ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 126, 30 May 1935, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE.

"The Mystery of Edwin Drood" at the Regent Theatre, concludes tonight. "The Wedding Night" commences tomorrow. . . ,

NEW OPERA HOUSE

A mystery story, .. "A Notorious Gentleman," is at the;'" Grand Opera House. Tomorrow "London Speaks" will open its season. "London Speaks." London, although a city of a million wonderful things to see and do, has always retained about it an atmosphere of impenetrable silence, as though she only wanted those fortunate mortals who could enjoy an actual trip to London to share in her being. Thus for the first time in the history of the talking picture screen, a fulllength feature production has been completed, titled "London Speaks" and will be shown at the New Opera House on.. Friday next. "London Speaks" is a story of a traveller in London, the highlights of the film being the fact that you actually accompany the wanderer and share in all the adventures, discoveries, and interesting episodes. In fact, you do everything you have always dreamed about doing in London. Besides being of such an interesting nature, "London Speaks" is also notable for the fact that it is the first feature length film produced in London by Australian enterprise and capital.

DE LUXE THEATRE.

"Devil Dogs of the Air" is showing at the De Luxe Theatre. "Sweet Adeline." "Sweet Adeline," Warner Bros.' new musical spectacle, said to be the most pretentious of all their gigantic specials, opens at the De Luxe Theatre tomorrow, with Irene Dunne, the famous stage and screen singing star, in the title role. The picture is taken from the sensational Broadway hit by Jerome Kern and Gscar Hammerstein 11, and is crammed with hilarious comedy, delightful romance, and stirring drama in addition to its gigantic specialty numbers. Unique dancing numbers are staged by Bob Connolly on novel and mammoth sets with scores of Hollywood's most beautiful girls taking part. The music of this operetta, written by the authors of the musical comedy, contains some of the most popular songs of the day. In addition to the eight in the original show, two new songs were' written specially for the screen version. Five of these songs are sung by Irene,Dunne alone. She sings two others with Phil Regan, -the singinf cop of radio fame, who also sings one song solo. Dorothy Dare, a Broadway musical comedy star, sings a POP"18? ballad, while Hugh Herbert and Nydia Westman will be heard in a comedy duet. In addition there is a tecnnicolour musical revue, "Show Kids/'^featuring the greatest juvenile team that has yet appeared on the screen.

PARAMOUNT THEATRE.

The mam attraction at the Paramo"nt .Theatre is "Fog Over 'Frisco," Ihe intriguing mystery drama, "The Green Pack," which opens at the Paramount Theatre tomorrow, with John Stuart and Aileen Marson in the leading roles, is a film version of Edgar Wallace's last play and best-seller. The fertile genius of detective fiction has left a legacy to the world in this, his final work, which has been faithfully transcribed to the screen, and brilliantly enacted. "The Green Pack" is a gripPm|. romantic, and ingeniously directed nim, wi£h a novel ending that no one can anticipate. It is the story of a civilised murder in an uncivilised <■ °vnev of the globe, and is a picture that cannot fail to thrill, brought to the screen with all the vividness of the past writings of this great author. The second feature will be "Without You," starring Wendy-Barrie.

KING'S THEATRE.

R «Dnio-n>" #^5 Stewart Rome, %fiimental ,Lady," featuring TaSs^atrr CU^ S t°ni^ t at The glories of ancient Egypt and Rome are pictured with breath-taking magnificence in the Paramount release of Cecil B. De Mille's latest venture into the spectacular, "Cleopatra," which commences tomorrow afternoon at the King's Theatre. With brilliant pigments, De Mille, a master of spectacle, has filled his spacious canvas with scenes of thrilling beauty, martial magnificence, sweet-scented romance adventure, drama, life, love, and death. Against a vast, background the human figures of the actors are of diminished importance, yet the undying story of Caesar, Antony, and Cleopatra is told with dignity and tense power. Warren William is a splendid Caesar, and Henry Wilcoxon makes Antony a man. Cleopatra is played by Claudette Colbert, and she too gives one of her best performances. "Cleopatra" is a' glorified spectacle which will live in the memory for years. The first haif of the programme includes selected featurettes. .

REX THEATRE.

"Captured," featuring Leslie Howard, and the all-star comedy "Convention City" will be finally screened tonight at the Rex Theatre. A revelation of the inner workings of a metropolitan police force in tracking criminals is made in ,the murder mystery drama, "From Headquarters," featuring George Brent and Margaret Lindsay, which will be the main attraction opening tomorrow at the Rex Theatre. The story opens with the murder of : a millionaire Broadway playboy and follows the search for the slayer through scientific investigations at police headquarters from the fin-ger-printing of suspects to their inquisition in the.darkened third- degree room.rfThe cast includes Eugene Pallette, Hugh Herbert, Dorothy' Burgess, Theodore Newton, Hobart Cavanaugh, Robert' Barrat, and Henry O'Neill. "Fashion Gaieties of 1934," with William Powell in the stellar role, is the additional feature. Bette Davis plays opposite Powell as his co-conspirator and vies for his love with Veree Teasdale. With two such comedians as Frank McHugh and Hugh Herbert the fun-promises to be irrepressible.

ARTCRAFT THEATRE,

"Murder in the Private Car," now showing at the Artcraft Theatre, concludes tonight. .

"Viva Villa," with Wallace Beery in the role of the famous Mexican revolutionary leader, will commence tomorrow at the Artcraft Theatre. The picture has epic sweep, and ranks among the screen's biggest accomplishments. Villa's march from the border to the capital, the storming of cities, the executions, of captives, the untamed ferocity of the wild men of the revolutionary army—this phase of the production is tempered by intimate glimpses of Villa, the man, in love. Beery gives easily the greatest performance of his career. Fay Wray and Katherine De Mille are excellent foils for his romantic moods. Others who deserve especial mention for meritorious work are Leo Carrillo, Donald Cook, Stuart Erwin, George E. Stone, Joseph Schildkraut, and Henry B. WalthalL

OUR THEATRE, NEWT.OWN.

Heading the double-feature programme at Our Theatre is "Enchanted April," starring Ann Harding. Frank Morgan: and Reginald Owen have the leading male roles. The story transports four women from their sombre life in London to the colourful scene of San Salvadore, Italy, where they have rented an old villa. Here they 'essay to regain a brighter outlook on life after monotonous male associations. "West of Pecos," a Zane Grey story of the old West is the second attraction.

EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY.

1 "Chu Chin Chow," at the Empire Theatre, is the immortal ■ legend ■of Ali Baba and the Forty. THieves —a story of universal appeal, recounting how the murderous bandit Abu Hassan plotted to despoil' the richest merchant of the East, and how his plan is ■wrecked after many thrilling adventures. OnFriday and Saturday "The Count of Monte Cristo" .will be screened.

MAJESTIC THEATRE.

"Shadow of Doubt," at the Majestic Theatre, is a picture enlivened by a good deal of humour and spiced with suspense. "After Office Hours" commences tomorrow.

ST. JAMES THEATRE.

"The White Cockatoo," at the St. James Theatre, is one of the best constructed murder dramas ever submitted for screen adaptation.

STATE THEATRE.

"The Man Who Knew Too Much," at the State Theatre, will be screened finally tonight. "Roberta." Coming to the State Theatre tomorrow is "Roberta," a Jerome Kern production, which it has been claimed is "ten times as tantalising on the screen as on the stage." Heading the cast are Irene Dunne, Fred Astaire, and Ginger Rogers. "Roberta," produced by RKO-Radio, features the singing of Miss Dunne and the dancing and singing of Astaire and Miss Rogers in a swift-moving story said to be replete with romance, comedy, and colour. Jerome Kern wrote the music. In addition to several of his song hits from the stage show, including "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes," new numbers which he composed for the film are introduced. A brilliant fashion show in which original creations are displayed by a select group of America's most beautiful girls, is an outstanding feature of the production. Supporting the three stars in "Roberta" is a strong cast, including Randolph Scott, Helen Westley, Victor Varconi, Claire Dodd, Ferdinand Munler, and Adrian Rosley. In the band, which Astaire leads, are such headline entertainers as Johnny "Candy" Candido, Muzzy Marcellino, Gee Sheldo, Paul McLarind, and Howard Lally. John Kent (Randolph Scott), an all-American football player, goes to Paris with his pal Huck (Fred Astaire) and the latter's dance band. John's Aunt Minnie (Helen Westley) owns the famous gown shop "Roberta's." Her head designer is Stephanie (Irene Dunne). John does" not know that Stephanie is a royal princess of Russia. He does learn that she has a voice like an angel when he hears her sing at Aunt Minnie's informal afternoon teas.

PLAZA THEATRE.

The musical romance of the Riviera, "Let's Live Tonight," is at the Plaza Theatre.

RrVOLI THEATRE,

Thrills below the surface, on the sea, and in the air, combine, to create a sensational background for a stirring romance, "Hell Below," a drama of submarines, now being shown at the Rivoli. Theatre, with Robert Montgomery, Walter Huston, Madge Evans, Jimmy Durante, Eugene Pallette, and Robert Young as the principals in a maelstrom of adventure and excitement. The picture depicts the most remarkable underwater shots of submarines in action yet seen on the screen. Against this authentic background is played the romance of Montgomery, as a young lieutenant in love with Madge Evans, the daughter of his [commander. Their attempts to defy conventions and traditions only to find in the end that there is only one satisfactory solution to a conflict between love and duty provides the main thread of the narrative. A spectacular air raid over an Italian town, hair-raising encounters between submarines and battleships, the sensational rescue of a submersible doomed at the floor of the ocean, and the bottling up of enemy I ships are among the other thrilling incidents in the film. The second attraction is "Six of a Kind," a comedy with Alison Skipworth, W. C. Fields, Charles Ruggles, Mary Boland, Gracie Allen, and George Burns. On Saturday "The Lawyer Man," starring William Powell and Guy Kibbee, and "Bighearted Herbert," will form the double programme. A special midnight Sunday matinee will see a return visit of "Footlight Parade," and on Monday the holiday programme will include "The Barretts of Wimpole Street" and "Strange Wives." '"■"■ '-/{

SHORTT'S THEATRE.

A picture of dramatic brilliance and great in conception, entitled "F.P.l.i" is now showing at Shortt's Theatre. . Ann Dvorak and Lee Tracy play opposite each other in the new Douglas Fairbanks, jun., starring vehicle, "Love is a Racket," which comes to Shortt's Theatre tomorrow. "Love is a Racket" concerns the adventures of a wise Broadway reporter who" discovers he is not so wise in the ways of women after aIL His love for a chorus girl was doomed by her ambition to marry millions. Doug. Fairbanks, jun., appeals as the wise columnist who really is not so smart when it comes to himself. Lee Tracy appears as his best friend. The second feature picture is "The Mind Reader," starring Warren William and Constance Cummings. "The Mind Reader," though not primarily an expose of frauds, nevertheless takes the spectator behind the scenes of the crystal-gazing game, and shows how a few telephone wires and a trained confederate carl make a "psychic" of any quick-witted man or woman who has no objection to making money in that manner.

PRINCESS THEATRE.

The Dorothea Wieck starring vehicle, "Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen," and the Sydney Howard comedy, "It's a Cop," will conclude this evening- at the Princes Theatre. "Return of the Terror," one of the most unique and baffling mystery dramas ever screened, comes to the Princess Theatre tomorrow at the head of a double-feature programme. The screen play was suggested by the cleverest of all of the mystery dramas of the famous author, Edgar Wallace. The story concerns a series of crimes, the first of which is the killing of a number of patients at a private sanitorium for which the superintendent is convicted. Three other slayings and two attempted murders follow, all in a night of terror at the very sanitorium at which the patients have been slain. The picture also carries a double romance and considerable comedy. An all-star cast is headed by Mary Astor, Lyle Talbot, John Hajliday, and Frank McHugh. The all-Australian production, "Splendid Fellows," the supporting feature, is full of thrills. The Centenerary Air Race is the centre around which the stirring story revolves. The cast is headed by Eric Colman, Frank Leighton, Leo Franklyn, Isabelle Mahon, and Frank Bradley. Among the short subjects are a musical comedy, a sporting item, a cartoon, and a musical novelty.

ROXY THEATRE.

"Baby, Take a Bow" at the Roxy Theatre, concludes tonight. Combining spectacle with" drama, romance, comedy, and the music of Frederic Norton, "Chu Chin Chow," screening at the Roxy Theatre tomorrow, provides glittering material to appeal to every taste, its pageantry enhanced by skilful handling and acting of classic style. In its settings, this magnificently produced picture reaches great heights. Grouping of large crowds, costumes of great beauty, and dance ensembles of a most original order are among other features which have been combined into a great film. The strong, dramatic story of the supporting feature, "Channel Crossing," is interpreted by a carefully selected cast, headed by Matheson Lang, as a multimillionaire financier, and Constance Gummings as his secretary. Anthony Bushell is her lover who is responsible for tragic happenings. Edmund Gwenn enjoys a feature role as a passenger—a Lancashire man of substance paying his first visit to France. Max Miller, really an actor but making out that he is a commercial traveller, is another leading figure in comedy scenes cleverly interspersed with the drama.

CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR.

Showing at the Capitol Theatre tonight is "The Silver Streak," starring Sally Blanc, Charles Starrett, and Hardie Albright. The second picture "The First World War," is the authentic official record of this mighty drama as the cameras of the world's greatest nations saw it and preserved it. The battles of Jutland, Gallipoli, the Somme, "U" boat warfare, and air raids on London are but a few of the tense scenes shownt

KH-BIRNIE KINEMA.

"Belle of the Nineties," starring Mac West, will be screened finally at the Kilbirnie Kinema tonight. Miss West herself wrote the story and sings several new songs to the accompaniment of Duke Ellington and his band. The three leading men are Roger Pryor, John Mack Brown, and John Miljan. The additional attraction is John Galsworthy's "One More River." starring Diana Wynward with Colin Clive, Prank Lawton, Jane Wyatt, Mrs. Patrick Campbell, Lionel Atwill, and Reginald Denny. Tomorrow will be presented Leslie Howard and Kay Francis in the picturisation of R. H. Bruce Lockhart's famous and thrilling novel of Red Russia, "British Agent." An additional attraction will be "Baby Take a Bow," starring Shirley Temple with James Dunn and Clare Trevor.

SEASIDE PICTURES, LYAIX BAY.

A double-feature programme will be screened at the Seaside Pictures tonight at 8 o'clock. "Friends of Mr Sweney" is a story of a man (Charlie Ruggles) who is very timid and browbeaten, and how he changes overnight into a demon forms the basis of this hilarious comedy. "The 13th Candle" is a clever mystery thriller with more than a dash of comedy.

REGAL THEATRE, KARORI.

"Romance in Manhattan," co-starring Ginger Rogers and Francis Lederer, heads the programme to be screened at the Regal Theatre this evening. The story is an unusually intriguing and human one, depicting the struggle of a large city's millions for life and happiness. On Friday and Saturday "The Painted Veil" is to be screened.

"CAPPICADE, 1935."

The annual capping revue, or "Cappicade," as they call it, of the students of Victoria College, will open a threenight season at the Town Hall tomorrow under the title "Peccadillo." The dialogue and lyrics are in the competent hands of Mr. Redmond Phillips who will be remembered as the author of "Medea and Soda," and the brilliant "Murder in the Common Room" of last year. "Peccadillo" is studded with many tuneful and rhythmic songs, including original compositions by Messrs. W. H. Stainton, Merv. Pearce, and Jock Staveley. In addition to the sparkling dialogue with its many-topi-cal allusions, and the bright musical numbers, men's burlesque ballets, trained by Miss Peggy Price, which have proved so popular in recent years, will be a feature of the production. The spectacle of ten lusty "mermaids" capering to the strains of the "Habanera" from "Carmen" and the antics of the "New Zealand Women's Cricket XI" should prove too much for the composure of any audience. The orchestra, under the experienced baton of Mr. L. A. C. Warner, has been hard at work and a high level of excellence has been reached. The choice of incidental music is this year exceedingly happy, and should go far towards making a successful production. The staging will be in the competent hands of Mr. C. Wright, who was associated with the "Wind and the Rain" company. The author, Mr. Redmond Phillips, will head a seasoned cast, including Misses Peggy Spence-Sales, Sybil Martyn Williams, and Geraldine Gallagher, and Messrs. Hugh Middlebrook, Kingi Tahiwi, A. McGhie, and R. J. Larkin.