ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 227, 22 June 1936, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

“The Bohemian Girl” Still at the

Majestic Theatre

Laurel and Hardy as happy-go-lucky members of a gipsy band have bright original fare to offer in “The Bohemian Girl,” now in its second week at the Majestic Theatre. This is one of the most entertaining films Wellington has seen for a long time. Some may wonder at the disparity between the original Balfe opera and the screen version, but they will enjoy the modern film story no less because of its more hilarious treatment. Then, too, their misgivings will be appeased by the fact that most of the entrancing music of the century-old opera has been retained in the Laurel and Hardy translation. A most timely short feature striking at hit-and-run drivers head an exceptionally good supporting programme of news features, a study of basketball technique, and a coloured travel talk of Japan. "Robin Hood of El Dorado.”

Lifted bodily from the most romantic era of frontier history, “Robin Hood of El Dorado,” starring Warner Baxter, comes to the screen of the Majestic Theatre on Friday to take its place among the truly magnificent achievements of the talking screen.

Dionne Quintuplets at the

State Theatre

One of the most charming pictures presented for the entertainment of Wellington theatregoers for a very long time is a fitting description of "The Country Doctor,” the 20th Century-Fox film which brings for the first time in their brief life the world-famed Dionne quintuplets to the screen, and which is now showing at the State Theatre. The picture pays a noble tribute to the country doctor whose self-sacrificing devotion to humanity does not often make the front pages and on whom the limelight rarely rests. The name part of "The Country Doctor” is played by that fine character actor Jean Hersholt, ■ who recreates to the life the famous Dr. Dafoe who brought the Dionne babies into the world and who wrote medical history by keeping them in it—a feat never before thought possible.

“Ceiling Zero” at the

De Luxe

Big houses have attended the Warner Bros.-Cosmopolitan aviation drama “Ceiling Zero,” now at the De Luxe Theatre, and the audiences are getting all the excitement expected when the pale ot “Devil Dogs of the Air,” Cagney and O'Brien, start mixing love with aviation. There is an element of tension in ‘Ceiling Zero” that »ete it apart from the ordinary “run-of-the-mill screen melodrama. “Ceiling Zero,” the story of which was written by one of the world’s few aviator, playwrights, Lieut.-Commander Frank Wead, sets out to dramatise the thrills of commercial night flying under adverse weather conditions. , A special holiday session will be held at the De Luxe to-morrow at 10 a.m. Four cartoons, all in natural colour, will be screened in addition to “Ceiling " er ®- The model aeroplanes entered in the “Ceiling Zero” competition are also on view in the mezzanine lounge of the theatre.

“Naughty Marietta” Showing at Paramount Theatre Although “Naughty Marietta” earned a lengthy season when it was first shown in Wellington, it is certain that many will be glad of the opportunity by the return season at the Paramount Theatre of once more hearing the superlative singing of lovely Jeanette MacDonald and Nelsou Eddy, the young operatic baritone. The screen transcription of “Naughty Marietta” takes on as much importance as its original stage premiere because of the unique handling of the story. The old comie opera libretto was laid aside, and the stirring incidents, historical facte and dramatic thrills referred to in dialogue in the stage version are actually shown. “Jack of All Trades” at Plaza Theatre That prince of merrymakers, Jack Hulbert, is in his element in “Jack of all Trades,” the brilliant Gaumont-British musical comedy which heads the programme at the Plaza ' Theatre. Hulbert is immense as a youthful adventurer, who rises to dazzling heights by pure bluff and optimism. Before long he is lording it id a bank, ordering the directors about, and floating companies. Through the machinations of the Iqdy he loves, he soon has a fall, and finds himself a fireman in a shoe factory. However, he nonchalantly dances and sings through good and bad Ivck, and ends up a hero by rescuing his lady love from a spectacular fire. The film contains some of the snappiest musical numbers heard from the screen. , “Anything Goes,” Musical Show at Regent Theatre Though billed as a musical show, “Anything Goes,” Paramount’s new release at the Regent Theatre, owes the greater part of its succes to its comedy. “Anything Goes” is the film version of Cole Porter’s very successful stage production, the composer’s music being among its chief attractions. Such popular numbers as “Anything Goes,” “You’re the Top,” and “I Get a Kick Out of You,” are prime favourites, in addition to several other numbers written for the screen show by other composers. The plot is a merry mix-up with its action on board an ocean liner numbered among the passengers of which are two crooks, one of them masquerading as a clergyman, an English heiress and a love-sick young American. “Riffraff,” at St. James Theatre, Stars Jean Harlow A virile, violent, vigorous portrayal of the seamy waterside life of the American fishing ports is showing this week at the St James Theatre. It is called “Riffraff.” Jean Harlow and Silencer Tracey are the stars. Here is the pith of the story: Dutch Miller, a champion tuna fisher, played by Tracey, is a young, hardbitten, big-headed, hard-fisted fisherman, whose head is too big for his hat. Hattie, a pretty blonde who works in the tuna cannery, adores this boaster, and actually thinks he is the big shot he says he is. until after marriage. Excellent work is also done by .1. Farrell MacDonald as Nick Lewis. The programme also includes a capital Charlie Chase comedy. “Vamp Till Ready,” and some informative pictures of the League of Nations at work.

“The Amateur Gentleman” at the New Opera House The vast number of the public who took joy in reading Jeffery Farnol’s story, “The Amateur Gentleman.” over a decade ago, may revive that pleasure by seeing it acted on the screen at the New Opera House. This picture features Douglas Fairbanks, jnn., and Elissa Landi, as Barnabas Barty and Lady Cleone, but they are but two of a long and capable cast, which does justice to this fine sporting story of Georgian days. The supporting programme includes one of the vivid new screen-journalism series, “March of lime.’i