ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 73, 27 March 1931, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

RECEMT THEATRE. Xo r.rili.sli ,-urior nlu) lias fe'ime from the legitimate miijv to tl!u talking screen has taken with him » greater reputation than Leslie Hensiiii. ranked in the first HU:tit of EnKllali c(.mxliiuis. And when an acmr of Iris stamiin,! is IVhUik-iI <m tho screen in a piece which iio made famous on tlio since, tliu success oi the Koi'ndlon is a Mret;nne conclusion. .SiiL'l] was the casu with "A Warm Corner," a Caimiont British picture which 0, :-nod nt tlic Itcgcnt Theatre yesterday. A well-ailed house hail seen a very small part of the picture before the entire audience settled bade in their seats in anticipation of .some rare entertainment. Hippies of mirth were interspcrsid with unrestrained laughter as bright sallies from Henson and his fellow players followed in quick succession, the piquancy of many of the scenes adding further to the spirit of good humour. Leslie Benson took the part of Charles Corner, an Englishman of the "new rich" type, who had bought a castle with part of the fortune he had amassed from the sale of a patent treatment for corns. When the story opened ho was at a fashionable Lido hotel, whllo ostensibly on a business trip to the Continent. He was looking for trouble, and. found it in largo measure a few days later when a number of his Lido acquaintances turned up at his English home, mulnly as tho rmtcomo of his wife's efforts to secure a titled husband for their daughter. There was Mimi, a Lido lady, with whom ho had figured in a tcte a tete, Feter Price, a friend of his boyhood days, whose weak-willed nephew was secretly married to Mimi, Tuscan!, a pseudo count seeking the wealthy Miss Corner's hand, Lady Bayswaler, a former barmaid, and one or two others, each with their respective axes to grind. Corner finds tho path of deceit a stony one, and it is only by helping out the clever Slimi that he is able to extricate himself from his many difficulties. Mrs. Corner, with an unfailing string of Malapropisras, is played by Connie Eddiss, Mimi is represented by Heather Thatcher, and Peter Price by Austin Mciford, with the other characters in equally capablo hands. In support of tho main picture there is a news r.cel, a Government publicity feature dealing wldi the Waikato River, and a sound cartoon. ST. JAMES THEATRE. The first week of that splendid comedy 'Must Imagine" terminated last evening at tit. James Theatre before a packed house that laughed and applauded right merrily and heartily throughout the full length of the programme. The second and last week of tho season began this morning, and it is safe to predict that there will 1»b very few vacant seats while this most diverting of all picture attractions holds the screen. El Brendel, who was very popular in "Sunny Side Up," has .won a host of now admirers by his clean and unusually clever ■delineation'of tho man who, after being dead lor fifty years, was brought to lifo to flnd a new world full of startling changes. Every member of tho long cast contributes towards making this laugh-roar an entertainment that should not be missed. Intending patrons are £3vlsed to book their seats and avoid disappointment. MAJESTIC THEATRE. For beautful Dorothy Mackail, who first delighted Majestic Theatre audiences in "The flirting Widow," is claimed tho double distinction of beiug "tho richost woman of the film world and the best Englsh actress appearing fa' American talking productions." Her popularity In the United" States is very great, and her latest success "Once a Sinner," in which She plays the fascinating role of a new Magdalen, and in which she appears for tho first time In Wellington, is said to enhance that popularity greatly. It has been described as "one of -the finest contributions given by any artist to tho screen." Appearing in support of Miss MackaiU are Joel Jt'Crea, the young hero of "LightninV John Halliday, a world-famous stage star, C. Henry Gordon, Ilka Chase, and other reputable players. "Fox" Featurettes will prccedo the chief attraction. The late choppers' session will commence to-day at 5 o'clock and finish at 7 p.m. Box plans are at The Bristol, and also at the theatre. ICING'S THEATRE. Commencing to-day, an excellent British double feature programme \vill be presented at the King's Theatre. "Why Sailors Leave Home" is the attraction. It is a most amusing and frivolous story of a sailor's adventure In an Eastern port of call, and Is full of broad cotnody and farcical situations. Tho leading comedian in this production Is Leslie Fuller, who scored such a success in "Not So Quiet on the Western Front." This picture, directed by Monty Banks, also features Syd Couteney, Pete Bernard, Lola Harvey, Evo Gray, Frank Melroyd, and Marika Rokk (the latter doing a specialty dance). The second attraction, "The Lady from tho Sea," is adapted from the story "Goodwin Sands," by J. Grossman. OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. Bcbe Daniels and Ben Lyon are co-starred In the all-talking crook romance "Alias French Gertie" to be shown at Our Theatre to-night. It is a dramatic inside picture of the society "racket" as practised .by smooth-working Trench maids and their male accomplices. Ex-, cellont sound supports complete the programme. QUEEN'S THEATRE. Two excellent features will be screened this evening at the Queen's Theatre. The first is "Slmba," the thrilling motion picture record of the Martin-Johnson African expedition. It contains many episodes enacted to jungle and veldt. A lion hunt constitutes one of tho production's highlights. Tho second feature Is the bright Fox Movietone musical drama, "The Big Party," which features Sue Carol, Frank Albertson, Walter Catlett, Dixie Lee, and "Whispering" Jack Smith. Box plans are available at the Bristol at popular prices. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. The all-British attraction, "Song of Soho," a musical and dramatic spectacle of London's night life and the Foreign Legion, and starring the famous English artist, Carl Brlsson, supported by Edna Davies, Donald Calthrop, and Henry Victor, will be the attraction heading tho big allBritish double-star programme commencing at the Paramount Theatre to-day. Tho famous English comedian. Wee Georgie Woods, will also appear in the music-hall sketch, "The Black Hand Gang." The sketch has been elaborated considerably, and tho "talkie" version Introduces, the famous gang itself. Efforts to set tho right kind of, boys at labour exchanges failed, bocause they were all too old. So a casting expert was sent out in a motorcar to rovo London streets. Touching the inetropols from Elstree street at Edgeware road, he found all he wanted at once. Box plans are at tho Bristol and the theatre. CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. A double-feature British programme commences at the Capitol Theatre to-night. "Not So Quiet on the Western Front" and "Loose Inds" make a well-balanced programme. During this programme special reductions will be made in the admission prices. Mickey Mouso iadgos will be given to the first hundred arrivals to-morrow ■ afternoon. ARTCRAFT THEATRE. "The New Movietone Follios of 1930" Is Showing at the Artcraft Theatre. There arc three Hundred dancing beauties la the picture, the theme of which is fascinating, fervent youth at play, with plentiful interludes of bright comedy, and romance. There is fun and fast-stepping action against the background of a specjacular Broadway show. El Brendel and other film favourites are starred. NEW QUALITY THEATRE. To meet the existing conditions, the management of the New Quality Theatre, Island Bay, has decided to reduce further the prices of admission during the week nights. Saturday and holiday prices will remain as at present At matinees the prices will bo cheaper for adults and childron. From now on a long list of excellent productions has been booked, and combined ' with the excellent reproduction of the new talkie Installation, these entertainments will constitute good value. To-night and tomorrow George Bancroft will star in "Ladles Love Brutes," together with an excellent supporting programme. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. The principal attraction at tho Empire Theatre to-night is "Women Everywhere," starring J. Harold Murray, famous operatic singer.' The story deals with tho adventures of "Charles Jackson," rough and ready captain of a ship engaged in running a cargo of arms and ammunition to rebellious natives in Morocco. Jackson is captured and la forced to join the Foreign Legion, and it is then, that thrilling action takes place. At tho head of the supporting cast are Fi'l Dorsay, Clyde Cook, and George Grossmith. An oxcellent comedy and a Vox Movietone Mewsreel will also be shown. On Monday and Tuesday next "Swing High" will be screened. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. A girl inside, prisoner of a master criminal, ♦he intrepid Bulldos Drummond outside, baffled by spiked walls and barred windows from the girl he loves, and the sinister figure of the Black Strangler, with murder in his heart, Is the powerful central situation In "Temnlo Tower," Fox Movietone all-talking thriller, which opens at the Regal Theatre, Karori, tonight. Kenneth MacKcuna, Marcelino Dny, and Henry B. Walthall pltiy the main roles. A special programme of short subjects, including "So This is Marriago" (comedy), introduce the main feature. NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. Something "different" In the way of film drama Is offered at the New Princess Theatre to-day In "Common Clay," Fox movietone featuring Constance Bennett and Lew Ayres. Tully Marshall, Matty Kemp, Beryl Mercer, and Other screen favourites enact this unusual story of a girl's desperate attempts to rehabilitate herself In society. Tho picture was directed by Victor Fleming. In support are all-talMng short subjects and "Tho Spoil of tho Circus," a now serial. " KILBIRNIE KINEMA. Will Rogers's second starring production for Fox Movietone, "So This is London," is showing to-night at tbo Klnema. In tho audible version there ars many more quaintly humorous lines. Excellent sound supports will also be screened. "Song o' My Heart," KtarrlnK Jolrn, M'Corinaci, the fine Irish (singer, oprnmenpfiS tomorrow a* the Ktnema. Rescrre How at theatre snd Bristol.

DE LUXE THEATRE. Reginald Benny and Tifl Dorsay arc featured in "Thoso Thrco French Girl?," which opens to-day at. tho l)c Luxe Theatre as a new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer offering. In polut of exceptional interest, this (Urn is particularly noteworthy because- of its introduction to the talking screen of Wodchousc's hilarious lines, and the frank fnrco-comedy treatment of tho production. It is a riot of mirthful diaIdkuo and situations, the various characters all participating in comedy motivation and screaming episodes. Reginald Denny is ono of the silent screen stars who has won new popularity in talkies. Comedy rules arc ottered by lolly Moran and Jioscoo .A tea. The story presents a riotous account of tho adventures In Paris of the nephew of a British carl, whoso boisterous attempts at having a good time lands him in gaol, whero he finds himself iii company with two slightly inebriated Americans and three charming French damsels, who havo been put bohind the bars for throwing flower-pots at their landlord in tho heat of an argument. The ingenious manner in which tho frolicsome nephew Rets tho entire group out of gaol and their reception by his utterly bewildered undo, aro tho nucleus of a scries of hilarious incidents. There is mi excellent list of si'pporting fealurettcs, including "Tales of Morocco" (Burton Holmes sound travelogue scries), "High. Gear" (Charlio Chaso comedy), and tho latest Metrotone Sound News. Box plans are available at Bristol and theatre. GRAND OPERA HOUSE. The alluring Lupe Velez, little Mexican player who in two short years ,roso from obscurity to the heights of cinema fame, cavorts, tights, stampedes, dances, sings, and loves in her now picturo, "Hell Harbour," which commences at tho Grand Opera House today. Lnpc Velez plays a madcap lass descended from the rugged Sir Henry Morgan, swashbuckling pirate chieftain. Inheriting all his love of adventure, courage, and recklessness, Anita, the girl, is a veritable devil-child. Defiantly independent, she is given to wild impulses and daring exploits, and yet withal she has all tho hidden softness and sympathetic understanding of womankind. Mon are not a part of her life, for she seeks an ideal. And when he does come she finds he is the man she has planned to ruin. Around this themo is developed a story rich in incident, local colour, and tense drama. There are the thrilling flght in a cafe' between Morgan and Wade, tho death battle between Morgan and Horngold, and the strange life that is to he found under the Caribbean moon. Filmed in Tampa, Florida, amid natural tropical settings, "Hell Harbour" is said to havo ono of the most beautiful backgrounds used for a picture. There is not a studio shot In the picture. The cast of "Hell Harbour" includes, beside Lupe Velez and Jean Hcrsholt, John Holland, Gibson Gowland, Al St. John, Henry Allen, Paul E. Burns, and George Boolc-Tsta. The film Is said to mark a return to the tropical romantfc drama which was papular before the advent of talking pictures. Faultless photography and beautiful scenic effects are to be seen. Dynamic as sho was opposing Douglas Fairbanks as "The Gaucho," and colourful and exotic in "lady of, the Pavements," Lupe Velez is at her best as this strange, wild young creature swept into a whirlpool of flashing knives—thieves — lustrous pearls —mad music—intoxicating bliss —and great love. Under the direction of Henry King, this United Artists picture provides an evening rich in entertainment. BRITANNIA THEATRE. "Manslaughter," at the Britannia Theatre, is the story of a wealthy girl, carefree, careless, and thoughtlessly selfish. When sho falls in love with the serious-minded and ambitious young district attorney, she resents his criticism of her mode of life. Then tragedy overtakes her madcap career, and she faces a term in prison, with the district attorney fighting against her. Her love turns to hate when sho finds ail her weatth and influence, her beauty and her wiles are unable to save her from justice. SHORTrS THEATRE. The unlimited opportunities now awaiting ■unknown aspirants to screen fame with the advent of the talking picture are apparent in "Tho Locked Door," George Fitzmaunces United Artists production which is the main attraction in tho new programme at Suortts Theatre. As it was filmed with dialogue from start to finish, tho director insisted that every member of tho cast havo a voice with good tonal qualities and a full emotional range and tho completed picture justifies the painstaking care put into it. The story is about a brave young wife who finds her happiness menaced by a sociey wolf masquerading in sheep s clothIng. There are excellent supports.