ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Issue 25, 30 January 1935, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

' ') ' REGENT THEATRE. Franz Schubert lives again in the per.noii ot' Hichard Tauber in the picture "Blossom Time," now in its second week sit the Kegent Theatre. Said to be remarkably like Schubert in,appearance, 'Tauber impersonates him with an. artistic realism which leaves one with a vivid idea of the character of that illustrious composer. Schubert is shown as a genius, confident of his ability to succeed but handicapped by a natural timidity and a' lack of public attention. In spite/of every obstacle he achieves a,musical triumph.iri singing his own" compoaitiotfs at a public recital, only to .find that Vicki, the dancing .makter's daughter and the object of all his afiVi.'tion,' is more interested in a.dashing dragoi.>n, ■ who .possesses the advantage of being a count. The course of true love does not run smoothly with them' until Schubert, realising his . o^-n hopeless ambition, schemes successfully to bring' the two together. '"Blossom Time" must be one of the greatest pictures Elstree has given to the world; whether it is .Timber's glorious singing, Schubert's melodious compositions, or the colourful sce'nes'of.old Vienna .that make the picture great r is a matter of individual opinion* ; There are excellent supports. ■ ' ij ,; -■•:', "Transatlantic Merry-Go-Round." : "Transatlantic • Merry-Go-Round," a Sparkling new comedy-drama with-, melody, mystery, and romance, 'staged aboard a palatial ocean Jiner, conies,to the Regent Theatre on Friday^ A great cast of screen and radio ;stars,/headed by Jack" Benny, Nancy Carroll, and Gene Raymond, is seen in this 'production. "Benny, is' seen as a genial master of "ceremonies, broadcasting from the','higlT; Beas.v while Nancy plays Sally Marsh, theVstar of his troupe, and 'Raymond is seen'as a; young Raffles who falls in lpvewith her. The passengers include Sydney Howard, England's Chaplin,-Sid Silvers' as Raymond's comic confederate working, as a steward, Sidney li/ackmer as.arscoundrelly:Broadway rackr eteer, Shirley Grey as a married woman who is infatuated with Lother, Ralph Morgan as her suspicious husband, and William Boyd as an escaped gunman. Mystery develops leading to, a thrilling climax. Four tuneful song hits are introduced in the production. - Sidney Clare and. Richard Whiting wrote "It Was, Sweet of You;" "Kock arid Eoll," and Leo!" while Afei'cer and MaJnick contributed "If 1 Iliad a Million Dollars." ,' ; DF. LUXE THEATREt Stan Laurel and Hardy-appear inIheir most unusual film- to date at thi» De Luxe Theatre; "Babes in Toyland," a fantastic operetta with music by the famous Victor Herbert; The film tells of the adventures of all the storybook characters, of the grand "roles'played by Stanley Dee and Oliver jDumi..of .the; villainies of the Meanest Man in-Town, and reaches a' climax, when.the -forces of Bogyland attack Toyland..; In .} thia novel setting the attractive music,;is, sung by Felix Knight, Charlotte Henry, and,others, ■while the activities of Laurel; and' Hardy ; .are equal in comedy to anything they have done. The' supporting bill is of 'excellent quality. At the organ, Miss Iris' Mason plays a popular.'selection of Toyland tunes. ■ ' ■':'■' -. In "Doctor Monica," which is to open at.the De Luxe. oi}, Friday, Kaj^ Francis is magnificent in '". her portrayal of the title role, and Jean Muir, as. the "other woman," shows why Waraer.Bros. have so rapidly advanced-her. to-stardom. .VVar : ren William makes the difficult role of a man who would'like to be true to his wife but cannot resist temptation not only -convincing,:^but v thoroughly understandable,. Charles Kenyoh has given an excellent dramatisation to the famous Polish play, and William Keighley has directed it with great skill and artistry. QUEEN'S THEATRE.. A closely-guarded silk train racing against time, a murder in the baggage car, tw:o trusted guards secretly working to stop the train, another murder, a- dying mat and his daughter counting the minutes, a detective trying to solve: the mystery," are the'constituents: of "The Silk Kxpress," with Sheila. Terry, «hich heads; the current Queen's Theatre bill. -'The other; picture, .'Frisco Jenny," withißutli Chatterton and Ronald Cook, is a romance !of the Barbaryv Coast.

FRANK NEIL'S REVUEJ ! "On With the Show," the title of the second week's programme of the Frank Neil Variety Company now playing at the Grand Opera House, is a singularly appropriate ■ one. From the opening number, the show never flags. Mice, Florio, and Lubow put on a new edition of acrobatic and slapstick dancing that had the audience guessing as to ■•' whether the fight was a serious onei'or not. "Les Diamondos" amazed with." their dazzling display of living statues, classic poses, and adagio dancing. Alec Halls, musician, clown, and dancer, is a delight to watch.- Another type of dancing is shown by Mac Donald and Graham. Joey Porter is as popular with the crowd as in the previous dhow. Hope and Ray kept the audience' in a roar. of laughter. The orchestra, under Mr. Harry Lazarus, combined with the ballet, and put on some very fine numbers. "The Easter Parade" (1800)" and "Life's Shop Window," revealed the excellence of the company in the best form possible. The act that probably obtained the greatest applause was that staged by "The Three Ambassadors. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. .An interesting character study is given by Katherme Hepburn in "Spitfire" at the Paramount Theatre. She enacts the role of Trigger Hicks, a half-savage white girl who lives in a cabin in the mountains. The mountain community has been out of touch with the modern world for so , long that it represents a backwater o£ civilisation in which circumstance the writer fouud her oppur tunity. The supporting cast in "Spitfire includes Ralph Bellamy, Robert Young. Martha Sleeper, Loui9 Mason, Sara Haden, and John Beck. Miss Ins Mason gives her usual at the Wurlitzer organ.' ' A story of the heart-break, pathos, and human drama that goeb on behind the curtains of the vaudeville stage, "You Belong To Me,", will head the double-star programme at the Paramount Theatre on Friday. Heading the cast are Lee Tracy, Helen -Mack,- Helen Morgan, the latest juvenile star, David Holt, Lynne Overman, and Arthur Pierson. "You Belong To Me" presents Leu Tracy as a brokendown vaudeville comedian who looks after the welfare of Florette' Faxon and her fatherless son. While he is at school his mother is killed during her act, and Tracy, determined to adopt the little boy, comes to the school. Here he is surprised to meet his wife whom-he had left years ago and who had since become a headliner. Love for the boy re-united Tracy and his wife. The second attraction will be "Crime Without^ Passion." ' KING'S THEATRE. •V The first of the double-feature bill fit the King's Theatre is a mystery comedy, with a thrilling, romance, "The Silver Spoon," featuring Binnie Barnes, lan Hunter, and Garry Marsh. The exciting and amusing story concerns two men who come across a murdered man, and in order to protect their girl, they destroy the evidence left beside the body. "The Purchase Price" is a vivid tale of a night club singer, transported to the Dakota wheatfields. , , ~ Edward G. Robinson is starred in next Friday's new feature at the King's, "Dark Hazard." This picture, with Genevieve Tobin and Glenda Farrell in the supporting roles, deals with 'a man whose passion for gambling is so strong that he gives up love and home because of it. SHORTT'S THEATRE. "The House of-Rothschild," nt-Shortt's Theatre, traces the rise of the famous European banking family from obscurity in Frankfort, Germany, to the position of international ~ prominence it had gained at the end of the Napoleonic war*, and presents George Arliss in two roles — as Mayer Amschel Rothschild, and later as Nathan Rothschild. Featured^ in support of Arliss are Boris Karloff, Loretta Young, and Robert Young. There are good supports, includiif? a Walt Disney coloured cartoon, "Grasshoppers and Ants"; a gazette, and- novelties. BROOKLYN THEATRE. Clive Brook, George Raft, Alison Skipworth, and Helen Vinson, are co-featured in "Midnight Club" at the Brooklyn Theatre. The picture depicts the daring capture of a band of jewel thieves, who have been terrorising London society.

ST. JAMES THEATRE, "Now and Forever," the feature at the St. James Theatre, is the story of a crook (Gary Cooper), who tries to ■come, back to respectability for the sake of his infant daughter (Shirley Temple). The father in him triumphs over the crook in him, as the little girl leads him upward. Later crookedness gets the upper haud again. Between the daughter and the father stands the woman who has partnered him in his chequered life; this woman (Carole Lombard) figures as. an. uplifting influence also, but ;it takes a good many people to lift up a. man once he has gone down. In the first part of the programme are a diving exhibition by: the famous Pete Desjardin, "Madhouse Movies," "New Deal Rhythm,"{and "Axe Me Another." and hewsreels; j : ''■''■■ '■', V i "Summon all the adjectives at your command; coin a few new ones if .necessary. 'The Barretts of Wiiispole Street' is, in every sense of the word, .. a magnifieeut trijmph i for all concerned." j Thus the critic of the New York. "Tribune" wrote concerning, the production coming to , the St. James Theatre on Friday. "Norma Shearer as Elizabeth Barrett now stands unchallenged as the first. • lady of the screen; Here is a performance.-]so ■■'saasiV. tive, so sincere, that it brooks rib cbnjparison to her previous successes. Fredric March gives Robert Browning the dash : and fire that is in his best manner. With Norma Shearer, he plays . three of the most exquisite love scenes ever to be recorded by the motion picture camera. Charle9 Laughton does the tyrannical father wtih restrained power.' Nor does the perfect casting end with its stars. Every supporting role has,been filled with just the right performer." Maureen O'Sullivan appears as Heririe.tte, the younger, love-struck sister of Elizabeth. Marion Clayton as the coquettish Cousin Bella. Una O'Connor scores as the maid. Excellent also are the Captain Cook of Ralph Forbes, the Bevan of'lan Wolfe, the Arabel of Katharine Alexander, and the six brothers. MAJESTIC THEATRE, In "Man of Two Worlds," at the Majestic Theatre, Francis Lederer h.is made an undoubted success of his first film role. As Aigo, the foremost hunter of an Eskimo tribe, he becomes the guide of a party of scientists headed by Sir Basil Pemberton (Henry Stephenson). He becomes fascinated by a portrait of Sir Basil's daughter (Elissa Landi). He is taken back to London, where he meets the original of the portrait. ■ His idealistic belief in the girl persists for some time, but is inevitably shattered, and the Eskimo returns to his native land, his wife, ■ and his child. A newsreel. two merry comedies, -and a cartoon complete an entertaining programme BRITANNIA THEATRE. Richard Arlen, popular leading man and star of many screen successes, tops the cast of Paramount's "She Made Her Bed," at the Britannia Theatre. Sally. Eilers, Robert Armstrong, Grace Bradley, Rosco Ates, and Charley Grapewin occupy the other important roles. All lovers of sensation are well catered for by the mystery thriller, "The Warren Case,*' offered; as the supporting feature. There is not one dull moment in the entire film. There are also interesting short subjects. PRINCESS THEATRE. "Wonder Bar," heading the' double bill at the Princess Theatre, is something entirely new, with six stars, a dozen featured players, to -say- nothing of five hundred other performers. Al. Jolson has his old stage role. Kay Francii. Dolores Del Rio, Ricardo Cortez, Diok Powell, and Hal le Roy are some of the stars. "Come On Marines" tells of the adventures of a company of marines which has been sent into the Philippine jungle to rescue a number of marooned ' girls. There are pleasing featurettes. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. The management of the Kilbirnie Kinema are giving a special programme as a benefit to the Kilbirnie Cricket Club this evening. There will be two special features, "The Blue Squadron," a thrilling romance of the air, featuring Esmond Knight and John Stuart, "Picture Snatchers," starring, James Cag-i----ney, Patricia Ellis, and Ralph" Bellamy- .

THE PLAZA. .In ' 'The Gay Divorcee," at the Plaza Theatre, an intriguing story ; is cleverly interwoven in a medley of singing and dancing. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers give a remarkable series of exhibitions on the dance floor. Guy Holden meets, with a charming young lady named; Mimi, who has, unknown to ,Guy,,;engaged his friend Egbert to secure her; a divorce. They all go to the sea coast,.[where Guy is mistaken for the "professional", corespondent engaged by Egbert. The ensuing complications are just being straightened out when the real co-respondent appears, and the 6tory■' goes merrily onward through the, night, ,i; The ,- supporting features are all good, ' and include the latest Australian and New-Zealand news items. " '■".'' ■.'■■■ :;- ■:*'•'':- y STATE THEATRE. , .An appealingly, human story concerning three generations of a.cockney,fainily,,during pre-war, wartime,, arid postwar; years {is told in "My: Old Dutch," at > the: State Theatre.. The.picture is not-a new version of a: former production of, that name, but the latter is introduced as a "silent picture in/oije^of the scenes and there are :certain points of similarity. From the .courting of Jim Hawkins and his marriage thejstory mpves to the growing up of his son'who is killed in the war after a hasty .marriage to ;the daughter of a, wealthy mine owner. He;is' succeeded by a posthumous son whose-mother does not live to rear him. After a legal battle'with the child's grandfather on his mother's side, who has relented his decision to disown his daughter, the Hawkins's cheerfully shouldered their new responsibility. With unemployment increasing their position becomes exceedingly difficult, and a crisis is reached during tlie' general .strike. ■ The principal features of the story are fdrceiully portrayed,- and there are some exciting scenes. The supports comprise newsreels with a variety of interesting features ARTCRAFT THEATRE. With Venice and the sun-baked Lido as its background, "For Love of You," which introduces Franco Foresta, Italian tenor, is the current Artcraft attraction. The story is laid in an old world-capital, and excerpts from the operas, "Othello," "Pearl Fishers," "Tales of Hoffmann," and "Pagliacci," are incorporated. : The: main song of the picture was specially composed by Franz Vienna. Arthur Riscoe and Naunton Wayne- are the comedy stars. There are excellent supports on the programme. SEASIDE PICTURES. "Looking for. Trouble," which wilj be screened at the Seaside Pictures tonight, stars Jack Oakie and Spencer Tracy, who have ■ a series of thrilling adventures as telephone linesmen when they run foul of wire-tappers and .gangsters engaged in engineering a bank robbery. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. "Stingaree," starring Richard 'Dis and Irene Dunne, heads the programme at the Regal Theatre this evening. The story centres around the notorious bushranger Stingaree. Reginald Owen, Conway Teaile, and Andy Divine lead a .talented supporting cast. A two-reel comedy, a cartoon, a Pnthe review, and a Pathe newsreel complete an excellent programme. RIVOLI THEATRE. Patrons at the Rivoli tonight and tomorrow are assured of a jolly, evening's entertainment. "White Woman" stars Carole Lombard, Charles Laughton, and Charles Bickford, and is the story of a ■strange romance in the Malayan jungle' settlement. The associate, feature, "Smarty," features Joan Blondell, Warren William, Frank McHugh, Edward Everett Horton,: and Claire Dodd, and is said to be the smartest and merriest matrimonial mix-up seen on the screen. A Warner Bros, musical featurette, "Plane Crazy," and popular "Popeye the Sailor" and novelties complete the programme. ' OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. • "Mala the Magnificent," Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer's ■ spectacular drama filmed in the Arctic, regions, is showing at Our Theatre. The picture is replete' with the most realistic and life-like scenes of Eskimo life, showing Eskimos in their costumes and dwellings, and their activities of hunting, fishing, and trading. An.'excellent supportng programme includes a' Laurel-Hardy comedy, "Dirty Work.".. ,

DE LUXE, LOWER HUTT. ; "Those little white lies" that wifey bo often tells to hutbyjj and'just as ofteir cause "all sorts of troubles and condition's," were just the same mischievous; trouble makers in the days when grandma was a "modern miss.''^, This fact is delightfully demonstrated! in a screamingly, funny manned in "Those Were the Days," a brilliant adaptation of Sir Arthur I'inero's famous'stage success, "The Magist trate," which .comes to the De Luxe, Lower Hiiit, tomorrow. The popular story is. a domestic farce .of .Victorian days-.in< which the cliief 'character—an austere but kindly Magistrate, played bjr' Will Hay, is deceived by his wife. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. In place of "Danny Boy" and "Song at Eventide," which were scheduled to screen at the Empire Theatre this evening, "Night Club Queen" will be shown. The management wish to apologise, and explain that they were advised on Tuesday that the former programme had not arrived from Sydney. The substitute programme is of excellent quality. "Night Club Queen" is a gay and sparkling com-edy-drama. "Danny Boy" and Song at Eventide" will be screened on Wednesday arid Thursday of next week.