ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 123, 20 November 1931, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE REGENT. "Tho Smiling Lieutenant," which made its bow to a very large and enthusiastic audience at the Regent last evening, is an unusually good picture. J It Is, of course, mainly Maurice Chevalier, but it is far from being only Maurice Chevalier. There la wit in the dialogue, a satire deeper and finer than ono usually finds on the film, and a happy blending of comedy and romance—nil of which enable tho star and hfs favourite leading lady, Claudetto Colbert, to make the best of thoir gifts. But Claudette is not any more In tho picture than is the bright comedienne, Miriam Hopkins, who mado Princess Anne (Claudette's royal rival for the petted Chevalier) a flrat-class film success. The story Is that Claudette, a ravishing musical brunette, whoso figure sways charmingly to the exercises of tho violin, Is- lover of the smiling Lieutenant Nlkl (Chevalier), when along comes tho Princess, an expressive blonde, who loves Nlkl and marries him by Royal Command. Nlkl wants to bo a bridegroom in form only, but tho Princess proves to be "a live wire" beneath her hauteur, imcl sho wins her husband after she has received somo generous coaching in man-catching, by the weepful yet tolerant Claudette. The opportunity thus given for bedroom burlesque and lingeries is worked for all It is worth; the coy retreats of the bridegroom aro carried out in the best Chovalier manner, and the scene between the two women —slaps, then team, then .kisses-—is a fine piece of feminine comedy. In such a good play and with such good support, Chevalier gets farther away from himself than usual, and the Btraw hat only appears onco or, twice.- i The songs and duets are witty and are well sung; they deal with such things as the passion that lurks in bacon at a;', wedding breakfast. The audience went away well pleased, and this happy result was helped by gazettes showing the first big oversea cargo (1500 tons) arriving in "the new port-of-:Chicago," a iUnited States Red Cross aeroplane succoiirlng the wounded of a crashed bomber, a pageant of the Austria of the Seven Years/War, i turtle riding, Schneider .Cup racing, Gandhi, --Mussolini; Kaye Don, and whatnot, A smart comedy, "Once Over," and a song cartoon helped to • brighten the , proceedings. GRAND OPERA HOUSE. The. mysterious lure or the sawdust trail, the, glitter of the spangles, the romantic glow of gasoline lights, the crooning of the spielers, the shrill of. the pipes, the raucous tones of the hawkers, the intimacy, of life under ca'jvas, and on the' trail from small town to small town, all are stated to have been captured in Radio '.Pictures': comedy,; "Everything's Rosle," starring Robert Woolsey, which opens to-day at the Grand Opera House. One; goes Into the very heart of carnival life; sits at tables with the, fortune teller, the palm reader, the horoscope faker, and learns the tricks of the trade; and actually goes under., tho 6he113 with tho little pea to discover the elusive secret of the "shell game," a game that has cost America's rural dwollers millions of dollars. And wovon through It all Is stated to be a romantic story and delicious comedy, affording Woolsey an opportunity to bo wittier and funnier than in.any of his previous triumphs. The" romance is stated to reveal him as an artist as well as a comic, while the support he receives from tho excellent cast is superb. DE LUXE THEATRE. In the new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production, "The Phantom of /Paris," which opens at the Do Luxe Theatre to-day, John Gilbert has the difficult task of wearing three different make-ups, and playing three different men in tho courso of the one story. First ho Is scon as the gay and jaunty Cherl-Blbi, with the small, black, Gllbertlan moustache, and tho clever magic-working hands and body. Then, ho becomes the bearded, crushed, and desperate prisoner, who uses his knowledge of magic to escape from the dungeons. And finally, ho is the Marquis, gray-haired, worldly wise, inscrutable. Leila Hyams is cast as the daughter of a proud and noble family, who refuses to allow the barriers of class to interfere with the dictates of her heart. Lewis Stone, for the. first time In his distinguished career, plays the role of a detective, who relentlessly hounds Chorl-Blbl' for a crimo of which ho is innocent, while C. Aubroy Smith, Natalie Moorhead, Jean Herscholt, lan Keith, and Alfred Hlckm'an are the other principal members of the supporting cast. The picture moves from tho exclusive circles of the old nobility and modern Parisian theatrical life to the Interior of a well-known French gaol. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. "Up for Murder," the Universal love 'drama which has been described as one of tho outstanding pictures of the current season, comes to the Paramount Theatre to-day. Lew Ayres and Gcneviove Tobln, two of the most popular of tho screen's newor players, appear in the production, a love drama, told against tho seething activities of a'great newspaper oßlce. Tha story is said to bo a constant succession of dramatic situations brought about by tho existence of'"tho eternal triangle," In which tho cub reporter and the society ctfltor are unmarried, but tho publisher is not. It Is when the young reportor, having fallen desperately in lovo with the conductor of the society column, discovers tho existing situation that ho takes matters Into his own hands and brings about a tragedy .that seriously affects each ono of tho three principal characters. Monta Bell, who was for many years a nej«Rpa.per man, directed "UpJor Murder, and has brought to ■ the ecreeu what Is said to be a perfect picture of a great metropolitan publishing plant. In addition to Ayres and Miss Tobin, prominent roles In "Up for Murder are played by Dorothy Peterson, Frank M'llugh, and Richard Tucker. KING'S THEATRE. "The Man In Possession," featuring Ireno Purceli and Robert Montgomery, is showing at tho King's Theatre. Charlotte Greenwood romps away with supporting honours, as tho maid who appoints herself NomesU to the pseudo-butler, but finds • herself outpointed when ho brings romance Into the life of tho dashing young widow lady-of-the-house., It is one of Miss Greenwood's most hilarious roles, and she makes the most of it in a big way. THE QUEEN'S THEATRE. Presented by a cast of exceptional merit, which includes George O'Brien and Lou so Huntingdon, "Fair Warning,", a Fox movietbnte outdoor romance, • opens ,at the Queen a Theatre to-night. One of the outstanding reatures in this production is the almost human intelligence of the two animal actors, a horse and a dog. "Fair Warning," adapted from Max Brand's thrilling story, "The Untamed," is said to embrace many moro thrills and more romance than tho ordinary picture of thl3 typo. ' ' BRITANNIA THEATRE. "The School for Bcandai," with Basil Gill and Madeleine Carroll in the leading parts, is being shown at. the -Britannia Theatre. All the wit and sparkle of Sheridan s famous comedy has been transferred to the -talking screen in this picture. The Production—all British—is elaborately mounted and gorgeously costumed. , Sherldatfs witty and satirical dialogue Is used throughout the film, this being the first time a period talking picture has been made using the actual dialogue of the 'period in which It was written. SHORTT'S .THEATRE. "B-au Ideal," the sequel to "Beau Geste," Is be ng shown at Shortt's Theatre. Ralph FoT-bes heads the cast, which Includes Loretta Young and Irene Rich. The story goes back to Morocco again and to the fierce savagery of the Arab hordes, to the courageous Foreign Legion, to the alluring dangers of the secret cities of the desert, to pungent battle drama and poignant emotional drama. There are all the Ingredients of a thoughtful and wellexecuted drama of "special" proportions, a real screen achievement. . ' NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. "Seed," with John Boles. Lois Wilson, Raymond Hackett, and Gencvleve Tobin in tho leading roles. Is being shown at the cess Theatre. This .is Charles G. Norrlsis enormous best-seller, visualised on the talkIn X screen in a picture that Is life itself. In support aro excellent sound short subjectb. OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. "Blllv the Kid," King Vidor's Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 'picture, will be shown at Our Theatre to-night. John Mack Brown plays Billy, and Wallace Beery is Sheriff Pat Garrett. Kay Johnson has the feminine lead The picture Is based on the-life of Wiliram. Bonney. alias "Blllv the Kid," notorious smiling twenty-one-year-old desperado. There aro excellent supports.. _____ CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. "Inspiration," Metro-Goldwyn's splendid drama, starring Greta Garbo, will be shown tonight at the Capitol Theatre. Lewis Stone, Robert Montgomery, and many other well-known players are featured. A Laurel and Hardy comedy will also bo shown. ARTCRAFT THEATRE. "It's a Wise Child," starring Marlon Davles, is being shown at tho Artcraft Theatre. It is said to bo the most mirth-provoking picture of this popular comedienne's careor. This story of tho embarrassing and uproarious effects caused by gossip in a small town has been praised by dramatic critics as one of the best farce-comedies of the theatre. There are excellent supports. "CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA." "Cavalleria Rustlcana." the opera to bo sung In concert form by tho Royal Wellington Choral Union at tho Town Hall to-morrow evening, was first produced at the Constanzi Theatre, Rome, in the spring of 1890. It mado an Instantaneous success, and was awarded tho first prize (£120) In a competition promoted by Slgnor Sonzogno, a Milan music publisher. The final rehearsal takes place at the Town Hall at 7.30 to-night. "Cavalloria" has been happily cast. Miss Teresa M'Enroe will sing the part of Santuzza; Miss Ruth Perry, of Masterton, that of Lucia; Mr. Harold Prescott, of Greymouth, will undertake the tenor roll of Turlddu; Mr. Ernest Short, the baritone part of Alflo; and Mrs. Ellison, the solos written for Lola. An additional Horn of Interest will bo the first performance Of a choral fantasia from Wagner'a Melsterslngcrs, which has been arranged by Mr. Percy Fletcher, the work having been presented1 to the union by the performing members. Three shilling and 4s seats can be reserved at the Bristol, where a supply of 2s tickets (no tax) will be on sale to-night. It has been decided by the management to allocate 100 seats at Is, which will be on sale at the Town Hall only to-morrow evening.