ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 146, 18 December 1933, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. Of 'he niany hilarious comedies in which Charlie Ruggles has been featured probably none has achieved such a brilliant success as Paramount's latest release "Mama Loves Papa," now showing at the Eegent Theatre. With the Inimitable Charles Is Mary Boland, and together the pair 'romp through a merry and eventful story. It Is some of America's finest humour—a real convincing humour- that is usually associated, with Buggies and Miss Bo)and. As. a middle-aged couple with a good deal of lite and love left in them, they begin early In the proceedings to adopt the comedy role. Mama: becomes enthusiastic over a big city version of modern culture, and insists that Papa-fnll into line with the sartorial requirements of .civilisation.- He is obliged to indulge in a. frock, coat, and bowler hat when on his business; but his boss mistakes the purport of the clothes. He gives Papa the day off under the impression that' there is a bereavement In the family; and' Papa gets tangled up in a dedicatory: .ceremony, being mistaken for a public official. A further blow comes when the unwitting Papa gets, landed with, the job of nark commissioner. The picture is full ot incidents such as these, strung together with a remarkable flow of happy and brilliant wit and art"The Hayseeds." Cecil Kellaway has plenty of scope for kindliness and humour in -The Hayseeds," which is coming to the Regent Theatre next Friday He Is "Dad," and the story opens on his farm on a peaceful Sunday. Presently this peace is broken by a group of hikers who decide to camp for luncheon. Dad rushes down to the Interlopers, declaring that they are disturbing his precious stock. He is, however, pleasantly surprised to find Pa Townleigh (Kenneth Brampton) a really good sort. Deciding that there, is something to be said for city people Dad becomes quite friendly. When the Townleiglis return, to the city they Invite the Hayseeds to visit them, and then there Is all the fun of Dad and Mum (Katie Towers) at large In Sydney. GRAND OPERA HOUSE. An exciting picture that is different from the usual is "The Girl In ■ 419," at the Grand Opera House. James Dunn, Gloria Stuart, and William Harrlgan ate starred. To a police hospital in a big American city come all the odd cases of the metropolis, from habitual drunkards to, strange and mysterious cases. The train of events begins when a. beautiful and very badlybeateu woman is brought to Room 419. Her life is in the balance, and there is a long fight to save her. When she is saved the mystery surrounding her grows greater. Who is the girl in Room 419? What is her connection with Peter Lawton, the big racketeer who hires gunmen as a medieval baron hired assassins? These are the questions which Dr. Daniel French, head of the hospital, asks himself.- The tangle of events through which the truth emerges at last Is well transferred to the screen. There is never a moment in which something grave or gay is not happening. DE LUXE THEATRE. One of the mast popular musical comedies of recent years is "TJie Desert Song," the Hammerstein-Romberg production which enjoyed long runs all over the world, and the transference of this in colour to the screen is full of good things. John Boles, Carlotta King, Louise Fazenda, and' Myrna Loy head the cast of the Warner Bros.-First National production of "The Desert Song," which was filmed by this company several years ago, and now has been . remade ■ with. additional music. The result Is a. good picturisatlon of the famous, musical show, with the singing of John Boles outstanding and a wealth of colour and charm in the settings. The producers have spared no pains to transfer the work to the screen in an adequate fashion, and the result justifies their labours. ■ .■ .- ,- ■■-. .. One of the most daring and. unusual of screen offerings this season Is Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's production, "The' Solitaire Man," startling drama of Continental - crbpkdom featuring Herbert Marshall, tho new screen idol, which will commence at the De Luxe Theatre on Friday next. The new picture, based on the play by Bella and Samuel Spewack, is a distinct departure from the' conventional handling of drama for the talking screen. Many of the tense moments of the picture take place in the confined space of an alr-llner cabin, with the conflict between personalities mounting to terrific heights.. Marshall and Elizabeth Allan portray the romantic leads. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. George Gee's picture comedy "Cleaning Up," at the Paramount Theatre, kept Saturday evening's big crowd In roars of laughter. The extraordinary plot is so well planned that It savours of genius. ■ Gee is in his element as the son of an irascible lord who demands that his son shall follow the family tradition and marry for money, but the lad of mettle reckons he ought to be able to earn his own living, and he does that and more in wonderfully funny fashion by selling vacuum cleaners and getting tangled up in a musical comedy performances In which he makes an unconscious appearance and an instantaneous hit. Betty Astell and Davy Burnaby do excellent work. There Is another good attraction in "Daughters of Today." ' ' Jack Buchanan, the greatest of .musical comedy comedians., and the dancing and slngtttg idol of both London and New York, will be seen in his phenomenal success, "Yes, Mr. Brown," with Vera Pearce and a giant cast, at the Paramount Theatre next Friday. KING'S THEATRE. \ ;As a play, "Peg o' My Heart," now at the King's Theatre, is some twenty years old, and yejt'.bh the talking screen it is brand-new. The reason for.' this is in the apparent agelessness of the charming story. Marlon Davles breathes new life into the captivating little Irish character "Peg." In her deft hands, Peg seems to have d, new personality,. and yet with It loses none of the crystal romance of the Irish garnin 'we knew so well on the stage. .Miss Davies's performance Is assuredly the best of many recent appearances. She has endowed her Peg with a fine understanding and sympathy that might be traceable to her own Irish ancestry. .- V ' QUEEN'S THEATRE. A Western drama with only one cowboy ■ briefly describes Zahe Grey's "The Last Trail," with George O'Brien playing the leading role, now showing at the Queen's Theatre. The story deals with a band of crooks and racketeers who attempt to steal a ranch. Most of the action takes place aboard a-luxurious passenger train. In a courtroom, and in a pretentious ranch house and its environs. Claire Trevor appears In-the- leading feminine'role. El Brendel enacts a featured part. The second attraction sis /the big mystery thriller, "Chandu the Magician)" starring Edmund Lowe,, with a big supporting cast. ARTCRAFT THEATRE. "When' laaics Meet,"' a' sparkling new film, is now showing at the . Artcraft Theatre. Ann Harding and Kobert Montgomery are costarred ... . . Evaiyo. Knawv the. former Broadway stage actress, who in the last two years has played featured roles' 'in fourteen '' motion pictures, enacts one of the leading parts In. Farainount's human'interest- comedy-drama, "The Sporting Widow," which is coming to the Artcraft Theatre' tomorrow evening. "The Sporting Widow" ''features Miss Skipworth as the most sought-aftar woman jn.ithe police department of a dozon cities, a character combining the qualities of a. daring confidence worker with those of a female Robin Hood. Richard Bennett is also featured in the cast. ■ SEASIDE' PICTURES. At the Seaside Pictures, Lyall Bay, tonight Tallulah Bankhcad, Charles - Blckford, and Paul Lukas will appear in "Thunder Below," a tumultuous drama of a woman and two men beyond the boundaries of civilisation. John Loder and Irene Richards wiU also be seen in "Money Means Nothing," a light comedy. Miss Richards plays the part of Llvla. daughter of the old family butler of the 27th Earl of Masslngham. She co-stars with John Loder and Gibb Mclaughlin. They are supported by Kay Hammond, Clive' Currie, Bromley Davenport, and Dorothy Robinson. PRINCESS THEATRL. "A Farewell to Arms," with Helen Hayes, Gary Cooper, and Adolphe Menjou in the leading roles, is now current.at the Princess Theatre. It tells the story of a man and a woman who loved greatly against a background of war. Gary Cooper has the role of an American lieutenant in the Italian ambulance corps, who had been a typical soldier, rough and devoted to hard liquor, until tho day he met a brave and beautiful nurse, whose role is played by Helen Hayes. The two meet, fall In love, and play out their stolen moments of loving with death ever "waiting to catch up with them. ■■■■-. BRITANNIA THEATRE. "Best of Enemies," a new romantic comedy Is featured at the Britannia Theatre. Buddy Rogers and : Marian • Nixon have tlio featured roles, iln theme and treatment, it is a film that has as timely a significance as any recently seen. Against a background that depicts the changes of time, the story details a romance between' two youngsters whose personal lives are Inextricably bound up with passing events. Their bringing up, their dally lives, belonging, as they do, to a familiar class of Americans, gives rise to a number of barriers that must be overcome. SHORTT'S THEATRE. "Forbidden," starring Barbara Stanwyck, with Adolphe Menjou and Ralph Bellamy playing leading roles. Is now being presented at Shortt's Theatre. A . drab ■ little librarian one bright spring- morning decides to invest her savings In a grand adventure. On the boat for Havana she and Bob Grover fall madly in love, but know each other only by the numbers of their staterooms. Back in New Tork she finds he Is married, and a divorce would be a caddish thing to do, for his wife Is crippled and loves him devotedly. The girl then becomes a woman, planning her life and that of her lover and reaching the goal she has set for him. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. A Fox Film special attraction will be screened at the Empire Theatre this "evening. The title is "The Devils in Love," and an'allstar cast is headed by Victor Jory, Herbert Mundin, and Loretta Toung. The locale of the story is set in the tropics, and thrllln and adventure form the background of the story. ?he supporting programme Includes a Magic arpet, a sound cartoon, and two excellent newsreels. On Wednesday and Thursday Slim Summervllle will be seen in "Her First Mate."

MAJESTIC THEATRE. Drama, comedy, and action, are tupplled In large measure In the double-feature programme at the Majestic Theatre. Heading the bill Is "Shanghai Madness," which tells an exciting story of sailors and Chinese Communists. Pat 'Jackson, an officer In the American Navy, loses his post as the result of insubordination, and finds the securing of a civilian job so difficult that the best he can do is to secure a position as gunner on a river steamer. Tho first love Interest of his,life comes when he rescues the beautiful daughter of an American resident from a Chinese rabble, and from then on he has his hands full In attending to his duty and endeavouring to keep clear of sentiment. The supporting picture is a highly diverting British comedy. There Is 3, charm about Ireland, the fjuick humours of her people, and their llghtheartedness that makes any story with a traditional Irish setting attractive. "Paddy the Next Best Thing," the Christmas release for the -Majest|c Theatre, Is said' to'capture the Irish atmosphere convincingly. Janet Gaynor plays the part of Paddy Adalr, an unruly, Jovable little Irish girl, with a spontaneous simplicity which la very appealing. The Adalr family are hopelessly, in debt, an hereditary state, which the major (Walter Connolly) disregards magnificently In his frequent passages at arms with his creditors! He Is- a witty, true-to-type old rogue. At last, however, the only thing left to do is to marry his eldest daughter to a wealthy neighbour. Paddy's determined and utterly unscrupulous efforts to prevent this are vastly entertaining, and show the headstrong tomboy in a new light as a fascinating and dlstractlngly pretty minx. ST. JAMES THEATRE. A comedy of crooks Is "The Blind Adventure" at the St. James Theatre. Roland Young Is a Cockney thief who gets Into real burglar company only by accident, and he turns, out to be a blessing In disguise to the heroine (Helen Mack) and to the hero (Robert Armstrong). The latter is an American who finds London a slow place In a fog—until the crooks get going. The slow opening of the picture contains a scene which shows Beryl Mercer at her best, as a chambermaid. The powerful villains are Ralph Bellamy and John 'Miljnn, who put up some amazing stunts and keep the audience in expectation of a tragedy that never quite happens. Finally, hero and heroine pair off, and Koland Young Is left sighing for a lover. . . , • Victor Herbert's most popular operetta, "Kiss Me Again" ("Mile. Modiste"), will come to the St. James Theatre next Friday as an alltechnlcolour production. It is particularly appropriate that this bright romance should be chosen for the Christmas season. It has a splendid cast, headed by' that delightful singer Bernice Claire, of "No, No Nanette" fame. With her are Walter Pldgeon. a fine actor with a great., singing voice, Edward Everett Horton, who has a rollicking comedy role, June Collyer, and many other favourites. The music Is delightful throughout, and there are a number of entrancing ballet items. OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. A football "game of the century" between rival penitentiaries provides the climax of "Hold 'Em Jail," the, R.K.O. Pictures Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey starring cojeedy, to be shown at Our Theatre tonight. A mg supporting cast is headed by Edna Msy Oliver and Roscoe Ates. The added attractions include a comedy, Radio review, cartoon, and news. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. "Cavalcade" will be screened at tbe Regal Theatre this evening. This magnificent play was written by the. renowned author,-. Noel Coward. With an all-star cas£ "Cavalcade" is creating world's records everywhere. In Wellington, a Dominion' attendance record was established by the paid admission of 37,514 in eleven days, while In (Auckland a further Dominion record was created. An excellent supporting programme precedes the, main attraction. ' • CAPITOL THEATRE. MIRAMAR. A double-feature programme Is being screened at the Capitol Theatre tonight. ■ "Broadway Bad," starring Joan Blondell, . Ginger Rogers, Rtcardo Cortez, and Victor Jory, is the story of a lone fight. Glamor and gaiety are artfully combined with human interest. ' Joan Blondell Is excellent In her portrayal of a girl who cashes in on an undeserved reputation at the risk of happiness. '.'Life in the Raw," an actlon-Blled western drama featuring George O'Brien, Claire Trevor, and Greta Nissen, is the second feature.. . A NIGHT SPECTACLE. ' ' A great display has been arranged to take place at Athletic Park on • Wednesday evening, commencing at 8 o'clock. A real galaxy of entertainment will bo provided, the whole being a most elaborate outdoor night show. The organisation is so thorough that patrons are promised a delightful evening at the Park without any dull moments. All the bands of the city, including two pipe bands, are taking part, and all the marches,: evolutions, and displays will be accompanied by lively music. A feature which has previously-delighted spectators will be tho coloured torchlight drill by 250 performers. Then there Is the Pageant of Nations, carried out by the spendldly.-trained Civil Service girls. A march by the Legion of Frontiersmen with the bands, and the parade of "The Chocolate. Soldier", are other items sure to evoke enthusiasm. Equally popular will be the.appearance of "The Mystery Band," the Jenkins .physical .culture, classes, Marlst schoolboys, Miss Kathleen O'Brleh's pupils,'and. humorous performers. ' Powerful searchllghtiare to be' played upon: the various scenes. The proceeds will go towards the new Home of Compassion furnishing fund, the Toe H orphanage, and band funds , ... CARTER THE GREAT. "From time Immemorial," says Carter the Great, who will appear at the Grand Opera House for a short season commencing on Saturday, December 23, at 2.30 p.m.,' '"conjuring has had her favourite conjurers, and conjurers each his favourite trick. I have always thought that the hardest trick to accomplish should be the favourite one. Once, in my novitiate, Charlie Schilling nearly" wrecked my puerile ambitions by brusquely telling me that my favourite trick, of the 'Tapping Band' was unworthy of my repertoire, and Icily bade me eliminate It from my programme. This came as a great blow to my hopes. I thought then, that the 'Tapping Hand' was a good trick, and I have since made a goodly part of the world coincide with my poor opinirn. But the Tapping Hand' is not now my favourite trick; my favourite trick today is still the hardest trick to do, one which most magicians essay but few accomplish. That is: the changing of an empty theatre into a crowded house of pleased spectators." ...