ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 13, 16 July 1934, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE,

The glamorous days of the nineties and the cosmopolitan locality known at that' time as "the livest mile in the world," jprovido the time and place elements in "The Bowery," a 'roysteiv ing drama -featuring Wallace Beery, George Kaft,. Jackie Cooper, and Fay Wray .at the Kegcnt Theatre. The central figures are Chuck Connors (Beery.) and Steve Brodie (Kait), leaders of rival Bowery gangs. The first is a swashbuckling : but warm-hearted "saloonkeeper, and the second a devil-may-cave I gambler. One will go to any length to outwit the other. Kaeh man is the leader of a volunteer, iire brigade, and their first real clash occurs when both brigades turnout to a lire in a house occupied by Chinese. A love interest intrudes when Chuck Connors affords his protection to a pretty girl.- In holding the girl's affections Chuck' finds his rugged exterior and manner no match for the more, handsome Steve Brodie, and •Steve conceives a bold idea to dethrone his rival from his position as head of the Bowery. Laying a wager against Connors's hotel, Steve announces his inteution to jump off Brooklyn Bridge, and thereby becomes the most talked of man in the district. He intends to throw a dummy into the water, but the dummy is stolen just before the jump is to take place. The subsequent proceedings are largely wrapped up iv the bridge exploit, and provide a splendid climax.

GRAND OPERA HOUSE,

White Woman," a dramatic feature with Charles Laughton, Carole Lombard, Charles-Bickford, and Kent Taylor in the star roles, opened at the Grand Opera House last night. The production is an excellent one with an unusual theme and noteworthy for the excellent acting in an attractive background. Charles Laughton,' as king of the river, a trader who has won power and affluence in Malaya, plays a queer role -with great distinction. He controls natives and a few white pien with a maniacal delight and scant regard for propriety. Hia chief hold upon his European assistants is knowledge of crimes they have committed. In those conditions Kent Taylor and Carole Lombard find themselves beset with danger and humiliation. They form-an alliance and win their freedom in the midst of tragedy. The trading post is raided by an angry tribe and the mad king of the river pays the supreme tax. The supports are interesting iv themselves and o£ varied appeal.

DE LUXE THEATRE,

The' favourite- comedian Joe E. Brown appears with Jean Muir,: Johnny Mack Brown, and Thehna'Todd in "Son of a Sailor," an uproarious farce of naval life at the De Luxe Theatre. In this breezy, fast-moving absurdity, from the time that Joe E. Brown is_ inveigled- into ' fighting in the final of the navy middle-weight boxing championship until he finds himself on an abandoned battleship due to be sunk by bombfire there-is always something happening.. The doings of Joe on shore, his kidnapping by a beautiful' girl,' his visit to the home of a famous admiral, and what happened afterwards, are the setting for the display of the famous comedian's extraordinary antics.

Should a wife give up her. husband to another woman i£ she's guaranteed another husband, just as good? That's the unique situation in the domestic problem • that besets Genevive Tobin and Edward Everett Horton in Universal's sophisticated com-edy-drama, "Uncertain Lady," which comes to the De Luxe Theatre next I'riday. The picture, is adapted froni the famous London stage play, '"The Behaviour of Mrs. Crane." There is laughter galore in this amusing and highly sophisticated story of uncertain ladies and certain gentlemen. An unusually meritorious supporting cast includes Mary jSTash, George Meeker, Paul Cavanagh, Hence Gadd, Dorothy Peterson,' and Herbert Corthell.

PARAMOUNT THEATRE,

A large audience at the Paramount Theatre on Saturday evening enjoyed the comedy situations and clever dialogue in "I Lived With You." The handsome Ivor Novello, the matinee idol, 'is the author o£ the stage ,play, which bad. a big season in London. He also directed the picture, t and it is safe to say that in .the principal part 0f...a Russian Prince, he is at his best. Jfovello is well.supported'by i Ui'sula Jeans, Minnie Eaynor, Ida Lupino, Eliot Makeham, and others. Another outstanding film'is "The Way of the Wild," a magnificent picture of. wild animal life in East Africa, which is quite an entertainment in itself. Paul IV Cullen contributes organ items. ■

RIVOLI THEATRE.

A uuique photographic- device by which unscrupulous individuals are able to steal and copy the : latest exclusive designs of Parisian costumiers and sell them :in America is revealed in William Powell's latest picture, "Fashions of 1934," now at the Rivoli Theatre. On the same programme Edward G. Eobinsoh and Kay Francis are co-starred in "I Loved a Woman," a startling romantic drama that has as its underlying theme the ardent affairs of a meat baron and a grand opera star. ".Girl Trouble,'"' an all-colour musical travelogue, and Isham Jones's Orchestra make up the programme.

PRINCESS THEATRE,

Out of the yellowing pages of metropolitan newspapers a dramatic story has been rescued for the screen. The picture is "The "Women In His Life," which is now showing at the Princess Theatre. It is the story of sensational trials, of life behind the scenes of courtrooms and lawyers' offices, of a spectacular barrister who always wins .the cases for his, clients, be tliey guilty or innocent, but who lets a woman of his past wreck his future.l Otto Kruger is the princial actor.

EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY.

"The Song You C4ave Me" is to be screened at the Empire Theatre this evening. Bebe Daniels plays the. leading role, and supporting here are Victor Varconi, Lester Matthews, and Claude Hulbert. The story is a bright musical comedy -with an excellent mixture of mirth, melody, and romance. The supporting programme includes a Pathetone" Weekly, a sporting reel, and a novelty featurette. On Wednesday and Thursday Gene Gerrard will be seen in "The love Nest."

SHORTT'S THEATRE,

"Fog," which is now being shown at Shortt'a Theatre, is a. mystery thriller. It is a 'startlingly realistic story of what might actually happen aboard a transatlantic liner when men and women of strong hates and passions are grouped together in an eerie, sombre setting • punctuated only by the weird shrieks of a blatant fog-horn. Donald Cook, Mary Brian, and Reginald Denny play the important roles. Jack Holt is the featured player in "Master of. Men," a powerful drama. . • '

KING'S THEATRE,

Charlie Ruggles, Mary Boland, W. C. I Fields, Alison Skipworth, George Burns, and Gracie Allen, Paratnount's leading comedians, are responsible for one of the ! funniest pictures of the season, "Six of a Kind," which commenced today at the King's Tlieatre. The story of "Six of a Kind" concerns the ridiculous adventures which overtake- two. simple souls who start ont on their second honeymoon. Box ■plans are at the D.I.C. and theatre.

QUEEN'S THEATRE.

Inner'secrets of city politics, the working of the underworld, and the astounding story of the rise of a .gang ruler are the elements, of "Tbe Secret Sis," a drama of modern American life, which commenced at the Queen's Theatre ,today. Wallace Beery plays the principal vole. The cast also includes Lewis Stone, John Mack Brown, Jean ! Harlow, Marjorie The second attraction is' William Haines in the romance "Way Out West."

BRITANNIA THEATRE,

When a husband tries to deceive his wife he is almost certain to become involved in a series of difficulties. This is especially true if he is assisted in his fabrications by one as dumb as Stan Laurel, -who., with his partner. Oliver Hardy, is seen ir. tlie comedy' "Sons of the Desert." at the r.ritamiia Theatre. The cast include* Charley . Chase, Mac Busch. Dorothy Christy, and Lueien. Littleficld. Cordon HavkcT apema in the mystery dt'ainn "The Man Tl^y Couldu'O AiTCSt." ■ _■•■■'

STATE THEATRE,

'IRomaiitie Xew Zealand," a film which, prepared by the Government for exhibition abroad, covers almost every activity in !>few Zealand as well as its chief. scenic features, is showing at the State' Theatre. Nothing stays on. the screen long enough to pall: it is rather a series of swiftlysucceeding flashes of mountain and stream and man's activities chosen care for their appeal,- and if the selection has ■left anything out it is not readily called to .mind. The spectator is conducted on a tour of - the Dominion by a - chatty, : humorous guide, covering scenes familiar . enough to JS'ew Zeala'nders but doubtless possessing the greater attraction of the new and unexpected to audiences in other: parts of the world. The southern- fiords and lakes, the glorious alpine. scenery of Westland -and Canterbury, snow - sports,: angling, mountaineering in many phases, aerial views.of the Southern Alps, the Kaikoura motor route, general coastline grandeurs, scenes on station and dairy farm, including the stock which is responsible for the rapid progress of the country, wheatfields, industries of several kinds, including the timber forests of the north, are in-' eluded. "Red ' Ensign," another long film, is the stirring story of a .struggle against official apathy by a shipbuilder who has ...invented a' .new hull and other features which enable a cargo vessel to '.carry, greater' tonnage in the same measurement, and how to further i reduce freight costs., Leslie Banks has the principal role.

MAJESTIC THEATRE.

That the excellence of a. story depends not so much upon its plot as on its treatment is shown by the. picture, "The Crime Doctor," at the Majestic Theatre, in which the age-old themes of the eternal triangle and the perfect crime are combined in a novel and startling manner. Otto Kruger appears as a relentless tracker of criminals, Karen Morley as his wife who loves another, and Nils Asther as the wife's lover and the victim of Krugers diabolical plot. The criminblogist plans nothing so crude as the direct murder of his rival, but executes with cold-blooded precision the killing of a girl and the complete ''framing" of his'enemy as the murderer. The picture differs from the usual crime story in that the audience sees every step in the carrying out of the crime. . . ■ ' ' ' ■ ■ ' ..

ST. JAMES THEATRE,

What should be done with a husband who loves his wife but who is not strongminded enough to. resist another woman who throws herself at his head? Some wives would divorce such, a husband, but Mrs. Diinlap (Irene Dunn); does not do that. Her love-for the-errant husband must necessarily absorb a good deal of contempt, but through it'all she Tetains a desire to protect him from the pirate, and, after threatening a. sensational divorce suit, she does not bring it. • She acts in the spirit of the title of the picture at the St. James Theatre, "This Man is Mine," but in the courso of the story she has to mix her tactics considerably, blending a good deal of acid with the wifely sweetness that the husband (Ralph Bellamy) had formeuly. enjoyed and had come to .regard, as his right.. The plot gives play for some good acting.

ARTCRAFT THEATRE.

Mary Pickford is the principal player in the screen-play, "Secrets," at the Artcraft Theatre. . ' ■

1 George Gee, the inimitable English eccentric comedian, whose extremely humorous i>erformauces at the* Grand Opera House will be remembered by many Weilingtonians. is starred--with Bet^y'Astill in "Cleaning Up," which will commence at the Artcraft Theatre tomorrow evening. George Gee has the role "of Lord Plumford's son Tony, who threatens to upset j the family traditions by wanting to work, and to defy his father's insistence that he should follow in the footsteps of his ancestors and marry an heiress. His adventures as a vacuum cleaner, salesman are screamingly funny, and finally he is settled down comfortably 'in married life. Others in the east are Dave Barnaby, Barbara Gott, Alfred Wellesley. Muriel George, Joan Mathersou, Dorothy VerDon, and Gilbert Davis.

KILBIRNIE KINEMA

"Too Much Harmojiy,"';;~ a/ se'i^ational musical comedy' extrayaga.n7.a,'now ,;it the Kilbirnie Kinema, reveals Bing Crosby as a musical comedy star'who is engaged to the wrong girl, a: scheming, gold-digging blonde. He falls in love with another, girl, and finally wins her after an ' amusing series of highly interesting sequences.

SEASIDE PICTURES.

At the Seaside Pictures,: Lyall Bay, tonight, Dorothea; Wieek ■ will be seen in "Cradle Song." Completely off the beaten, .track of motion :picture' .entertainment, :"Cradle,,SongI:! -is a delicate.handling of a difficult theme. . Tho story,- by .the-noted Spanish playwright G. M. Martinez Sierra, tells of a child abandoned at a convent, and raised by one of the' sisters. Drama and heart-break mount to a moving climax.

OUR THEATRE, NEWTQWN

E.K.O. Radio's dramatisation of "Little Women," Louisa M. Alcott's immortal story of the life, love, laughter, and tears of a fine old American family in the sixties, will be screened at Our Theatre tonight. The part of Jo'is .taken by the star, Katherine Hepburn. Jo's three sisters are portrayed by Joan Bennett as Amy, Frances Dee as Meg, and. Jean Parker as Beth. Their suitors, who supply. the romance, are portrayed by Paul Lukas, Douglas Montgomery, and John. Davis [Lodge. ;

REGAL THEATRE, KARORI

Tonight Gene Gerrard, the .comedian who' is well remembered for his ..excellent work; in "My Wife's ' Family," will appear" in

"The Love Nest" at .the'RegalTheatre. A hopeless tangle with a beautiful but seantily-qlad stranger demanding shelter, with mother-in-law and her daughter arriving at the most inopportune moment, makes this an excellent ■'. comedy picture. On Wednesday and Thursday "This is the Life" will be screened. •.-'■'

CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR,

"Mr. Skitcli," featuring Will Rogers, Zasu Pitts, and Florence Desmond, is screening at the Capitol Theatre tonight. Rogers, as the head, of a family of six. starts off on an aiito tour with the hope of regaining the family fortune. He lands ajob as a waiter, gambles his first dollar, and wins a small fortune, only.-to have his wife lose the money. How Rogers and his family finally emerge from financial difficulties brings the fihn to a hilarious conclusion.' .■■■'.- '