ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 129, 3 June 1935, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE,

Gary Cooper and Anna Sten appear in "The Wedding Night" at the Regent Theatre. Cooper is cast as a novelist to whom success has brought a (threat of failure. On the royalties of a "best seller" he and his wife (Helen Vinson) have* followed the rapid stream of New York's high life until the quality of his work has deteriorated to a point at which his publishers reject his MS. Lack of funds drives the pair to an ancestral home in Connecticut where Polish families are industriously engaged in the tobacco-growing industry. It is there that the author conceives the germ of a theme for a new novel in the lives and old-world customs —particularly in regard to matrimony—of his Polish neighbours, and he settles down to work alone throughout the winter. When his. wife returns she is handed the unfinished novel to read and is easily able to recognise in it a counterpart of herself as the "unwanted third" in a triangle which includes her husband and a pretty young Polish girl (Anna Sten). The girl is under her father's orders to marry one of her countrymen. Supplying an ending to the book is no easy matter for her husband and the manner in which it all pans out provides a fitting climax to a well-constructed story. "Clive of India." "Clive of India," the most ambitious undertaking of 20th Century Pictures, the producers of "The House of Rothschild,-" the best picture of 1934, comes to the Regent Theatre next Friday. The picture is based on the London stage hit of the same name, and its authors, W. P. Lipscomb and R. J. Minney, were taken to Hollywood by the producers to assure a true and accurate adaptation of their play to the screen. The story of Robert Clive, who conquered an empire at 26 and rose, by his own faith, genius, and daring, from a poor clerk in. the East India Company to become one of England s greatest heroes, is said to fit Ronald Colman like a glove. Loretta Young portrays the lovely English girl to whom Clive wrote proposing marriage after seeing her picture in her brother's locket—the girl who arrived in India to accept him, only to find her poor clerk magically risen to heroic heights through having boldly taken charge of the army and quelled a rebellion. ' '.■•■'

NEW OPERA HOUSE,

"London Speaks," at the New Opera House, is , a picture which should have an appeal to, many, it has been described as as good as a trip to London, and though perhaps, ail would not agree with that description, they will at least come to the conclusion that it is the next best thing to a trip to London. The picture is a pictorial tour of the great metropolis, with a suitable running commentary, and should appeal to those who know London, and also to those who have not visited the Empire's capital, as it gives, within a limited amount of time, an excellent impression of the great city. A very careful selection of scenes has been arranged and in addition to the usual London pictures with whica one is familiar, there are others which the cameraman has captured by going off the beaten track. It would be difficult to describe adequately in condensed form the .vast area covered by the picture. It is sufficient to state that little has been overlooked in the production. Places that have become famous in history are featured, and one is given a good impression of the city at the present time. There is a strong supporting programme.

DE LUXE THEATRE,

"Sweet Adeline," in which Irene Dunne stars at the De Luxe Theatre, has been adapted from the highly popular musical comedy, and portrays old New York in the days of bustles, hansom cabs; beer gardens, and champagne suppers. It is a tale of the rise of a brilliant young singer and her love affair with a song writer, running through a stage production liberally garnished with attractive music,- and relieve^ by the spy hunt of an eccentric millionaire, the -plots of a beautiful foreigner, and the search for a husband of the young star's sister. The swing of the production, the attractive melodies, and the strong story combine to make this a very appealing film "with Irene Dunne at her very best and. a supporting cast headed by Donald Woods, Hugh Herbert, Ned Sparks, Louis Calhern, and Winifred Shaw. The programme includes the latest newsreels, a novelty number, "Two Boobs in a Balloon," a short musical film, and "Show Kids."

KING'S THEATRE.

"Cleopatra," now screening at the King's Theatre, is easily the greatest of Cecil B. de Mille's creations. Truly amazing are Caesar's triumphal procession through the streets of Rome, with trumpets, captives, andchariots, the lofty splendour of the Roman baths, Cleopatra's barge with its burnished poop and beaten gold, its harps and feathers and toiling oars, the banquets and dances, the scenes of war on land and sea, with catapults and battering rams, and galleys showering fireballs. It is the greatest love story of the ages—Cleopatra, divinely beautiful, and Antony, Roman general, forgetting all the world in the mad ecstasy of their infatuation. All the grandeur that was Rome, all the glamour that was Egypt, is spread upon 4he screen in this amazing achievement. Claudette Colbert, Warren William, and Henry Wilcoxon head a cast of thousands.

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 is the main current attraction 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. The 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.

SHORTT'S THEATRE.

Ann Dvorak and Lee Tracy play opposite each other in "Love is a Racket," now showing at Shortt's Theatre. "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 all. His love for a chorus girl was doomed by her ambition to marry millions. Doug. Fairbanks, jun., appears 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 Header," starring Warren William and Constance Cummings. "The Mind Reader" takes the spectator | behind the scenes of the crystal-gazing game, and shows how a few telephone wires and a trained confederate can make a "psychic" of any quick-witted man or woman who has no objection Ito making money in that manner.

BROOKLYN THEATRE.

The double feature attractions at the Brooklyn Theatre tonight are "The Viking," a really wonderful picture of its kind, and "The Thoroughbred," featuring Wesley Barry and Nancy Dover, a drama of a boy who wins races, and wins a girl, but, greatest of all, wins over his own shortcoming.

SKATEWAYS

A special holiday session extending from 7.30 to 11 p.m. will be held this evening at Skateways, Vivian; Street. A holiday programme has been arranged, with the Manhattan Orchestra in attendance. Competent instructors are present at all sessions, and learners are assured of every attention. A private learners' class is held daily from Monday to Friday. Patrons, whether novices or proficient skaters, are now able to enjoy , skating under ideal conditions. The daily, sessions comimence at 10 a.m.

STATE THEATRE,

"Roberta," at the State Theatre, is one of the gayest and most colourful musical romances ever seen in Wellington. With Irene Dunne singing, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing, and a bevy of beautiful girls displaying the latest in feminine style creations, the film moves swiftly and tunefully through a most intriguing story. An American football player falls heir to a fashionable Paris gown salon. The hero and his band leader pal set the world of fashion agog, the hearts of the mademoiselles afiuttering, and the feet of the Parisians aflame during the course of their hectic adventures. Irene Dunne's role is that of a European countess who is the fashion expert of the glamorous "Roberta" establishment, and hers is the chief heart interest of the film, as the romance centres around her and the new owner of the salon. Among the musical highlights of the picture are "The Pipe Organ Number," "Let's Begin," "Yesterday," "I'll Be Hard to Handle," "Lovely to Look At," "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," "Russian Refrain," and "Touch of Your Hand." Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, the two dancing stars, almost talk with their feet in some of the numbers. One of their feature dances, done to the haunting melody of "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, could almost be described as a poem in motion.

MAJESTIC THEATRE.

A thoroughly entertaining picture, "After Office Hours," is showing at the Majestic Theatre. Constance Btnnett and Clarke Gable have the leading roles. It is a story of the newspaper world of New York, and is full of incident and clever dialogue. The young editor of a newspaper has reason for thinking that scandalous rumours concerning a well-known public man and the wife of another man, people well known in society, are true, and he sets out to prove them. However, the owner of the newspaper thinks he is barking up the wrong tree and demands that he cease the campaign, so he decides to investigate for himself "after office hours." He realises how useful a wealthy young girl whom he had discharged that day from the job of music critic on the paper can be, so he reengages her* and through her meets the society people he is after. A murder is committed later on, and the investigation of it is intensely interesting, exciting, and amusing. Clarke Gable gives an excellent performance, Constance Bennett's acting is very finished, and she wears some lovely clothes. The supporting programme is exceptionally entertaining.

ST. JAMES THEATRE.

"Wings in the Dark," at the St. James Theatre, is one of the finest aviation romances shown here to date. The story is that of a young airman, Ken Gordon (Cary Grant), who has invented 'a device for flying through fog and for landing "blind" on a fogbound aerodrome. It is his intention tp fly the Atlantic to prove his invention, but ill-tuned publicity results in permission from the Government being withheld. A daring young aviatrix, Sheila Mason (Myrna Loy), who worships Gordon, incites him to attempt the flight without permission, but in preparing to take off he receives an injury which results in blindness for an indefinite period. Despite numerous setbacks, he continues with his invention, and finally perfects it so that he can actually fly his fast, long-distance monoplane.\ At the last moment, the sponsoring company takes the aeroplane back. Sheila Mason attempts a non-stop flight to get money to repurchase the machine. On the trip over the Atlantic she is lost in fog near New York, and the blind Gordon .determines to go up and lead her in. There is a fitting conclusion to a very pretty and heroic romance.

ROXY THEATRE.

"Chu Chin Chow," at the Roxy Theatre, 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, J 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 Cummings 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.

OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN.

A double-feature programme of exceptional merit is showing at Our Theatre tonight. "Charlie Chan in Paris" stars the inimitable Warner Oland. This time Chan journeys to France on a secret'mission for a British banking house. Before lie leaves Paris he. has not only tracked down a gang of forgers but has plunged into the dangerous shadows of his most baffling mystery. A phantom killer has terrorised the gayest city in the world — and it is Charlie Chan who captures him red-handed. The second attraction is the hilarious British comedy "Freedom of the Seas," * starring Clifford Mollison.

KILBIRNIE KINEMA,

"Danny Boy," a picturesque and attractive musical romance, will head the bill at ■ the Kilbirnie Kinema tonight. The picture is a charming story, embracing captivating Irish songs/ excellent comedy,- and melodious music, and stars Ronnie Hepworth with Frank Forbes-Robertson, Dorothy Dickson, and Cyril Ritchard. The world-famous song "Danny Boy" is featured. An additional attraction is "Song at Eventide," a drama set to melodious music and interspersed with charming songs. Fay Compton and Leslie-Perrins have the stellar roles, and are supported by a notable and outstanding cast of featured players. Miss Compton herself sings several popular ballads, and Easthope Martin's beautiful organ melody "Evensong," which inspired the picture, is introduced.

DE LUXE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT.

The final" presentation of "Madame Dv Barry" will be made -tonight at the De Luxe Theatre, Lower Hutt. "Evelyn Prentice," with Myrna Loy and William Powell as the principal players, will be shown tomorrow and on Wednesday. "Evelyn Prentice" is a thrilling mystery drama involving a murder and a domestic crisis in the life of counsel for the defence. There is a happy comedy element in the picture.

REPERTORY THEATRE.

A brief resume of the story of "Sixteen," to be produced by the Wellington Repertory Theatre iii the Concert Chamber for four nights, commencing next Wednesday, under the direction of Mr. W. S. Wauchop, is as follows:— Jennifer Lawrence, a young and attractive widow with two daughters (Baba, aged thirteen, and Irene, sixteen), is attracted by Sir John Collet, who meets the approval, of the girls in a friendly sort of way. However, when the elder girl finds Sir John embracing her mother, to whom he is now engaged, she is horrified. The next day she faints at school, presumably ill; but the fact is she cannot reconcile herself to the thought of her mother. loving a man other than her dead father, whose memory she very dearly' cherishes. Baba, the younger girl, of quite different temperament, is perfectly satisfied when she learns that her mother and Sir John are to be married the following day in the little country church near his estate, and Irene successfully hides her true feelings until her mother and Sir John have departed. When they return Irene is missing, but is eventually found by her stepfather in circumstances that suggest premeditated suicide. Her mother, frantic with remorse, is willing to sacrifice Sir John for her daughter's happiness, but the family ■ physician intervenes. He makes Irene realise that Sir John loves her mother very dearly and that she had never known true happiness with her first husband, and the curtain falls on a happy reconciliation. "Sixteen" is being heavily booked at the D.1.C., and an outstanding success is confidently anticipated.

PLAZA THEATRE.

"One More Spring," at the. Plaza Theatre, is one of those idealistic human stories in which Janet Gaynor plays to such advantage, and Warner Baxter is the hero, as a New York curio dealer' who has failed. He meets a violinist down on his luck, and the queerest, most improbable story, yet with a strange appeal, is made real by clever acting. Janet is in search, of a job, and sleeps in a subway, while Baxter and his friend sleep in a park. The hero and the girl bump into each other on a thieving expedition in the dark, and the virtuoso, the actress, and the broken bric-a-brac dealer set up house in a stable. Some piquant situations develop, but in the end they help a broken banker to repair his fortunes, and all ends well. "Baboona," one of the Martin-Johnson aerial African travelogues, is the most striking these remarkable photographers have yet achieved. The best part of the film is the sound record of a "tribe" of baboons. The monkey life, so uncannily 'human as to rouse gasps of astonishment, will remain in everyone's mind, This wonderful nature picture should not be missed.

KIVOLI THEATRE.

"The Barretts of Wimpole Street," a brilliant production, brilliantly conceived, written, acted, directed,: and framed, appear tonight-at the Rivoli Theatre. Norma Shearer and Fredric March do more than present a tender, poetic, love story; they actually bring the invalided Elizabeth Barrett and the poet Browning to life. And as the grim, uncompromising father whose diabolical influence motivates the drama, Charles Laughton achieves a performance which compares well with his interpretation of Henry the Eighth. The supporting players are also well cast. They include Maureen O'Sullivan, Ralph Forbes, Katharine Alexander, Marion Clayton, Leo Carroll, Ferdinand Munier, lan Wolfe, and Vernon Downing. The second feature attraction, "Strange Wives," is a delightful domestic comedy full of intriguing situations, and beautiful women adapted from the\ novel "Bread Upon the. Waters" and starring Roger Pryor, June Clay worth, Leslie Fenton, and Esther Ralston. George Wallace appears in "The Dizzy Limit in Laughs," and the famous Two, Black Crows will be seen in "Africa." A comedy oddity and a newsreel complete the holiday programme. The next change will comprise' "Straight from the Heart" and "Fugitive Lady," and next week "Cleopatra" will com-i mence a season.

PARAMOUNT THEATRE.

It is fitting .that the late Edgar Wallace's last and greatest stage play should be interpreted by some of the most famous players of the London stage. "The Green Pack," at the Paramount Theatre, takes one in breathless suspense from London to Portuguese West Africa, whither a trio of gold seekers has gone, backed by a rogue with a plausible tongue. The financier, during the absence of one of the party, has compromised his fiancee, and when the backer, the girl, and the girl's father, a doctor, pay a visit to the three men there is a dramatic showdown. The effect of the Tropics on mentality and morality is emphasised with excellent realism, and there is much drama and suspense before the inquiry into the backer's death is concluded with happy results, for all concerned. John Stuart, Aileen Marston, Garry Marsh,' and a fine cast of British actors portray the roles in this exciting picture. Also showing is another British production, "Without You," a snappy comedy in which Harry Kendall and Wendy Barrie are starred.

ARTCRAFT THEATRE.

"Viva Villa," with Wallace Beery in the role of the famous Mexican revolutionary leader, will conclude this evening at the Artcraft Theatre. The picture has epic sweep, and ranks among the screen's biggest accomplishments. Villa's march from the border to thecapital, 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 of his 'career. Fay Wfay and Katherine De Mille are excellent foils for his romantic moods. ... [ Commencing tomorrow, 'Murder m Trinidad," with Nigel Bruce and Heather Angel, will open its season.

REGAL THEATRE, KARORI.

"The Count of Monte Cristo" is the current attraction at the Regal Theatre. Dumas's immortal story ,of the "Count of Monte Cristo," who was imprisoned in a dungeon for twenty years before'escaping and wreaking a slow and terrible vengeance on the three persons responsible for his imprisonment, makes unusually exciting entertainment. A cast of many hundreds is headed by Robert Donat and Elissa Landi.:

PRINCESS THEATRE.

"Return of the Terror," one of the most unique and baffling mystery dramas ever screened, is at the Princess Theatre. The screen play was suggested by the cleverest of all of the mystery dramas of 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 sanatorium at which the patients have been slain. An all-star cast is headed by Mary Astor, Lyle Talbot, John Halliday, and Frank McHugh. The allAustralian production, "Splendid Fellows," the supporting- feature, is full of thrills. . The Centenerary Air race is the centre around which the stirring story revolves.

SEASIDE PICTURES, LYALL BAY.

A very attractive programme has been arranged at the Seaside Pictures for tonight at 7.30. "Imitation of Life," adapted from ,Fanny Hurst's famous novel, is the story of the young widow (Claudette Colbert) who is struggling to support her three-year-old daughter. Eventually mother and daughter become rivals in love t The supporting programme is a surprise attraction, consisting of an assortment of cartoons, comedy, travel-talks, and jiewsreels, the coloured cartoon "Toyland Premiere," and "Tee for Two," a musical revue in colour. . '.

CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR.

"Forsaking All Others" will be screened at the Capitol Theatre tonight, .featuring three of the screens most prominent artists, Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, and Robert Montgomery, supported by Billie Burke and Charles Butterworth. The picture is based on the successful play by Frank Cavett and Edward Hoberts, which presents the eternal' triangle from a fresh and highly diverting viewpoint.