ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 112, 5 February 1935, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

Paramount.—“ You Belong to Me” and “Crime Without Passion.” King's.—“ Dark Hazard.” Grand Opera House.—“ Better Times.” De Luxe.— “ Dr. Monica.” St. James.—“ The Barretts of Wimpole Street.” Regent. — “Trans-Atlantic Merry-go-Round.” Majestic.—“ The Return of the Terror.” Plaza. —“A Cup of Kindness.” State. —“Hell in the Heavens.” ‘Transatlantic Merry-go-Round’ at Regent A compound of melodrama with a full range of card-sharpers, gunmen, confidence tricksters, unfaithful women, and the modern theatre revue, ‘‘Transatlantic Merry-go-round,” screened at the Regent Theatre, is hectically exciting enough to interest anyone. Gene Raymond, Nancy Carroll, Jack Benny, Sydney Howard, Mitsi Green, Sidney Blackmer, Ralph Morgan, and Shirley Gray all do good work, while the Boston Sisters croon harmoniously, in the revue, which is marked by some extremely clever ballets. “Great Expectations.”

Almost a year of research and preparation was necessary for the production of “Great Expectations,” one of Universal’s attractions for 1935, which will be shown at the Regent Theatre shortly. Faithful replicas of the scenes and sets in the story were obtained at great cost and much trouble. The scene in the churchyard at the. opening of the story is very realistic. This set is a faithful reproduction of an old Kentish Churchyard not far from the river actually mentioned in the story. The kitchen of Mrs. Joe Gargery, the blacksmith’s wife, is another excellent reproduction of the type of kitchen then in vogue among the. class of people to which she belonged. Again, the marshes where the great tight between the two convicts takes place represents as nearly as possible those soggy, treacherous and weird places which hug the banks of the River Thames in northern Kent. Miss Haversham’s dark house, the decayed wedding cake covered with cobwebs, and the unhappy woman herself in her wedding gown, so vividly described in the book, have been reproduced in the film. Principal roles in the cast are taken by Phillips Holmes, Jane Wyatt, Florence Reed, Alan Hale, George Breakston, Francis L. Sullivan, Rafaela Ottiauo and Valerie Hobson. A Ben Travers’ Farce at the Plaza Theatre It has again fallen to Ben Travers to give us a brilliant satire, but this time it is something “different”—a brilliant skit on snobbishness in suburbia, “A. Cup of Kindness,” which is now showing at the - Plaza. Theatre. Nothing farcical is complete unless associated with the name of Travers, and nothing produced by him is complete without the names of Tom Walls, Ralph Lynn and Robertson Hare, and this .world-famed trio,-with the help of practically a new cast this time, romped through the countless piquant episodes with such verve that leaves one with very little to say about them. Tom Walls gives a memorable portrayal of a bibulous old fire-eater obsessed with the sense of his importance. His big scene is where, after a virtuous evening spent with “Tilly Winn,” he returns thoroughly sozzled to attempt reconciliation with his neighbour. Claude Hulbert is the inane brother' Tutt, and Dorothy Hyson is a really delightful Ramsbotham.

Edgar Wallace Mystery Thriller at Majestic Theatre

Thrills and chills swing the pendulum of excitement along in splendid style during the screening of “Return of the Ter- ■ ror,” which the Majestic Theatre pre- ’ sents with all the mystery and horror at- ; tendant upon and expected of an Edgar • Wallace story. The plots of this famous • master mind always contain that tanta- ' Using twist of uncertainty and suspense which gives spice to the thriller class of , story, and the picture is well able to • satisfy the most demanding of thrill • seekerg. ( “Hell in the Heavans” Showing at State Theatre i It is not often that one can say that a . film is one of thrills, adventure, comedy, ! tragedy, drama and romance, but all these attributes are contained in “Hell in the Heavens,” which is now screening at. ; the State Theatre. “Hell in the ! Heavens” may be ranked beside its ■ predecessor, “Hell’s Angels,” in point of • quality, and as a portrayal of the war i in the air and the men. who fought it. ; Nor is it any less stirring. The basis of the story is the conflict between the famous Escadrille Lafayette,.the American volunteer squadron fighting in the French Air' Force, who ‘take over from a French’ squadron that has been badly reduced by the exploits of Baron von Richthofen. Details of the plot may not be true to history, but the.general concep- ; tion is clear. On taking over, the ’ French commander makes a personal vow ’ to get the Baron, and bis Second in command, an American, Lieutenant Stewart Warner (Warner Baxter), declares that it will be his.job if the Frenchman fails. ‘The Barretts of Wimpole Street’ at St. James Audiences which have been attending the screening of “The Barretts of Wimpole Street,” at the St. James Theatre have been unstinted in their applause for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s production of this famous stage success. Following faithfully the dialogue of the play, the picture, which tells the story of life in ' the house of the Barretts of Wimpole Street, has for its stars Norma Shearer (Elisabeth Barrett), Fredric March (Robert Browning), Charles Laughton (Edward Moulton-Barrett), and Maureen O’Sullivan (Henrietta). Double Feature Programme at Paramount Theatre Patrons of the Paramount Theatre this week will be entertained by two excellent films. The new offering is, firstly, “Crime Without Passion,” and, secondly, “You Belong to Me.” The first film tells the story of a man who, having committed an extraordinary murder, is defeated by justice and his own diabolical cleverness. Intense and most dramatic is “You Belong to Me.” Moreover, the star is Lee Tracy, and he has with him Helen Mack, .talented emotional actress. There is also on the programme a series of good news shots and Miss Iris Mason at the organ. Coining Attraction. Two big special attractions are billed for screening commencing on Friday at the Paromunt Theatre. They will be Victor McLaglen’s greatest triumph, “Wharf Angel,” a gripping romance of the San Francisco waterfront, 'and George Bancroft with a brilliant star cast appears in a delightful comedy drama romance, “Elmer and Elsie.” “Dark Hazard” Now showing at King’s Theatre “Dark Hazard," at the King’s Theatre, upholds the adage, onee a gambler, always a gambler. It dramatically tells of a tale of a gambler who, at his wife’s urging, promises to give up gambling. He is apparently successful till he gets a job at a greyhound racing track, and the fever bites him with disastrous results. The ending is unexpected. Edward G. Robinson gives a successful portrayal of Turner, while Genevieve Tobin as his wife is at her best. Glenda Farrell has a smaller role as the friend of Turner’s youth and his final guide. ’ Coming Attraction.

A lively comedy romance, “Jimmy The Gent,” starring Janes Cagney, Bette

Davis, and Alice White, commences next Friday at the King’s Theatre. The plot reveals a strange racket in which fake heirs are found to collect large unclaimed estates. Frank Neil’s Revue at Opera House “Better Times” is the title of the new revue produced at the Wellington Grand Opera House by the Frank Neil company. This bright, sparkling company, with its wealth of clever folk from overseas; its amusing comedians, who . keep the audience tittering; the brilliant flapper ballet, so even in height and build, and such gifted all-round dancers; the charming dressing and the artistic settings have added a cheerful note to life in Wellington during the last fortnight. “Better Times” is a worthy successor to its predecessors as a. tonic, but one misses the jolly choruses which caught the fancy of the public so wonderfully in the last revue. De Luxe Theatre Presents “Dr. Monica” In “Dr. Monica,” which is being shown at the De Luxe Theatre, a mother-to-be says something within the hearing of the woman doctor (Kay Francis) attending at her accorichment which tells the doctor that her own husband is the father of the child about to be born. The plot is lightened by many prettily romantic scenes, and the picture is magnificently produced. There is a varied supporting programme. Miss Uris Mason plays several numbers on the organ.