ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 57, 8 March 1932, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE.

In "Street Scene," showing at the Regent Theatre, all the action takes place within the iimits of a narrow New York side street, and most of it on the steps of an apartment house occupied by a cosmopolitan collection of families, the members of which, whether because of their confined existence, or because of the sweltering summer heat,, occupy much of their time in malicious gossip. The subject of most of the talk is Mrs. Maurrant, a woman with a son and a grown-up daughter, who craves the sympathy she does not receive from her somewhat e»oittered husband, and is driven to seek the company of a married man living, in the neighbourhood. Her daughter Rose understands her mother s feelings, but is unable to prevent the trouble that is precipitated when Sir. Maurraht discovers his wife's unfaithfulness. Before the powerful c imax is reached there is a succession of scenes in which the different types are unmistakably portrayed. The characters are th^, n w L y,,hu,ma,n aDd P^ably the whole Rn, ? h • md the play is r^ealed in the girl S"™ tO, f, et away from the demoralisrauM h * a? d l}™ ln a dlstrlct where there n™ h Er? at ( ? r, I lndividual freedom. The cast urn,t t , Skllf"lly Plcked- Estelle Ta-y^ Mrole V, Arrt *Z eea to play her flrst sympathetic A«r«« I *laurrant- and Sylvia Sidney, an her LTJ^ ha| rapidly risen t0 stardom, ia t L daußhtei: R °se. David Landau gives a man '•hy rni Perf2 rmano9 as Mr- Maurrant, the vario,., ?S° °Wn by clr™mstances," and the Ther<? i. H 3 arf, well played. inrliMW supporting programme, t" natural pnfu ing StUdy Ot tlle cobra ™* us natural enemy, the mongoose.

GRAND OPERA HOUSE. Dr^er 11 "aT A the ,famous novel °f Theodore at th» Vr * i meiic™ Tragedy," is showing ?L\ Ir d Opera HoU3e- The tragedy is not nto fir? m ra led by early conditioning '£«&?. ?~- wafts done Sfnrt * dramatic tale has been well whirh^l* PaiV n the story- the water on eariv flh£?i« and berta Alden conduct thelr the flna «nf f h ?Dd °n Whlch the* approach tracedv «, L ?, eIF trA gedy ' This ls Koberta's victim f™ h SS Clyde's> there is no s^Sle victim for both are tha victims of the boy's irresolution and the trifles which mount to condemn him are tellingly Introduced, one by h^'h»» ™S escellent P^ture the producer WnLot . T ll sST ea by a flne cast. Phillips nv^p h I s-the part of tJie lonely- weak Clyde, and hjs sensitive face is well fitted to tt iole;Sylyia Sidney, a newcomer to the vIIV? d a. elrl with a brilliant past on the *.ew York stage, plays Roberta feelingly and with considerable charm; Frances Dee has the ™» hi beautif »l and dashing Sondra ilnchley, the member of a wealthy and socially prominent family for whose love Clyde sets out on the most desperate act of his life. The supporting programme is excellent.

"LOCAL BOY MAKES GOOD."

srrPPTi >s one of tne few successful Ir ?h» ? Who has c°me UP from the ranks » «le. clrcu? performers. As a boy he was *UIL e' Local Boy Makes Good," comes to the Grand Opera House on Friday next. The supporting cast includes Dorothy Lee Edward &*' W Hal1' Edward Woods, wide Boteler, William Burress, and John Harrington!

DE LUXE THEATRE.

th^nlS^ 8"™ enl °rine an'extended season at tne De Luxe Theatre until to-morrow nlzht it m - I r\, C°mPa HCt ,o£ S bsurd situ a Hon S ? Tc?mlc re marks, and laughable turns, and. Stanley Lupino, Jack Hobbs, and Binnie Barnes, wth the daintiness of Dorothy Boyd to dazzle the beholder, make a most attractive show Thi fiS, ? WS c mOSt tangled turns in the affairs of a young man who would not wed se Dlf int o hlS fl-r\ Wh° °MW«WIy tu£? hTmitLf ,wlfeV besldes the manoeuvres of a young couple who wish to enter the happy il t'Jy Br, e,, prCTente(i to a pig-headed uncle. In addition there is a novel aim titled "Land ?L -I M m»° Ck' f Whlch- shows green isle m all its soft beauty, the views gliding over the screen to the accompaniment of alluring Irish melodies surpassingly well sung. Stage presentations by the "Aerial Four" 'The Lame Duck," a dramatic Dlaviet Thh "Friendly Flies," ' a nature ftudyfbesid'es toe newest Pathe Gazette, help to render the programme more attractive still.

n, t°??e^ e\ to which Joan Crawford and ull kJpa^le.have the leading roles, is the feature booked for screening at the Do luxe .theatre, commencing Thursday next. This picture, which was adapted from the Edgar SelT y K s™? e s / ,uccess; "The Mirage," is believed to be Miss Crawford's most ambitious effort In tlie straight dramatic field. Wallace Ford, New York stage player; Skeets Gallagher, wellknown talkie comedian;1 Frank Conroy, Marble White, John Miljan, and Clara Blandwick are important members of the supporting cast. Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy will also be t ? ee\ an<3 heard In their latest and greatest laugh riot, "Come Clean." Other excellent Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer supports are also listed. Box. plans are available at the Bristol and

PARAMOUNT THEATRE.

The chief picture now showing at the Paramount Theatre is called "Trader Horn." Wild animals roam before the camera with native naturalness; gazelles, giraffes, hyenas, jackals, panthers, and leopards, zebras rhinoceroses, and lions. Not only are the voices of the travellers heard, but also the cries of the wild animals. The drama and love story in the play contrast strangely with the death dance of the wild Isorgi natives; the weird chants, the boom of tom-toms, and the swaying of the painted blacK bodies give the spectator a queer feeling. Edwina Booth as Nina, the white goddess, plays the difficult role of a savage child who becomes tamed by love. Duncan Renaldo as Peru and Harry Carey in the title role of Trader Horn play excellently the parts allotted to them; and a dominant figure is Mutuia, the giant native, who represents Renchero with unusual skill. Under the title of "The City of Tradition," a number of fine views of London are included in the programme.

REGAL THEATRE, KARORI,

"Costello Case," starring Lola Lane and Tom Moore, will be screened at the Regal Theatre this evening. The story deals with the efforts of underworld bands to defeat the aims of the law, and the successful attempt of the police to track down the murderer in a mysterious crime. Russell Hardie and Koscoe Kama head a large supporting cast. A comedy entitled "Peace,and Harmony," a further number of Magic Carpet of Movietone series, and two splendid Fox Movietone Newsreels complete the programme. On Wednesday and Thursday, "Guilty Hands" will head a large programme.

EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY,

•Beau Ideal," to be screened at the Empire Theatre to-night, is a sequel to "Beau Geste," and the story goes back to the fierce savagery of the Arab hordes and the courageous Foreign Legion. Ralph Forbes, who played John Geste in "Beau Geste," ■ again tabes the same part, and supporting him are Loretta Young, Irene Rich, Paul McAllister, and Lester Vail. A splendid two-reel comedy and a novelty special complete the programme. On Wednesday and Thursday, Wheeler and Woolsey will be senn in "Hook, Line, and Sinker."

SHORTT'S THEATRE,

A double-rfeature programme is at Shortt's Theatre. "A Lady's Morals" stars the metropolitan opera singer, Grace Moore, who plays the rols of the famous Jenny Lind, "the Swedish Nightingale." As Jenny Lind Grace Moore sings songs. In English, Italian, and French, and in the scenes where she is greeted by foreign diplomats after her opera triumph she answers thorn in Spanish, Russian, French, and. German as well. The second feature is "Officer O'Brien," starring William Boyd. This story of a young policeman is packed with thrills, the drama being tense. There are good supports.

KING'S THEATRE,

.. TfJ e story of a woman who descends to the lowest depths In order to ensure the happiness of her son is told In "The Sin of Madelon Uauclet, showing at the King's Theatre. Helen Hayes, the distinguished actress who scored on Broadway in "Coquette," makes her screen debut In the production, and the cast Includes Lewis Stone, Neil Hamilton. Robert Young, and Cliff Edwards.

QUEEN'S THEATRE.

Paramount's "Gun Smoke," the main feature at the Queen's Theatre, deals with the mustanghunting men of the Idaho badlands who round up hundreds of wild horses each year, and sell them for handsome sums. Into this territory to escape arrest at the hands of city police, comes a mob of gangsters, bent on gaining new spoils from the peace-loving people of the west. Blchard Arlen Is the hero, the leader of the mustang-hunters who finally triumph over their urban enemies. Mary Brian is the beautiful owner of the ranch about which much of the action centres.

OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN

The British International picture, "Let's Love and Laugh," will be shown at Our Theatre to-night. Gene Gerrard. the popular London comedian, stars in the role of the wealthy young man who celebrates too exuberantly on the eve ot his wedding, and while intoxicated marries a girl who is a stranger to him. There are excellent supports.

CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer'a thrilling outdoor drama, "The Squaw Man," Is screening at the Capitol Theatre to-night. Warner Baxter, Lupe Velez, and Eleanor Boardman head the brilliant cast. The scenes fluctuate between Arizona and England, and some beautiful outdoor photography forms an Impressive background for unfolding the destiny of two women for one man. There are excellent supports.

KILBIRNIE KINEMA.

EUssa Landi, one of the finest actresses on the screen, stars with Paul Kavanagh and Lewis Strong in "Always Goodbye," which will be screened at the KHbirnie Klnema this evening.

ST. JAMES THEATRE.

The last three days are announced of "Fanny Foley Herself" at the St. James Theatre. This happy human production, filmed entirely in beautiful technlcolour, affords Edna May Oliver, the star, ample scope to display her histrionic ability. All who witness her performance are lavish in their praise. Without doubt she possesses the marked personality so necessary for the portrayal of the title role. She is a vaudeville headliner who receives a salary large enough to provide extended trips to Europe for her husband and daughters, whom, on..the death of her husband, she places in select colleges. With all the pride of a truly great, performer she brings her girls along to the theatre one afternoon to see her receive ova-: tions from her beloved public. Unfortunately her girls are too youthful and snobbish to appreciate the art of their mother, and proceed to tell her that she is "grotesque." It is a bitter blow to Fanny Foley, but in the succeeding sequences she turns the tables on the girls and their wealthy grandfather who has attempted to lure them away from their mother. No star, either British or American, on the talking screen has gained such overnight popularity as that accorded to Gene Gerrard, tha idol of the London stage for his performance in the cyclonic British comedy, "My Wife's Family." Musical comedy is Gene's strong point, and after the war he appeared in several London successes. In "Out of the Blue" he is credited with being the life and soul of tha picture. The fun is put over at a rare pace, and the development of the central theme is well sustained by this genie of mirth, with the comedy ball kept rolling in a snappily staged succession of farce backed by resourceful fooling. Gene Gerrad brings along an entirely new band of brilliant supporting artists, amongst whom are Jessie Matthews, Kay Hammond, Kenneth Kove, and Binnie Barnes. This comedy will commence its New Zealand premiere at the St. James Theatre on Friday 'next: " '

"THE BELOVED BACHELOR."

Paul Lukas's first big vehicle, Paramount's "The Beloved Bachelor," comes to the Kegent Theatre on Friday next. He is supported in this romantic and humorous play by Dorothy Jordan, Charlie Buggies, and Vivienne Osborne. Lukas is seen as a young sculptor who falls in love with a beautful actress, only to lose the prospect of marrying her when she suspects him wrongly as a man with a "past." Meanwhile, he adopts the six-year-old daughter of the woman who had been his principal model in many of his sculptures. Twelve years later he once more meets his actress sweetheart. She has been married. He has been slowly gaining world-wide renown as an artisan in his craft. The old spark of. love flares up. She announces she will get a divorce. But by this time there is a triangle—formed by the presence,of the adopted daughter who has now grown to full womanhood, and is rapidly falling in love with her guardian. The climax of the picture leads to happiness without the use of ballistics.

MAJESTIC THEATRE.

Wheeler and Woolsey are drawing big crowds to the Majestic Theatre In "Caught Plastered." No one can possibly see It without roaring with laughter at the "wise-cracks" of the most entertaining pair in pictures at the present time. They land In a town absolutely "broke," jump a ride on a tram car, and fall In with an old lady who is in dire distress. She tells the boys that her drug store is about to be seized for debts. They "pep" up the business in a remarkable manner. But the villain plots with an alcohol peddler who sells the boys lemon flavouring highly loaded with booze. But all ends well, and Dorothy Lee, daughter of the chief of police, finds solace in the arms of Bert Wheeler.

SEASIDE PICTURES. LYALL BAY.

It Is impossible to convey In words -the screamingly funny humour in "Plunder," the British' and Dominions film showing at the Seaside Pictures, Lyall Bay.' Of the many funny incidents one situation stands out—a scene in Scotland Yard when "Ralph Lynn, as D'Arcy Tuck, and his partner in crime, Tom Walls, as Freddie Malone, are interviewing some of the detectives working' on a mysterious burglary that took place in a country mansion. Ralph Lynn's inane expression and his brilliant method of conveyong his fatuous remarks is incomparable.

BRITANNIA THEATRE,

An unusual and exciting photoplay, "Murder By the Clock," is Being shown at the Britannia Theatre. Heading the cast are William Boyd, Lilyan Tashman, Regis Toomey, and Irving Pichel. "Murder By the Clock" is the engrossing story of a mysterious person who commands the death of .innocent people. By insidious schemes, terrifying in concept, this person rules the destinies of several people, making them carry out. the gruesome details .of uncanny murder plots.

ARTCRAFT THEATRE.

"Get Bich Quick Walllngford," starting William Haines, is being shown at the Artcraft Theatre. It Is a very clever comedydrama.- There are good supports.-