ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 150, 20 March 1936, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

“Captain Blood” Still Screening at De Luxe The only other picture beside ‘'Cavalcade” to screen a three weeks’ season at the palatial De Luxe in the 114 years period since the opening, “Captain Blood” gives a further convincing indication of both its production merit and its overwhelming popularity with Wellington theatregoers. "Captain Blood” unfolds a particularly romantic love story as well .as an unending succession of adventurous and virile thrills, large-size spectacle, and much delightful humour. It is the happy romantie element and the comedy particularly which, coupled with the fact that the principal, dashing Errol Flynn (as Captain Blood), is a manly, courageous, and chivalrous figure, ensures the complete accord of the feminine patronage of the theatre, the audiences to date being composed of a surprising large proportion of the fair sex. “Captain Blood” stands out as one of the great film masterpieces. The picture has been produced on a lavish scale. Seventeenthcentury eities and villages have been reconstructed ; pirate galleons, slave ships, and English and French war vessels, complete in every detail, are shown in battle action. Heading a cast as unusual as the production itself are two young film players whose work will undoubtedly set them among the leading stars of the cinema. These are Errol Flynn, the young English actor-adven-turer, who is Captain Blood in the flesh, and Olivia de Havilland, the young high school girl discovered by Max Reinhardt, and who scored a personal triumph as Hermia in his production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Flynn, tall, handsome, debonair, has been a soldier of fortune, a master of trading vessels in the South Seas, a master of his own craft, and one of the few real adventurers of this age. Above .all lie is a real acton The mannerism of a swashbuckling buccaneer, his recklessness and the subtlety of his characterisation, show why this comparatively unknown actor was given so important a part as the title role of Captain Blood. An excellent supporting programme is further embellished by musical selections by the Orchestra De Luxe and the Wurlitzer orgau. “Stella Parish” for De Luxe. Hailed as the dramatie gem of the season, “I Found Stella Parish” follows s the successful extended season attraction, “Captain Blood,” at the De Luxe Theatre, opening on Friday next. Three successful weeks iu Christchurch’s leading theatre recently with “Stella Parish” augurs well for the success of the Wellington screening. Kay Francis has the leading role, supported by a fine cast in this outstanding and well-mounted drama. Box plans will be open on Monday next at both D.I.C. and theatre. “Sweet Surrender” Comes to Paramount To-day “Sweet Surrender,” the first film musical to be filmed in New York in three years, is to commence a season to-day at the Paramount Theatre. It has been adapted by John V. A. Weaver, noted poet, playwright, and scenarist, from an original story by Herbert Fields. The co-stars of “Sweet Surrender,” Frank Parker and Ta'mara, are both well know a to radio audiences but are new to the screen world. Outside of a small film role with his radio side-partner, Jack Benny, in “Trans-Atlantic Merry-Go-Round” and one or two shorts, Frank Parker has done nothing previously in pictures, though his lovely teuor voice has circled the world. Taniaru, the girl who made “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes”, a national song hit when she rose 1 to overnight fame in the Broadway stage production of Jerome Kern’s operetta. “Roberta,” is a native of Moscow, who is making her screen debut as a star without any previous motion picture experience. Another promising Broadway player who • takes a first step.into movieland-in this film is Helen Lynd, favourably known to New York theatregoers fo.r her work in the comedy leads of “The Hook Up,” “Ladies’ Money” and “Battleship Gertie.” She has the principle feminine comedy role in “Sweet Surrender.” Miss Lynd is a blonde, strongly resembling Ginger Rogers. State Screens “King of Burlesque” In the colourful; glittering atmosphere of the burlesque theatre, with its soubrettes, songs, clowns and conr’es, the action of the new Fox film, “King of Burlesque,” which opens at the State Theatre to-day,, takes place. Presenting Warner Baxter, Alice Faye and Mona Barrie in the leading dramatic roles, the new musical show boasts an all-star cast of talented performers. The story of “King of Burlesque” delves back-stage into the life and loves of the people of the theatre. Warner Baxter is the leading personality, an impresario, who has brought the technique of the 14th Street burlesque to an enraptured Broadway. At the height of his success he deserts his two old friends, Jack Oakie and Alice Faye, to marry the aristocratic but impoverished Mona Barrie. Through whirling, kaleidoscopic backgrounds and a series of adventures the picture traces the gradual descent of this rajah of entertainment under the influence of his wife. Finally, cast off and deserted, he rejoins his two old friends, launches his most daring project, to meet with a startling success. The close of the picture shows Baxter and Miss Faye happily rejoined in romantic mood. Ably supervised by the versatile Kenneth McGowan, the picture presents a gay series of-hit tunes from the pens of Ted Koehler and Jimmy McHugh. Good Comedy Promised in “The Ghost Goes West,” at Regent However well-behaved a young man may be, if he has a ghostly ancestor who is his double, and whose flirtatious habits are appalling, he is apt to find life rather complicated, but never dull. This is one angle of the comedy theme of “'The Ghost Goes West,” the London Film production which begins to-day at the Regent Theatre. In this film three stars collaborate to turn out what critics and public overseas are unanimous in hailing as the laughter-raising success of the year. Robert Donat, actor, Rene Clair, noted French director, and Alexander Korda, producer, are the trio to whom the credit is due. The girl in the case is Jean Parker, whose excursion into comedy is said to be highly successful.

Even a very brief outline of the plot should give an indication of the comedy

1; Piunket, 2; McKenzie, 3. Time, 58 2-5. Senior: Itutlierforil. 1;. Seddon, 2; McKenzie, 3. Time, 55 4-5. Events Previously Decided. One mile championship, boys, senior; B. Ritzema, 1; J. Arthurs, 2; R. Harrison, 3. Time, 5.49 3-5. Long jump, boys, junior: J..lngham, 1: G. Drylie, 2: 11. Webley, 3. Distance, 13ft. IDln. Senior: B. Ritzema, 1; It. Harrison. 2; J. Rangiwhetu, 3. Distance, 15ft, 6Jin Hop, step aud jump, boys, junior; J. Ingham, 1: G. Drylie, 2; L. Rentoul, 3. Distance. 32ft.—a record. Senior: J. Rang!, wbetu, 1; H. Ritzema, 2; C. Whiteman, 3. Distance, 33ft. lljin.—a record. Throwing cricket ball, bovs, senior: R Harrison. 1; N. Walsh, 2; It. Ritzema, 3. Distance, 01yds. 2ft. loin.—a record. Junior: G Drylie, 1; R. Wilkinson, 2; F. Stunell 3. Distance, 66yds. 2ft. Oln. Long jump championship girls, junior R, Inglis, 1; E. Heattie, 2; N. Marryatt, 8. Distance, 12ft. 7lln. Senior: I. Higgins 1; I). Gardiner. 2; M. Crane and JI. Dawson 3. Distance. 12ft. 7lin. High jump championship, girls, junior C. Ferguson. .1; R. Inglis, 2; J. Soekup. 3 Height. 3ft. Sin. Senior: 11. Dell, 1; 1). Bennett, 2; x\. Robins, 3. Height, Stt.’sin Hop, step and jump championship, girls, senior; H. Dell, 1; D. Gardiner, 2; Z. Battersby, 3. Distance, 26ft. 4ln. Junior- R Inglis, 1: It. Stunell, 2; E. Beattie, 3. blit, trinee, 30ft. Gin.—a record.

A revolution of sympathy with the relatives of the late Sir Francis Bell was carried at the meeting of the Eastbourne Borough Council last night, members finding In silence.

to be expected. The story begins several centuries ago when young Murdoch Glourie, head of a warlike Scottish clan, gets himself killed because he is fonder of dallying with the hissies than of fighting the English. His irate father dooms his spirit to haunt the ancestral halls until lie shall have wiped out the stain on the family tartan by tweaking the nose of a McLaggan, hereditary enemies of the family. The scene changes to modern times, with fhc present chief of the Glouries, young Donald, forced for financial reasons to sell his haunted castle to an American millionaire. The castle is transported piecemeal to America, and young Donald accompanies it to see that everything is properly fitted together again. So does the earthbound ghost of Murdoch. He is asleep at the time the castle is sold, and wakes up to find himself going west on the boat. Then the fun really starts, and continues till Murdoch finds in America the nose of a Me-, Laggan to tweak. Robert Donat in the dual role of Murdoch and Donald, Jean Parker as the girl with whom both are in love, Eugene Pallette as the American millionaire. Els-a Lauchestcr, Hay Petrie, Morton Selton, and all the others in the cast, drain every possible bit of fun out of their respective parts. •

“Mutiny on the Bounty” Continues at Majestic

In u theatre the size of the Majestic it says a lot for the merit and popularity of a film when it continues to draw crowded bouses- after a fortnight's run. Rut so popular has the great seafaring film, “Mutiny on the Bounty” been, that it enters the third week of its.season today. “Mutiny on the Bounty” follows the actual facts with a good deal of accuracy. The role of the cruel and tyrannical captain, who before sailing embezzled the ship’s stores, then afterward broke the spirit of his men by flogging, overwork and tsliort rations-. - is played with great ability by Charles Laughton. Roger By am, midshipman (Franchot Tone). Ims been sent by Sir Joseph Banks to make a dictionary of the Tahitian language. Roger’s friend, Fletcher Christian (Clark Gable), master’s mate, is Bligh’s especial enemy, because he refuses to sign the falsified ship’s books. The voyage down the South Seas is long and bitter. and is filmed with an inside knowledge of the sea and. sail. ‘ Opera House Reopens To-day With Two New Films Reopening to-day lor pictures, the New Opera House presents two speciallyselected Paramount features, “Bar-20 Rides Again,” the third of Clarence E. Mulford’s famous “Hop-Along Cassidy” stories to be brought to the screen, with William Boyd as Cassidy, and “Millions in the Air,” a sparkling musical romance. Cattle-rustling by a villain who- imagines himself a sort of Napoleon of the >ld Wild West is the basis of the thrilling action in “Bar-20 Rides Again.’’ Underlying this, however, is the theme of friendship between the mature hero, Cassidy, and a hot-headed young cowboy named Johnny Nelson, which gives the film an unusual interest. The magnificent photography is another feature which puts this production well above the average level of Western romances. William Boyd, as Cassidy, and Jimmy Ellison, as Nelson, repent their success in the.first two films of the series, while another delightful comedy performance comes from old George Hayes! By virtue df-its variety, “.Millions in the Air,” the associate feature, has everything that is needed to make first-class entertainment. The theme of the amateur radio hours which'are so popular in America makes it possible to introduce about a dbzeu different acts, nil suitably blended into tile mniu story, which concerns the romance of n yfiuug ice-cream vendor with the daughter of the radio programme's sponsor. Wendy Barrie, John Howard, Willie Howard and George Barbier are the stars. . Two Big Films in New Programme at King’s Theatre Attractive and varied entertainment is promised in the double-feature programme to fie presented at the King’s Theatre today. and romance will be found in “First a Girl,” while “Charlie Chan's Secret,” the latest of the series of tales concerning the famous Chinese detective. brings thrills and excitement. Jessie Matthews ami Sonny Hale, a perfect screen team, outdo their previous successes in “First a Girl.” “The other couple,” played by the beautiful Anna Lee and.darkly handsome Griffiths Jones, lends added romance and the necessary balance to the clever story. The film in- ' eludes a finely-staged mannequin parade and a superbly fantastic scene in which Jessie Matthews sings from a suspended gilded cage prior.- to presenting a whirlwind dance. The narration is spiced throughout by sparkling dialogue and divertmg comedy incident. Once again in “Charlie Chan’s Secret” the public is completely mystified by a concealed murder motivated by gain, and once more Warner Oland appears as Charlie Chan, whose gift at solving complicated problems concerning crime is now so well established in the domain of the screen that one-has only to watch and admire the subtle deductions this elever Chinese makes when- he is once on the trail. “Seven Keys to' Baldpate” at Plaza A thrilling and hilarious mystery farce is RKO-Rndio's “Seven Keys to Baldpate,” which opens, a season at the Plaza Theatre to-day. The basis of the story is that seven different persons, each thinking that he or she has the only existing key to a lonely mountain inn, all arrive at that spot one midwinter bight for various mysterious purposes. The story opens with Raymond, as a novelist, seeking a quiet place to write a new book, coming to a deserted mountain inn on a midwinter night; Though he hopes to be alone, a series of unexpected and mysterious visitors arrive. Margaret Callahan has the feminine lead The cast fneludes Erin O’Brien-Moore Moroni Olsen. Erie Blore, Grant Mitchell. Ray Mayer, Henry Travers and Murray Alper.