ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 217, 11 June 1935, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

Robert Colman in “Clive of India” at Regent

“Clive of India,” at (he Regent Theatre, is one —a notable one—of a series of historic plays which have flooded the English stage during the past two or three years. The screen version is an elaborate, and in places magnificent, version of the play, which features that sincere artist, Ronald Colman, in the name part. Darryl Zanuck has certainly given rein to a vivid imagination in suiting (bo stage play to the screen. The larger canvas shows Clive as a £5-a-year clerk in an office of the East India Company in India, btek of the daily grind at the desk at Port David, he welcomes the attack of the French as a chance to break free. Once in uniform Clive shows, his quality. The picture ends . with the. congratulations of the Prime Minister and King George 111. Not the least interesting scenes were those between Clive and his wife, so charmingly played by Miss Loretta Young. An incident unique and dramatic is the charge of the battle elephants at the Battle of Plassey—an astonishing scene of carnage. “I Am a Thief” at De Luxe Theatre With a lengthy cast, and a chain of complications quite as lengthy, “I am a Thief,” at the De Luxe Theatre, can be truthfully said to bo a very cunningly conceived and executed mystery melodrama. Heading the cast is Mary Astor, in the role of Odette Mauclair, secret police agent, with Riccardo Cortez, Dudley Digges and Robert Barrat as. diamond thieves operating an International system. Briefly the circumstances which lead up to the real action of the film — and there is plenty of action in it—centre around the insurance companies attempt to put an end to a mysterious but persistent series of gem thefts which involves them in the payment of claims. “The Casino Murder Case.” In Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's special attraction, "The Casino Murder Case,” which opens at the De Luxe Theatre ou Friday next, a new and entirely different Philo Vance has been presented to the screen tn S. S. Van Dine’s gripping murder mystery. The scientific gentleman who solves a most puzzling crime in the current picture is Paul Lukas. Remembered for his admirable work iu “Little Women” and "The Fountain,” Lukas has added another fine performance to his record. There is an exceptional programme which includes a Pete Smith Oddity series "Ruby" iu slow motion. Majestic Theatre Shows “Living on Velvet” From the heights of exhilaration, flying above the clouds, to a deathly crash, in which his family are killed, Terry Parker (George Breut) sinks to the depths of bitterness against life in "Living on Velvet,” a First National picture now screening at the Majestic Theatre. Son of a wealthy house, believing that he too should have been killed, Terry becomes an irresponsible ne'er-do-well who flies the Philadelphia mail to Boston. After smashing up the formation of an aerial display in a borrowed plane, Terry is taken in baud by an old friend of his, Walter Pritcham (Warren William), who, being firm and steady as a rock, is named Gibraltar. Terry meets. Amy Prentice (Kay Francis), falls in love with her, and she with him, and Gibraltar not only provides the borne in which the two are to live, but manages to concoct a scheme by which Terry gains eight thousand dollars. “Roberta,” Musical Attraction at State Theatre The singing of Irene Dunn and the dancing of Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire, already well known as a team, are featured in "Roberta,” the R;K.O. Radio picture, now iu its second week at the State Theatre. The picture is one that will appeal to those who enjoy musical numbers, well performed and to those who enjoy a good comedy-drama. The film, with its main scenes laid in a dress designer’s shop, provides an artistic setting for beautiful fashion creations, and in this element music is introduced to make a glorious pageant of beauty and melody. The picture features song hits played by a first-rate orchestra which Fred Astaire leads. A fast-moving story concerns the legacy of Madgme Roberta’s fashion salon to John (Randolph Scott), w r ho asks Stephanie (Irene Dunn) to become his partner and take charge of the shop. Meanwhile Fred Astaire, as Huck Hanes, makes a great hit in Paris as a dance band leader when he meets Lizzie Oates, a home-town girl friend of his, who is passing herself off as the Countess de Scharwenka. The climax comes in a whirl of amazingly beautiful gowns at a musical fashion parade. As a combination of musical comedy and romance, "Roberta” could hardly be surpassed. “Behold My Wife” at St. James A dramatic story of revenge, which turns into genuine love, is the theme of B. P. Schulberg’s uew Paramount picture, "Behold My Wife,” at the St. James Theatre. It tells of a pampered son of wealthy parents who flees from New York when his family disapproves of the girl ho loves. Seeking oblivion in the West, ho is wounded by an Indian, but is nursed back to life by a beautiful Indiau girl. He imagines it. would be § grand revenge on his family to take the ludian maiden back as his wife, but his plans miscarry when everyone falls for beautiful Touita. Some powerful emotional acting is done by Sylvia Sidney as the heroine, aud Gene Raymond is convincing as the young man of fashion, who turns true blue when the crisis comee. “The Emperor Jones” To-night at New Opera House It has been left to the screen to bring to New Zealand the famous play by Eugene O’Neill, “The Emperor Jones, and the film is being shown at the New Opera House. It will be screened again to-day and on Thursday, twice daily. Brutus Jones, an American negro, escapes from prison to a jungle island inhabited by negros and ruled by a black man. The .sophisticated coloured American easily seizes power by telling the superstitious

island “niggers” that only a silver bullet can kill him.

"Don Quixote."

After many months of waiting Wellington picturegoers are being given the opportunity of seeing "Don Quixote," one of the most notable films of the last few years, which will be presented to-morrow at the New Ojiera House. Chaliapin seems to sing forth from the screen exactly as he sang from the boards in the same theatre some years ago. “The Rocks of Valpre” at Plaza Theatre Ethel M. Dell’s widely-read novel, “The Rocks of Valpre,” is the principal film at the Plaza Theatre this week. This charming romance, set iu nineteenth century France aud England, witli a twentieth century finale, is one of the sweetest stories of its type brought to the screen. It tells of the love of a youug French officer and a beautiful English girl, the tragedy that comes into their lives through the intrigues of another officer, and the ultimate reunion in poignant circumstances. John Garrick and Winifred Shotter head the cast iu this picture, with its background of a military base on the coast of Normanby. Miss Shotter is best known to theatregoers for her work iu association with Ralph Lynn and Toni Walls in' the famous Aldwych farces. But in straight drama she rises to new heights in the stage art. Coming to the Plaza Theatre on Friday next is.".My Heart fet Calling,” starring Jan Kicpura, Martha Eggerth, and Sonnie Hale. Produced at the Beaconsfield studios, the picture deals with the seas-on of Rosee’s opera company, which, after having had a bad season in South America, goes to Monte Carlo. There some hilarious happenings occur, together with some minor tragedies, and all ends happily. Kiepura’s glorious voice _is heard in several numbers, chief of which is “You, Mo and Love.” “Girls Will Be Boys” at King’s Theatre A riotously amusing film, packed brimful with laughter and surprise, is the 8.1. P. production “Girls Will Be Boys,” now showing at the King’s Theatre. In this hilarious comedy appears that captivating Continental artiste, Dolly Haas, with Cyril Maude, Irene Vanbrugh and Edward Chapman. "The Merry Widow." Commencing next Friday afternoon at the King’s Theatre is the picturisation of Franz Lehar’s romance, "The Merry Widow,” co-starring Jeanette MacDonald and Maurice Chevalier. Elissa Landi in “Enter Madame” at Paramount One of the finest aud most entertaining roles of her career falls to that talented actress Elissa Landi in her latest Paramount release, “Enter Madame,” which is at the Paramount Theatre. Miss Landi is seen as an extremely temperamental opera singer who falls in love with a ■handsome young American. They marry, and the husband suddenly finds that he is wedded to an entire entourage. He returns to America and decides to divorce the singer and marry a former lover, but the star has her own views on the matter. Double Feature Programme at Rex Theatre "Son of a Sailor,” which has been described as Joe E. Brown’s most hilarious nautical comedy, is at the Rex Theatre. That brilliant and most spectacular musical and dramatic revue, “Gold Diggers of .1933,” is also screened. CLEM DAWE REVUE Box plans for the gala farewell of the Clem Dawe Revue will open at the D.I.C. to-day. Since their last appearance in Wellington great expense has been incurred in procuring new scenery, dresses, etc., and the whole show comes as a new combination, with new songs, sketches, scenas, finales, etc. The addition of a jazz band of twelve talented musicians is also a big feature of the revue. The following is an excerpt from an Auckland paper during their season there: —Another crowded house greeted Clem Dawe’s Revue Company at His Majesty’s Theatre. For nearly three hours the audience was kept convulsed in almost continuous laughter, and it was not difficult to understand why the first Auckland season of three weeks had to be extended to ten, and why the company’s reception in other centres has been so uniformly enthusiastic. The show is not a “one-man” affair, and although Clem Dawe, with his queer make-up and droll facial expressions, provoked laughter whenever he appeared, he had serious rivals in the business of merry-making. Dorothy White, whose comedy has the irresistible verve of Cecily Courtneidge, was delightful in a number entitled "Touch the Harp Gently.” Les White and Eric Edgley also proved a capable comedy team.