ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 185, 4 May 1936, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

St. James Has “The Calling of Dan Matthews” "The Calling of Dan Matthews” is the featured film at the St. James Theatre. The name part is" played excellently by Itiehard Arlen as the minister who steps Ou some very important toes when lie goes about wiping out vice and co .^f u PDon. The town’s amusement park, built by its lending citizen, James Strong, is the principal object of Dan’s wrath, Charlotte Wynters of Hie Broadway stage, makes her film debut in this picture. Lhe villain is played successfully by Douglass Dumbrille, whose suave, oily manner imparts a sinister atmosphere to the P* o ,*” Others in the cast include Donald Cook, Mary ICornmau, Frederick Burton, ajid Lee Moran. This is very good fare for all who like a modern play wnth drama, excitement and romance proportionnteIv blended. The supporting programme is well balanced with two comedy cartoons, a farce, and topical newsreels. ■ ‘‘The Music Goes Round” and Community Sing. On Friday a musical show with a theme song which, it is said, will captivate the world, will come to St. Jameti Theatre, in "The Music Goes Round. Columbia Pictures have lavished . attention on this film, and the. result is said to be a triumph for a new idea in musical entertainment. Harry Richman and Rochelle Hudson are the featured playei On Wednesday a community sing to assist the "Scotty” Fraser fund is being organised. Many Wellington artists are giving their services to help make the sing a success. It will be held from 12.30 to 1.30. Bands, orchestras, and song leaders are combining to attract a large gathering. “Dangerous,” With Bette Davis, at De Luxe "Dangerous,” the vibrant W’arner Bros, dramatic masterpiece at the De Luxe Theatre, introduces Bette Davis in the role of an actress haunted by a jinx. The jinx in Bette’s new picture, "Dangerous,’ attacks the character she portrays. It is directed at those with whom she comes in contact. Plays in which she is starred fail. Her leading man- dies on the night of an opening. Men she knows commit suicide and go bankrupt. Finally her own life is smashed, but she is rescued from the gutter and again proceeds to ruin those with whom she comes in contact, until she is awakened to the wrong she is doing in a startling and unusual climax. ’The star is supported in "Dangerous” by Franchot Tone, who scores yet another success, Alison Skipworth, Margaret Lindsay and Dick Foran. It is interesting to note that “Dangerous” is the film that won for Bette Davis the Motion Picture Academy award for her work as the dangerous woman men always come back to. There is a supporting bill of screen featurettes and music by the Orchestra de Luxe and organ. “These Three” in Second Week at Regent “These Three” is successfully in its second week at the Regent Theatre. There are three stars—Merle Oberon, Miriam Hopkins and Joel McCrea —all of whom give flawless performances. However, they are not the only ones who shine in the picture, for excellent work is done by Catherine Doucet, as a posing, insincere oxactress; Alma Kruger, as a wealthy woman whose schoolgirl _ granddaughter brings trouble into her life; and two young girls, Bonita Granville and Marcia Mae Jones. The ending is one that calls for thought, and is one that can be imagined in various ways, according to the outlook of the person seeing the film. “These Three” is certainly a film that appeals to the public, as it is so humanly told. As is usual, Joel McCrea gives a very convincing portrayal of his part. There is a very good supporting bill. “A Tale of Two Cities” at Majestic Expectation has been perfectly fulfilled in “A Tale of Two Cities,” the film interpretation of CharlesDiekens’s masterpiece, at the Majestic Theatre. Those who have read the book will find but little difference. It is merely presented in a more subtle light, with certain minor roles emphasised. Ronald Colman as Sydney Garton, gives a remarkably finished and feeling performance. He makes a very convincing portrait of Ute man who. after a lifetime in which he has won neither love nor respect, reveals himself in an heroic sacrifice. In this role he is supported by a big cast, including Elizabeth Allen, Edna May Oliver, Basil Rathbone (as a superb villain), Henry B. Walthall, an old favourite of the siler.t days iu a striking role; Walter Catlett as a spy; and such other outstanding players .-is Donald Woods, Blanche Yurka, and Isabel! Jewell. The picture is remarkable for the flawless performance given by every member of the cast, no matter bow small their part. Especially notable is Elizabeth Allen as Lucie Manette, and Blanche Yurka, who, as the fanatic Madame de Fargo pours her energy into a very personification of vengeance. The settings as well as everything else about the film are marked by their attention to detail, and not for many years have there been such enormous mob scenes. “A Tale of Two Cities” is a triumph for its cast, its producer and its director, and even the most fastidious screen-goer will be satisfied. “Show Them No-Mercy” at State Theatre The story of a nation’s war ou crime, interspersed with moments of hilarious comedy and tender romance, is provided in “Show Them No Mercy,” now at the State Theatre. Rochelle Hudson, who has the leading role, is teamed romantically with Edward Norris, while Cesar Romero and Bruce Cabot are prominently cast as the leaders of the outlaws. Hundreds of feet of short realistic scenes, gleaned from the work of hundreds of newsreel men, were used for the crime and war scenes. These elices of actual life show police at work, police cars in screaming pursuit, underworld raids, newspaper offices working at full speed, aeroplane views, trains in motion— everything that contributes to the excitement of a film. With the combined talents of playwright and technical expert, the producer combines these, into a series of impressions that contribute emotional force to the manhunt. There is an excellent list of supports. “Captain January.” A picture that gives Shirley Temple every opportunity for displaying her youthful charms will be shown at the State Theatre from next Friday. “Captain January” is said to be equal to if not better than all Shirley's other pictures, and her new dances and three songs should help greatly toward the captivation, of her audiences. With her and aiding and abetting her in her fun Will be Slim Summerville, Guy Kibbee, and Buddy Ebsen, a cast designed to give a picture a happy atmosphere right from the start. “Captain January” has much, it seems, to commend it. • “When Knights Were Bold” at Paramolint “When Knights Were Bold.” now showing at the Paramount Theatre, has Jack Buchanan in the leading role. He plavs the part of a young happy-go-lucky Indian army officer, who inherits an English title, castle, and no end of relatives. The latter are definitely haughty and high-minded, and do not open their hearts to the frivolous parvenu, as they consider him. His beautiful cousin Rowena, with whom lie immediately falls in love, is at heart human —but unfortunately engrossed in the chivalrous past, when knights in armour cantcred round the countryside giving active proof of the nature of their inten-

tious. Rowena is enacted by charming Fay Wray. She has also attracted the attention of another ewain, a grumpy and unattractive but manly fellow of the name of Brian. Garry Marsh has this part. The picture is comedy of the type for which Jack Buchanan is famous. He is the perfect fool when lie is cast back centuries and finds himself as an unwitting iconoclast to medieval ideas and practices. The film is great entertainment. and has a perfect list of supports. “The Eagle’s Brood” and Revue at Rex Fred Argyle is presenting a new revue at the Rex Theatre this week under the title of “Western "Whoopee”—an excellent variety of items. All the acts are new, and several novelties are being introduced. In the present offering there is a beautiful Indian scene, “The Indian Call,” and the singing of Rae Williams will please everybody. William Boyd heads a stellar cast of players in the fllmisation of Clarence E. Mulford’s new story, “The Eagle’s Brood,” which is the feature picture. Portraying “Hopalong Cassidy,” Mulford’s famous Western fiction character, Boyd impersonates one o£ the old West’s fearless gun-fighters. This combined type of entertainment has been proving most successful, aiid the theatre’s management has maintained the standard of excellence set by previous programmes. Tunnel” Showing at the Plaza Theatre There is something o'f appeal to the majority in “The Tunnel,” the exciting picture at the Plaza Theatre, particularly to those who look for the ' deeper meaning of the author. The presentation of the construction of the tunnel is to the producer the most commendable part of the film. Huge radium drills boring their way from both sides of the Atlantic to meet in the middle, streamlined cars and hospital vans which travel at speeds which at present would be swift for an aeroplane, and the general engineering features of the film, till the onlooker with admiration. “The Tunnel” can be recommended to those who wish to see a film which, while not radically departing from the stereotyped, has sufficient novelty to sustain attention throughout. Richard Dix, Leslie Banks, and Madge Evans head a strong cast. The supports are good.