker, Donald Reed, and many other popular names. After turning out such smartly sophisticated drama as "Ladies Must Love, Universal again scores with this film of delightful and candid situations, bringing a note of freshness in the treatment of an age-old problem. There is also an excellent programme of supporting Featurettes, and Mr. Paul T. Cullen will be heard at the Wurlitzer in a new bracket of numbers. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. “A splendid picturing of one of the finest stories given to the talking screen. No other book ever written by Edgar Wallace can compare with his ‘The Man Who Changed His Name.” It is splendidly plotted ; it is true drama —not melodramatic exaggeration,” is what the “London Daily Mail” wrote of the film, which is the main attraction on the British Dominion’s programme, which will begin its first Wellington season at the Paramount Theatre to-day. Unlike most Wailace. stories the play is not a shocker, but “a slice from life replete with dramatic moments and brilliant comedy relief.” The cast is a particularly strong one, and the acting is said to be of exceptional quality. Lyn Harding is credited with a performance of the title role that once seen is not likely to be forgotten, and Betty Stockfeld, the girl with the beautiful speaking voice, is described ns appearing to particular advantage as the heroine in the piece, while the polished villain of the play is Leslie Perrin. The film is from the British Lion stndios, and it is in that firm’s best manner in respect to scenery and mounting. There will be special added attractions. Mr. Paul T. Cullen will preside at the Wurlitzer organ. GRAND OPERA HOUSE. Tough, as tough as hickory, is “The Bowery.” the United Artists’ picture which transfers to -the Grand Opera TTrtxco tn-dnv. It represents in glowing.

House to-oay. it represents .in mwwi.s. pulsating feverish action, that vivid neighbourhood up-town in New Toidi, which thirty or forty yea.rs ago was tne livest mile in the world.” Two leaders of contending gangs and rival volunteer fire brigades were Chuck Connors (Wallace Beery) and Steve Brodie (George Raft), wlio hated one another. Yet living on the liquor racket and up to everything illegal, they were good fellows enough in a way. Chuck’s big heart comes out in the way he looks after that alluring guttersnipe. Swipes McGurk (Jackie Cooper), and warns pretty Duey Calhound. (Fay Wray), from the slippery, path.