DE LUXE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 208, 30 May 1936, Page 4

DE LUXE THEATRE

“The Petrified Forest” Preceded by a fine supporting bill, containing an entertaining musical revue and selections by Mr. L. D. Austin’s, orchestra, “The Petrified Forest,” a Marner Brothers drama, featuring that popular English actor, Leslie Howard, opened yesterday at the De Luxe lheatre. “The Petrified Forest” is n most unusual picture, and differs from the ordinary run of films in many ways. It has a strong plot and one tlmt grips the audience, especially as the enitre action, with the execution of about three or tour minoi sJ-eiws, takes place in the restaurant room of a - service station at the edge of the Arizona desert, near a petrified forest. To the station comes Alan Squier (Leslie Howard), a wandering, penniless idealist. He falls in love with the daughter of the proprietor, makes an enemy ot the station attendant, declares his love for the girl when all are in the hands of bandits, and finally gets shot and dies in her arms. The story may sound sensational—but it is not. It is a logical sequence of events made all the more realistic by the excellent acting and smooth performance of Leslie Howard, and the convincing portrayals by Bette Davis. Genevieve Tobin. Dick Foran, Charley Grapewin (the sole comedy relief in the show), and Humphrey Bogart. . Throughout the picture idealism is in conflict with realism, and neither can be said to gain a complete victory. STATE, PETONE In Charlie Chan, Warner Oland has created a character which must vie for fame in the history of detective stories with Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. Commencing to-day, the State Theatre, Petone, is to screen “Charlie Chan s Secret ” in which the famous Chinese detective is involved in a further series of mysteries. The supporting programme includes one of the new series of film journalism, “March of Time.” At this after; noon's matinee “Rustlers of Red Dog, with Johnny Mack Brown, will be screened. . PALACE, PETONE In “I live My Life,” which screens at the Palace Theatre. Petone, this afternoon. to-night. Monday and Tuesday nights, Joan Crawford is cast as a spoiled debutante whose love for a penniless archeologist redeems her. As the archeologist, Brian Aherne makes the character a warm, charming and humorous digger of statues. “I Live My Life” is a social comedy depicting , the efforts of Mims Crawford to make a business man out or the city-hating archeologist. The story is novel, dramatic and uproariously funny. Joan Crawford’s delineation of the -ay care-free character is the work of a fine’ actress, while she is superbly supported bv Brian Aherne, Aline McMahon. Hedda Hoffer, Frank Morgan and Fred Keating. PRINCE EDWARD & KING GEORGE England's dancing divinity, Jessie Matthews, makes one of her all-too;in frequent film appearances jn “First a Girl,” which comes to the li'ince Edward Theatre I etonc, and King George, Lower Hutt, today She has the support of her obi partner and staunch favourite, Sonme Hale in a show which introduces a variety of musical and dancing scenas. On the same programme will be ‘Life Begins at Fortv.” with another favourite comedian, Will Rogers, in the leading role. KILBIRNIE KINEMA A great new gift in the divine voice and enchanting personality of Lily Pous is brought to screen audiences in I Dream Too Much.” which comes to the Kilbirnie Kinema to-day. Not only does she sin gloriously but she demonstrates striking talents ns an octrees, and the vivacious, vital charm of her personality registers perfectly from the screen. The British Dominions release. “Ten Minute Alibi.” on the same programme, is a piet.urisation of the sensational stage success. which ran for nineteen months in London. It is one of the most ingenious, deftly constructed murder melodramas written in the past.decade, and the film version is oven more tense and dramatic than the play.