ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 31, 6 February 1935, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE.

Many diameters are concerned in the modern theatre revue "Transatlantic Merry-go-round," at the Regent Theatre. The background of the story deals with the, crossed skeins of crooks and the unfaithtul wife, Anyu Rosson, who leaves New York ou a palatial liner with Lee Lother, a crook. -, The story begins on the ' liner with two pistol shots and the ship's officers trying to break into a cabin. Then the clock goes back 48 hours; : the' time of the ship's departure from New York. It witnesses Anyu Eosson's departure from her husband, after which he quietly Steals on board. Then there is Chan Denby and his troupe of revue, players, headed by Sally Marsh. Lother has one of Denby's company in his power for having at one time forged his name to a cheque. Sally gets to know of this, and begs-Lother to release the boy from his power.' Lother. promises to return the forged cheque to Sally in her cabin after a-! revue show, and here two shots are fired :and Lother is killed. The examination of all those possibly involved in the murder is being conducted by a police inspector when there is another shot and 'Mrs! Rosson falls dead.' Her husband, fully alive 'to her .infidelity, has done what he went on board to do. DE LUXE THEATRE. Kay Francis and Warren William have the leading roles in "Dr Monica," now at the De Luxe Theatre. She plays the part of a womau doctor, specialising in maternity work, who is married to a hapyy and irresponsible author and who suddenly finds herself confronted by the ru:u of'all her happiness. The cause of this turn of events is an attractive young gill, a part played by Jean Muir, and the course which happenings .take after thi9 revelation makes this an uuusual and interesting photoplay. The two women pluu for the preservation ot the happiness of the man they both love, and each in her own way seeks a solution of the problem. When' the end comes it is in a most unexpected manner. Edna May Oliver and James Gleason are again teamed in a thrilling murder mystery, and endow their sleuthing with mirth-prbvbking repartee, in "Murder on the Blackboard," which comes next week to the De Luxe Theatte. Cinemagoers will remember the antics of these funmakers in "Penguin Pool Murder." : Again fiildegarde and Piper solve a ..battling crime, straighten out a love affair, narrowly miss annihilation by a mysterious killer, and provide incidental comedy. Miss Oliver is seen once.more as the angular spinster school-marm who carries a silver-handled umbrella, dresses in Victorian fashion, but has modern ideas of crime detection. From the pen of Stuart Palmer, ' "Murder on the Blackboard" takeß place in. .a, school where' Hildegarde ia employed. A beautiful music, teacher is murdered, and Hildegarde discovers the body. She summons Piper (Gleason) and, together, they find clues, including'a ; dead ' aut iv' a whisky glass, a high-heeled shoe used as a weapon, incriminating letters, and a musical exercise written ou the blackboard. The picture winds up with a satisfying-denouement. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. With Lee Tracy, Helen Mack, Helen Morgan,- and David Holt, aged six, in the cast, "You Belong to Me," at the Paramount Theatre, is a human, sympathetic, a-nd enthralling story about three of life's brave unfortunates. Young Holt is the most believable ' little "boy - the screen has shown. The .story revolves around the off-stage experience's of a vaudeville teahi.' Through - love for the boy,. Tracy and * his wife, , who have parted, become reconciled, and the trio set out to, fight the' world "together. It is a heart-warming drama of thjree people whose whole happiness depended 'upon each other. "Crime Without Passion" -is the story of an unscrupulous lawyer who contends cynically that "the only crime punished by law is stupidity." "Wharf Angel," which shows at the Paramount Theatre next Friday, with Victor McLaglen, Dorothy Dell, Preston.Foster, and Alison Skipworth in the featured cast, is laid in the waterside atmosphere of-San-Francisco. _Jtj:eveals the story of a tender romance between an unhappy girl and a hunted man, whose love saves th'emfrom the perils of th'e'uotorious'San Francisco underworld. George Bancroft returns to the screen in "Elmer and Elsie." -In this picture; which also features Frances Fuller, Roscoe Karns, and George Barbier, Bancroft plays a blustering, goodnatured _ braggart, a truck-driver, who is totally immune to feminine influence and thoughts of ambition, until he meets Miss Fuller., They are married, and how his clever and engaging wife actually wins success for him, while permitting him to keep the illusion that he is a self-made man, furnishes an entertaining and thoroughly human story for this film. KING'S THEATRE. "Dark Hazard," now showing at the King's Theatre, for the first time shows dog racing aa the background for what is stated to bo a dramatic picture. theme of the story deals with a man's passion; for gambling, which- cost him love and home..1 Robinson is the gambler. Genevieve Tobin'has the leading feminine role as his unhappy wife, who ultimately hopes to reform him, while others in the cast- are Glenda Farrell as Robinson's former girl friend, and Rotfert Cavanagh. James Cagney, Bette Davies, and Alice White are starred in "Jimmy The Gent," a comedy romance,; in which fake heirs are found'to collect large unclaimed estates. "Jimmy The Gent" commences next Friday afternoon at the King's Theatre. SHORTT'S THEATRE. Anna Sten plays tho title role in "Nana, • Emila Zola's great story of a courtezan of Paris in Hhe seventies, at Shortt's Theatre. The written story is; a classic,: and; the,film version is not les9 so in its sphere. Anna Sten's characterisation is a wonderful one which has _ placed her among the first-rank-ers in the studio world. Spencer Tracey and Jack Oakie, with Constance Cummings, Arline Judge, and Judith Wood, take the leads in "Looking For Trouble," the comedy, selected as a balance to the tense drama and pathoa of the Zola story. BRITANNIA THEATRE. Universal'a "Million Dollar Ransom," the principal attraction at the Britannia Theatre, is full of exciting situations, racy dialogue, and suspense. Heading a long and^ important cast are Phillips Holmes, Mary Carlisle, Edward Arnold, Wini Shaw, Andy Devine, and Marjorie Gateson. The supporting feature is a brilliant satire on Ruritania, "The Queen's Affair," with Anna Neagle and Fernand Graavey. Drama, comedy, spectacle, and romance are all blended in this picture. Among the supports is the fourth chapter of "The Red Rider." ARTCRAFT THEATRE. Wall Street, hijh finance, loinance, and mother-love all blend in "You Can't Buy Everything'," which brings May! Robson to the talking screen in one of the best vehicles ever provided for her. This new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer championship picture, now at the Artcraft Theatre, shows her as a monej'-mad woman financier, battling against financial giants, toying with the fate of banks and. other institutions, and, between Wall Street coups, depicts her other side as a mother. She is supported: by Lewis Stone and Jean Parker! There are good supports on the bill. KILBIRNIEKINEMA. An excellent double-star programme full of music and comedy will commence a three-days' season at the Kilbirnie Kinema tonight. Grade Fields, England's queen of comedy,'will be seen in her latest musical comedy. production/"Love, Life; and Laughter." The male lead is played by the celebrated English star John Loder. The inimitable Gracie sings five catchy songs. As a. supporting feature "The Cjountess of Monte Cristo;" a sparkling com-edy-drama, starring Fay Wray and Paul Lukas> will be screened. Specially-selected short features combine to make, an . outr standing' programme. BROOKLYN PICTURES. The story of "Sorrell and Son," to be shown tonight at the Brooklynl Pictures, deals with the private life of a broken man guiding his, son by example. It ■■ is a story of loving devotion and tender care. There is a fine supporting programme.

ST. JAMES THEATRE. "The Barretts of Wimpole Street," at the fc>t. James-Theatre, reaches a standard rarely attained on the scieen. Those who saw tho play hero about three years ago will readily admit that this time the screen has scored a distinct triumph over its older rival, and that without departing to any great extent from the idea of confining the action to Elizabeths sick room. The reason is largely to be found in the exceptionally fine cast. Charles Laughton, as the hypocritical, pompous, and overbearing father, gives a performance which will long be remembered. Norma Shearer has never _ been seen to better effect, and Fiedric March gives probably the finest characterisation of his career. MAJESTIC THEATRE. "The Return of the Terror," now showing at the Majestic Theatre, opens with the trial of Dr. Redmayne (John Halliday) for the murder of patients in Ins sanatorium. The doctor's lawyer (Irving Pickel), on the advice of his colleague, . Dr. Goodman (Lyle Talbot), enters a plea of insanity in order to gaiu time. It is accepted, and Dr. Redmayue is incarcerated in an asylum. He escapes, and in and about the sanatorium ' on a wild' and stormy night are congregated a queer collection of people. The supposed maniac flits about among the patients, hunted by Dr. Goodman and various others. How his name is at last cleared and how the real malefactors are brought. to book forms the subject of a most intricate aril entertaining story. PLAZA THEATRE. About the most popular form of comedy that the talking film has as yet risen to is a farce by, Ben Travers with Tom Walls; Ralph Lynn.and Robertson Hare to interpret it. This combination is now at the Plaza Theatre in "A Cup of Kindness." The story is up to the best Travers style. Tom. Walls is once again an elderly port-encrusted parent, Major Tutt. The vacuous and monocled Ralph Lynn is his son. Across the road lives the Ramsbotham family, hope: lessly estranged from the Tutts. But. as might be expected, a love affair develops between young Tutt and the charmiug daughter across the road, and when the erring son is arrested on the eve of his wedding for selling worthless shares, all the ingredients for a first-class farce are at hand. STATE THEATRE. The causes and effects of fear are graphically portrayed in the picure "Hell in the Heavens" at the State Theatre. Warner Baxter has the part of an American ■ aviator in command of a fighting squadron in France. When Baxter arrives at the chateau where his squadron is stationed, "The Baron,' a skilful , German pilot, in a message dropped by parachute, promises him a "brief but interesting stay." Baxter accepts the implied challenge and the war takes on the aspect of a personal combat between the two. • Underlying it all, and now and then forcefully exemplified, is the demoralising effect of fearful anticipation upon-the flying men's skill and courage. Conchita Montenegro is the heroine, with Herbert Mundin and Andy Devine as the fun-makers., "BETTER TIMES." Wellington, people will have their last opportunity of seeing th? third and brightest of Frank Neil's variety revues, "Better Times," at the Grand Opera House '■ tomorrow afternoon and evening, and something extra 'special is promised at the final performance at night. "Better rimes" goes with a swing from its colourful start to its -cheery finish, and those who have enjoyed the shows which have preceded it will find this last one certainly 'not the least. Singling out any artist as better than the others is a difficult task, so talented is the company. ' Perhaps because he does most of the work, Joey Porter, the English comedian, deserves first mention. His antics have to be seen to be enjoyed; he is especially good as the marvellous Professor Rhino and as: the tough gangster. Another artist who gains thunders of well-merited applause is Alec Halls, whose strange act of comedy and musicianship is a gem of its kind. Nothing so entertaining as the dancing of Nice, Florio, and Lubow. has been seen here, for a long. time. Their act presents a contrast to the stately performance of Les Diamondos, adagio experts. Quips and wisecracks by Hope and Ray are refreshingly original, and the Three Ambassadors bring back old memories with old-time melodies. Other ■artists^ too'numerous to mention, combine in song and dance. Skilful ballet work and gorgeous lighting, frocking,- and scenery\he!p the artists to make the show the success it is. QUEEN'S THEATRE. Heading the current double bill at the Queen's is "Parachute Jumper," with Douglas Fairbanks, jun., and Bette Davis. The story details the exciting adventures of two marine, corps air pilots in Nicaragua arid New York, where they are involved in smuggling contraband. This brings in many spectacular air stunts. The other picture is "The Mayor of Hell," with James Cagney and Madge Evans in the rlead.- It is a story set behind the walls of a reformatory institution, and is an 'indictment of treatment meted out-to. certain juvenile cases. PRINCESS THEATRE. Two excellent comedy features are being shown at the Princess Theatre. "The Oldfashioned Way" is the leading attraction. This- cornedy t which has for its theme the adventures and mishaps of an old-time vaudeville troupe, presents W. C. Fields as the manager, romantic lead, and chief . support of a hungry troupe of players who are always one jump ahead of the sheriff and three weeks behind in their pay. A snappy musical comedy entitled' "Happy," is also, presented. There is an entertaining selection of short' subjects. CAPITOLf HEATRE, MIRAMAR. "Have a Heart," screening at the Capitol Theatre tonight, features the new romantic team Jean Parker and James Dunn, together with Una Merkeland Stuart Erwin. Jean Parker is superb in her role of Sally, a young dancing teacher who is made a cripple through a tragic accident and tries to earn her living by mak-: ing dolls. The story of her romance with Jimmie Flaherty (James Dunn) is a blend of wholesome. simplicity with hilarious comedy supplied by Una Merkel and Stuart Envin. • . *. . EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. A double-feature programme will be scieened at the Empire Theatre this evening. The principal attraction is "Danny Boy," starring Ronnie Hepworth and Cyril Richards. "Danny Boy" is an entertainment of rare charm, with music, mirth, and melody. The supporting at^ traction is "Song at Eventide," with a targe, talented all-star cast. Owing to the length of- the* programme "Song at Eventide" will commence promptly at 8 o'clock. - , ■ TALKIE TESTS. Dr. A. L. Lewis, of Hollywood, the discoverer of Janet Gayor, and trainer of many film stars, is searching New Zealand for comedy, talkie types tb use in a talkie comedy which he proposes to make in New Zealand, thus presenting an unusual opportunity for aspirants for screen fame. D.r. Lewis proposes to use local candidates to portray short extracts or "climaxes from current motion pictures. What may be called contact types rather than those of unusual histrionic ability interest Dr. Lewis particularly. It is personality that he requires, for his comedies depend more upon humorous situations than upon th eemployment of experienced character actors. Frequently a person whom the general public might not visualise as a talkie typo will, contrary to anticipation, prove to be a find. "Often," states Dr. Lewis, "I have seen unquestionably beautiful women sadly recorded on film, and time after time wo come across the phenomena of a very ordinary or even a plain woman who records to excellent advantage. For instance, I consider Joan Crawford a very plain girl, and yet upon the screen her millions-of fans look upon her as a wonderful, example of irresistible attraction. For many months Janet Gaynor attended my personality building classes. Later she appeared on the stage for'the first time under my auspices in Holly-wood and I sesured her the first studio engagement." Dr. Lewis's most interesting tests will be supported with a full picture programme. His season commences at the Grand Opera-House next Friday evening at 8 o'clock.