ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 83, 9 April 1934, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE.

Excellent entertainment is provided by the Columbia picture, "Lady for a Day," which heads the bill at the Uegent Theatre. Motherlove is ilio central theme, and May Kobson ! achieves her greatest success as Apple Annie, who vends her wares in (he stroots of New York to support a daughter In Kurope. For years she has practised the deception, in letters to tin: girl, Him she Is a society matron. Disaster threatens when the girl writes to say that she is coming over to America with her fiance and his father, a Spanish nobleman, who wishes ,o meet her people. Annie, passionately devoted to iier daughter and willing to do anything to prevent her from knowing the truth, is in despair, but she has many friends in the underworld, notably Dave the Undo, an aristocrat-looking gambler, who regards her as his lucky charm, lie installs the old woman in a wealthy friend's apartment, and, with the assistance of modistes and hairdressers, turns her out as a digniiied society figure. All goes well for a start, and the visitors are suitably impressed, but the police becoijje suspicious of the unusual activity among**the underworld people, and when they find Dave responsible for the disappearance of three society reporters, whom lie has kidnapped to prevent the true story from leaking out, serious trouble threatens. Dave finally places his cards on the table and explains the whole position to tlie Mayor and the Governor' who are quick to realise the old woman's plight. 'J'hey respond to Dave's appeal and the belated function becomes a brilliant success with the co-operation of the ieal society leaders. AH ends happily for Annie, who is content to resume her old calling. . "Broadway Thru a Keyhole." Wlnchell, a Broadway columnist whoso today's gossip is tomorrow's scandal, is thu author of the story of "Broadway Thru a Keyhole," the United Artists' release produced by 20th Century and featuring a band of wellknown artists which comes to the Regent Theatre on Friday. "Broadway Thru a Keyhole" has a background of night clubs, and shows how a sweet and innocent young girl rose to fame, was befriended by a handsome young racketeer, and finally became the wife of a famous radio crooner. Tlie film is a musical production with comedy and vaudeville j supports in Prances Williams, Kddie Foy, jun., while liarto and Mann do dancing and singing. Other famous Broadway personalities are Blossom Seeley, Texas Guinun, and Abe Lyman and his band. Constance Cummlngs, Ituss Columbo, and Paul Kelly play the three leading roles. Others in the cast are Gregory Raton", Hugh O'Connell. Uobart Cavnnouejj, ('. Henry Gordon, and Helen Jerome Eddy.

GRAND OPERA HOUSE.

"Ifoman Scandals" is now showing at the Grand Opera House. "Roman Scandals," as the title implies, gives a musical-comedy insight into a few scandals of early Rome, the chief figures being an Emperor, an Empress, a favourite, and an odd slave or two. Eddie Cantor, of course, is the most prominent figure in the show. As a slave who is freed and who gets mixed up in all sorts of trouble at the court of the Emperor Valerius, the comedian gives a performance that eclipses even that which made him so popular in "Whoopee." Adventures follow adventures, until finally he leaves tho city with dozens of enraged Romans in close pursuit in their chariots. The- final chariot scene, which ends up with the comedian being "aquaplaned" along a rough road, is beyond. doubt the funniest thing on record. The show is most lavishly mounted, tho vari-ous-Roman scenes being particularly beautiful. Ruth Etting and David Manners support the star. "Roman Scandals," for mirth, melody, and beauty, will surely go down as one of the year's greatest achievements.

DE LUXE THEATRE,

With all the dangers of espionage to provide a sustained thrill, "Madame Spy," at the De Luxo Theatre, is an outstanding picture. It deals with the military operations on the Russo-Ucrman frontier in 1015, prior to the occupation of Warsaw by the Germansdays when the armies on either side wero infested with secret-service agents. A spectacular opening shows a German aeroplane brought down in flames while investigating a Russian ammunition dump, and from the wreckage steps Captain Jfranck (played by the handsome Xils Asther). Alter recovering from his wounds ho marries Maria, his nurse, thereby uniting in matrimony representatives of the 'German and Russian secret intelligence departments. The arrival of Captain Weber (John Miljan) to work in conjunction with Herr Schultz (Edward Arnold), a great spycatcher, signalises the commencement of a campaign against .tho Russian agents in the town. Eventually Maria is unmasked, but how that is brought about and also how she escapes across no-man's-land and later has her husband in her power constitute a chain of eveuts spectacular and absorbing in the extreme.

"Fugitive Lovers." ii new Metro-Goldwyn-Maycr melodrama which is coming to the De Luxe Theatre on Friday; brings an entirely new kind of picture to the screen, Practically all the action of the exciting story takes place on a great Greyhound bus bound west from New York City to Hollywood. As the scenes are ■authentic, being "shot" from a giant road cruiser as it actually sped across the continent, the auditor, by proxy, enjoys the sensations of a cross-country trip. As the bus with Madge Kvans, Ted Hcaly, and others speeds past- a penitentiary on its first night out of New York Robert Montgomery, in tlio role of Porter, stages a daring prison break. "Fugitive Lovers" sweeps on with quickening tempo and a smashing climax to a fine finish. There will also be screened a specially selected number of outstanding supporting fcaturettes, and Paul T. Cullen, Ihe popular singing organist, will be heii.rd in a new presentation.

PARAMOUNT THEATRE,

British Dominion Films' version of Xoel Coward's famous operatic play "Bitter Sweet," is a Him which demonstrates tho extraordinary advance made in British production. Even the American critic of the "Xew York Times" proclaims it to be "the most artistic of all musical - productions." Xow in its second and last week at the Paramount Theatre, it is sustaining the marked success which began with the first screening of its first week. The settings of tho play, the charm of tho dialogue, the instrumental music, and the admirable way in which the characters arc acted by Anna Xcaglc, Fernand Graavey, Ivy St. Heller, and an ensemble of hundreds of players make "Bitter Sweet" an entertainment which, justifies the success it has achieved everywhere from the day it was flrst screened at the Carlton Theatre, London. The vocal duets "I'll See You Again" and "Dear Little Cafe," the rousing "Tokay Drinking Sour." "If - Love were Ml " and the French lilts sung by Ivy St. Heller arc big public favourites. The supporting proRrnminc includes vocal and musical gems by Paul T. Ciillen on the newly-installed A\urlltzer organ.

aUEEN'S THEATRE.

Dorothy Sebastian, whose iccent screen appearance in "Our Blushing Brides" added another success to her lons list of personal triumph!), was chosen by Phil Goldstone, liffany's chief studio executive, to play opposite Rei Lease fn the tatter's flrst Western starring vehicle, "The Utah Kid," which is showing at the Queen's Theatre. Frank Howard Clark wrote."The Utah Kid," stoty and script, and Richard Thorpe directed. The second attraction will be Andrew Soutar's world-famous story "Worldly Goods," starring .Tames Kirkwood, Merna Kennedy, and Shannon Day.

KING'S THEATRE.

Featuring Warren William and Loretta young, tli© Warner Bros, first release hit. "Employees' Entrance," is now showing at the King's Theatre. Tho picture, which Is taken from the play by DaTid Boehm, is said to be filled with thrilling incidents, glowing lovo affairs, and broken romances, affording a panoramic view of the inner lives of a people banded together under one roof and ruled by a ruthless, tyrannical, unscrupulous department store head. The scenes are practically all laid in a mammoth department store of a large city, with the drama of the employees enacted for the most part within its walls.

SHORTT'S THEATRE,

Jean Hersholt, Stuart Erwin, Wynne Gibson, and Francos Dee head tho cast of "The Crime of the Century," mystery drama iv a new style, which is showing at Shortt's Theatre. Gordon Westcott and David Landau havu the principal supporting roles. The picture centres around Hersholt, an alienist, who walks into a police station, tells the assembled officers that he has planned a murder, describes how it will bo carried through, and begs to be locked up so that he will be unable to commit it. First, the crime is confessed to tho police before it is committed, and yet is carried through whilo they watch. Second, halfway through, there is an intermission, during which _ the various clues to the solution are reviewed briefly, and the audience is invited to attempt lo solve it The- second feature is "Purse Strings," starring Dorothy Bouchier.

PRINCESS THEATRE,

Two men and their families In the midst of a financial tempest that rocks a great mercantile institution form the keynote of "Looking Forward," Lionel Barryraore's latest starring picture, which is showing at the Princess Theatre. Barrymore in a role said to be even more gripping than his characterisation in "Grand Hotel," is seen as the old bookkeeper in a great London department store. In "It's a King," Sydney Howard's latest film, he is/ doubly welcome, because the story had been carefully written around his individuality. Sydney Howard is a "type," and in "It's a King" Claude Hulbert and Paul England have written a story of a dual identity which fits the actor as does the proverbial glove.

ARTCRAFT THEATRE.

"The Blarney Stone" at the .Artcraft Theatre, features Tom Walls. For his role in this production he adopts an extremely convincing Irish brogue.

Gone Gcrrard, the iniraitablo star of "My Wife's. Family." "Lucky Mrl," and "Let Mo Explain. Dear," fiets into a veritable vortex of trouble in "Leave It to Me," opening tomorrow at the Artcraft Theatre. In the guise of it-spring poet lie descends upon a country mansion where the beautiful Eve Hnlliday Is staying, and is coerced into stealing a valuable necUlaco for Eve's erstwhile fiance, who intends to return tlio heirloom to his aunt, sain the reward, and marry Eve on the proceeds. Ho Is forestalled, however, by two real crooks already established in (lie house, and in his attempts to recover the necklace and explain his movements to Eve. who is actually acquainted with the poet ho Is supposed to be representing, he -is nearly arrested. Of course he triumphs in the end, but not before fllmgoers have been provided with tbo laueh of a lifetime at Ccne's merrymaking unties.

STATE THEATRE,

Janet Gaynor and Lionel Barrymore, two of the screen's most popular players, are brought together in •"Carolina," the attraction at the State Theatre. There is nothing unusually deep or original in the story, but it is capable of application to many families olher than the proud possessors of Connelly Hall, Carolina, in and around which the action takes place. .Innet Gaynor plays the part of Joanna, left fatherless, with two young brothers to provide for, and shouldering tlio responsibility of farming a section of land leased from the Connellys. Connelly Hall was built out of the immense profits of slure-worlicd cotton plantations and, in Ibe Civil War, its owners provided men and money for the Confederate cause. Tlio losing of IAo war meant tlio losing of the Connelly fortune, bin Mrs. Connelly (Henrietta Crosman), head of the house at tlio beginning of the twentieth century, refuses to change from cotton to the more profitable tobacco which Joanna Has put her trust in. Lionel Barrymore Is seen as C'nclo Hobcrt Connelly, a veteran of the Civil War. whose life wti3 spoilt through n romance shattered by the scheming of Mrs. Connelly, liis sister-in-law. Mrs. Connelly also does her best to stop a love affair between her son Will (Kobert Young) and Joanna, as she desires Will to marry a Charleston heiress in order to rehabilitate the family fortunes. There is a dramatic scene when Uncle Robert discovers that Joanna is the daughter of his lonslost sweetheart and the manner in which Mrs. Connelly Is finally forced to abandon her prejudices provides an interesting ending. "Soldiers of the King." Laughter is the keynote of every film in which Cicely Courtneidge plays, and "Soldiers r>f the Kills," which is to begin at the State Theatre shortly, is said to be no exception lo the rule. The title is rather deceptive, for It is not. by any means a war or army picture. Prom beginning to end it is a continuous scream, a burlesque on the lives of a troupe of theatrical artists, and the title is derived from the fact that the song, "Soldiers of the King," is one of their chief numbers. Cicely Courtneidge, who has co-starred with her.husband, Jack Hulbert, in most of his comedies, plays the dual roles of Jlaisio Jfarvcllo and her mother, Jennie Marvello.

MAJESTIC THEATRE,

Hilarious comedy, with hardly a minute left for the audience to recover itself before some other side-splitting scene is put on, makes of tho Australian triumph, "A Ticket in Tatts," a production rivalling the funniest of Hollywood features. That it stars an old friend In George Wallace explains its success as entertainment. Georgo is in every scene, with his inimitable mooch, his ill-fitting pants, and check shirt. As a grocer's assistant doing strange things with a pat of butter, a bag'of flour, and a bit of string and paper, he is immense. But as a stableman, protecting Hotspur, the Melbourne Cup favourite, from a gang of city crooks, he rises to heights of sheer buffoonery that reduce the audience to helpless laughter. Briefly, George is the man between the cup and gang, and his efforts to frustrate the doping of the favourite are ludicrous. Hotspur knows the Wallace whistle, and during the race, when tho gang has made away with Hotspur's jockey and substituted a tool of the chief crook (Guy Hastings), It is George's whistle that turns defeat into victory. The love interests is maintained by George and Margery, maid to Dorothy Fleming (Thelma Scott), a daughter of Hotspur's owner; and by Dorothy and Harvey Walls, novelist (Camp-bell-Conelin), who has joined the Fleming household in order to get colour for a new novel and who wins the hand of the charming daughter despite her semi-attachment to Brian Winters (Frank Harvey), owner of Surefoot, the cup rival. Dorothy has entered Into a bet with Brian, but the advent of the novelist puts a different complexion on her future marital interest, and when Surefoot loses in ah exciting finish, more than the loss of the cup is at stake for Mr. Winters. The scenes include animated glimpses of Flemington on Cup Day with the thousands of people thronging the picturesque course; and a lavish cabaret inferior. *

ST. JAMES THEATRE.

The popularity of "Little Women" can be judged from the fact, that it is now in its second week at the St. James Theatre, drawing large audiences nightly. The story of "Little Women" has attained world-wide success on the talking screen. Louisa M. Alcott's immortal tale needs no retelling hero; it is enough to say that the picture lives up to the advertised claim that the characters leap from the book and live. The central characters are Mrs. March's four daughters, Jo. Amy, Beth, and Meg. Jo,'the irrepressible, who has no wish "to be elegant," is portrayed by Katharine Hepburn. Meg, the comparatively prim and proper elder sister, is played by Frances Dee, while Joan Bennett is almost unrecognisable as Amy. Jean Parker appears as the youngest and most cherished of the family who dies an untimely .death. Edna May Oliver appears as Aunt March, with a Harsh appearance and a harsher voice, showing plenty of bark and plenty of bite, but having a lot of hidden kindnesr* Katharine Hepburn ■is outstanding by her ability and personality. On the male side, Paul Lukas plays the part of Fritz Baer, the kindly professor. By comparison. Douglass Montgomery seems a trifle inept in the role of Laurie. Tho picture takes its audience through all stages of emotion from roaring comedy to pathos. It suits all tastes.

BRITANNIA THEATRE,

"The Hayseeds," Beaumont Smith's riotously funny comedy, which is showing at the Britannia Theatre introduces to audiences something entirely different in Australian screen entertainment It ts not only comedy, but musical entertainment interwoven with colourful natural settings of rare Beauty. The cast of "The Hayseeds" is a celebrity one, headed by everybody's favourite, Cecil Kellaway, who Eives tlio greatest of all his lovablo characterisations as "Dad" Hayseed. Then there's Shirley Dale. John Moore, Arthur Clarke, Katie Towers, Tal Ordell, Molly Raynor, the Kichard White Beauty Ballet,. and many other stase and screen favourites. Romance also shows both its sides In "The Hayseeds."

SEASIDE PICTURES.

Warner Baxter and llyrna Loy are the featured players in Arthur Somers Itoche's "Penthouse" which will be screened tonight only at the Seaside Figures, Lyall Bay. The picture is a vivid portrayal of modern life in New York. As a scion of an aristocratic New York family, and » society lawyer who chooses to defend notorious racketeers, Warner Baxter is said to give one of the finest performances of his long motion-picture career. Others in the oust include Phillips Holmes, Mao Clarke, Charles Butterworth. C. Henry Gordon, Martha Sleeper. Nat PendeHon. Robert -Rmmett O'Connor. Ka.vm.ond Hatton, George E. Stone, and Arthur Bclasco. There Is also a particularly entertaining array of short subjects.

REGAL THEATRE, KARORI

"Tiger Shark" leads an excellent programme to be screened at the Jtcgal Theatre this evenin" Edward G. ItobiuSon and Kiehard Arlen play the leading roles, and supporting them are Zita. Johnnn and Vinee Barnett. An excellent supporting programme includes a musical revue and a travelogue. On Wednesday and Thursday "Hiudle Walces" will be screened.

CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR.

"Stage Mother," screening. at, the Capitol Theatre for tonight only, is adapted from an original story by Bradford Ropes, author of "12nd Street," and features Alice Brady, Maureen O'Sulllran, Phillips Holmes, and Vranchot Tone. Alice Brady Rives a splendid portrayal as an ambitious mother who will stop lit nothing to further the career of. her daughter. She is sensational in comedy and pathos alike.

EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY,

The current, attraction at the Empire Theatre is "Loyalties." starring Basil Kathbone. Heather Thatcher. Miles. Slander, and Joan Wyndham. The story concerns the age-old conflict ot Jew and Gentile as applied to modern society. An excellent supporting programme luis necn selected. On Wednesday and Thursday "Ihe Man Who Dared," and. ".The Crooked Circle will be screened.

OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN

An adventurous aviatrix who darnißly writes youth, romance, and adventure in the .skies, and a British statesman who has delved into national documents for twenty years with pious faithfulness to his wife, figure m a stirring romance l>v Katharine Hepburn and Colin Cl ye in K.K.O. Radio Pictures "Christopher S "on-" t" be shown at Qur Theatre tonight. The supports cast includes Helen, Otato and Italph Forbes. There arc excellent supports.

KILBIRNIE KINEM-A,

.. "Only yesterday" is the mam ■attraction at the Kilbirnic Klnema. Surging emotions bun. to the story a tense quality which is admirably Interoretccl by an all-star cast of more thai Sy tell-known Hollywood players headed by Margaret Snllavan, John Boles, B lie BiuKe, niirt Reginald Denny. The story of Onlj lesfoday's continually centred on the traeic love \ffair of Jlargaret Sullaran and John Boles A story of Iwattbveals and courage, unsurpassed in screen history.