ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 68, 21 March 1931, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

ST. JAMES THEATRE.

Love and laughter altcrnatu joyously In tho brilliantly satirical forecast of Utty years, "Just Imagine," at the St. .lames Theatre, while tho Imaginative effort is powerful and the setting truly marvellous. Tho story opens in the canons of skyscrapers in New York in lflso, tho air holng full of wi.ird craft liko hammerhead sharks, with potent llttlo holicuptera in place of the eves. The views from tho air down into tho chasms of masonry give 0110 a chill, but it soon transpires that tho people ol' tho age, tnough they dine aud "upark up" on tabloids, arc as full of Iho human emotions as «vor. Numbered instead of named, State-docketed and Indexed with all tho rulhlessness of an employment bureau, they .still get a lot out of life. LN IS, the pretty brunette heroine, is desolate becauso the Court has decided in favour of MT 3,11 pushful person who has never failed to pull off a deal, when she would rather havo J2l, a merely manly aviator. It is the State, and not the lady, which accepts suitors in IDSU. Tho solution is found by J 21, when, with D 6, a chubby ami vivacious ultra-modern blonde, the beloved of RT 42, .1 21's buddii, they attend the revlvicatlon or a man of 1930, struck by lightning at tho top of his bacliswing on tho links, who has passed tho fifty years In glorious suspended anticipation. El Brcndel Is the subject at this classy clinic, and when J2l is otfered the chanco to distinguish himself suiaclently to soften tho State's decree, by flying him out of that very queer planet, and all ends well. Never was comedy staged in such Impresslvo Imaginative realism, while tho humour is spontaneous and genuine. Murs Is a joke, but a good one. Marjoric White helps the comedy side along, whilo Maureen O'Sullivan and John Garrick provide the soulful love interest. Brendel excels himself in this Him, tho situations In- which are decidedly novel. Taking nearly the whole of the programme, it comes to an end all too quickly, as, despite tho Amorican love of the universe which lias dictated the sotting, the human sido of tho story has been developed with rare artistry, especially in Its humorous aspect. These jokes should bo seen, not read.

PARAMOUNT THEATRE.

The devotion of a son (a policeman) to his fallier (who has committed crime.-) is a feature of tlio new play now being screened at the Paramount Theatre. "Olllccr O'lirii'n," a rathe melodrama, in which William JJoyd takes Ihe part of tho police nluYcr, provides him with Jin opportunity of displaying Ills undoubted ability in portraying strong characters. The story is lhat of a young policeman who bus been promoted for Ihe firrcst of <i criminal. A secret of O'Brien's life was that his father had been sentenced to a long term of imprisonment. Tho son succeeds in getting his father's term of sentence reduced, the father being under the impression that lie lias been released because of gooil behaviour. Tho intention of the young police officer is to try and induce his father to make cood. Circumstances arise which prevent this. The son's love for his father is, as stated, tho outstanding feature of tho play. A prominent character in the story is J'atello, who has v beon arrested on a charge of murder. Tho only witness of the crime is a young policeman named Dale. Ruth Dale, sister of the policeman, Is to love with O'Brien. Fearinthat Patello's gang will wreak vengeance on Pale If he gives evidence against Patello, Kuth tries to induce O'Brien to get her brother to refuse to give evidence against Patello. The play is full of thrilling situations, and concludes with a most powerful and pathetic scene Interesting Pathe and other gazettes ere included in tho first half of the programme

KING'S THEATRE.

A comedy-drama which provides excellent entertainment is "The Lady of Scandal," which opened a return season at tho King's Theatro last night. The story tells of an actress who becomes engaged to the son of a peer and who is Invited to spend a few months at lib home to becomo acquainted with the personages and manners of the society she Is about to enter. Complications soon arise, and In order to compel a man whom she loves to take the honourable course in respect of another woman, just become a widow, she resolves to go back to the stage. Thero arc elements of clever linraour and good drama throughout Ihe picture. The scenes In English life are particularly well presented. Ruth Chatlerton is in the leading role, and is ably supported by Basil Rathbone. The supporting programme is well in keeping with the main attraction.

QUEEN'S THEATRE,

"Romanes," the stirring all-talkir.g screen version of Edward Sheldon's famous stage play, opened a week's engagement at the Queen's Theatre last night. Greta. Garbo has the leading role, and In her portrayal of ltlta CavalJini, the opera singer, she gives a wonderful performance. Her interpretation of the one love In the life of Cavallinl, a love lhat is hopeless because of the past, is vivid and will live Id memory for some time. Her personality, her accent, and hor mannerisms seem to belong as much to the character of the great singer as they do to Greta Garbo herself. Lewis Stone demonstrates his ability in a sterling characterisation of Cornelius Van Tyl, while Tom Armstrong, the young clergyman with whom Rita falls in love, is played with convincing effect by Gavin Gordon. All the other characters are well played. There is a strong supporting programme.

SHORTT'S THEATRE,

"Bulldog • Drummond," showing at Shnrtt's Theatre, is gorgeous entertainment. The role of tho charmingly debonair Bulldog Drummond suits KonaW Colman perfectly. The entire picture. In fact, has everything that goes to make up an enjoyable evening. The story is delightful, tlio cast is well chosen, and the direction reveals both intelligence and a sense of humour. As to the talking, tho highest praise one can offer to the film Is that unlike many other talkies, it neither gives the Improssion of a stage play being photographed nor a movlo given the addition of sound.

OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN,

"Tho Sky Hawk," tho first all-talking production of wartime aviation, is being shown at Our Theatre to-night. John Garrick, Helen Chandler, and Gilbert Emery play the featured roles. It Is a thrilling story of a youthful British aviator who clears his name of au unwarranted charge of cowardice through gallantry. There aro excellent sound supports.

NEW PRINCESS THEATRE,

Maurice Chevalier, tho famous singing slar or the Parisian stage, recently seen on tho screen In "Innocents of Paris" and "Tho Love Parade," Is starred In a new, romantic comedy, "The Bis Pond," which as a Paramount picture Is now showing at tho New Princess Theatre. Playing opposite Chevalier is Clatidctte Colbert, who scored a decided hit as the courageous heroine of "Tho Lady Lies."

REGAL THEATRE, KARO3I.

"Redemption," an all-talking adaptation of t.yof Tolstoi's drama, "The Living Corpse," is showing at tho Regal Theatre, with John Hllbert in the starring role and Rcneo Adoree, Conrad Nagel, Eleanor Boardman, and Claire M'Dowcll in important supporting parts. Tho story centres about the tragedy of a Simian officer who, despite love for his wife, is drawn away from his domestic happiness through tho intluenco of a gypsy heredity.

EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY,

The principal attraction at the Empire Theatre 13 "The Three Sisters," with Kenneth "H'Kenna, Joyce Compton, and June Collyer heading a largo cast. Laid in the romantic setting of a little village In Italy, the picture is a thoroughly human narrative of a mother and her three daughters at tlio period of the World War. The supporting programme includes "Hubervlllc Night Club," "Furnace Trouble," and a Fox Movletono ncwsreel. On Wednesday and Thursday next a Univcrsa special, "Tho Cat Creeps," heads a special programme.

ARTCRAFT THEATRE.

Trap doors to swallow and tunnel walls to crush tho trespasser, a sinister masked stranglor, a fortune In emeralds, it croup of crooks battling each other.to aalu the jewels. a grim fortified estate in a lonely part of England, and the famous Biilldoe !?™ nlraond are ingredients of "Templo lower, lox Movietone thriller with Kenneth Mackenna as "Drummond," now showing at the Artcraft Theatre. Thoro are excellent supports.

BRITANNIA THEATRE,

Tho Marx Brothers, four funsters, appear at the Britannia Theatre in "Animal CracKers. It Is full of Jazz and frolic. Tho "pretties dirt" from each of fifteen Broadway imisiral comedies is Introduced in the picture. Ihcro are ;ood supports.

NEW QUALITY THEATRE, ISLAND BAY.

The New Quality Theatre is now in m I swin, a K ain. To-nlßht'3 programme is headed by WllUim Powell in "for the Defenco, a powerful drama which a great criminal lawyer culled froM actual experience. Tho supporting programme Includes "Ladles' Choice" (a comedy), two news-reels, and a novelty subject. Kcsorvca may be made at Still's, The Parade, and no oxtra charge Is made.

KILBIRNIE KINEMA,

"Canaries Sometimes Sitifi" Is bcinc shown at the Kilblraio Kincma to-day. This talkie does .„> r «iT on low-brow comedy, but on the stuccoed pattern of Its brilliant dialogue, irony i,f situation, and Us counter play of cliaractor In Torn Walla's acheminK to unluuil his "hlglimlnded" wife on Ills old trlentl—"Ktou nnel .O-lford"—while ho himself has his heart set on his old friend's young wife, there Is ut.imxly ™"', M delicious as it Is devastating >;x----eellont «o™d supports will, abo be presented. Reserves at theatre and Bristol.

SEASIDE PICTURES, LYALL BAY.

tcjiervccl by telephone.

CAPITOL THEATRE. MIMMAR.

Micfey Mouse cartoon will also ho shown.

MAJESTIC THEATRE,

As a serial running in the "Saturday Evening Tost," "Young Man of Manhattan" proved 0110 of the most popular this famous weekly has had through its pages, and now that it has been made into a picture it promises to be equally popular. It is a lively, fast-moving story, full of Interest, and exciting, as might bo expected with a background such as the newspaper world provides. As a special writer, naiidetle Colbert battles for stories at football games, prize lights, six-day bicyclo races, and in other colourful spheres. At the DempseyTuiiney flght in Philadelphia she meets Toby M'Lcan, anolher sporting writer with a fondness for alcohol. They marry, but the woman remains In her vocation, and her success arouses the professional Jealousy of her husband. While ho dabbles around, his wife gets on with tho Job and pays the bills. In order to increase her Income, she cultivates tho acquaintance of a publisher, the husband retaliating by responding to the advances of a woman of the vampire typo. The couple part company only to come together again when the wife loses her eyesight through an accident. It is then that the husband realises his responsibilities and sets to work in earnest to reestablish himself. Ho does so to some purpose, and there is the customary happy ending. Unusual in its way, the picturo provides an excellent Insight into American newspaper work, somo of the settings being of great interest. A first-class supporting programme goes to make up an entertainiug evening.

GRAND OPERA HOUSE.

The popularity of the pantomime, "The House That Jack Built," was again apparent at tho Grand Opera House last evening, when there was au excellent house to see the performance, in which Jim Gerald holds the stage most of the time. The ballet work was splendid, and every part of the programme met with the ready applause of an enthusiastic audience. The lengthy season of "The House That Jack Built" will be brought to an end this evening. The extension of the Wellington season has necessitated a change of dates for tho country tour, which will now open with a performance of tho pantomime at Masterton on Monday evening. "HELL HARBOUR." One of the first all-talking productions to he filmed on location entirely out of doors is "Hell Harbour," the romantic drama starring Lupo Velcz. which comes to the Grand Opera House on Friday next. The picture was suggested by Klta Johnson Young's novel, "Out of the Night," and is • tho work of Henry Kins, director of "Tho White Sister" anil "Slclla Dallas." "Hell Harbour" is said to olVcr Lupe Vclez the greatest opportunily of her smtppii career, presenting her in the part of a high-spirited young modem, a descendant of tho great pirate chief, Sir Henry Morgan. Around this theme Is developed a story rich ill incidcDt, local colour, and tense drama. There arc the thrilling flght In a cafe between Morgan and Wade, tho death battle between Morgan and Horngold, and the strange life that is to be found under the Caribbean moon. Filmed in Tampa, Florida, amid natural tropical settings, "Hell Harbour" Is said to have one of the most heuutlful backgrounds used for a picture. There is not a studio shot in- tho picture. The cast of "Hell Harbour" Includes, beside Lupe Velcz and Jean gersholt, John Holland, Gibson Gowland, Al St. John, Henry Allen, Paul E. Burns, and George Book-Asta.

DE LUXE THEATRE,

Ajiyono who Imagines that "Hilly the Kid," the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer wide-screen feature, which began at the De Luxe Theatre yesterday, is "just another Western," Is mistaken. Billy the Eld was a living Hgure in the early history of New Mexico —a man who fought tho law in order that justice might be done—an early American Robin Hood. In "The Saga of Billy the Kid" Walter Xoble Burns collected the evidence of the life of this remarkable man, and In his newts feature. King Vldor, one of the world's notable producers, has made a worthwhile film. It Is blustering melodrama, with tho guns blaring, "justice" a travesty In the slogan is "I'm the law around this place," and a stirring and well-staged siege. In the midst of the bustling and emotional story there is time for humour and pathos and no little heroism. The villains arc unmistakably vile, and the retribution that overtakes them is grimly approved by the audience. The character work, performed by Wallace Beery, Karl Dane, and the two deliberate frontiersmen John Beck and Nelson M'Dowell ("Mr. Butterworth" and "Air. Hatfleld"), Is memorable. Many of the scenes are like fine etchings. . The supporting programme Includes a comedy, "Bigger and Better," which deals with a department store; a Metrotono Sound News, and Mr. Paul T. Cullen, at the organ, singing "A Pair of Blue Eyes" and giving selections from "Pinafore."

REGENT THEATRE.

The cast that made "Rookery "ook" Ilie success It was as a talkie has again achieved a great triumph In "Plunder," another Ben Travers farce, now in its second week at the Regent Theatre. There is not a "let up" In this rollicking tale of unjustified burglary. The pace Is a "cracker" from the time Freddie Malone (Tom Walls), suave society thief, takes the artless D'Arcy Tuck (Ralph L.vnne) Into partnership with him, to relieve Mrs. Hewlett (Mary Brough) of her 111-gotten jewels. DoArcy's fiancee (Winifred Shotter) has been neatly diddled out of her inheritance by old Mrs. Hewlett, and this settles any qualms which D'Arcy might otherwise have had of becoming suddenly dishonest. Nevertheless, he Is anything but tho ideal thief, and Freddie has many a trying moment, and the audience many a gale of laughter before the old lady's regalia is removed. A touch of what ought to be tragedy come 3 wtth the death of the prying "Uncle Simon," but so quick is the action and so independent the theme of anything in the way of normal, honest behaviour that the deceased gentleman is hardly missed. The two confederates land themselves In Scotland Yard, and here the fun becomes hilarious as the Inimitable Tuck alternately reveals and conceals parts of the crime. The robbery having been successfully explained to somewhat bewildered detectives, all is set right between DArcy and his pretty Joan; Freddie's sister Is left with a lilywhlte character, and ho himself is miraculously relieved of any connection with theft or murder. Only tho luckless Airs Hewlett pays for her sins, and even she has an unfortunate looking son to help her bear them. "A WARM CORNER." Those who relish 11 hearty laugh—or rather 11 whole crowd of laughs—have a rare opportunity to gratify their taste In the attraction "A Warm Corner." which will be at the Regent on Thursday. Baaed on the play nt the same name which had a prolonged run at the Prince's Theatre, London, and plnyi-d by practically the same cast, It Is said t| ! )c one of those sparkling comedies which have recently lifted British pictures Into the forerront of the "movies" and deDnitely established the position of the British studios. "A Warm Corner" scintillates with mirthful situations and witty lines, handled by the greatest of British comedy players, Leslie Henson.

THE APOLLO SINGERS.

To-night at 8 o'clock the Apollo Singers will hold their final concert of the season at the Town Hall Concert Chamber. A very good concert Is assured, and the Singers will be assisted by Miss Ava Symons, Wellington's celebrated violinist, and Mr. Ernest Jenner, A.R.A.M., late solo pianist in Sir Henry Wood's London orchestra. Mr. Jenner is also the accompanist for the evening. The choir are Including a number of new items In their programme, some which are the "Pilgrims' Chorus" from "Tannhauser," Veit's "Summer Night," and Adolphe Adam's "The Anvil." Three of the pieces by the Apollos will be accompanied by two grand pianos played by Messrs. Ernest Jenner and William Elllington. The conductor of the Singers Is Mr. H. Temple White, whoso work in the musical circles of Wellington is well known. The prices of admission are popular.

ORGAN RECITAL,

Mr. Bernard V. Page (City Organist) will give his weekly organ recital at the Town Hall to-morrow evening, and the programme has been arranged as follows:—Concert Overture in F by Mendelssohn, Concerto in D Minor No. 10 by Handel, Romance Op. 118 (No. 5) by Brahms, Prelude and Cortege ct Air de nanse from I/enfant Prodlgue dv Debussy, Sonatina In A minor by Karg-Elert, and "Under Ibe Klorry Heaven," Op. 108' (No. 2), by Karg-Elort.

BROOKLYN THEATRE,

"Kor the Defence," Paramount's stirring play about a sensational criminal -lawyer, comes to Iho Brooklyn Theatre to-night. William Powell is starred as tho brilliant attorney. It Is one of tlm most, gripping roles this prince of poise and power has ever had In the "talkies."

STAR THEATRE, NEWTOWN

A double-feature programmo will be screened at the Star Theatre to-night. The first feature will be "Tenth Avenue," a gripping dr.-ima of love and crime In tho underworld of Niuv York. Tho other Is "Marriage By Contract," which deals with the Idea of companionatc marriage.