ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 195, 15 May 1936, Page 17

ENTERTAINMENTS

“Colleen,” Musical Comedy at De Luxe Theatre

That famous team of screen lovers, Dick Powell, of the tuneful songs, and Ruby Keeler, with her rhythmic dancing, together with Joan Blondell and Jack Oakie. head the cast of Warner Bros.’ latest spectacular musical eomedy, “Colleen,” which opens at the De Luxe Theatre to-day. In addition to the four stars, the cast, which is one of the most notable ever assembled for a production of this type, includes Hugh Herbert, Louise Fazenda, Paul Draper, Marie Wilson, and a score of other famous names, besides 200 beautiful chortle girls and dancing youths. There are two big, spectacular specialty numbers created and staged by Bobby Connolly, formerly dance director for the Ziegfeld Follies and other New York shows, Dick Powell is the serious minded young manager of an estate for a rich and flirtatious uncle, who had purchased a modiste shop for a “girl friend.” Dick falls in love with the efficient secretary of the shop, and manages to win her heart after a series of entanglements filled with hilarious comedy. Miss Keeler has the role of the secretary, and introduces some remarkable tap dancing, both by herself and with that wizard of the stage, Paul Draper. There is an excellent associate entertainment of film featurettes, together with the Orchestra de Luxe and organ.

Madcap Marx Brothers at Majestic Theatre

Those merry madcaps, the Marx Brothers—-Groucho. Chico and Harpo—spent two years in preparation for the filming of their latest. comedy, A Night at the Opera.” which opens to-day at the Majestic Theatre. The result is not only the screamingly funny comedy expected from the Marx Brothers, but one that is built around an intriguing plot, an interesting story and some brilliant singing by two Broadway stage favourites, Kitty Carlisle and Allan Jones. The action romps along at a sprightly pace as Groucho, Chico and Harpo go into the grand opera business m Italy, dash across the Atlantic, and stage an opera in New York that shakes that city to its foundations It is opera such as has never been seen before, as the Marxes become matchmakers to further the romance of two unknown opera singers. Original comedy, sparkling dialogue, delightful opera and, of course, M.-G.-M. s madmen, the Marx Brothers, vie in what is said to be the most delightful funfe: st that has come to the screen for some time. Supporting the Marxes, in addition to Jones and Miss Carlisle, who are perfectly cast as the young lovers, are Walter King, who also has a fine singing role. Siegfried Rumann, Margaret Dumont, Edward Keane and Robert Emmet O’Connor.

“A Tale of Two Cities” at the St. James Theatre

After a prolonged run at the Majestic Theatre, where it had to give way to previous bookings, Metro-Goldwyn-’Maycr s screen version of the famous Dickens story, “A Tale of Two Cities,” is to commence screening at the St. James Theatre to-day Cast ns Sydney Carton, Ronald Colman, older and more restrained than he used to be, plays a quietly effective role, making a convincing portrait of the man who. after a lifetime in which he has won neither love nor respect, reveals him self in a heroic sacrifice. In this role he is supported by a big cast of wide reputation. including Elizabeth Allan. Edna May Oliver (giving another of her tin forge!table portraits), Basil Rathbone, a superb villain; Henry B Walthall, an old favourite of the silent days in a striking role; Walter Catlett as a spy: and strnh other outstanding players as Donald Woods, Blanche Yurka and Isabel Jewell

New Frank Buck Jungle Story at the King’s Theatre

Crashing the jungles with native helpers and an elephant train, capturing its prize denizens and crating them for shipment to the circuses and zoos of the world, sums up the action in Frank Buck s latest cinematic cargo of thrills, Fang and Claw,” which comes to the King s Theatre to-day. With the largest advnnee order for birds, beasts and reptiles that he had ever carried to the Far East, Buck set out for Malay and Northern India expecting to be away from his American wild animal base on P'b’Jg Island for a year. The expedition, the largest in point of mer and equipment in Buck’s 25 years of animal collecting, rounded up some 5000 birds and animals, a record catch. Close on Buck s trail through the dense jungles was a camera party that photographed unusual happenings month after month until the big circus end zoo orders wero filled and the cargo loaded on ship at Singapore. “Fang and Claw” is said to be more colourful and entertaining than “Bring Em Back Alive” or “Wild Cargo.” Buck is said to have made a picture wherein all the secrets of his traps and methods of capture will be revealed to movie audiences. In one exciting episode, Buck goes to the rescue of a native in the Sakai country who is treed by a tiger. In another. Buck, nearby when a native is encircled by a steel-snringed saves the boy ana captures tha snake. On "the Mime programme is To Beat the Band,” a bright musical comedy, with an Unusually good plot. The cast is headed by Hugh Herbert and Helen Broderick. “Gentle Julia,” Comedy at the Plaza Theatre As a mischievous little vixen who turns her hand to patching up romance, the new Fox picture, ‘Gentle Julia, which comes to the Plaza Theatre to-day, returns versatile, lovable Jane Withers to the screen in her most important film role. Marsha Hunt, Tom Brown. Jackie S-arl, and a roster of new “kid” stars support Jane in this comedy-romance of drowsy, happy, pre-war America, adapted from Booth Tarkington’s beloved novel. The action of “Gentle Julia” is set in a sleepy Indiana town, where Marsha Hunt, who plays the title role, is besieged on all sides 1 v eligible young men. and is simply unable to turn any of them down. In the time she can spare from her personal feud with Jackie Searl. Jane Withers makes sporadic attempts to aid the cause of Tom Brown in pursuit of her aunt, Marsha Hunt. The aspect of the romance changes, however, when George Meeker, a suave city lad, begins to pay court to Miss Hunt, and at this point Jane decides in earnest to take a hand in her aunt’s affairs. “Captain January.” With Shirley Temple, at State In “Captain January,” which will begin its second week at the Slate Theatre to-day, Shirley Temple has a role admirably suited -to her talents. The climax is per-fectly-timed. One has almost given up hope for “Star,” the orphan daughter of an opera singer, brought up by a lighthouse-keeper, in the hands of the truant officer when a delightful turn of events leads to her rescue. Shirley sings . nnd dances her way in and out of the odd corners of the lighthouse and into the hearts of all the people with whom she comes in contact. “Peg of Old Drury” at the Paramount Theatre

One of the mos-t charming and delightful romantic films yet released is “Peg of Old Drury,” which has its premiere screening at the Paramount Theatre today. Anna Neagle and Sir Cedric Har'lwicke, the brilliant team of “Nell Gwyn.” have radically different roles in “Peg of Old Drury.” Anna Neagle plays Peg Woffington, the tempestuous Irish notresH whose fame swept the London since of th,* mid-eighteenth century, and around whom more amusing and intriguing anecdotes have collected than around any other stage figure. Anna Neagle leapt to the forefront of screen actresses in “Nell

Gwyn,” and surpasses her previous achievements in “Peg of Old Drury. H' i performance is a triumph of versatility. Sir Cedric Hardwicke is shown in a momentous characterisation —that of David Garrick, one of the greatest actors the English stage has ever known. The film has been made by Herbert W ileo.x „» line, of colour and action and has been based entirely on recorded fact, which has been proved far more romantic than any creation of fiction.