ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 103, 4 May 1931, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

■/■':■ . GRAND OPERA HOUSE. -.'./ A' double.featuro programme of exceptional ;ilierlt is. being., screened at rtlio Grniiil Opera :Hoiise/ "The ■rill],.of:.|hb gea" is ;i r.rlt|sh ■picture In which the 'plot is n little removed ,'from reality, but in which (ho (Hiilobuu ami the acting combine to placu It well nliovo the ;.a,v<we, ' In a small Wust Indian island, tho s,jiotljig-Consill, a man of Ijiitln extraction, is socrotljj- mluinK plat.mum. using us labour.'.Vfallor.i which lie lias lifdnappod from JJrlll.il) Sand J'rcnch warships. liieutcnant'Oununauder Richard Good (phiycd liy Harry Kdwards, who ''inado Ills mark In th« silent production, "The. ■yiag-Lleuteuatit.") succeeds'in outwitting the 'traitorous Consul, and wheli the latter Is killed '■ho b ablo to marry tho;t!o.!is/ul'.v JSnglislV wife, 'whom ho had lone lawitji -.:.<'lara How is Hie leading lady in "Her Wedding Xight," v" light ■ iiiid entertaining comedy in which a matrimonial '..JOtx-up between v divorced nclross (Clura ■BOW), a popuhiv song writer (Italph Fprhcs), ;'Jne-"wrUer'p bachcloj-, friend,,(Skeets Gallagher), ~md tho latter^ fis'ticbi) (Ocniiva Jlll.chcll) pave ilia way for a lot of fun. As a general,stop-gap '■Hhore la Charles Ituggles iiv the part of a wqll-tp-do bachelor with a propensity for sleeping ,'.u'ntf«r practically any conditions or at aw stimn, Tl>e picture is wholly modern, and is ■' capable of producing an unbroken succession of ■vlaushs.

REGENT THEATRE.

'■'**'Kwth Chattertoii, oiio.v'ofr^tliq.'most popular, -actresses of the talkic'-suicdn td-day, has ijiadc 'mimy successful picture^-but -lti is doubtful ■ iTlJfltber any of herv'nrovlous/.f'.pjctures can •i'CWio up tq s "3'K6fllti'slit to Loye/'.'whieh 'is tho .'•.Win sttraotibii/itL. thCchninso";of,' programme at the Ilcgcnt' miAtri.- "J <|(ilib.'; apart from (lie -dramatic, <nia]Ui«^nffitliora<itross, .which in .themselves stamniJtuth., Chatterton as an out, ;starrdliiK dim personality,' p(J which arc ■.prominent In thlli;'brctU ; rc,v:Tho;;Jliß' (l l 0 L"vo :.'j3 unique In theft-'ltiifli Xhatterton plays two -parts. As tho liiuth'cr -'she' converses with her ••Other self as her-: owhidajightc'tijvsho appears -in the same scenes in different characters; and :iiio'ugh her dramatto'':o.jid'artistic'Qualities.arc taxed in an onusuitlViiiuncr. tho" characterisations do not rs.uffcr'''tlirougli .being left in her hands. In faCt;;'i£:'ati^UUn'g;the.vCari!. strengthened. Tho story -is" s<st -in. the farming roglons of tho •"Jflddlo .WestJ • where; .Xaomi ■ : Kcllagg- : (Rlith CHiittettpn)-.fallsViulovV.wlth her young v.lieiEhbour,''.7.oo"Oopc)and.'f'-Because of. a dis- ' .agreement -belweph jtll,e|rrfsroilio&,'.. tSaomi. aii.d ■■-Joe" carry on thcir^lnVPi affair in .secret. Jpo ;Joscs his lire in ,i harvestms' accident, and on tho heels of tho -tragic happening, the secret 'love affair is discovered. Naomi's parents, furious iit'tho TTolatihir of their strict moral code, insist that tho girl marry a middle-aged '. 'suitor, Caleb Evans, tliq community's vnicu of TiEhtcousncss, who persists with his offer of marriage in spite of Naomi's disgrace. Js'»opil s v ]ife is devoted to her daughter, Urook (Ituth ■ Chattertbn), The family life makes a. problem .'joi' them all, and when Ilrookr learns-that her: mother's husliand is Jiofher; father,- she turns from her mother. Ultimately Kroolt goes to '.Ciiipa a.i a missionary, and there.sho is faced '''with a problem similar to that, which eonIlroMcd hor mother. Sho ultimately achieves ■ happiness.■■.: Thoro are good supports.

DE LUXE .THEATRE.

j Cicorse Arliss reappears, in '-'Old ■Eujli.ili" at ■the De: Luxo Theatro, and it'is his host, aim ; jiaH to date. The play by John Galsworthy, ■a Hhrwd study-.'of; an ojd roan of eighty, still active in 'mind 'andlslill; dominant iv his little : .circle, is adetjimtely done. Arliss is admirable down to tho last mannerism, and his crea■■■'tloh of tho'flld-man gives the screen a rich '. "jowonality',""' True comedy is in this film, •'dominated as it ,-is by -ono>character,, and, for 'Ihoso who'uro Interested in such things, it may ; ho mentioned that there is an all-English cast. The supporting programme includes a. Fox , Jtovietoua Kows, .5.. Vitaphono all-tephnlcoloiir • variety, "The franco of tho Paper Dolls," ( l)y a !troqpo of young-singers .and/dancers, So i-'t'his |«> Atißtra)la," a dialogue travelogue, and ' Payl a(. Ciillen, who deftly PhO'S Iho '^ell ...Gwyuii'Piinccß" and sings "Jlanclalay." ,

PARAMOUNT THEATRE.

AUric Dressier and Wallaco Beery provldo the central figures for "Mlii and I5II1," ;t drama of:the waterfront, at.tho Paramount Theatre. 'JhO story depicts Urn strugglo.between a fostermother and til a real mother for-the happiness of a girl. Mario Dressier Is a .domlnent figure, "as JUn, Keeper of a jvatorfront boarding-house, and Beerx-plays, tho. part- of her'lover Bill, a fishing smack captain. The plot centres about ■VJin, who'has done tier best to give Kancy, her adopted eWld,-a better -environment than that of tho' disreputable waterfront neighbourhood in'whleh shY-was left, by her real mother, a woman'of bad roputation, .Tho story has a powerful cUma*. Thq acting ot both Mario Brassier and Watluxe 15«ery as cxccllont. Maiie Drensler )>cobnbly gives the host performanco of ,h(ir, whole'career. Dorothy Jordan and Donald Billaway furnish tho love interest as the daughter and sweetheart. 'iho supporting .programme includes it Mctrotono A'bws, n Icuhnicolour revuo, "The devil's Cabaret/ and a. laurel aud Hardy .Comedy, "3e Big.

QUEEN'S THEATRE.

h A stirring qutdoor';dranui, " heads the" programme nl,. the. quunn f> JUt.i'ST Annlda, a ti'lonCed Mexican actress and ■-t>on Terry Play the leading roles. Tl o story U -full Pf action *P'l-- hcclls lnß !l"llienl;c on itantflrboofca. throughout.. Tho siipppttltis fcaturw arc in keeping with tho cscellcnco " of tho big picture. ■ '.

KING'S. THEATRE.

■ ■•■ There is plenty of excitement In Victor, len'Bi latest X»*. Movietbuo'.'fllw, ."JA'. Hoyll With Women," af tho King's Theatre. ■ Thlsvlrilo -actor has tho rolo of a reckless, hard-biUon nolfllor ot fortune in the servico of a little "banana republic" along the Caribbean. There "is a splendid supporting programme.

ARTCRAFT THEATRE,

•-.■> '''Scotland Tard," Vox Movictono' thriller, < .'-'featuring Edmund Lowo and '^aa J«nl.vmett, is 'showing at- tho -Arlcraft Ihcatre. ■■'•■•lt'ls about a notorious criminal who, through '■". * miracle of surgery, is "given another man s j'honoured place In society, Including tho fnlth lot^liat man's wife.

SHORTT'S THEATRE,

■'"Hell's Jslaßd" Is showing at Shortts Theatre. Jack Holt and Jtalph Graves ar« the stars. Thero- is a., spectacular campaifpi ■ogainst.-,. tho;-, : Arabs, . with Illff horscHicri'pharglPß 'hoadlbng-anto thor Cro, 01 French waelilne'-gurra",- tlio sensational cscapa of, Ralph Graves from the pestilential tropical •jirlson pt ißfiU's ■ island, and.n light between ,'CrsTes and. tioH'thai spells .Tast- action. ■.;

BRITANNIA THEATRE

Betty C'ompaou appears in tlie all-talking. drama, "Insldo the Linos," at the Britannia' ■Theatre. "Inside the Linos" has as its theme .-vn attempt to destroy tho British Mediterranean .fleet"when"-"it anchors over- the mines in the .harbour,.- >■>-~.;. ■ ■■^Tv;".;..„.;.i;;",.:.-,.^, ~ - , ; ■ .■

HEW PRINCESS THEATRE,

In "The Bettex Wife," now showing at the New Princess, Miss Chattcrton and Cllvo Brook are.not-only, given a..stirring story....of human emotions, but aro also afforded splendid acting ports. Miss Chatterton's desperate struggle to prove herself worthy of tho man sho has fallen in love with is tho interesting plot structure •upon, which "The Better Wife" is based.

CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR

;Eox's big special production "Commou Clay," conolitdcs ;JU£, three-day, season af.'tho Capitol Theatrci tij-tiight;'.' Thfe:' M.itajnar^j.RuiSby:.' Club's boneflt' night wilt b"b' :held.-to-morro.w at. this theatre. A strong programme has-been arranged, and includes pictures and vaudovlUc. B6x plans aro now open at tlio theatre. "Freacli ■lieore/V-JRn Outstanding-British farco-comedy,' vonimcnce^' ot:' Vfjdnesday;' fe . '>j " '

BAND BECITAL.

The Do Line Xheatro was crowded to the rtoovs list cvcniug-.wben tlio Royal Naval Volunteer'Resorvoiißajid cavu a recital,. A I'calure'of'Jtlie programme was Iho "Jja Millfalre," rendered' by. the BandW1 coojuue--Ilon with tho WurliUcr Organ. Tlio solecliou includes many of tho best-known military tu'ttca. OUier ttems-.TTor'^7"l)awn of Frocdom," "Hi': DKdcme," and":.thoi lijMun.. "Holly," A jiarty .bf ootertalucrs^rom'tlio vVafs|jll)s:ln'.port priiYldoftaiart of tliOTfiroE.fuminc,. aiijl,. they1 had a. warm rocertlon. AMo Koaman Phillips (H.M.S. I/aburn»m) gnvo tho monologue •'Oraneo Blo»som," a Chinese sketch of much interest. Engine-room Arliflcor.. Davidson (H.M.S. Dlomcde) played popular, airs'' on- Ibc eoncertlna; Eldctrlcal Artlfldr Harrtson;; (H.M.S. Diomede) showed hlmsolt an accomplished performer on the piano; and rirst-class Stoker Jackson. (H.M.S. Veronica) provided acceptable huraeuran-risonfc., Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Watsbo appeared:Jli'iwp ■■'ducts,, ,','J Did Not Know" aniT'STtfo'i Mttlc>lrl# ■ Songs.''.;:: Tljey.. have vlbrah.t,/-'ifowarful Tpicea,' whrclt.,,, liarmojilscd exceptioiiaUyywclli'.and'.Uio audienco wore,, very appr^cia'tfTe,."; Mr,'.,Owon J^rltcliard, late of Anchihri'di'.fepcatetiitlio.succcss1 achieved at-tba previous:'rteltal.;'.r.;'.:H'di gavq','."Teu ;silnutes' of Sijiifes.'f-'la'ttoducing impersonutlons. of popular flirt'!starfe i-v#'ipov>y,UFlU.z«s. Organ Mr. I'aul 'I. Cullcii'wai"enUvupiftstTcflll3':'i;eeijlved > playing a "Marltana" Fantasia;, una-:"}!,; llappciicd in MontMey" (with vocal rcfrnln'liy'tlie orKan--Ist). Ho also co-opcratcd with lho Band in Ihc selection "I/a JSlllltalrc." Eight buujoists, under the leadership of Mrs. 11. G. Iteercs, performed lively airs, "National Federation" and "Irish Solectlons." Community ningluK was entered into with zest .by tuoso present, under the leadership of Mr. IMtchard. , with Jlr. Trank Crovsther at..>tho..'Piano. ■ Mr. Crowther nlao officiated as aoco)npanl»t during tho evening-. Thp wholo entertainment, which- reflected frcdit upon Uiose takins part, wont with a swine, and appeared to bo Ihoroughly enjoyed by everyone. ' •

KILBIRNIE KINEMA.

"The Return of Dr. Fu .Jtanchu" will be shown -nt tho Kllblrnlo Kinema to-night. The production is a sequel to "Tho Mysterious Dr. I'll Manchu," in * which Warner Olaud established himself as a talking picture genius with his portrayal- of-tho-central ,-character. . Tho clever "bad man" of the "screen is again seen as the lnsidlQUs and doctor, in "The Iteturn of Dri'Fu M^anchu." ■

'VARSITY EXTRAVAGANZA.

U'he extravaganza which is to'bo presented at Hie Town Hall to-night,by the students of Victoria^ University College promises to bo full ot good tilings. Tho choruses arc well known and go with a swinß. Mic tllrflopuc is hrijlit and aliouarls in topiml lilts, and ihcrc arc several snocl solos.

MAJESTIC THEATRE.

"The .Bachelor, Father," nt tlio Jlaiestiq-.'l'lic-.l fltrb,' is one of the most. onjoyiiTjlo comedies seen in Wellington for a long time. Jlarlqn ] Havies and her lover, Itiilph I'orlios, are at their funniest. A lower of. strength to the farce is the admirable acting of C. Aubrey Smith, the London star, who plays the naughty bachelor, with many children. It would 1"' difficult (o flmratiotlior actor no "stilled io this mercurial role. The play does not rely on humour alone, for it also contains plenty of action. The supporting subjects arc on :i jmt fwltU' tlio : high standard of Iho nialu production,- aiuj include two comedy olTerlngs, "tioup Sonj!,J'!n frox'-cni'toon'; and "Airtight," a farnoY-'while th« lleavst 3fol.rol.ono' News-.is full of up-to-dalo items or interest. Hox plans arc at The Bristol and ulso at the theatre.

"TWA' MIDDLE WATCH.

On Friday noxt -at tti» Majnsltc Theiitru, lirlllsh Jnlernnlltmnl's-itmsterplcL'o, "The Middle WHtch,'' :which claims thb distinction of lielng "the greatest comedy picture over made by anyone in any country/ will have its premiere. It recently screened for three consecutive weeks at the Vrincoss Theatre. Puuedln, and of jl the "Otngo Daily Times" wrote: "Bursts :of laughter wero-so'frequent t|iat it was almost Impossible to hear every word that was said, and ,there were frcnuent demands from those who were better able to control their merriment that tho remainder should try also to exercise tho same control. . . . The audience was hardly given time to recover from one amusing situation beforo another waa thrust upon it. ... One could scarcely believe without haying seen it that a film could bo made in- Hvhioh. every vrtifn.';. and -:eyery action . provokes "suck hearty laughter. It indeed rwirq-scnts-'the high-water mark 'of comedy."

ST. JAMES THEATRE

"Old"English/ ■ tho latest triiimiih of that prince "pf cliaractur dellngators, Geprga 4rlisi>> was sßrocned-tp (Uo iuiconcealed (lelight at all Vresent at tlio:iSt.:-,)ames. Theatre on Haturduy Kvcnin™: "OUi English" .is .-a triumph for t.hiqe peoplo.^tho. author/'iho. great actor, «»d UjbYproduce'r; foc.Mt ia,a.magtcrpioco of ,plfiywrlting i)yi:fialSVVPr(Jiy..,U new momniient to IH.O sliiU' op tiqdrijo ■Arliss, aad. a credit to fhc man ..who iillreclcd "it for ' tho screen. : iMr. iirlisa''is;:6ni>brl).- ''-He has tho part of a grumpy old' ton ot"'eigh|.y-four who' has lived every day'-.of- his 'life—a say old .rogue with many i'nulis.ano; mnny'ojccllent qualities, apd if one sought- tho, wort J: over one could not find an iictor so'1 suitable- for the lead; Mr. Arli.is's volcp',is,''or eoursSo;-'English to a dogroe, and ta-makd th,e picture moro pprfect, he has surTraunded" hltnsclf'. with a cast of talented stars, I all- of -whom- sppak the King's English. Tho Wportlnff fcatiirettes aro an cwejlent colleciipn.i' ..TSpjc p'lans::arq at. The Uristol and a|su at-.the theatr?. • >.i .'

OU RTHEATRE, NEWTOWN

. A, ■dpiiblc-fchturo programme is to bo pre-Solited;to.:-Our. Thcatro patrons to-night. The fl.rs.t foaturp/ "Lovo . Comes Along," stars Bebe itaiilbls.and Lloyd Hushes. Miss Daniels is Cast as a member of a show troupo which has been stranded at a remote port. The second foaturc, "Ho Knew Women," starring Lowell Sherman and Alice Joyce, is a romantic com-edy-drama. • , . ■

EMPIRE THEATRE. ISLAND DAY.

A doublo-foatiiro pro'grammi) will lip screened at tho JBmplro Tlioatro tp-night. Tho main-at-traction is "Tho1 Last of tho. Jliianes," starrlni; Geqrge O'Briou, The story deals with, ".liuojc iJiiano," made an oullow for a crime ho did not commit. Tho second prodiictipn is "Soup to Nuts," a broad comedy dealing with tho love story of a- young uouplo. A Fox Movietune NoH'srcel completes llie programme. On Wednesday and Thursday. "Tho Boudoir Diplomat" will ho shown. , ■ . ' .

REGAL THEATRE, KARORI

Packed with drami) uovolty,' thrill, .niul sonß, ''Swing Higli" is ono of tUo most charming of sound pictures yet to bo scruoned at tho Itogal Theatre. An entire circus of. forty acts is employed in tho various scenes. There is an 'all-star cast of sixteen . members. Tho supports aro all British, and,are "Eye's Full," a comedy, aud a vocal item called "Mandalay." On Wednesday and. Thursday "Afi\cn,, Speaks" will bo screened, with a special matinee at 3 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon.