ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 29, 3 August 1931, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. A thrilling drama of the struggle for life in the jungle on the island of Sumatra is "liango," showing at the Regeut Theatre. Some (ruly wonderful scenes showing tlgnt3 between tigers, panthers, and other wild animals, are shown. Eveu the sounds of the animals iiave been faithfully reproduced. The monkey sequences are remarkable in themselves, and Rango, with his playful and almost human ■ antics, captures tho audience. The most lhril r . ing sequence of all is the battle to tho death between a water buffalo and one of these gigantic cats. With his great horns, the buffalo, a slow and stolid creature, gradually wears the tiger out, aud emerges from the j light the victor. Comedy, pathos, aud tragedy arc skilfully interwoven In.the story. Without a doubt it is one of the finest pictures presented to the public. Supporting the main at- ' traction is a comedy entitled "Social Errors." Uh-hard Arlen and Mary Brian play the chief roles in (ills picture, which deal 3 with the adventures of Arlen. who accepts a position as pantry boy at a health resort. While there he falls In lovo with the daughter of a wealthy oil magnate. Leon Errol plays the part of a sanctimonious and hypocritical burglar, and Is given ample scope to display his ability as a comedian. From start to finish tho picture is one long laugh. . "ESCAPE." One of the outstanding screen treats of the season Is scheduled for local movie-goers when "Escape." talking picture version of John Galsworthy's, notable drama, opens its engagement at .the Regent Theatre. The play, produced with outstanding success In London and New York, • was lauded as ono of the most brilliant contributions the stage bad received In years. Presenting a theme of wide appeal, carrying a story that moves along at a rapid rate and reaches' a powerful dramatic climax, "Escare" Is unusually well adapted for screen treatment. Basil-Dean, noted stage and screen'director, produced and directed the picture. lie assembled a superb cast of competent players, many of whom have been seen in previous Galsworthy plays. Gerald dv Mauricr, in the leading role as Matt Deuaut, played the part in the original London stage version. DE LUXE THEATRE. Walter Huston and Constance Ciimmings have the leading roles in Columbia's "The Criminal Code." the grim drama of prison life, showing at the De Luxe Theatre.. A moment of rage and terror aud of desire to shield a woman leaves a young man committed to a gaunt, prison for ten years. The point fixed upon for tho action of, tho film is when' after the prisoner has been six years In custody, the man who conducted, the prosecution (against him arrives to take over the post of warden of the gaol. A point of intense emotion is reached -. when after being regenerated by a change of his circumstances, by the love of the '■ warden's ' daughter, < and with the promise of a. parole, the young figure in the story finds himself menaced with a further long term, with possible death itself, because of. his ■ refusal to betray'a fellow-inmate who ta.kes vengeance upon an informer. Thero is a big supporting .programme, and the Orchestra De Luxe, under Mr. L. VT. Austin, aud Mr. Paul T. Cullen," on tho Wurlitzer Organ, contribute to the evening's enjoyment. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Universal's' strange drama of human vampires, adapted ■ from "Bram Stoker's. sensational story "Dracula" is showing at the Paramount Theatre. "Dracula" , compels the attention of the audience and ; plays upon, the emotions in an • uncanny-manner. In its principal role is one of. the weirdest characters in Action, Count Dracula,'an "undead" creature of-tho night, roving in search of victims during the hours of darkness, and literally, dead-in-his coffin from' sunrise to sunset. The part is played by .Bela LugosU the noted- Hungarian actor, whose performance Is. .above criticism. Tall, Dwlght; Frye, as the demented Renfleld, a' victim of Draqula's fearful' cult,,' does wonderful work. The photography Is excellent, and the scenes, some magnificent, involving castle settings aro well done. The supporting programme' is' bright-and-varied, comprising two Universal.news, reels,-a comedy, and a cartoon. KING'S THEATRE. "Morocco" is showing at'the King's Theatre. Gary Cooper, Marlene Dietrich, and Adolphe Menjou play the leading roles. Gary is seen as' a member" of the'- Foreign - Legion. One gets a glimpse of women who go to Morocco never to return, amongst whom is Amy Jolly, a vaudeville artist. A view is given of the audience, neurotic and evil, comprised of every breed from the Levant to Asia, with the scum of Af- . rica thrown In, but It Is there that the p»n- , niless soldier and the woman of the Lost Legion of Women meet and at once love. There is an excellent supporting programme. QUEEN'S THEATRE. "The Last Parade," showing at the Queen's Theatre, is, from start to finish, full of excltment and thrills, while skilfully interwoven in It are romance and drama. The leading character is portrayed by Jack Holt, and the chief feminine role by Constanco Cummiugs. The central flguro is Cookie , Leonard, who, thrust into the. life of a racketeer by circumstances; becomes at last a ! dominant factor In gang activities. The supporting programme is well in keeping with the 1 main attraction. BRITANNIA THEATRE. "Three Girls Lo3t" is being shown at the Britannia Thearo. From pathfvndlug across the Plains and being a college student, John Wayne has now become a full-fledged architect. This, at least, is tho role played by "The Big Trail" hero in "Threo Girls Lost." The charming Loretta Young has the feminine lead in this Sidney Lanfleld production, with Lew Cody as tho racketeer king. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. "One Heavenly Night," starring Evelyn I.aye, John Boles, lllyan Tashman,. and Leon Errol, Is showing at the Kilbirnie Kinema tonight. It has humour, sophistication, splendid acting, and soma fine staging. Miss Layo is . an ideal actress with a golden singing voice, and she captures the hearts of all who see her. Leon Errol's humour and Lllyan Tashman's rather daring behaviour aro features of tho picture. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. The main, attraction at the Regal Theatre to-night is "Part-Time Wife." The main roles are played.by Edmund Lowe and Leila Hyams,' and supporting them are Tommy Clifford and Walter M'Grail. The story tells of a marital mlx-up that comes about when a man permits his business troubles to interfere in his family life. The supports consist of a tworeel comedy, ' "Don't Get Excited," a Fitznatrick Travelogue, and two Fox Movietone Newsreels. On Wednesday and Thursday "Resurrection," .with John Boles, will be screened. OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. "Loose Ends" heads a double-featuro programme at Our ■ Theatre to-night. The cast, headed by Edna Best and Owen Nares, two of the leading stage favourites in England, is particularly strong: It Is a' daring society drama of- the London of to-day. The second feature, "Not So Quiet On tho Western Front," also a British production, is an hilarious farcepf the war days In France, aud is full of humour, dancing, and singing.- . SHORTT'S THEATRE. "Canaries Sometimes Sing" is being shown at Shortt's Theatre. Character plays an important part in the development of the delicious comedy on which "Canaries Sometimes Sing" makes its appeal, and In the patterned prospect of the designingly devilish Tom Walls scheming to unload his "high-minded" wife on his old friend —"Eton and Oxford"—while he himself has his heart set on his old friend's young wife, there is comedy-as delicious a3 it is devastating. The picturo is another British screen hit. PRINCESS THEATRE. Drama, music, romance/ and" Grace Moore and Lawrence'Tlbbett are the outstanding features of Metro-Goldwyu-Maycr's screen version of the famous play, "New-Moon," which is now showing, at the Princess Theatre. CAPITOL THEATRE, 'MIRAMAR. "Resurrection," adapted from Tolstoy's immortal classic, will have its final screening at the Capitol to-night. . A-daring and thrilling air spectacle, the greatest of them all, "Hell's Angels," will commence a three-day season at the Capital Theatro to-morrow night. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. The attraction at the Empire Theatre is "Once a Sinner," starring Dorothy MacKalll. •The story Is of a beautiful girl who exchanges her honour for a life of luxury, and to whom when sho is about to bo married, her past comes up, causing complications. The supports comprise "The Blimp Mystery," a tworeel comedy, starring Fox Movietone's performing monkeys, a Fltzpatrick Travelogue, and two excellent newsreels. On Wednesday and Thursday "Resurrection" will bo screened. ROYAL ROLLER RINK. Skating this year has achieved a great deal of Its old-time popularity, and judging by the crowds which daily attend the spacious aiid well-appointed Rpyal Roller Rink in the Winter Show Building it would appear that the craze Is no passing fancy. With.the advent of skating have. corao one of .the more spectacular embellishments' of the sport, and none promises to be more popular than hockey on skates—an exceedingly fast and strenuous game, always full of Incident. With tho object of picking i a hockey team to play an Auckland sido on Wednesday, the management of the rink on : Saturday night played a Possibles v Probables ■ match, and at the conclusion tho following team \ was selected: Costello. Brleu, Stevens, Austin, i Greenbank, and -Smith (emergency). The ; team is to practice to-night, and on Wednesday a general meeting of all skaters Interested in , hockey is to bo held, at-tho rink at 6.45 p.m. . ORGAN RECITAL. •Mr. Bernard F. Page (City Organist.) gave his ! weekly organ recital at the Town Hall last . evening, and the programme was as fol- : lows: —Prelude ■ and • Fuguo in A Major, "Choral Preludes." "Sleepers, Awake. A Voice is Calling" ' (Bach) ; "Gu Rateau (from Suite for strings, (Debussy); Prierc , in C Sharp Minor (Op. 110). (Cecar Franck); Cansona (Karg-Elert) ; Psychological Poem (for orchestra,), "Le Genie et la Mort," > Op. n (No. 6), (Reblkoff); Prelude (to Act 111.), "Tristan and Isolde" (Wagner).

MAJESTIC THEATRE. Never has funnier farce fare been shown at the Majestic Theatre, than "Stepping Out," MHro-Goldwyn's latest laugh riot. which screened at the Majestic Theatre on Saturday in tho presence of an overflowing audience. Charlotte Greenwood, tho elongated comedienne, plays the role of a wife whose husband decides tv cut loose and see llfo. Both of them, along with Reginald Denny, Leila Hyams, and Lilian Bond, cram the picture with rich comedy and flrst-class dialogue of the wittiest kind. There aro also on the programme a particularly interesting number of the Metrotone News and "Two Bark Brothers," a Dogviilo comedy, which n)U3t rank as one of t.he very best that the canine actors have been seen In. Box plan's arc at the Bristol and also at the theulrc. t James Oliver Curwood's stirring story, "River's End." is underlined for presentation at the .Majestic next Friday. ST. JAMES THEATRE. A house crowded to its utmost capacity warmly approved the stirring dramatic ronmin-e, "Dance. Fools. Dance," at the St, James Theatre on Saturday evening. Joan Crawford, as a society girl, reduced to earning lier own living as a girl reporter on a Metropolitan dally paper, displayed her undoubted skill as an actress to real -advantage. The notable cast playing in support acquitted itself admirably. Lester Vail, Wm. Bakcweil, Win. Holdcn, Hale Hamilton, Natalie Moorhead. Joan Marsh, and Russell Hoptou arc all worthy of special mention for their sterling work. The plot is so interesting that interest is sustained throughout. The newspaper office scenes arc exceptionally well presented. The first part of the programme consists of selected short subjects, and includes "Our Wife." This comedy stars Laurel and Hardy, and it is one of the very funniest that the clever clowns have given to the screen. Box plans aro at the Bristol and also at the theatre. Sir Benjamin and Mr. John Fuller have completed arrangements through British International Pictures to present at St. James Theatre on Friday, a reproduction of tho London West End stage performance of "The Love Habit," played by Seymour Hicks, the celebrated British- author-actor, Margot Grahame, the most lureful actress in England, Edmund Breon, Walter Armitage, Ursula Jeans, Elsa Lanchester, and Clifford Heatherley. The cast is the strongest (hat has ever performed for Elstree and "The Love Habit" Is regarded as tiie doyen of all British comedies. Early box plans arc at the Bristol. ARTCRAFT THEATRE. "The Texan.", a Paramount all-talking Western picture, featuring Gary Cooper in the title role, is showing at the Artcraft Theatre. Gary Cooper portrays a Western desperado, who flees to South America to escape the law, and meets with further adventures and romanco there. Fay Wray plays the feminine lead. The The supporting cast includes Emma Dunn, Oscar Apfel, James Marcus, and Donald Keed. Thero arc excellent supports. TRAMWAY BAND RECITAL. TIIO Wellington Tramways Band gave its sixth recital of the 1931 season in the St. James Theatre last evening before a capacity house. The programme was a most interesting and varied one, being contributed to by several popular performers, not the least important being the Bridges Trio of Instrumentalists, who, fresh from Australian, triumphs, gave splendid renditions on the xylophone, violin, guitar, and Piano. The effective playing of "A Chinese Temple Garden," arranged for xylophone, violin, and piano, introduced the trio, which was warmly received; Nancy and Franci3 Bridges then acquitted themselves expertly in a xylophone duo, ."Ida and Dot," and a rare and novel variation of "Home, Sweet, Home," was given by. the three. performers. Nor was this the end of their remarkable prowess. With guitars, (htf entertainers gave further pleasure in •Pokaro-kare," "Waiata Maori," and "Haka." Francis also played a speedy xylophone solo, 'Full of.. Life.".. The talented young people were, vociferously applauded. The soprano singing of Miss Kytho Maciver was artistic to a degree; her. choice- was (he charming waltz song ..from. "Tom Jonc3,"'and a popular recall number, Mr. Terence O'Brien's Irish brogue and peuchant for Irish songs had full scope In "Rose of Killarney," • "Two Irish Eyes," "Mother Machree," aud other tuneful ditties. The band was in excellent form, and gave a rousing interpretation of the march "When the Guard 3 are on Parade," this being a request offering; played Balfe's "Bohemian Girl" operatic selection with inspired feeling; was popular in "William Tell," and contributed a novel number, "The Peanut Vendor," described as a Cuban Serenade, and fully descriptive. • The concert was acknowledged one of the most successful of the season. Mr. J. Haydock was at the piano and Mr. Franklin had his players in excellent control.