ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 121, 15 February 1935, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

Regent.—“Grandad Rudd.” De Luxe. —"Lest We Forget.” Majestic.—“Bello of the ’Nineties.’ St. James.—“ The Barretts of Wimpole Street.” Plaza.—“ The Camels Are Coming. King’s.—“ Gabriel Over the White House ’ and “The Chief.” _ Paramount. —“Housewife” and “Havana ■Widows.” State.—“By Your Leave” .and “Dangerous Corner.' Grand Opera House.—TnJkie Tests and "We’re Rien Again.” Australian Film, ‘Grandad Rudd’ at the Regent Theatre Another of the typically Australian comedies wlTich have proved so popular in Wellington in the recent past will be seen here to-day. Bert Bailey, grand old man of the Australian stage and screen, brings the famous character of ‘Grandad Rudd” and his equally famous family to the Regent Theatre to-day. Prosperous now, with troubles and hardships things of the past, the Rudd favourites, with an increase in the family, are even twice as funny as in “On Our Selection,” in their new Cinesound comedy. “Grandad Rudd.” “Grandad” doesn’t do any hard work these days, all he does is’keep a tight rein on the family purse and make a “darn" nuisance of himself to everybody who is trying to do a bit of work about the place. “Cripes, ain’t he a beaut,” roars Dave, when the old man, feeling-that he has been too generous in promising Lil that he would raise Dave’s salnjy from £3 to £3/10/-, goes straight to Dave and puts the rent up ten bob a week. "These are times for sacrifice." lie points out to the disgusted Dave. ‘-Didn’t I give up £5OOO, a seat in Parliament, and a gold pass?” "Yes,” roars Dave, “by five hundred and sixty votes.” And so the laughs go on. with “Grandad” setting the pace and always having the last say. He organises a Rudd cricket team to play the Regans, under “Rudd Rules,” and once again the Rudds win. but not before you’ll have rolled off your seat laughing. Of course, “Grandad" made the winning hit the ball goes down a well, and when the old chap couldn't run any more they brought out a wheelbarrow and wheeled him up and down the pitch. Honestly, vou’ll scream. But no more than you will when “Mr. Rudd and party” visit the local school, and “Grandad” asks the youngsters questions he couldn t answer himself. Nqr when the new tractor bolts; dashing through barns, upsetting liny carts, careering through wheat paddocks, and generally converting the Rudd farm into a ri<-t. In addition to Bert Bailey, the big cast includes such old favourites as Fred MacDonald (Dave), George Lloyd, John D’Arcy. Les Warton and charming Elaine Hamill, winner of the recent ‘‘Women’s Weekly” Cinesound screen quest. “Lest We Forget” Showing at the De Luxe Theatre , Introducing wiiat is stated to be the screen’s artistic triumph of IJA>, the first New Zealand screening of tin picture “Lest We Forget” will take place ■it the De Luxe Theatre to-day. O«‘in<r perhaps to its strictly British sentiment it has captured London audiences in a manner which suggests a deep appreciation of its theme. Dealing with a longawaited gathering of three war veterans 16 years after the Armistice, it would appear to offer little change from productions of its type which have preceded, it, but its skilful handling as a psychological study of the reactions of men who have braved war and a similarly hazardous peace places if on a distinctly higher leve than its predecessors. As the men tell of their experiences since they parted in 1918 a pretty romance of the younger generation begins to bud. The cast is headed by Stewart Rome. “Gabriel Over the White House” and Comedy at the King’s Stirring!v enacted, brilliantly conceived and directed, and telling a story which probes the minds of millions of people, “Gabriel Over the White House,” starring Walter Huston, Karen Morley and I'nniehot Tone, coinmemcs tins afternoon at the King's Thenlre. On the same programme is another Metro-Gohl-wvii-Mayer picture. “The Chief,” featuring I'M Wynn, Dorothy Maekaill, Chick Sale and Nut Pendleton.

Comedy and a J. B. Priestley Play at the State Theatre To the State Theatre comes a most promising double feature programme, to begin.'to-day. It consists of first, the film version of one of last year’s Broadway stage hits, a gay, saucy comedy, “By Your Leave.” Frank Morgan, Genevieve Tobin, Neil Hamilton, and Marion Nixon head the cast. The supporting feature is a film version of the clever play, “Dangerous Corner,” by J. B. Priestley, author of “The Good Companions.” Conrad Nagel and Virginia Bruce have the principal parts. “One Night of Love.” Beautiful music, glorious grand opera numbers, and delightful humour are deftly blended in Columbia's musical comedy, "One Night of Love,” which will begin a season at the State Theatre on Friday next. The film had a sensational run in Australia, and is even now drawing record audiences at Auckland. With its wonderful singing, its charming story and the finished acting of all its principals, the film is one of the most entertaining seen for some time, with Grace Moore the star. Double Feature Programme at the Paramount Theatre “Housewife,” the Warner Bros picture which comes to the Paramount Theatre to-day, is _ a dynamic love drama spiced with hilarious comedy, and with an especial appeal to women inasmuch as it shows how a wife inspires her husband to success. It has an unusually strong and well-balanced cast with George Brent, Bette'Davis and Ann Dvorak forming the triangle in a unique domestic entanglement and John Halliday crashing in to complicate matters as the lover of the neglected wife. Ruth Donnelly and Hobart Cavanaugh supply the comedy. The additional feature is “Havana Widows,”’ starring Joan Bloudell, Glenda Farrell and Guy Kibbee, “The Camels Are Coming,” Comedy at Plaza Theatre Jack Hulbert's comedies are always refreshingly different, but one does seek a full measure of farcical misadventure and rollicking cheerfulness from any picture provided by the Gau-mont-British Picture Corporation as a vehicle for the delicious, high-spirited fooling of this excellent comedian. In “The Camels are Coming” one finds just such a cup of happiness, full to overflowing. The film will be at the Plaza Theatre to-morrow. This time. Jack Hulbert is a happy-go-lucky airman, attached to an arm of the Egyptian Air Force, who brings a gang of dope smugglers to heel. There ave dozens of such highspots of comedy, in which Mr. Hulbert receives valuable supporting work from Anna Lee, charming blonde publicist to a cigarette manufacturer (Harold Huth), and from Hartley Power in the guise of an archaeologist, but really the head of a dope smuggling gang. All in the excellent cast, however, participate in the boisterous action in which a camel corps, aeroplanes, caravans, and a terrific “fight” in a desert fort are prominent features. ‘The Barretts of Wimpole Street’ Continued at St. James In face of the remarkable enthusiasm that all audiences have shown toward the film version of the famous historical play, “Barretts of Wimpole Street.” during its past two weeks’ run at the St. James Theatre, and despite the fact that the change intended for to-day was no less a film than “Cleopatra,” the management apparently have had no option but to continue the “Barretts” for another week. Many theatregoers will welcome the further opportunity of seeing “The Barretts of Wimpole Street.” Following faithfully the dialogue of the piny, the picture, which tells the story of life in the house of the Barretts of Wimpole Street, has for its stars Norma Shearer (Elizabeth Barrett), Fredric March (Robert Browning), Charles Laughton (Edward Moulton-Barrett), and Maureen O'Sullivan (Henrietta). Cecil B. de Hille’s “Cleopatra” will begin next Friday. Mae West Featured in Film at the Majestic Theatre In her third slurring Paramount film. "Helle of (ho ’Nineties,” Mae West returns to the period which first skyrodset-

ed her. to fame —the Gay ’Nineties. The film, with Roger Pryor. John Maek Brown and John Miljan as the “tall dark and handsomes.” will begin at the Majestic Theatre to-day. Mae West strides through an adventurous loveaction story which has as its background two of tbe most colourful cities of that period—New Orleans, La., and St. Louis, Mo. She is east as Ruby Carter, the centre of a whirlpool of action that brings tier down the river from a St. Louis burlesque show to one of the most famous gaming houses 'in the South. Around Mae West resounds all the gaiety of song and music of the period. Talkie Tests and Comedy at Grand Opera House Entertainment of a novel character is being given in the Grand Otfera House. In his New Zealand-wide searili for talkie types to group in a coined)’ talkie to be produced in this country, ’ the noted trainer of many famous film stars. Dr. A. L. Lewis, of Hollywood, reviews the aspirants. “We’re Rich Again,” a bright musical comedy with a large cast of screen favourites, is the other feature. The programme concludes to-night.