ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 20, 24 July 1934, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE,

The lives, loves, and hates of circus people are depicted graphically iv '"The Ked Wagon", at the Kegent Theatre. J-iie cast includes Charles Bickford, iiaquel Torres, and Greta Nissen. Lett an orphan at an early age, Joe Prince, who has the circus blood in his veius, joins a travelling show in England. By perseverance and hard work he rises to the star act, and on the death of the "boss" he becomes proprietor of the circus. Falling in love with the pretty star of a tiger-taming act, he is betrayed by his best friend, and marries a beautiful gipsy girl on the rebound. Then the trouble starts. Being a gipsy his wife is . not accepted by the circus folk, and when she starts interfering the performers and hands leave one by one. On top of this another circus iorestalls him at every town, and the climax comes when after a hand-to-hand light, between his men and his rival's men Ins. wile elears-off with her lover and her nusband s money. Realising that he cannot carry on,/he sells the circus to his rival and bids farewell to all his friends. Jnnaly he meets the girl whom he had loved at; the height of his career. The picture is filled with the romance and glamour of the sawdust ring, and is crowded with incident.

"Love, Life, and Laughter."

"Love, Life, and Laughter," a very "musical entertainment, which is to commence next Friday at the Regent Theatre, is notable for having Gracie Fields, undoubtedly one of the most popular stars of the pre-sent-day screen, in the principal role Lvery time Gracie Fields appears on the screen she brings with her songs that prove to be really popular Hits. This was the case in each of her three previous pictures, and the five catchy numbers which the inimitable "lass from Lancashire" sings m this her latest and undoubtedly her greatest musical comedy, are said to be destined to be sung, .played, and whistled all over the world. The title song, "Love, Life, and Laughter," is a gem, and is ideally suited to Gracie, who radiates each of these attributes as no one else does. The number is an extremely joyous one, yet retaining something of a martial akin it as well. Then there is the inevitable comic song. Out in the Cold, Cold Snow." There is also a beautiful little melody in waltz time, "Cherie," which is presented in an exceptionally clever and novel form.' ... - '■

GRAND OPERA HOUSE,

With Wallace Beery and George Raft as rivals for the slap-stick, rough and tumble popularity which meant leadership in the bad old days when the Bowery was a sailor's paradise, the success of "The Bowery" at the Grand Opera House is thorough. Beery is the king of the only saloon in this street of queer gamblers, confidence men, and ■ worse. Beery, as ■ Chuck ■ Connors, is a sport, quaintly uncouth and boorish. Raft, as 'Steve," is quite a polished gentleman by comp ar j sonj but nevertheless a sport also.The rivals are leaders of bitterly opposed nre brigades,, and the finest scrap of a series is presented when the brigadesmen clash at a fire. Chuck rashly wagers that ho will hand over his saloon to bteveil Steve jumps off Brooklyn Bridge. Steve has everything ready to drop a dummy and swim ouf under water from jbelow the bridge to rise at the right time, but they steal his dummy, and he has to make the jump. Standing watch over the saloon to stave off a raid by Carrie Nation with an army of Prohibition women, Chuck is told that Steve has survived, and invites Carrie into ateve s saloon, where the wreck is awful Jackie Cooper plays a big part. The ending is quaint. •

DE LUXE THEATRE.

Uncertain Lady," an unusual film of the eternal triangle, is at the De Luxe Theatre. The picture reveals what happens when a modern, sophisticated business woman loses her, husband to another girl. She is quite willing to let her husband go, but expects another in return, and places upon her defaulting spouse the duty of finding' his successor. Hjs efforts are not very successful,- and when the lady herself takes a hand, in the game things assume.a new aspect. For the -wife knows a very wealthy and very attractive shipowner, and when he comes to the rescue there is a change all round. There is quite an unexpected ending. ' v Edmund Lowe and Victor McLaglen play together in "No More Women," a riotous saga of salvage divers, which commences at the De Luxe Theatre on Friday. Divers by day and Romeos by night, they fight and caress their waj1 through a veritable cyclone of adventures and romance. It all begins when Lowe "outsmarts" McLaglan, a diver on a competing salvage tug, by recovering 20,000 dollars in gold from a submerged rum-runner. Matters are not improved when the tug on which Vie works is inherited by a young and attractive girl, played by Sally Blarie. Eddie promptly quits his boat to join her crew, causing Vie to be demoted. From then on the fun is intense, with more than a sufficient number of sirens to give the rival divers cafise for conflict. Along with the comedy, the picture unfolds thrill after thrill, reaching a climax in a desperate fight for life on the ocean bottom. .

PARAMOUNT THE.ATRE.

A picture that is at the same time amusing and exciting is the British Lion drama "The Man Who Changed His Name," at the Paramount Theatre. The interest is cleverly maintained, and there is a surprisingly clever and totally unexpected finish. Lyn Harding is cast as" the man of mystery, and the • charming Betty Stockfield, the clever Australian, Leslie Perrin, and Ben Welden give capital characterisations.

British and Dominions talking version of Warwick Deeping's widely-read book "Sorrell and Son," with H. B. Warner in the part of the older Sorrell, which he made so popular some years ago in the silent picture, achieves an even greater success in the talking version. His excellent speaking voice is heard to the best advantage. The supporting players form a cast that has been eulogised as "one of the very best associated with a "talkin" picture." "Sorrell and Son" will begin at the Paramount Theatre next Friday.

KING'S THEATRE.

An unusual theme, involving the adventures of a handsome and magnetic rogue masquerading as a famous surgeon, was hit upon for the production of "Bedside, at the King's Theatre. The masquerader, played by Warren William, has a way with women which wins him tremendous success in the profession. li. fact, it is this way with women, together with his passion for hard liquor and the gamin" table, that is responsible for his dismissal from a medical school.

QUEEN'S THEATRE,

Clark Gable and Jean Harlow appear together at the Queen's Theatre in 'Red Dust," a romantic adventure story laid amid the rubber plantations of Indo-China. The! screen version was filmed on a pretentious scale. The plantation setting alone- occupied an entire sound stage. Porches, mat roofs, and floorings of rough-hewn timber construction were duplicated from photographs. The second attraction is the intriguing romance, '.'Shipmates," starring Robert Montgomery.

ARTCRAFT THEATRE.

The opening this evening at the Artcraft Theatre of "Say It With Music," featuring London's popular Jack Payne and his band, should prove an interesting occasion. This film is not merely a .jazz music recital, as it contains a richly human story, fictional, but using as its theme the dramatic history of the Irving Berlin {mmber "Say It With Music," which is famous throughout the world as Jack Payne's signature tune. Percy Marrnont plays the part of the composer of "Say It With Mpsic." A musical gem "The Moonlight Sonata," an Ideal Magazine, a Nature study, a scenic film, a travelogue, a New Zealand scenic, and'an interesting newsreel will also be shown.

BRITANNIA THEATRE.

"Take a Chance," at the Britannia Theatre, is a gay bit of nonsense concerning the careers of four carnival side-show entertainers who become tired of smalltown life and decide to snatch fame and fortune on Broadway. The picture follows the careers of the four irrepressible youngsters through the villainies of a crooked gambler and a jealous actress? "The King's Clip," from a story by Sir A.lan Cobham, is also being ehoTOij

STATE THEATRE,

Evidence of the pride that New Zealanders take in the beauties and glories of their country is the fact that "Romantic New Zealand" is now in its second week of screening at the State Theatre. The picture is cm entertaining combination of travelogue, historical picture, and variety show. Commencing with the discovery of New Zealand by the Dutch voyagers and with Cook's visit at a later date, the film goes on to depict with a wealth of detail the lives and customs of the Maoris and the scenic wonders of the Dominion. To the accompaniment of a pleasant explanatory voice the camera.takes one on a tour of the thermal wonders of the North Island, of big game • and trout fishing places in sea and river, of the Tongariro National Park and Mount Cook winter sports grounds, of Otago and West Coast gold-mining areas, and of the glaciers and forests, and agricultural and pastoral country of the whole Dominion. Topical views are presented of the four main centres. An outstanding feature of the film is the use in many parts of the Trucolour process, a New Zealand invention which reproduces every colour with the fidelity ■of Nature itself. On the same programme is "Red Ensign," a gripping story of the British mercantile marine..

MAJESTIC THEATRE!

It is noticeable that songs and music features are being interspersed regularly with cinema "shorts." The Majestic Theatre has enlisted the aid of Silver's baud of musicians, known as the Majestic Stage Presentation Band. The main picture, 'Sitting.Pretty," is a production concerned with songs, and leads from New York to Hollywood, where Jack Oakie, song writer, and Jack Haley, with Ginger Rogers, both singers, after varying ' experiences ■at last succeed and ."sit pretty" the star performers. "Sitting Pretty" is a spectacular and tuneful production in which mirth and love are part of the composite pattern. ■

PFINCESS^ THEATRE.

"Queen Christina," at, the Princess Theatre, is the story of Sweden's glamoi?ous regent who sacrificed her country and her throne for love and religious motives. Christina (Greta GarboJ, besieged on all sides by, wars, obtains peace for her, country against the wishes of Sweden's triumphant armies. During an incognito flight from the worries of statecraft she meets Gilbert, the handsome Spanish envoy, and falls in love with him. The love affair'ends tragically, and Christina sails away from her homeland. / ■ ■;'".■

RIVOLI THEATRE,

There ia not a dull moment in the happiness programme now showing at the Rivoli. Comedy of the highest calibre abounds in both "The Golddigger u 'of \933'_and "Yp U Said a Mouthful." the Joe h,. Brown feature supporting Warner Bros, musical extravaganza. N Tomorrow memories of the old nigger minstrel days ?™1 be revived ri Pathe's musical comedy, The Grand Parade," . featuring Helen iwelvetreea and Fred Scott. Forthcoming attractions to the Rivoli include "The I'oothght Parade,'1 "Son of a Sailor" "Children of Dreams," aud "Hi Nellie "

EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY

"The AHbuse r; of ■ Kent, 1' starring Anne Grey and John Stuart, heads the programme at the Empire Theatre. The story concerns > a young girl who loved tue son of a man who sacrificed his life tor. her, and wlio was then persecuted by her father. On Wednesday and Thursday Ivor >ovello will be seen in "I Lived With You." ''■-■■-.

KILBIRNIE KINEMA,

"The Women in His Life," now showing at the Kilbirnie Kinema, is a vivid unfolding of gripping events in the life of a great metropolitan lawyer who, though disgraced, saves the life of ah innocent , man from a sentence of death after the rebirth of his own soul. As the lawyer, Otto Kruger scores in oiie of the most dramatic roles of his career.

' SEASIDE PICTURES.

At the Seaside Pictures, Lyall Bay, tonight, the tour Marx brothers will be seen in "Duck Soup." Briefly, it concerns Freedonia, a land of happiness and peace, which is in the throes of a revolution. The trouble is fomented by the ambassador of a neighbouring - country who wants to buy Freedonia. But when Groucho gets in power, action begins. And the methods by which the four brothers clown their way through receptions, war, and court martials furnish mafiy laughs. ' . • •

SHORTT'S THEATRE,

"Once to Every Woman/ at Shortt's Theatre, is based on A. J. Cronin's magazine novelette, "Kaleidoscope in 'X.'" Fay Wray is featured opposite Ralph Bellamy. The story concerns the dramatic entanglement of the lives of a number of people in the love affair of Miss Wray and a brilliant young surgeon. A supporting picture is "The Line-Up," which depicts what happens when a young detective is forced to put his sweetheart through a grilling police line-up^ v

OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN

Will Rogers's latest starring film, "Jlr. Skitch," in which Zasu Pitts has the principal feminine role, will be "screened at Our Theatre tonight. Rogers is cast as the head of a family, of six. Through a bank failure he and his'family are left penniless and put out of their home. He takes his family in, a dilapidated car and speeds • westward, hoping to-secure a job. Extraordinary adventures and the trials and tribulations of migration constitute the comedy-with-pathos elements of the story.

COMMUNITY SING. ~

This week's midday community sing will be held in the Town Hall tomorrow, commencing at 12.30 p~ni. An invitation has been extended to the delegates attending the conference of the Dominion Federation of Women's Institutes to be present at the sing. The song leaders will bo Mr. Owen Pritchard and Mr. Will Mason. Mr. Frank Crowther will be at the piano, and Mr. Paul Cullen at the gland organ. The collection will be in aid of the Mayor's fund for the relief of distress.

VIOLIN RECITAU.

MissZillah Castle, who recently returned from London after three years' intensive study of the violin at the Royal College of Music, where she, played in the First Orchestra at the jubilee celebrations of the college, and at which the King and Queen with the; Prince of Wales were present, is giving a" recital in the Town Hall Concert Chamber on Wednesday, August 1, at 8 p.m. Miss Castle, who was awarded a two years' national scholarship, gaining the highest marks in New Zealand, received her. A;R.C.M. after eighteen months' study,: and at the end of'the two years' term she was awarded an extension to three years. .' Her programme for the recital will comprise, many items which have not yet been heard in the Dominion. Miss Castle returns with enthusiastic testimonials as to her ability as a' solo violinist,'

CLEM DAWE'S REVUE COMPANY.

The box plans will be opened at the D.I.C. on Thursday morning for the appearance here of the famous and popular comedian Clem Dawe and his company of forty revue artists, which commences at the St..James Theatre on Friday, August 3, in conjunction with the screening of a full-length feature picture. Clem Dawe's Auckland season was extended to no less than eight weeks. "Strike Up the Band" comprises everything that is bright in the way of music, song, and patter, and, in addition to the clever composition of the playettes, and the entertaining and amusing manner of their execution, the show possesses a range of splendid vocal per-1 formers, In the centre of all the funmaking is the inimitable Clem Dawe, and associated prominently with him in potted plays, burlesques, and numerous turns of comedy are Dorothy White, Eric Edg: ley, Les White, Joe Shriner, and Cliff O'Keefe. But the comedy is only one phase of the entertainment. Miss Muriel O'Malley and Miss Ann Luciano in songs at the piano became tremendously popular in Auckland. There are two fine adagio dancers. Halliday and Watson, whose thrilling acrobatic dances created something like a sensation in Auckland. The company includes Gregory Ivanoff, the' famous Russian violinist, who on former occasions has delighted playgoers. The work of a team of talented young Australian ballet dancers is a feature of the revue.

ST. JAMES THEATRE.

A—A. Milne's exceptionally clever'comedy "The Dover Road" (alias "Where Sinners Meet") is at the St. James Theatre. This picturised version of "The Dover Road" specialises in three of the Milne characters—Anne, Latimer, and Eustasia. ■Billie Burkes Eustasia is very fine. The fussy woman who plagues men to death with her minute and persistent attention? proves to be well within Miss Burkes range, and there is not a dull moment so long as Eustasia is tormenting her male victims.; From artists of the standing of Diana Wyuyard and Clive Brook a finished performance of the leading roles is to be expected, and they give it.

REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. /

Tonight a double-feature British programme will be screened at the Regal Iheatre. The leading picture, "I Lived With You," starring Ivor Novello and Ida Lupiuo, is a sparkling comedy-drama. On Wednesday and Thursday "Morning Glory," with Katherine Heburn, will be screened. . ,

CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR.

An outstanding double-feature programme is being screened at the Capitol iheatre tonight for the last time. 'Women in His Life" is a new kind of drama featuring Otto Kruger, Benn Lyon, and Una Merkel. The picture is a vivid unfolding of sensational events in the life ot a great metropolitan lawyer, who, though disgraced, saves the life of an innocent man. "Ace of Aces" is a thrilling air story. ..-,-■