STATE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 122, 16 February 1935, Page 14

STATE THEATRE

Double-Feature Bill The new programme submitted at the State Theatre yesterday was headed by . two feature subjects, “By Your Leave’ and “Dangerous Corner.” _ The former is a delicious comedy of a middle-aged business man who imagines that he and his dutiful wife are becoming too stodgy, and that it would do them good to go out for a few weeks, and roil among the buttercups and daisies. When put to the test, however, the vacation becomes a complete flop, and, after many highly-diverting adventures, both are thoroughly glad to resume the simple life together. Tire humour is delightful, and some very clever acting is done by Frank Morgan as the husband, and Gene Lockhart as a boon ' companion having the time of his young life. Genevieve Tobin does good work as ' the wife, and Neil Hamilton, Marion. ■ Nixon; Margaret Hamilton, and Glenn Anders help to keep the fun going merrily. The second feature subject, “Dangerous Corner,’’ is a clever adaptation of J. B. Priestley’s famous play, which had such a popular run in Loudon and New York. The play centres round the theft of bonds, and the audience is highly intrigued, only to find a simple de; nouement. Virginia Bruce and Conran Nagel take the leading roles, and are well supported by Melvyn Douglas, Betty Furness, Erin O’Brien-Moore, Henry Madeworth, lan Keith, and Doris Lloyd. . “One Night of Love.” Beautiful music, glorious grand opera numbers and delightful humour are deftly blended in Columbia’s musical comedy “One Night of Livy,” 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, ■ who has achieved sensational success on the screen, in the leading part MAJESTIC THEATRE “Belle of the ’Nineties” Having invited her audiences in her last two pictures to “come up and see me sometime,” Mae West put in a third appearance in Wellington yesterday, this time at the Majestic Theatre, where patrons accepted the invitation and turned up in full force to see the star’s latest Paramount offering, “Belle of the Nineties.” As was the case in “She Done Him Wrong” and “I’m No Angel,” Miss West plays the role of a bad girl with a good heart. She throws away romance with one hand and succeeds in catching it firmly with the other. Wonderfully dressed, with the “curving” fashions of the ’nineties as a fitting setting for her famous “hour-glass” figure, Miss West appears as a cafe singer who loves men, life, diamonds, and a little romance. She plays off one man against another in Eer own inimitable manner, and with her own original and popular dialogue. Her “wise-cracks” are asi witty as ever, and her flair for conveying a wealth of meaning by suggestion and action more pronounced than ever. There are some good musical numbers in the show, an especially effective one being a negro spiritual. The dressing and mounting is elaborate, and the supporting cast excellent. There is a remarkably good supporting bill* which includes an ar- -■ tistic coloured cartoon, “Little Dutch ’ Mill.” PLAZA THEATRE “The Camels Are Coming” Produced by Gainsborough Pictures, '.‘The Camels are Coming” began its season at the Plaza Theatre yesterday.. Jack Hulbert is the inimitable star, and as en- , tertainment the production must be classed as a farce comedy. Jack Hulbert is cast in the role of Squadron Leader Jack Campbell, and that is where the farce begins. It is a role entirely different from those of the policeman and the sailor that have made Jack Hulbert famous. Placed in charge of an Egyption Air Force . squadron on dope prevention duties, he has not been long on the job before ne discovers the sheikh who heads the caravan that he is seeking. The Bedouin, however, is far too cunning for the bland, happy-go-lucky Jack Hulbert, who promptly apologises for his mistake and takes off again. An adventure with Anita (Anna Lee) in the desert leads him, by way of many humorous situations, to the head of the smuggling organisation, but ' here again he fails to realise it, and eventually flies a cargo of contraband to Cairo, but forgets to deliver it, and forgets also the address to which it was to be delivered. An unpleasant interview with his general follows, and Jack sets out to do better this timfr, but succeeds in putting his foot into the mire pretty deeply. Anita is now sympathetic, however, and with her connivance and aid. he makes one bold bid for a success which would retrieve his previous errors. Quite the funniest sequence in the film is that- in which Jack Hulbert, doubling for the sheikh and seeking to sell his drugs to the head of the gang, is confronted with the real sheikh. Then comedy changes to grim but thrilling action.