ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 134, 2 March 1936, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

Plaza Theatre Has “I Dream Too Much” Large audiences are being held spellbound at the Plaza Theatre by the purity and the flute-like _ quality of a voice that surpasses anything previously heard on the screen, lhe film, RKO-Radio’s "1 Dream Too Much,” featured none other than Lily Pons, whose rendering of both operatic and lighter numbers will linger long in the memories of all wlib heard her. The story tells ol the life of a young woman who has a remarkable voice, but who nearly sacrifices her career to make sure that her husband, who adores her but is really thoroughly selfish, may make good with a somewhat mediocre opera he has composed. During the picture Miss Pons sings "Caro Nome, .from “Rigoletto,” the beautiful "Bell Song” from "Lakine,” and several lighter numbers composed for her by Jerome Kern. A mannequin parade and ballet in the number "I Dream Too Much ’ was staged with true musical comedy lavishness. Playing opposite t..e star is Henry Fonda, and excellent comedy relief is provided by Eric Blore and a trained seal, "The Duchess.’’ The show is perfectly staged and tlie acting is °f the been. Misti Pons, who is very tiny, proves that she is as good an actress as she is a singer, and she has a most fascinating voice. * I Dream Too Much” is a show that shomd have a most successful run wherever screened. •’First a Girl” Next Friday. It. is claimed that Jessie Matthews 'S a lady who makes a fine gentleman in "First a Girl,” a Gaumont-British picture to be shown at the Plaza Theatre on Friday. The star is seen in the guise of a man, and a great deal of fun results from her efforts to live up to the new role. Strong double brandies and hefty cigars have never been Jessie’s strong suit, but on this occasion she tackles them with a zest that would do credit to the toughest he-man. The results however are temporarily disastrous for the masquerader, and it is with the greatest of difficulty that Sonny Hale, her abettor in the little comedy manoeuvres her down a long corridor to her room after a heavy night out with some, of the boys. Jessie in her smart suits is something to chuckle at and admire. In the evening when she floats on to the stage she is a vision of femininity as the central figure of half-a-hundred dancing girls, who make a fantastically moving background for the principal danseuse. Some brilliant sets and exciting scenes in the theatre arc features of this new Gaumont-British film, in addition to an attractive love story. “If You Could Only Cook” at St. James “If You Could Only Cook,” which heads the new programme at St. James Theatre, deserves all the praise which preceded it. The stars are Herbert Marshall ami Jean Arthur, and they are a perfect team of tnerry-niakere. Herbert Marshall possesses « magnetic voice, and a fine sense, of humour, while Jean Arthur is blonde, pert and possesses a pleasantly hunky voice. Leo Carillo, a descendant of the Spanish dons, is immense as the racketeer and epicure, and fully maintains his reputajion as the best-loved bad man ou the screen. Lionel Stonder is outstandingly amusing as the racketeer's henchman, and Freda Inescourt in dignified as the girl the millionaire at first intended to marry. The story of this mad melee of merriment was written by F. Hugh Herbert, and was successfully brought to the screen, embellished by most lively dialogue, by Howard , j. Green mid Gertrude'' Purcell. An exceptionally good. set of supporting films included a .most entertaining .musical subject, "Unusual Hollywood,” Which shows how a band of barn-stormers break into the talking picture mecca. “Marriage Mix-Up” is a breezy comedy, nnd “Screen Snapshots*' also contains much broad humour. ; “Birds of the Night” For St.. James At the St. James Theatre next Friday will be given "Birds of the Night,” by the Frank O'Brien Revue Company. In if Janice Hart, who was very popular in Wellington a few seasons ago. will take the role originally played by the famous Josephine Baker. In this production Janice sings and dances her _ way in Spanish, Hawaiian, and Parisian numbers, while Frank O'Brien is at his best in a number of amusing sequences. The show has room, too, for some very, spectacular scenes and for same catchy melodies. Press notices for the revue when it - played in Australia were extremely favourable, the show being described as one of the brightest and most entertaining offered for a long time. With the two principals will be Alex Kelleway, Cecil Scott. Marie Doran. Alma Aldous, Mademoiselle Ivnl. the three Valeseos, Dave James, Vivian Sanderson the juggler, Master Paul, a violinist, Max Reddy, and a most capable ballet. The revue promises well. “The Littlest Rebel” at the State Theatre So amazing is the talent and the persuasiveness of Shirley Temple in her latest and best picturs, "The Littlest Rebel,” screening at the State Theatre, that nobody could fail to leave the theatre without feelings of the greatest admiration. It is her first big dramatic role, and it definitely proves her a premier entertainer. In addition to three songs and tapdances by the captivating “starettte.” there; are. adventures aplenty to thrill those who like a bit of excitement when Shirley has scrapes with the “Yankees." and a thrilling flight as her father, John Boles, attempts to smuggle her through ■the “Yankee” lines, only 'to be caught and held as a spy. There are some very charming parts when Shirley sets out to save her father and to reach-the capitol. As they have little money she makes it possible by. street-singing and dancing. Shirley is a delightful imp, and no one can help but love her.. Among the supports is a most hilarious and entertaining Buster Keaton comedy, the nlways-popular travel-talk, and an informative yet extremely interesting Hollywood "Walk-about.”

“I Live My Life” Still at Majestic

“I Live My Life," which s<tnrs such old favourites as Joan Crawford and Frank Morgan, is still playing to very large houses at tlie Majestic Theatre. The story concerns Terry O’Neill, a young Irish archaeologist, who, while pun-’uiug his .studies on a Grecian ielan l in the Mefliterriinenn, accidentally meets (he daughter of an American financier who is paying a visit to the island in the course of a tour in her father's yacht. So attracted is he by his chance acquaintance that he follows her to America, where the story develops) in ingenious and thrilling fashion, until the Iwo become engaged. Shortly before the engagement is announced, however. an unexpected way out o f the difficulty is found, and Kay Beatty is free to marry file man she teves. An argument as to whether O'Neill is to enter nn office or to return to his studies upsets all the wedding arrangements. He appears at tlie church, under tile belief that his wife-to-be will not appeijr. but at the last moment she repents and. the ceremony is able to proceed. Excellent supports and a fine newsreel showing the scenes in London (luring the death of King'George complete an excellent programme. “Mutiny of the Bounty.”

On Friday “I Live My Life" will be succeeded by a picture that has been long heralded, “Mutiny of the Bounty,’’ which has one of the most talented casts ever assembled for - a Metro-Goidwyn-Mayer production. Charles Laughton, Clark Gable, and Franchot Tone form a trio which should make any picture ring with success, especially since they ur( , supported by players of the ability of Herbert Mundin, Dudley Digges, Henry Stephen-

son, and others. No expense has been spared to make this picture a very real challenger for the highest place in screen awards of the year.

“Peter Ibbetson” at Regent Theatre Richly dramatic, beautifully fantastic, and wholly charming, is the screen version of George du Manner's story, "Peter Ibbetson,” tt the Regent Theatre. The story is an excursion into tlie purely .-•eiitiineiitnl, made delightfully acceptable by the sound acting of Ann Harding and Gary Cooper. Two tiny tots in the English colony in Paris, Jliinsy and Gogo, fall in love, and vow eternal devotion. Parted by a cru'l world, Gogo becomes Peter Ibbetson, a clever young architect, and Mimsy her Grace the Duchess of Towers. Peter is sent to the* ducal estate to design new stables, and gradually the two become drawn to one another, and recognition follows. Their love becomes too apparent for concealment. The Duke of Towers (John Halliday) discovers them in one another's arms, and in a light which follows, the Duke is accidentally killed. Peter is arrested, tried, and sentenced to life imprisonment. Realism then turmi to fantasy. These two great lovers, parted by prison bars, are together in their dreams, even till old - age creeps upon them, and even when death comes to the Duchess. _ she calls to her lover, and he follows through the dark vale, to an eternity and undivided communion. The programme also includes a fine series of pictures of the funeral of King George V from Sandringham to Westminster Hall, and tbe reading of the proclamation of the accession to the throne of Edward YIII. There are also other good supports. “Strike Me Pink” Coming.

To the Regent Theatre on Friday will come. Eddie Cantor’s latest extravaganza, "Strike Me Pink,” which is said to be the equal of, if not better than, any picture Cantor has ever made in his sensational career.

De Luxe Theatre Will Re-open ' Next Friday

Assuring tlie public of Wellington the ultimate in film entertainment under perfect conditions of presentation, the newlyarranged exhibition affiliation of Wellington’s leading motion picture theatre, and one of the world’s leading film-producing companies, has evoked considerable discussion, and has created great interest both, in and out of the “trade.” Under tbe new joint direction of Warner Bros, and the De Luxe Theatre Company, the De Luxe Theatre, now closed down and undergoing a complete and extensive scheme of modernisation and renovation, which will be completed for the gala open-

ing on Friday next, at 8 p.in., has a most ambitious entertainment policy for the future. The new direction and management of , this theatre has assured a consecutive line of high-quality programmes unequalled, it is claimed, in the entertainment world of to-day. Only the most outstanding productions, carefully selected from the entire output of two of the world's leading film-producing companies, will be presented, these to be enhanced by a selection of short subject . entertainments, in colour and otherwise, taken from an equally .wide range. Service au.u the ultimate in entertainment is to be tlie keynote of the policy at all times. An additional feature will be the Orchestra De Luxe, under the direction of Mr. L. D. Austin, supplemented by the Wurlitzer organ, in a new and outstanding series of presentations. The first picture on the new pretentious programme schedule is M'urner Bros’, million-dollar production, "Captain Blood,” Rafael Sabatini's world famed adventure classic, in which Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havillaud are the stars. The picture has a tremendous cast with more than forty principals and several thousand bit players and extras. This thrilling tale of seventeenth century sea pirates is said to be one of tlie most elaborate and pretentious productions in screen history. Tremendous settings were designed by master builders. These include great sailing vessels of the period, massive in size and full-batteried, which had to be specially built, complete in every detail; parts of a village in Englund ; most of the old city of Port Royal, in tlie West Indies, destroyed by earthquake; n governor's mansion; and costumes to suit everyone from King tn slave. Playing the title role of “Capl»in Blood" is Errol Flynn, a handsome ami dashing young Irishman, who was recruited from the London stage. Box plans open to-day at D.I.C. and theatre, early booking being urged by tlie management. “Magnificent Obsession” Now at Paramount A strange story, far removed from the banal ami meretricious in life, is told in “Magnificent Obsession,” which, after a highly successful season at the Regent Theatre, is now showing at the Paramount. There is deftly interwoven in the warp and woof of the story a delicate thread of spirituality, very beautifully and delicately suggested, yet permeating the whole. Despite the serious, almost exalted, quality of the story, it will pass over the head of nobody, for there are plenty of touches of hearty comedy to relieve the drama and keep it always at a level where it will be appreciated and enjoyed by the average pic-ture-goer. “Magnificent Obsession” is wonderfully well produced and capitally acted. Irene Dunne makes a deep impression by extremely natural, sympathetic and sensitive acting, and in Robert Taylor is dis.closed a handsome, debonair star, possessed of all the qualities of a screen idol. . All the other characters in a long cast are admirably presented.