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Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 108, 9 May 1930, Page 5

REGENT THEATRE. Owing to the very flattering reception'accorded to "The Trial of Mary Dugan," the management of tlic Regent Theatre decided to extend Iho .season one week longer. The picture, which is an all-talking production, has the advantage of » splendid cast headed by Norma Shearer. .Miss Shearer, who appears in the difficult role of Mary Dugan, has 1111 excellent recording voice and handles the emotional sequences of the picture fully as well as any stage veteran could have done it. 11. 15. Warner and Lewis Stone as the, two attorneys, and Hayman cl Ilackett as Mary's brother, contribute sterling performances. To those not familiar with the plot of liayard Veillcr's grinning melodrama, one may merely say that the scttiiif; is a Courtroom In which a sensational lnunlcr trial takes place. A rapid fusillade of <iuc:;lions by the prosecuting and defence attorneys is the central point about which the story is unrolled. So intensely realistic is the treatment of the story that the spectator,feels himself in the front row of the jury box, watching every bit of the dramatic by-play. The all-talking picture has the special advantage of bringing its audience close to every bit of action, and in "The Trial of Mary Dugan" the result is tremendously .satisfying. Suspense, thrills, and humorous interludes are cleverly mixed together in the development of this film. Even those who have . seen- the play are likely to get a stronger reaction than they experienced when the piece was presented on the st^ge. The plot is the same In every detail, but is particularly well adapted to the speaking screen. Those who have never seen the original "Mary Dugan" may have a double thrill in watching this remarkably stirring and exciting picture. In addition, there is an excellent supporting programme. THE PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Without 'n doubt "The Fall of Eve," the Columbia all-talking comedy-drama which opens to-day at the Paramount Theatre, provides some of the best comedy entertainment seen and heard locally for many months. Seldom has there been incorporated in one picture so many hilarious situations. A true farce, the entangled and ludicrous situations follow each other thick and fast. "The Fall of Eve" is a picture of great audience appeal. A scintillating comedy of marital mix-ups involving gossiping wives, wayward husbands. and charming girls and packed full of laughs from beginning to end, it is said to keep all audiences in hysterics. A brief summary of the story is as follows: Tom Ford, senior, who lias just married his second wife, has a son Tom, junior, who is secretly in love with Eve Grant, Ills father's private secretary. . In order to hold the business of one of his biggest customers, Mr. Mack, who loves the ladies. Ford promises to niako up a party. Not knowing any young girls, he asks Eve to come along. Mrs. Mack decides to accompany her husband the night of the party arid she mistakes Eve for Mrs. Ford. This leads to complications and keeps one in gales of laughter. Patsy Ruth. Miller portrays the character of •"Eve." The bulk of the comedy is handled by Ford Sterling. Some excellent sound featurettes are screened, in addition to the main feature. Box plans are available at Bristol and Theatre. KING'S THEATRE. John Gilbert, Marlon Davics, and Norma Shearer are included in the pageant of stars and near-stars who appear in "The Hollywood Revue," Metro-Goldwyn-Maycr's huge singing and dancing motion picture spectacle ■which opens a return season at the King's Theatre to-day. Among the stage and screen celebrities who will be seen iv the picture are Buster Keaton, Bessie Love. Charles King, Anita Page, Joan Crawford, William Haincs, Marie Dressier, Polly Moran, the Brox Sisters, Cliff Edwards (Ukulele Ike), the Albertlna Rasche ballet, the Itounders, Natacha Kattova, Gweu Lee, Lionel Barrymore, Karl'Dane, George K. Arthur, Stan Laurel, Conrad Nagcl, Jack Benny, and others. There aro excellent supports. Box plans are available at the Bristol, popular price scale being Is to 2s Od. QUEEN'S THEATRE. What is hailed as one of the most unusual all-talking pictures ever made, "Seven Faces," Fox Movietone, opens to-night at the Queen's Theatre. It is a powerful dramatic story, and Paul' Muni, America's premier character actor, is called upon to play seven entirely different roles in the same production, tinder the direction of Berthold Viertel. Muni's chief role is that of Papa Chibou, caretaker of a Parisian waxworks, and tho other six, which include Napoleon, Schubert, Don Juan, Diablcro the Great, Joe Gans, and Willie Smith, are waxworks statues' which come to life. Marguerite Churchill is co-featured with Muni and Lester Lonergan. There is an excellent supporting programme, and the prices are popular. OE LUXE THEATRE. To-day marks the premiere of the colossal First National and Vltaphono production, "Paris " at tho Do Luxe Theatre, and there will be an extended season. Photographed for the most part in gorgeously beautiful teehmcolour— the first exhibition of the new and revolutionary "live colour" process, "Paris".is a production which is said to afford a startling illustration of the really wonderful strides made iv "talkie" and natural colour art in the last year. Tho ".New York American" review of "Paris," tollowlng on its world premiere presentation recently at tho great Central Theatre on Broadway, said that "Paris" was surely the biggest thing yet attempted by any producing organisation. Its wonderful natural colour, tunefulness, lavish spectacle, humour, and snappy direction, as revealed in the Irene Bordoni talkie-singing, was worthy of France or any other land. Scores of stunning damsels' dancing about In glorious costumes; beautiful sets designed by Larry Ccballos, tho peer'of Hollywood's scenic artists; harmonious hues in soft reds, blues, greens, purples, and In silver and gold sheens, furnished by the Tcchnicolour Company. Then there is Louise Closscr Hale, Jack Buchanan, Zasu Pitts. Jason liobards, Margaret iFclding, and the star. Miss Bordlni's radiant personality is rcflcctwl In full measure on the musical screen. But, alas, the picture is not hers. Acting honours belong almost entirely to that delightful grey-haired gently middle-aged comedienne, Louise Closscr Hale. And then, .Jack Buchanan's Vitaphone talents—he's a combination of Sam Hardy and Clifton Webb —are contagious Indeed. A young man from Newton Centre, Mass., a prim young man (Jason Robards plays tho role typically) without a saving vice, goes to Paris. Two months later we find him engaged to Viviennc, a Parisian actress—a revue actress at that, nis puritanical mother comes across the watfcr to put an end to'it all. bringing the lady of her choice with her. Mrs. Sabbott is a total abstainer—from anything pleasant. But, when she lias passed out in a fainting spell, Guy Pcnnell, Vlvicnno's stage partner and former boy friend, puts some brandy to her lips, and she eventually becomes a regular sport. Whereupon the tables turn. Andrew grows vexed with Vivienne for spoiling his mamma, who takes to teaing. dancing, dolllngup, bobbing her hair, and even feigning a love affair with Guy in order to bring Andrew and Brenda and Vivienne and Guy together again. Of the song numbers, "Don't Look at Me that Way," "Somebody Mighty Like You," "Paris," "I Wonder What Is Really On His Mind," "I'm a Little Negative, Looking for a Positive," and Miss Bordonis' impersonations, are said to be popular hits. Box plans for the first' week are available at Bristol and Aitken's, a large number of scats having been reserved to date. ARTCRAFT THEATRE. "Manhattan Cocktail," one of' the features on the change of programme at the Arteraft Theatre to-day, has a dramatic climax. It tells of a stage-struck pair, and eventually the eternal triangle problem comes up for solution. There is a jealous husband and a fight in a theatre, In a mad scramble to escape one of the parties jumps to death from- the flys of the theatre. The woman, unnerved by this, Is unable to go on and the curtain rises on tho show as she leaves with the other parly for the peace of tho little college town. "Week-end Comedy" is the other picture. Estclle Brody Is seen as a famous revue star, who goes to a lawyer. Jameson Thomas, to secure a divorce fro.', her husband. Annette Benson plays the part of Thomas's wife, while Monty Banks is portrayed as,a gay philanderer, who enters into the marriage mix-up, but departs when tho actress's husband inherits a fortune, and so ends the matrimonial troubles of two young couples. There are good supports. KILDIRNIE KINEMA. ' Perhaps the most famous detective iv tho world is Sherlock Holmes. ' After many years of popularity the detective comes to the screen through the Paramount picture, "The Return of Sherlock Holmes." ' In this, Holmes, at the request of his friend, Dr. Watson, comes to the aid of his daughter, and in his last exploit Is ablo to silence tho activities of that arch criminal Moriarty. The character of Sherlock Holmes is brought to life after years of iuactivity by Clivo Brook, the distinguished English actor, who is supported by an excellent cast, under the ablo direction of Basil Dean. It will bo screened at. the Kilblrnie Theatre to-night.' Excellent short sound features will also be presented. Reserve at Theatre Confectionery, telephone 14-202, and Bristol Piano Co. ' NATIONAL REPERTORY THEATRE SOCIETY. . To-night, a specially-selected cast from the National Repertory Theatre Society will Interpret John Drlnkwater's world-famous comedy, "Bird in Hand." New scenery has been painted and set up, and an exhaustive preparation ha 3 been' carried out under the producer, Mr. W. S. Wauchop; The play is remarkable for the Ingenuity .of its character delineation, and in this the cast excels. Tho story is full of twists and ' sudden surprises, and abounds iv quaintly funny situations. Driokwater is a master of dialogue, and this is his supreme success In that particular. Tho women of the play are • portrayed by Miss Hazel Wells and Miss Florence Penney, and the male characters by Messrs. P. B. Broad, L. J. Maulc, E. S. Baldwin, John Boun, and Mr. J. R. Herd, who proves an attractive juvenile. The box plan is now open to the general public at tho Bristol. Tho performance doses at 10.30. OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. "The Cohens and Kelly in Atlantic City" is the chief attraction to bo shown at Our Theatre to-night. Cohen and Kelly, who aro in the bathing suit business, have old-fashioned Ideas. Their children send them off on a trip while they bring tho styles up to date, thus savin? the business. The second feature "Red Lips,' starring Marian Nixon, is a story of college life.