ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 11, 14 January 1931, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

ST. JAMES THEATRE

Bessie Love, Gus Shy, Dorothy M'Xulty, and company, aro still meeting with conspicuous success In the splendid entertainment "Good News," which concludes at St. James Theatre on Thursday evening next. Charles Chase's comedy, "Dizzy Dollars," is another big favourite. Box plans are at Tho Bristol.

Special interest should attach to tho comJnc on Friday, morning next to St. James Theatre of "The" Big House," for it is conceded to be the greatest production of its class ever given to tho talking screen. It,-deals vividly with the evils of overcrowded prisons, with the folly of crime, and tho dire results of a criminal life. Life on tho "inside" in a great overcrowded penitentiary is echoed in the picture, in thrills, sensations, grim episodes, comedy, and heart-throbs. Stark realism, men In the rough, are contrasted with home life and love romance In the vivid story. There is a great prison riot of 1000 men quelled by machine-Rtms and army tanks; there Is the pathetic story of the friendship of two conthe startling spectacle of a boy, a first offender, thrown Into tho company of hardened criminals until he becomes even worse than they are. "The Big House" has awakened the interest of the authorities in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Belgium. The value of the picture is recognised by welfare workers m all countries. Box plans are at Tho Bristol.

PARAMOUNT THEATRE,

An unmarried mother fighting to regain a place among the "best people"; this is the. keynote of "Common I'lay' at the Paramount Theatre. A girl who loves pleasure and gaiety ■ and dancing, and who has taken the easiest way to secure these, loves too well, and is left alone with her haby. She does not want money, but demands justice and insists on a trial to settle the matter. The unexpected revelations that ensue form one of the most dramtic endings in screen history. The main feature is well supported.

REGENT THEATRE.

The story of "KalTles," featuring Ronald Colma'n, is now screcninj! at the Bcgcnt Theatre. Raffles is an amateur cracksman, and gentleman crook. The girl in the story brings the young criminal to realise the error of his ways. Baffles has resolved to give up his risky business when his friend Bunny confesses in a state of'agony that he has uttered a cheque for £1000, and will be mined if it is not met. Itaffles decides to help him, and arranges to bo invited to a house party given by Lord and Lady Melrose, his object being to steal the famous Jlelrosc diamond necklace. Another gang of crooks has the same idea, and Raffles decides to lie low, catch the thief, Ket the diamonds, and let the man go. Inspector M'Kcnzle is actually on the premises when the thieves break in, and has, as he thinks, put the necklace case away in the safe. The common "pro.," Crawshaw, steals Into Lady Melrose's bedroom, and secures the necklace, and is escaping when he is caught b, Baffles. Before the man can get away the household Is alarmed and the thief is caught, but does not give Raffles away. It is M'Kenzle who suspects Kaffles, and purposely allows Crawshaw to get a-.vay, and has both him and Raffles shadowed to tho latter's rooms In London. ' It is the appeal of Owen, (his fiancee) which finally brings the necklace to light (for which Bunny receives the £1000 reward to meet his cheque), but. at the last moment Baffles cleverly evades the police and gets away, with a promise to meet Gwen in Paris. , ■

'CANARISS SOMETIMES SING,

Another of the famous Aldwych Theatre farces which have proved so popular with Xew Zealand talkie fans is "Canaries Sometimes Sing," which will commence a season at the JScgent Theatre on Friday next. Featuring the ever-popular Tom Walls and Yvonno Arnaud, this witty Frederick Lonsdalc comedy threatens to eclipse in popularity anything that this merry company of British comedians has yet turned out. Brimming with Lonsdaic's brilliant English humour, and enacted by a cast of popular London players, it is said to lie a humorous gem that will long he remembered by all who see it.

KING'S THEATRE.

"SoriE o' J.ly Heart," at Ilio King's Theatre, does full justice to the quality of John M'Cormack's -voice. The great tenor sings elevon songs. There are some fascinating aspects about the voice of John M'Cormack. One of them is the use of his voice as an instrument. Another aspect is the power of concentration with which he infects his listeners, his wistful nuances, his sense of climax used deliberately with the utmost dramtic effect.

QUEEN'S THEATRE.

A Fox Movietone all-talking romance, called "Salute," Is now screening at the Queen's Theatre at (ho orcnJng sessions. A thrilling and romantic story culminates in a fast-moving football came. Screening at the matinee sessions only Is-Tom Mix in Fox's thrilling Western production, "The Arizona Wildcat." This affords excellent entertainment for children. Both programmes carry an excellent list of supporting featurettes. - ■

GRAND OPERA HOUSE.

"Africa . Speaks," now concluding a run at the Grand Opera House, is the pictorial lengthy run at the Grand Opera House, is tho pictorial diary of a noted explorer, who crossed the Dark Continent two years ago and secured some truly remarkable "close-ups" of the beasts and birds of Africa in their native haunts. Pigmies, those strange, shy inhabitants of tho jungle depths; "duck-billed" women with hideously distorted lips; a hugo swarm of locusts advancing over the veldt and spreading destruction far and wide; a lion hunt by the famous Masai warriors, armed only with spears; herds of the leaping impalla; millions of flamingoes; and close-ups of lions; these are a few of tho scenes which ,go to make up this wonderful picture. The sound equipment has recorded tho weird sounds of the jungle, and has brought n realism which lifts the picture right out of the ordinary. An Attractive- selection of variety subjects is presented in conjunction with tho big picture.

ARTCRAFT THEATRE.

The all-British film production. "The American Prisoner," adapted from Eden Phillpotts's famous novel, is showing at the Artcraft Theatre to-day. The picture deals with the turbulent days of the early 18th century, when England was at war with Napoleon. As Lieut. Stark, Carl Brisson, now a world favourite, lias a dashing role, and he is supported by Madeleine Carroll, a delightful British star. Miss Nancy Price gives a remtarkable interpretation of an old hag, and A. Bromley Davenport has a role that is polished and ctultured. There is a. worthy selection of supporting subjects..

BRITANNIA THEATRE.

"lira Social Lion," now showing at the- Britannia Theatre, 'fs based on Octavus Boy Cohen's story, "Marco Himself." It has to do with Ihe fortunes of a young garaga mechanic who plays polo so well that b.6 gains a place in the polo team of a wealthy country club in his town. But he makes the mistake of thinking that he can make himself the big hit in socielcy.

SHORTT'S THEATRE.

■Richard Allen sings in his second Western role in "The Light of Western Stars" at anortts Theatre. Aden, iv the opening sequence of the picture, is heard in a cowboy chantie, accompanied by a harmonic* and 3 Jew's harp. As tho well-known Zano Grey character Dick Bally, Arien is the cowhand foreman who fights and shoots and rides and even quits-drinking,.for the girl ho loves. Mary Brian plays opposite him.

OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN,

Marie Dressier and Tolly Morau are costarred in a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's all-talk-ing comedy which will be shown at Our Theatre to-night. The situations In this comedy are ■ t.,0,. c uMo«r'oi>sly funny, particularly in which the slars aro seen in their board-ing-house activities and afeain later when, with he sudden acquisition of wealth, they attempt to play the "grand ladies." There are excellent Bound supports.

CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR.

Raise the Roof," starring Betty Balfour will be shown to-night at the Capitol Theatre. A Mickey Mouse cartoon, two talking comedies, and a news reel will also be shown. The British talkio triumph, "On Approval" commences on Friday. Tom Walls, Mary Brough, Winifred Shotter, and Robertson Hare, all of whom appeared in "Rookery Nook," have prominent parts in this witty and sparkling satirical comedy adapted rrom tile brilliant Irederick Lonsdale play.

EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY.

"The Golden Calf" is the mala attraction at the Empire Theatre to-night. The story is laid in Greenwich Tillage. Jack Mulliall is seen as an advertising artist. In search of a model with perfect legs to pose for a hosiery advertisement. Sue Carol, seen at first as his prim old-maidish secretary, discovers she had the perfect measurements, but lias to transform herself into a beautiful, dashing model before she can qualify. Several news songs are featured In the picture, also an exceptionally fine ballet of a hundred chorus girls. The supporting programme includes an all-talking comedy, a novelty featuretlc, a Pox Movietone newsreel, and a special sound record of Kingsford Smith's arrival in New York. The change of programme on Friday is headed by "free and Easy," starring Buster Keaton.

REGAL THEATRE, KARORI

Presenting vivid and distinct characterisations of sixteen different men in one motion picture may seem a difficult tiling to do, but this has been aeromjilished In tlio stirring drama, "Tlio Adventures of SIS," which is the feature attraction at the Regal Theatre, Karori, to-night. The men are Imprisoned in an American submarine, which is sent to tlio bottom of the China Sea, through a collision with a tramp steamer. It is impossible for thorn to raise the vessel. Their air supply is very limited, and the water Is steadily leaking into the jMp, Their only hopo, and it i? a faint ooa, is tft to rise. The climax is a stupendous due.

MAJESTIC THEATRE,

"Little Johnny Jones," Goorgo M. Cohau's sparkling comedy-drama, witli Eddie Buzzell, Alice Day, Edna Murphy, and a good cast, will terminate its season at tho Majestic Theatro on Thursday evening. Box plans aro at The Bristol and at tho theatre.

On Friday morning there will come to the Majestic the popular favourite, William Haines, in his first Western talking picture, "Way Out West." This is said to bo the brighest and best talking attraction that Haines has given to tho screen, abounding in fun, romance, and adventure. At tho opening of the play Haines is attached to a travelling circus -as sideshowman. He wins some money from a band of cowboys, but a light-fingered lady relieves him of It. The cowboys carry him off to a ranch in tho ldnges and compels him to work at a weekly wage, tho cowboys drawing his salary until the debt was discharged. Leila Hyams is the heroine of the piece. Short subjects on this programmes will Include Charles Chase in "High C's" (comedy), "The Glories of Nikko" (with descriptive talk by Burton Holmes), "Flip the frog," cartoon, and Metrotone News. Box plans are at The Bristol and also at the theatre.

DE LUXE THEATRE,

The wild western thrill of a Zanc Grey talo is recaptured in "The Last of the Dunnes,' at the De Luxe Theatre Buck Dunne, coming homo finds that his father has been shot in the back, and sets . out on a quest ot vengeance. Buck Duane is played by George O'Brien. The supporting programme is of bigger calibre than usual, for the Vox Movietone comedy-drama, "Soup to Nuts,' provides a different form of humour. There is also a Fox Movietone News, an amusing moment with George Bernard Shaw and his "Shakespearian forehead."

KILBIRNIE KINEMA,

"They Learned Ahout Women," which will screen "to-night at the Kilblrnie Kinema, is a delightful romance of back-stage life which would please cren the most fastidious pictureKoer. Very good supports will also be screened. Reserved at Theatre Confectionery, Id. 14-202, and Bristol.