ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 190, 10 May 1935, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

State Theatre to Present “Broadway Bill”

Robert Riskin, who wrote "Lady lor a Day” and "It Happened One Night,” and Frank Capra have constructed "Broadway. Bill,” which opens at the State Theatre tp-dpy, along similar lines. The superb acting abilities of Warner Baxter and Myrna Loy are employed in a serids of highly humorous episodes which, while furthering the plot of the story, provide an evening of entertainment which will be remembered by screen fans for years to come. Dan Brooks, son-in-law of J. L. Higgins, who controls Higginsville, doesn't care for industry, although his future is financially rosy as general manager of the Higgins’ Paper Box Plant, lie likes horse-raeing, though the family sneers at him—all except the young unmarried sister-in-law, Alice. Finally, Dan asserts his rights and announces lie is le.aying. taking his horse. “Broadway Bill,” with him. After a stormy sesrsioti. he agrees to return to the box plant if his horse loses. With Whitey, a coloured stableman, he goes to the track. He has no. money, but talks a farmer into the use of £ burn near the track. Dan meets Colnoial Pettigrew, a race track figure, already in pawn to a boardinghouse keeper who is trying to marry him. When "Broadway Bill” plays up at the barrier in his first race, Dan surmises the horse is lonesome for bis pal, “Skeeter,” a rooster. Alice arrives with the rooster and stays with the boys in the barn. She is in love with Dan and won't go homo until after the race. Dan, Alice, Whitey, and the Colonel manage to raise enough money to enter "Bill” in the big race, If the horse loses, Dan must return to Higginsville—the Colonel must marry the boarding-house keeper—and Alice knows she will loose Dau. "Broadway Bill” must win. “Broadway Bill” is etitered at 100 to one. In New York, a millionaire, for a lark, bets two dollars on hint. The word spreads and the odds quickly back down to 10 to one. A gambler, who is backing his horse to win, is delighted, for as the qdds drop on "Broadway Bill, those on his horse lengthen. When they have risen to 20 to one, he means to bet the bankroll. But "Broadway Bill’’ is attached for a feed bill, and Dan is arrested for lighting. The gambler bails out Dan. pays the feed bill, and the race is on. “Broadway Bill” wins the race, but after crossing the line, drops dead of heart disease.

“Beyond Bengal” Opening at Regent Theatre To-day

The ace of all jungle pictures has come to the screen. Seeing is believing, and if you want to convince yourself go to the Regent Theatre, where “Beyond Bengal opens to-day and be prepared for the biggest adventure—thrills o£ your litetime. Within the past year there have been many synthetic jungle pictures, wita much “staged” material that never saw the jungle, and still many of them have proved popular with screen audiences because they were entertainment. “Beyond Bengal” is entertainment- —plus. _ It has all the thrills minus the fakes. It is actual drama, actually photographed in the jungle. Of that there ean be no matter of doubt. You see a heard of wild elephants running amok, thundering down upon the cameraman, devastating everything in their wake; you see a ton of python wrapping itself about its victim, and the camera proves it was taken in the jungle, you see a band of dare-devil natives battling with crocodiles in the treacherous Boya River —the crocodiles pursuing and grabbing the natives swimming for their lives—and dragging them underneath the water —and you see the mangled natives getting first aid after being rescued. The authenticity of these scenes is beyond question; and the stark drama supplied by the native boy and girl whose romance developed while the expedition culminates in the crocodile episode with the girl battling by the side of her lover to ward off the deadly amphibians. “Jamboree” Film. To what magnitude the boy scout and girl guide movements have grown can only be retalised when one witnesses the Coinmonwealth Government’s official film ot the Jamboree held in Victoria, where a world’s record attendance of boys and girls, representing many nations, assembled to pav tribute to their chiefs, Lord mid Lady Baden Powell. This film, which is being screened at the Regent Theatre commencing to-day, makes an intensely interesting thirty minutes’ subject. Every phrase of this remarkable demonstration is shown. At afternoon sessions only Miss Phyllis Oliver's dancing revels will appear on the stage.

“Sequoia” for the De Luxe Theatre

Secrete of the wild things of the great American forests and animal scenes never before witnessed by human beings are now to be seen on the screen in “Sequoia” (pronounced “See-quo-yah"), Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer's startling and “different” picture, which will open to-day at the De Luxe Theatre. Struggles to the death between male deer during the mating moon, the unceasing warfare of mountain lions and other wild animals have been captured by the camera after one of themost unusual series of expeditions in the history of motion pictures. For months in the spring and summer, until heavy snows blocked the roads and trails. M-G-M's little band of adventurers penetrated t.he great mountain wilderness of the west. With camera and sound track they went into governmental game preserves where the sound of a gun is never heard, and where .wild life exists as in the days when the white men first came across the prairies. Day after day and night after night they lay in wait beside game trails and water holes, little bylittle recording in scene and sound, the life-and-deatli adventures of the animals. The result is a thrilling and breath-taking record of life in (lie American wilderness. Jean Parker, one of M-G-M’s youngest and most sparkling players, and Russell Hardin, who scored on the New York stage before achieving outstanding notice in pictures, have the principal roles, although the centre of interest is held by the animals. Others in the cast are Samuel S. Hinds. Paul Hurst, Ben Hall, Willie Fung and Hurry Lowe. Jr. Based on the novel. "Malibu,” by Vance Joseph Hoyt, the unusual picture was filmed under the direction of Chester M. Franklin. There is a special supporting programme including u Laurel and Hardy eomedv. “Oliver the Eighth, n coloured Fitzpatrick travel talk, cartoon and gazette. Joseph Knowsley will present on the stage Btiby Witte in a dunce fantasy '-The Dream Dance.”

Grace Moore in “A Lady s Morals” Grace Moore, the latest importation from grand opera to the talking picture field, has not only brought a great voice and a charming personality to the screen, but has given talkie fans an entirely new type of entertainment. In her first .Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture. "A Lady 6

Morals,” which comes to the St. James Theatre to-day, she brings to life again one of the greatest celebrities in the art of song, Jenny Lind. It is a vivid, romantic drama of the love of a great singer and the tragedy underlying it. Woven into the tale are beautiful songs, sung as essential dramatic details in the plot. The music ranges, from original compositions such as a simple love song to the great operatic numbers in which Jenny Lind ’ triumphed during her brilliant career. Miss Moore brings to the screen a vivid new personality,as well as one of the most glorious voices in the world. In the music, woven into the drama ns an integral part, she not only sings the grand opera arias in which Jenny Lind herself triumphed, but also love ballads and simple folksongs. It is difficult to tell wherein she is the most artistic—in the coloratura numbers from "Norma” and “Daughter of the. Regiment.” or in one of the lovely romantic ballads, sueli as> “It. is Destiny,” written by the noted Viennese .composer. Oscar Strauss, and Clifford Grey. A singer, just reaching the height of her fame; a lover who. learning that he is to go. blind, dates not love her longer: triumphs m opera, and tragedy under the tinsel and glitter of fanie—these are the elements O£ “A Lady’s Morals.”

“Lives of a Bengal Lancer” at Majestic Theatre

Excitement and variety are present in such satisfactory quantities in “The Lives of a Bengal Lancer” that it is small , wonder that the Majestic Theatre is still running this picture. With the grey mountains of the Indian frontier as its background, tire patterned romance of India tor its colour, the life of the 41st Regiment of the Bengal Lancers for its story, this remarkable picture is Kipling’s India alive again for the youth of to-day. Two officers. McGregor (Gary Cooper). EorSythe (Franchot Tone), become inrolvel in trouble when they champion the cause of young Stone (Richard Cromwell), who has just been sent out from Sandhurst, adn is the son of the Colonel Of the Regiment (Sir Guy Standing). In the complete change of supports the theatre presents a classic review of the King's reignCommencing to-morrow there will be a special school holiday attraction each afternoon “Kiddie Follies,” a talented juvenile revue produced by Jean Horne. “Iron Duke” Draws Capacity Houses Whether the famous Duke of Wellington was at all like the whimsical, humorous, sharp-tongued, emotional and altogether lovable portrait presented by George Arliss in *’3?he Iron Duke ’ or not. all will concede that the, picture has a stirring magnificence all its own. The film is drawing capacity houses at the Blaza Theatre. Its picturesque pageantry of the vital events of 1815 sustains the popularity, endorses the genius, and is in accord with the high plaue ou which history has placed him. The narrative commences when Napoleon is a prisoner at Elba. Wellington attends the conference at Vienna to decide what action shall be taken in regard to b rance when the meet* ing is interrupted by news that Jsapoleon has escaped, and is back again in France, assembling an army. It is time for action. It is Wellington to whom the Allies look for a plan to meet the new crisis. Ho orders Louis XI 111 to leave Paris for Ghent, and selects Brussels as bis headquarters. There he meets the Duchess of Richmond., and the rather emotional Lady Frances Webster. The historic ball, given by the Duchess on the eve of Waterloo, is a magnificent spectacle.

“There’s Always To-morrow” For New Opera House

With two of the outstanding players on. to-day’s screen together with, what Hollywood has termed “the season’s perfect cast,” the most distinguished drama of'American family life of the year, Ursula Parrott’s “There's Always To-mor-row,” will open at the New Opera House to-day. It features Frank Morgan and Binnie Barnes, bringing the fascinating second wife of “Private *xife of Henry V1I1” to the screen in her first American film. In addition to Mr. Morgan and Miss Barnes, the cast includes Lois Wilson. as the wife, Louise Latimer. Universal’s latest importation from Broadway, Elizabeth Young, who won distinction with Garbo in “Queen Christina.” Robert Taylor, Alan Hale, Maurice Murphy. Dick Winslow. Helen Parrish, ami the noted New York comedienne. Margaret Hamilton. The picture is one of the most wholesome of the year, deriving its sparkling. Buoyant , humour from the counter play in a typical American homo. “There's Always, To-morrow is at. times humorous in its situations and semi-tragic at others.

“Are You a Mason?” For the King’s Theatre

The hilarious British adaptation of the well known (stage play, “Are You a Mason?” has been transferred from the St. James Theatre to the King’s Theatre, where it commences to-day. The ceremony of adni'itting .a new member to a Masonic lodge is a long and dignified pro-ceeding-—and before members ean be admitted certain tests have, to be undergone, it is understood. But nothing like the tests fsonuie Hale and J. Robertson Hare go through. Davy Burnaby, the popular star, plays the role of John Halton, & man whose one, consuming ambition is to become a Mason. -Messrs. Hale and Hare have no idea what genuine masonic tests are like, so they decide to make Halton run all the way from the suburbs to Trafalgar .Square, counting every step Im takes 1 This occupies most of the film as far as Halton is concerned, but matters are so complicated when he returns that he is abruptly told to go and drown himself—which he tries to do. believing this to be another test! Luckily there was not enough water in the lily pond to the job thoroughly—or Messrs. Hale and Hare might have had their worries added to considerably. An excellent programme is in support.

Paramount Theatre to Screen “The Broken Rosary”

“The Broken Rosary.” an Empire production which comes to the Paramount to-day. is notable for the screen debut of. Derek Oldham, the famous stage and radio star. This artist lias a big role which gives the opportunity to sing several famous ballads, including Gounod’s “Ave Maria." which inspired the whole picture, “Sally in Our Alley," Goring Thomas's “Summer Night’’ and Ivor Novello's charming “Bless You." Others in the cast are Jean Adrienne. Ronald ward and Vesta Victoria. Jean Adrienne, feminine star of “The Broken Rosary.’ made her London debut as principal girl in the Garrick Theatre pantomime “Dick Whittington,” and was hailed as a real "discovery” by the critics, who united in chorus to praise her singing, her dancing and her “Madonna face." Other successes followed.

Double Attraction at Rex Theatre

Warren William heads a large and wellbalanced cast and one of unusual strength in the Warner Bros, picture, “Upper World,” which comes to the Rex Theatre to-day. He shares honours with two leading ladies, Mary Astor and Ginger Rogers, the former taking the part of his wife, and the latter portraying his sweetheart. “Dark Hazard." the First National picture, with Edward G. Robinson in the stellar role, is the additional attraction.