ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 221, 15 June 1936, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

Full-blooded Comedy and Music at Majestic Theatre

All the gorgeous music of Balfe's famous operetta and all the comedy wbicii Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy and six experts were able to devise has been crammed into “The Bohemian Girl,’ which, had Saturday’s audiences at the Majestic Theatre at times almost helpless with laughter. Those who enjoyed “Ira Diavolo” and “Babes in Toyland” will not want to miss this latest production in which both have surpassed themselves. Laurel and Hardy are members of a gipsy band. Hardy's wife. Mae (Mae Busch), falls in love with Devilshoof (Antonio Moreno). He decides, in. order to raise funds for his elopement with Mrs.. Hardy, to rob tlie castle of Count Arnheim. He is caught red-hsyided and whipped. Inspired by thoughts of revenge. Mrs. Hardy abducts the count’s little daughter, the Princess Arline, and introduces her to her husband ns her own child. Later s.ie elopes with Devilshoof. leaving Stan and Ollie to rear the princess as best they can. From this point the film changes to a period 12 years later, and .there is nn exciting climax before flic princess is finally restored to her father. "The Hit-and-run Driver.”

The Majestic (programme includes a short subject of interest to all motorists. It deals graphically with the tragedy left in the wake of the hit-and-run motorist, and carries the recommendation, of the Automobile Association . (Wellington). The audience sees the accident near the Columbia turn-pike, a man and a girl being severely injured. Overcome with fear, the motorist, a young college student, flees into the night leaving two victims whose lives might have been saved had he driven them to a hospital. The picture is extremely timely. “It Had to Happen” at State Theatre "It Had to Happen,” the new 20th Century-Fox picture at the State Theatre, brings forward a new screen team in Rosalind Russell and George Raft. It is a deft blend of comedy, romance and drama. The story tells how Alan Dinehart, as Miss Russell’s husband, faced with jail for his part in a threatened bank disaster, tries to bribe Raft to fix matters. Unsuccessful, he furnishes false evidence against Raft on a bribery charge, and the latter is about to flee when Miss Russell, to whom he has confessed his love, begs him to stay. He makes a clean breast of the matter and is acquitted. "Tlio Country Doctor.” The vigilant precautions which have preserved the blooming health of the famous Dionne quintuplets were not relaxed for one moment during the production of “The Country Doctor,” to be shown at the State Theatre on Fridaynext, even though 20th Century-Fox was making motion -picture stars of these babies. During the production of the scenes in Callender, Ontario, home town of the quints, members of the film unit ; working on the production were allowed into the nursery only after their noses and throats were sprayed and they had donned surgeons’ gowns and gauze masks. Jean Hersholt, playing the doctor, and Miss. Peterson, as the nurse, were the only exceptions to the rule. But Hersholt’s blue business, suit, worn in the picture, was thoroughly setrilised for each scene as were Miss Peterson’s uniforms. Working under the personal supervision of Dr. Allan Roy Dafoe, the quint’s physician, the company photographed . the children for one hour each day. Speciallybuilt lights which eliminated the harmful days were devised for these scenes. “The Country Doctor” has been rightly hailed as the most "blessed event” of the entertainment year. In addition to the famous babies, Jean Hersholt is superb as the doctor, and Slim Summerville has a typical role. Exciting Georgian Romance at Regent Theatre Jeffery Fgrnol’s stirring romance, “The Amateur Gentleman,” has b.een brought vividly to the screen at the Regent Theatre by United Artists, who have entrusted the leading roles to two wellknown stars, Douglas Fairbanks, jam, and Elissa Landi. Fairbanks as Barnabas Barty, “The Amateur Gentleman,” is ideally cast, and Elissa. Landi gives an outstanding performance as Ladv Cleone. Many will remember how the "Snake, Chichester, even while seeking the hand of Lady Cleone, robs her father, the Marquess, of much money and a string of valuable pearls, and then sees the innkeeper, John Barty, accused of the theft, convicted, and sentenced to be hanged. It is young Barty’s mission to sheet home the crime to the guilty party, and posing as John Beverley, Esquire, he gains entrance to society. Pressed for money, he actually enters the ring, and knocks out the champion of England. Then he helps his father to break jail," at the same time proves Chicester to be a liar and a thief, and in so doing wins Lady Cleone. “The Story of Louis Pasteur” at De Luxe Theatre “The Storv of Louis Pasteur” at the De Luxe Theatre is a type of screen entertainment which comes all too seldom and the audiences, deeply affected, have bestowed on it unstinted and spontaneous applause. Paul Muni’s picture ot I auteur should win for him a special and exclusive award for cinematographic art. Pasteur’s life and work, his triumphs in the face of petty jealousy, prejudice and, above all, ignorance, possess drama the most inspired of scenarists generally concoct from the imagination. This story of the life and work of a fine man can bring a tear to a man’s eyes, and he is unashamed. Yet no dramatic story for years has been les» isordid or harrowing. “Mary Burns, Fugitive,” at St. James Theatre Combining personality and a stink with good looks, Sylvia Sydney is rapidiy forging to the front in the ranks of screen players. Her latest picture at the St James Theatre, “Mary Burns, Fugitive, will do nothing to diminish her reputation firmly founded by outstanding performances in such pictures as can Tragedy” and “Behold, My Wife. Branded as the accomplice of a murderer and bank-looter with whom she had fallen in love for his football prowess, Mary Burns is convicted and imprisoned. Later she escapes and, finding work in a hospital, is loved by a wealthy explorer, in whose lonely house the climax is reached. She is supported in a fine cast by Melvyn Douglas, Alan Baxter, Pert Kelton, Wallace Ford and Brian Doulevy. “King of the Damned” at Plaza Theatre "Kin" of the Damned,” an exciting drama at the Plaza Theatre, will long be remembered both for its skilful blending of gripping incidents and the flawless actin" of its principals, Conrad Veidt, Noah Beery and Helen Vinson. The story deals' with (lie revolt against intolerable conditions of the convicts of Santa Maria, in the Caribbean Sea. Successful, they become virtual rulers of the settlement, but. Infer it is almost blown to pieces by a gunboat, which comes to rescue the commandant. There is a gripping climax. Vigorous Open-air Drama at Paramount Theatre After a successful season at the Majestic Theatre, “Thoroughbred" is still drawing big Imuses at the Paramount Theatre. There is an appealing freshness about this vigorous film of Australian country life that will fascinate everyone. The racin'' scenes intimately depict turf carnivals at Randwick and Flemington, ns. well as many interesting shots of thorough-

breds at work in the country. Helen Twelvetrees is charming in a role which calls for acting ability as well as good looks. Tommy Dawson (Frank Leighton) brings the equine hero, Stonnalong, from the Dominion to race in Sydney, and after a preliminary failure it improves mightily and begins a succession of brilliant wins until it is hailed as the favourite for the Melbourne Cup. Several attempts to put the horse out of action fail, and finally it goes to the post and is winning the cup when it is shot from the roof of the grandstand—but_ is just able to stagger over the finishing line before it falls dead. “Little Lord Fauntleroy” at New Opera House “Little Lord Fauntleroy,” Francis Hodgson Burnett’s story and play of nearly half a century ago, has become a beautifully-acted picture at the New Opera House, with Freddie Bartholomew (as Cedric), C. Aubrey Smith (as the Earl ef Dorincourt), Miss Dolores Costello Barrymore (as “Dearest”) and Guy Kibbee (as Mr. Hobbs). One of the scenes of the picture which appeals equally to children as well as to adults, occurs when Cedric meets crusty old Dorincourt. Confirmed in the belief that his son was won by trickery, lie will have none of “Dearest' at the castle. She must stay at the lodge, while her son takes up the role of Lord Fauntleroy. The lad's courage, honesty and sympathy subjugate everyone, including the irascible Dorincourt. and finally Little Lord Fauntleroy comes into his heritage.