ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Issue 36, 12 February 1935, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. Dickens on the ecieen eeems bound to be pioduced m a foim which will, it anything, mciease his immortality. "Gieat Mpectations," chosen by Univeisal Coiporation tor bcreen pioduction, now at the tfegtnt Thoatic, is as much of a success as it hud been hei aided, ietealin o ' the highlights ot human natuic and the utahly ol the great authoi. The selection tiom the stoiy foi him put poses has been dove admirably, and theie is a sense of balance in keeping with the fitness ot thing!. It is a picture.standing out, and bound to stand out, as an achievement. Ihe spuit ot Dickens and his chaiacters has been captured. From the moment that Pip 16 le vealed seated among the gia\es ot his family in the little Kentish churchynd up to the last lomautic scenes the pio firess of the s'oiy ne\er falteis The acting is exceptionally good. Oue of the hnest pieces ot chaiactei acting *een on the screen lor some lime is that ot Heniy Hull, who takes the pait ot Abel Mag witch, the conuct The stiange per=on ality of a man who i» at once cnminal and unioitunate, coaiuencd, jet with v heart of gratitude passing imagination, is handled with admirable skill. Flora the hrsfscenes on the desolate maifcbes atlei hia escape fiom the prison hulks, to the deathbed scene in a London gnol, Hull convinces that here is Magwitch as. I Dickens meant him to be "Grandad Rudd." Steel Rudd's family— the btam cluldien that have made his name tannliar o\ei the-world—has had an -increase. Now enters "Grandad" to join. Dad and-Daye and the rest on their selection. On Ji'riday Grandad conies 'to Wellington, via the screen, and makes his debut at the Regent Theatie. The "Selection" corned j featuie m which he appeals beais bis name, and in Australia it has been saluted as a worthy succetsoi to the othei huiuoioustales.of the family

GRAND OPERA HOUSE.

Aspirants for screen fame have an opportunity to display their talent at the Giand Opeia. House, wheio Di A.L. Lewis, of Hollywood, discoverer of Janet Gaynor, ie conducting a series of 'comedy ; talkie tests" ou the stage. There are: plenty of would-be film stars offering their' services, -and the manner in which Dr. Lewis, conducts the performance is both interesting and amusing to the audience. Short extracts from -. well-known motion'^pictures are chosen as suitable for the purpose, and Dr Lewis picks out .-'.different candidates for the parts, everyone having an opportunity to display_ his or her talent It is Di. Lewis's intention to make a thorough search of New Zealand for talkie types to use in a comedy which he pioposes to make in this country The supporting progi3inme is excellent, the main feature beipg nn Edna May Oliver comedy, "We're Back Again," with Bilbe Burke, _ Marion Nixon, and Reginald Denny in the supporting roles The story telte of the tioubles of a penniless aristocratic family when a crowd of guests arrives to celebrate a wedding The fun is fast and funous throughout, nnd in terest is well maintained until the end Also showing is an excellent newsreel, and a hilai ious comedy entitled "Odour in the Court"

DE LUXE THEATRE.

Edna May Olnpi has a role that bungs her bulliant success in "Muider on the Blackboaid," now at the Dc Luxe. This mysteiy thullei leveals Miss Olivex in the role o£ Hildegaide Withers, a school teacher who is thrown into contact with the police because of a baffling cume. A girl is mjstenously murdeied and her body disappears. Hildegarde discovers the crime. and gets in touch With an" old acquaintance at police headquai ters, helping ,Ins stumbling mind over the baffling obstacles which he between him and the solution of the mysteiy. .a l the close the inspector imagines that lie has dove the whole thing himself, but the nimble intelligence of the,jschoo! teacher has leallj piovided the'path-finding. The first New Zealand screening of the picture—Xest-JrVe Forget" will take place at the De Luxe Theatre next lTnday. Ovymg perhaps to its stnctly Butish sentiment, it, has captured London audiences in a manner which suggests a deep appreciation of its theme. Dealing with a longI awaited gathenng of tlnee war veterans sixteen years after the Ai mistice, it would I appear to offer little change from productions of its type which have pieceded it, butj its skilful handling as a psychological study of the leaetions of men who EaVe brayed war and a similarly hazardous peace places it on a distinctly higher level | than its piedecessors The countiy home of .Captain Rayner, wheie the comrades i meet, resembles some peaceful haven of refuge from a storm, and as the men tell I of their experiences since they parted m 1918 a pietty romance of the younger generation begins to bud. The cast is headed by Stewart Rome, whose sincerity! !of purppse is -sympathetically reflected in a role for which he is eminently suited. I I -Anne^ Yates and Esmond Knight fill the juvenile parts. I

PARAMOUNT THEATRE.

Wharf Angel," at the Paramount ineatre, is a stirring story of love and Friendship. Victor McLaglen is "Turk," the finest-built man on the watei front land Preston Foster is an idealibt striving to prove that all men aie brothers, and to earn a living at the same time. Both fall in love with the same girl (Dorothy Bell). Preston has got mixed up in a street fight, and is found with a Run in his_ hand which ho has just taken I fiom the killer of a policeman. He runs for it, and blunders into the girl's loom. She hides him, and there dawns a pathetic love story, the two bits of life's jetsam findling consolation, in each other's trust. This w the girl'McLaglen is also determined to marry, sensing m her the gold beneath the tawdry dross of the life she has followed. Friends on the ship to which the hunted man is smuggled, the crisis between the two men arises when the police make an arrest when they return to San Francisco.

QUEEN'S THEATRE.

!. With Richard. Barthelmess in the lending r6le, "Alias the Doctpr" is the , chief attraction at the Queen's Theatre. It ,w the .story of a man who | became the greatest surgeon in Europe,' a'famous saver of human lives, 'practising without the legal right. Tho I girl is Marian Marsh. Also on the bill is "Private Detective C 2," in which an international, spy, William Powell, gets caught in some muddy business and finds . himself as a "partner" in a private de- ! tective agency, trailing faithless wives- for j suspecting husbands. In due course of , events he breaks up a gambling ring which I has threatened to destroy the life of his 'sweetheart, played by Margaret Lindsay.

| ' SHORTT'S THEATRE.

Adapted by, Tim Whelnn from n story I by Guy Bolton, "Aunt Sally," at Shortt's Theatre, concerns the efforts of ■• Sally Bird (Cicely Courtneidge) to Ket;a .partjin the super cabaret of a-new i London night, club, to be opened by Mike Kelly (Sam Hardy), an American night ' club king. She fails,to impress the cabaret producer and is thrown out of the club, but, undaunted, Sally returns and persuades, Mike Kelly to listen to a song. It is a failure in more senses than one, and she is forcibly ejected. By a ruse Sally gets introduced to Kelly as a famous French actress and she is engaged to star in the cabaret. Eventually, however, it is Sally as herself who, proves an enormous, success." The second picture is "Three on a Honeymoon."

PALACE THEATRE, PETONE:

George 'White's' "Scandals" will be. presented at - the Palace Theatre, . Petone,, tomorrow. George White has taken full advantage, of the recent advancement in the art of talking pictures, wide-range sound, to produce one of the most lavish musical;productions ever presented to the picture-going public. Rudy Vallee, Jimmy Durante; Alice Fayc, Gregory Ratoff, Dixie Diinbar; nnd Gertrude Michael are some of'the principals m the cast.

OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN.

: Will Rogers appears-in "Handy Andy," ■which is now showing at Our Theatre. Rogers_ portrays a druggist -who wants to work in peace, but Mm -wife nags him to sell 'out '■ and learn to play. And so he does. First he becomes'a pigeon fancier. Then he takes up. golf, with very funny results. The climax comes, however, when his wife persuades him to take a trip to .the Mardi-Grasin New Orleans. "The Ghoul,", a mystery thriller, starring Boris Karloff, is the second attraction.

ST. JAMES THEATRE. Now in its second week at the St. James Theatie, "Ihe liauetts o£ Wimpole Stieet" is one ot the best ol tho many ambitious piodi'Ctions ct Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. 'The action takes place iv tho Barrett liuusehold in London in the middle of last centuiy, a laige family Jjeing luled with selhshly oppi essive hand by a despotic tathei. Elizabeth, the invalid, is ficqueutly told that uho is not long for this world, and 6hc expects onlj death until her poetiy attiacts tho attention ot Uobeit Biovvmn,; I 1 nil of the joy ot lite and aboundiug in bticngUi and coinage, he persuades hei back to health, and finally takes her as Ins wjfe away fiom the home she has giown to hate Nouna Sheaier as the damty LJizabeth, Fieduc Maich as the intensely -vital Bi owning, and Chailes Laughton a-, the smugly tjiannical father aie the thiee <=tais, and they aie ably suppoitod bj a host of fhstch-s aiti-,ts, not the least of which is Flush, the spaniel.

MAJESTIC THEATRE.

i 'Kvpljn l'ientice," now showing .it the Majestic Iheatie, is a mmdci diama Jolin .-Prentice; a successful advocate, is kept so bubv with a seues ot cases that he spends little time at home. The rather embarrassing attentions of a young and flighty widow, whou he has saved from a manslaughter-charge, threaten to compromise him, but the situation ia saved by the quick '■■wit of his wife's friend and the understanding of his lon^uffeung lfe Ilia -wife, however, fnlK unwittingly into .in affair with a handsome \ouii,j poet, Lawrence Kcriuard. Through the prudence of the wife,-and her love for her husband, it does not assume dangerous proportions f but she writes several compromising letters. The poet then shefws himself in.his true colours by tryvq to exact blackmail. During a meeting vv*;ih Evelyn in his flat, Kennard is shot dead.'and the woman ■■'■with ;' whom ho is living is ■.; found, standing over him with the gun in-her handl Unaware of his wife's complicity in the case, Trentice undertakes the defence. He uses his wife's evidence to obtain a complete tiiumph

KING^S THEATRE.

"Jimmy the Gent,".starring James Cagney,.. is now showing at the '.King's Theatie. The pictuie is based on the hilarious comedy romance, by Laird Doyle and Ray Nazarro, and concerns two crooks, each of whom is trying to expose the other to impress the girl they love. The story, unveils in ' humorous vein the unique racket of bunting down lost heirs in order to inlient unclaimed estates And the' two. notorious heir chasers. James Cagney and Alati . Dineh.art, do not stop at bribing- persons to act as. heirs nnd i roachin^ them into perfurefl testimony Bette Davis is1 the feminine lead. Commencing next Fndav afternoon is the Metio Goldwvn-Mavei double fpitme nrogrnmmp "Gibuel O\er the White House" and "Whistling in the Dmk" The first is an electnfvmjr drama with Waltei Huston, Karen Morley, and Franchot | Ton p. and "Whistling in tli«- Thik" is a lauchable hit. : with, Una Merkei", John Miljah, and Nat Pendleton.

BRITANNIA THEATRE.

Well diversified entertainment is provided, at the Britannia Theatre. "Con- | vention City," a hilarious comedy, purports to icveal, in liumoious vein actual happenings at the annual business conventions I held by business organisations. The picture 'is filled with lovetnngles which the trusting .w-ife.'at. home knows nothing about— that is, none sive two who diop in nnI expectedly on their husbands'tn' the errii barrassment of all concerned. "The Four 'Masked Men"'is-an exciting myster. play |in which the principal roles are filled by Judy Kelly, John Stuart, and Miles I Mander.

PRINCESS THEATRE.

Bringing to life the famous characters in Damon Runyoil's .'• celebrated story, Adolphe Menjou;l Dorothy Dell, Charles Bickford, and Shirley ■ Temple, together with a host of other talented players, ore featured in the film, version of "Little Miss Maiker," now at the Puncess Theatre. It is the story of a five-year-old girl who is used as security for a gambling debt. How she reveals the good side of numerous wrong-doers, and teaches them the real meaning of love, provides the theme for this really enjoyable pictuie. "Bolero," with George Raft in the stalling role, depicts the puvate and public life of the woild's greatest dancer

ARTCRAFT THEATRE.

Set against a backjjiound ot the rooftop dwellings the small carnivals, and the music halls of the left bank of Pans, Maurice Chevalier in bis newest stairmfi picture for Paramount, "The Way to Love," opens, its season at the Artcraft this evening. That pait of Parisian life which offers Maurice the more simple, moie human, "down to-eari;h" roles he so earnestly desnes presents the singing Fiench star as a guide fora tounst agency His.job, showing the "beauties" of Pans, leads him- into a-romance -with one-beauty who is not to be seen fiom the top of a sisht-seeing bus Ann Dvorak has the role ANo vi the cast is Edwaul Eveiett Hoiton. There are excellent supporting featuies on the progiammc

EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY.

'The Battle," starling Chailes Boyer, is at the Empress Theatie. The spectacle of the naval scenes in this pioduction is said to surpass anything of the kind ever attempted on the screen. The squadrons sweeping into action, the sweating toil of the gun crews, the havoc wrought by bin sting shells, are pictunsed m vivid reality. On Wednesday and Thursday Warv ner Oland will be seen in "Chailie Chan in London."

1 RIVOLI'THEATRE.

George Raft's second starring picture, "The Trumpet Blows," a story of Mexico and the bull ling, is showing at the Rivoli Theatie. It isa Paramount pictuic, featuring Adolpho Menjou, Frances Drake, Sidney' Tolcr, Edward Ellis* Kath-ci-ine De Mille, and Francis McDonald. The story reveals a tempestuous romance in a background.of Mexico and. the bull ling. George Raft, who has just-com-pleted his education in -the United States; returns to tbc'bome of his brother, a wealthy rancher in Mexico. From the first, it is evident,that they are very fond of each other. Menjou wants Raft to settle down, marry, and forget all about bull fighting. The younger brother does change his mind when he meets Frances Drake. But later, learning that his brother loves the girl too, he returns to his teacher, and makes plans to return to - his dangerous profession. Injured, he loses his first fight, and his courage gone, he becomes a coward, drinking heavily. However, through a scries of unusual incidents,. ,EaJk finally redeems his honouis wins his heart's desire, and his brothers love, and brings the picture to thrilling, ending. "The. Notorious Sophie Lang" is also being 'shown.

KILBIRNIE KINEMA.

Tonight the final screening-. -will be made at the Kilbirnie Kinema of a double^ star programme, with Joe E. Brown in "Circus Clown" and Barbara Stanwyck and Joel McCrea in "Gambling Lady." Tomorrow- the management will present the record-breaking success "Song of the ! Plough," a sincere story of a struggling farmer. There are some magnificent incidents ;of a; sheepdog contest and many beautiful scenes of the English country^ side. As a supporting feature Lee Tracy and Gloria Stuart will appear in "I'll Tell the World."

CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR.

'"My Song for You," at the Capitol Theatre, features a notable c;ist in Jan Kiepura, SonnieHale, Aileen Marson, and Emlyn Williams. Pioduced by Gaumont British, the makers of that record-break-ing film "Tell Me Tonight," which also featured Jan. Kiepnra and Sonnie Hale, "My Song for You" is an equally delightful picture, rich in song, music, and romance, with laughable comedy aud an air of good fun.

GRAND THEATRE, PETONE.

"Damaged Lives," the most courageous film ever presented, backed by the New South , Wales .-Racial': Hygiene Association, graphically depicts the tragedies that result through ignorance. Having pointed tliff moral'in a highly entertaining form, this frank and sincere 6creen epic proceeds to elaborate in a graphic form how tragedies can be averted through knowledge. .This production will be screened at the Grand Theatre, Petone, commencing' tomorrow.' :

PLAZA THEATRE. Upper-claes society life in New York duriug the mid-Victorian period forms the background for the "Age of Innocence, which is now showing at the Plaza Theatre. The story is based on kditb Wharton's Pulitzer Prize novel of the same name, and tells of the difficulties of joung people of the time who want to be free to live thei* own lives without mteiiersnce fiom their lelations. The him is notable for the leappeaiance together of Irene Dunne arid John Boles, who scored Mich an. outstanding success m "Back Stieet." Boles is cast as Newland Aichcr, the joung nun who sacutices bis happiness for Lomention, and Irene Dunne is the Countess 01en6ka, who shocks the elite society of old New York by her fiank behavicm. Ihe full beauty of Edith Whai ton's book has been captured with sj-mpathetic skill, and credit is due to plajeis and pioducere alike. Appiopuate settings aud beautiful costuming aie featuies of the pictme Jack Hulbeit blackens his face and tm us into a most engaging sheik for his loleinthe Gaiii6boiough production The Camels are Coming," which -will be shown al the Plaza Theqtie on Friday. . "The Camels are Coming" is a stalling vehicle for Butnn's most famous and popular comedian, and presents Jack as SquadronLeader Jack Campbell, arriving in Egl-pt in chaige of ten aeroplanes bought by the Egjptian Government to assist m fighting smugglers.

STATE THEATRE.

Of the many screen combinations there is piobably none more appreciated by the pictui c going public than that of Wheeler and Woolsey, who aie now appearing in their latest faice, "Kentucky Kernels," at the State.Theatre. In this picture the two coniw.ians are cast as vaudeville magicians who, through some stroke of misfoitune, aie appointed foster fathers of a joung child. With characteristically wild abandon the pair become involved _ip a fierce family feud following on-the inheritance of a very expensive estate by the child. Wheeler departs from his usual loles by falling in love with the daugh tor of the leader of the opposing camp, and, of necessity, Woolsey does his best to pacify the enemy. The fun is fast and furious, and' in ■ the -closing stnges there are many uotous moments. The him,is particularly notable -for the introduction of. "Oue. Little. Kiss," a catchy melody, which is sure to prove popular. An excellent ballet provides fast, high-stepping 'touches to. the antics of Wheeler and his associate. Coming to the State Theatre next Friday will be the comedy romance "One Night of Love," a film which has-been greatly praised in showings overseas. Grace Moore is .the. star.

SEASIDE PICTURES. LYALL BAY.

At the Seaside Pictures touight. at 8 "The Scailet Empress" will be presented. !It is a diama of an exotic woman who be ,canie a poweiful empress Reaching the power, of..a mighty throne oii the backs of her lovers, this pictme blinds all the glory and amazing spectacle of Impel lal I Russia to the screen.

REGAL THEAJRE, KARORI.

I Tonight at the Regal Theatre a thrilling detective stoiy, "Charlie Chan in London," will be screened.'Warner Oland, cast as Chailie Chan, goes to great pains to tiap a murderer, ; giving of his usual dry 1 humour. Dramatic scenes and intense excitement maik this film as an exceptioualh jrood mjsterv story. On Wedncsdaj land Thuisdav "Caravan" will be shown.