CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 116, 12 November 1935, Page 5

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. "Legion of Valour," which is now showing at the Regent Theatre, gives a, .yivld _ Picture of the ■ .unending strife between the Federal agents fi n «. ull organised crime group that by its sensational raids institutes a reign of terror that spreads throughout an entire State. The plot deals -with the efforts of three young agents, played by Richard Arlen, Harvey Stephens, and Eric Linden, who combine in an endeavour to track down a daring criminal who was im- „ plicated in an attempt to kidnap. Linden's sister, played by Virginia Bruce. The film has additional interest as it gives a very clear insight into the- modern methods of tracking down criminals as practiced in the up-to-date American Inquiry Bureau and the significance which often attaches to seemingly trivial clues. The supporting programme is excellent, and-includes a Walt Disney silly symphony "Cookies Carnival," "Pardon My. Grip," an amusing film dealing with wrestling in all parts of the globe, and some interesting newsre.els. "GIRLS IN UNIFORM." Selected as the best picture of last year by the critics of the New York "Herald-Tribune," the "New York Times,"' the New York "World-Tele-gram," and the New York "Sun," "Girls in Uniform" will start a short season on Friday at the New Opera House. This is -the film which the Prince of-Wales-saw three times and to which he gave glowing praise; which ran for six months -in London, four in New York, and even longer seasons in Paris and Berlin; and which recently., finished an extended season of six weeks.in Sydney. A boarding school for. German army, officers furnishes the background for this brilliant tale .of the 'conflict between a lonely;. adolescent girl and the strict, discipline'prevailing in the school. The leading character is Herta Thiele, portraying a motherless girl who turns to one of her teachers (Dorothea Wieck) for understanding and sympathy. The principal of the school (Emilia UndaV misunderstands the underlying motives of the girl's innocent actions. The friendship between the pupil and her favourite teacher develops into an attachment which, perhaps misinterpreted, perhaps not, 1 culminates in a scandal, and a gripping climax. "You may read into these events a certain pathological significance, but permit us to say that, whichever way you interpret it, 'Girls in Uniform' is an always intelligent and never offensive exhibition," writes a leading American critic. "In every respect it is brilliantly' distinguished, and in every particular it is unlike any other film. A masterpiece, so far removed from the best, as we at present know it, that new standards are created and familiar values are cancelled." DE LUXE THEATRE. The eerie notion that a modern scientist of great mental powers and unbalanced mind might choose to reconstruct some of the more startling of the stories of Edgar Allen Poe is the basis of "The Raven," which is the main feature on the new-and attractive bill at the De Luxe Theatre. Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff (a remarkable pair to have 'in one film), Irene Ware, and Lester Matthews are the principals in this horror picture, which begins when the doctor is called in to save the life of a beautiful young girl and ends with a weird and horrifying house party at the home of the surgeon. The final scenes in the torture chambers are breathless in their rapidity and strangeness. Bela. Lugosi has never been better cast:.than in this film, and as the instrument of his horrible plans Boris Karloff has a moving role to play. In the supporting' programme there are some excellent newsreels; another of the series of' "Going Places with Lowellf'Tiidfife;!!;. and a revival of the popiilar colouredcartoon classics. . . "!..':'' PARAMOUNT THEATRE. ■ Taking advantage of the vogues'; fdr. crime pictures and musical "pictures,1 the Paramount Corporation has produced an interesting hybrid of both," called "Stolen Harmony," ' which is now at the Paramount Theatre. . From the opening scenes of a jazz band-play-ing inspiringly behind prison' .bars to the final ones of as hectic a gunfight as has ever reached the .screen, the picture never has a dull moment and is never without, its flavour of the unexpected. George Raft is* ideally cast as an ex-convict turned song-and-dance man. The other full-length picture on the programme is "Mama Loves Papa," featuring Mary Boland and' Charlie Ruggles. It is a diverting tale of the escapades of. a man in a groove and the disastrous results of his wife's misguided efforts to shift-hinr from that groove. KING'S THEATRE. "The Thirty-nine Steps," showing at the King's Theatre, commences with panic in a London music-hall and the accidental meeting of a beautiful, mysterious woman, and Hannay, a young Canadian, on holiday in England, and grows more intriguing as the plot progresses. In answer to the stranger's request for temporary ->rotection, Hannay takes her to his home: but her adversaries are too clever, and the young man is horrified to find her dying after being stabbed in the back. However, before her death Han-, nay himself is in possession of her secret, and the importance of,' his knowledge involves him in a series of adventures. Robert Donat and Madeleine Carroll are the stars. SHORTT'S THEATRE. Two big attractions are now showing at Shortt's Theatre. The late Marie Dressier and Wallace Beery, stars of "Mm and Bill," head the cast in "Tugboat Annie." There are hilarious quarrels between the redoubtable feminine tugboat captain and her shiftless, good-natured husband; motherlove furnishes a poignant heart interest, and there is a tremendous dramatic climax in the amazing episode in the engine-room. "Fra Diavolo," the second feature, is an ideal vehicle for the famous comedians Laurel and Hardy, who are supported by Dennis King and Thelma Todd. REX THEATRE. In "Wonder Bar." the leading feature now screening at the Rex Theatre, Al Jolson has his old stage role. Kay Francis, Dolores Del Rio, Ricardo Cortez, Dick Powell, and Hal le Roy are some of the principals. Three hundred of Hollywoods most beautiful girls romp through numbers amid a riot of dazzling light effects. T The additional attraction, "The Blue Squadron," is a stirring romance woven around Italian aviation. Esmond Knight, John Stuart, and Greta Hansen head the cast. There are good supporting featurettes. OUR THEATRE, NEAVTOWN. Lionel Barrymore. Elizabeth Allan, and Bela Lugosi have the principal roles m the sensational detective mystery 'Mark of the Vampire." whicn heads the double-feature programme it Our Theatre. The thrills include a mysterious murder blamed on. vampires, the appearance of the vampir* horde, the reincarnation of the hero-1 mes father, and the bat that turns into I a woman. In "Ladies Should Listen," | Frances Drake plays the role of n switchboard attendant who listens-:n to the telephone calls of a wealthy man-about-town, saves him from unscrupulous "go-getters," and wins his heart. SEASIDE PICTURES, LYALL BAY. At the Seaside Pictures tonight Franchot Tone and Una Merkel will be seen in an exciting mystery comedy, One New York Night." The plot is of a country boy who comes to the city to find a wife and finds more excitement than he bargains for Star Night at the Coconut Grove" is a gorgeously coloured novelty of (he playground of the film stars. A ToddKelly comedy, "Goofy Movies" and aewsreels will sko be shown.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

MAJESTIC THEATRE. Perfect photography, faultless acting,! and a human story make of "The ] Keeper of the Bees," showing at the ! Majestic Theatre, a picture of universal appea.. Gene Stratton-Porter's novels make absorbing reading, but the Monogram version of one of her best-read stories offers entertainment seldom rivalled. The spirit of the story has been caught perfectly by a superb cast, headed by Neil Hamilton as the war veteran who fights his way back to health and happiness through the accident of meeting a charming girl. Under sentence of death Jamie leaves the hospital where he is being treated for gas poisoning and sets out to walk to Chicago for a" final fling with journalistic pals. A charming school teacher gives the hiker a lift, and so I romance enters the heart and life of the doomed man. The simple little tale of human beings caught by circumstances is delightfully told against a background of lovely scenery and glorious vistas, with the Pacific slumbering in the distance. Seldom has Neil Hamilton been seen to better advantage. Betty Furness, Edith Fellowes, and Hobart Bosworth interpret this delilightful tole with its noive twists. The supporting programmee features a British newsreel, topical events, a Pathe pictorial, and a' coloured Sinbad cartoon. ST. JAMES THEATRE. Those who find enjoyment in tuneful songs, a light-hearted theme, and spontaneous humour will appreciate "Broadway Gondolier," the Warner Bros, film, showing at the St. James Theatre. Dick Powell and Joan Blondeli; the popular stars'of "Gold Diggers of 1933," play ■ the leading roles, Dick Powell..-as a New York taxicab driver with a voice that is capable of causing a traffic hold-up at any time he chooses to break into opera,, and Joan Blondeli' as the chief-of-staff at the U.B.C. broadcasting studios. Adolfe Menjou plays the part of a broken-down Italian opera star who takes the taxicab driver's -interest to heart and struggles to get him an entry. There are . many obstacles and misunderstandings in the path to fame, however, and Powell is banished from the U.B.C. studios without a real audition. How he succeeds in his ambition makes a humorous story. This collection of musical stars includes the four Mills brothers. Ted Fio Rita and his famous orchestra, and the Canova Family. STATE THEATRE. The fact that it is in its third week of screening at the State Theatre is perhaps the best advertisement for Shirley Temple's latest picture, "Curly Top." In it she plays the part of a mischievous little girl who is adopted by a millionaire, and leaves the orphanage accompanied by her elder sister (the beautiful Rochelle Hudson), her trained pony, and her performing duck. John Boles plays the part of the handsome young millionaire. Shirley's-, new-found happiness blossoms forth into laughter, song, and dance. Her talents are given full sway and audiences will come under her enchanting spell when she sings "Animal Crackers in My Soup" and "When I Grow Up." John Boles sings two of the hit numbers in the film. They are "It's All So New to Me" and the theme number, "Curly Top." Rochelle Hudson, who makes, her singing debut in this picture, sings "The Simple Things in Life." . There is :an up-to-the-minute supporting programme. ; ; PLAZA THEATRE. : Tom Walls and. Ralph Lynn are in their'; ;.j happiest .'"•. vein in "Stormy Weather,' at the Plaza. Theatre, and th.ek:.r .-.ijp.llow-cqnspirator, Robertson Hare, -'~/is: also at'''his" .best, but hardly :; at.r his happiest. He reyealsv" himself in the novel role of a. sleuth-hound, whose courage, however, deserts him at the critical moment. Yvonne Arnaud plays the part of the wife, of Sir Duncan Craggs (Tom Walls). She is blackmailed by her former husband, Polotski; who was supposed to have- been killed in the Russian Revolution, but Tom Walls, ably hampered in his efforts by Ralph Lynn, deals with the matter in his characteristic manner. A Chinese girl brought back by, Ralph Lynn from the opium den introduces difficulties for Tom Walls, who finds his duties as a husband conflicting with his own wishes. PRINCESS THEATRE. Heading the , double-feature programme now showing at the Princess Theatre '. is R.- D. Blackmore's "Lorna Dooiie," starring John Loder and the beautiful' English star, Victoria Hopper. "One Exciting-Adventure," gay story of Europe's. most glamorous people and resorts, starring the brilliant Binnie Barnes, is the additional attraction. In the featured roles are Neil Hamilton, Paul Cavanagh. Edna Searl, Grant Mitchell, and Eugene Pallette. Prominent among the featurettes. is the technicolour classic, "Hey, Hey, Westerner." ROXY THEATRE. "G Men," First National's sensational picture written about the heroic deeds of the secret service men in the United States Government Department of Justice, is showing at the Roxy Theatre. The production is enacted by an all-star cast headed by James Cagney as the leading "G Man," and Margaret Lindsay. "The Informer," the . second feature, RKO-Radio's picturisation of Liam O'Flaherty's novel of the same name, stars Victor McLaglen, aided by a strong cast that includes Heather Angel, Margot Grahame, Wallace Ford, Preston Foster, and Una O'Connor. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. "Naughty Marietta," starring Jeanette Mac Donald and Nelson Eddy, will conclude a successful season at the Kilbirnie Kinema tonight. Two brilliant productions will be screened tomorrow night. The first will be the spectacular musical extravaganza, "Folies Bergere," starring Maurice Chevalier, with Ann Sothern and Merle Oberon. Five catchy songs are introduced, plus lavish settings and sensational dance numbers. The sec-ond-attraction will be a mystery comedy, "One New York Night," starring Franchot Tone and Una Merkel. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. Tonight at the Regal Theatre, Katherine Hepburn will appear in "Break of Hearts," a dramatic romance in modern settings, assisted by Charles Boyer, Jean Hersholt, and John Beal. Newsreels and short subjects will also Ibe screened. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. | Maurice Chevalier, star of many spectacular musical comedies, excels himself in "Folies Bergere." showing tonight at the Empire Theatre. Ann Sothern heads a large cast of supporting players. An excellent programme of short subjects precedes the main attraction. CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. "Now and Forever," screening finally at the Capitol Theatre tonight, features the ever-popular child actress Shirley I Temple with Gary Cooper, Carole Lorn 1 bard. Sir Guy Standing, and Charlotte [Granville. A grand acting combination, a thrilling, human, and appealing story of the love and wanderlust of three unusual people make this picture excellent entertainment. CHAMBER MUSIC CLUB. The Chamber Music Club will hold the fourth musicale of this season to- | morrow evening at 8 o'clock at the Lyceum Club. Lambton Quay. • Th« players are Leon de Mauny, Evelyn da Mauny. and Claude Tanner, who will give a particularly attractive programme of trios and solos, the main item being the famous E Minor Arensky Trio. The assisting artist for this concert will be Miss Marjorie Bennie, who will contribute a group of French and German songs.

RIVOLI THEATP.E. "Eight Bells," Columbia Pictures' gripping nautical drama, began a three-day run at the Rivoli Theatre today. Ann Sothern is starred and Ralph Beilamy and John Buckler have featured roles. Dealing with the primitive loves and hates inspired by the presence of a beautiful girl aboard a freighter bound for Shanghai, "Eight Bells" presents some of the finest sea photography ever presented in films. The photography of the storm ; sequences, when towering waves sweep | the vessel from stem to stern, killing I members of the crew, smashing the | heavy steel plates, and flooding the j boiler room are said to be among the most impressive "shots" made. > I An Eddie Cantor more at home than ] ever on the screen in his fifth annual | frolic comes to the Rivoli tonight in] "Kid Millions," a roving, rambling tale of adventure and adventures in search of buried treasure in Egypt. Samuel \ Goldwyn has built around his banjoeyed clown the usual opulence in setting, maids, and melody. Ethel Merman's bubbling humour and her deepthroated song match Eddie's in the picture; Ann Sothern and George Murphy are the romantic interest. The | nonsense of Eve Sully is heard for the I first time on the screen in "Kid Millions." The songs were written by Gus-Kahn and Walter Donaldson, with an added ditty by Harold Adamson and Burton Lane. The sentimental, tambourined rhythms of "Mandy" still belong to Irving;Berlin. TIVOLI THEATRE. Mary Boland • and Charlie Ruggles, famous domestic pair of the screen, are featured together again in Paramount's "Ruggles of Red Gap," which comes to the Tivoli Theatre tonight. They support Charles Laughton, who plays the title role. "Ruggles of Red Gap" is the story of a pair of rambunctious tourists who win the perfect butler in a poker game on a European tour and take him home to show up the local socialites. Roland Young, Zasu Pitts, Leila Hyams. and Maude Eburne are in the supporting cast. There is not another actor on the stage or screen capable of playing the role of Charlie Chan, Chinese detective, with the conviction of Warner Oland. This is the unqualified opinion of Eugene Forde, who guided the filming of Chan's newest screen problem, "Charlie Chan in London," which is the second attraction. "Warner Oland just happens to be the living reproduction of the character Earl Derr Biggers brought to life in his novels," Forde declares. "It doesn't matter that he's Swedish; when he steps on to the set he isn't anyone other than Charlie Chan." DE LUXE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. The main feature at the De Luxe, Lower Hutt, this evening will be j "Follies Bergere," a gay screen j play presented by 'a notable cast I headed by the celebrated and popular Maurice Chevalier, who plays a dual role. Merle Oberon makes her Hollywood debut, looking lovelier than ever, and Ann Sothern sings and dances effectively. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey turn amateur detectives to solve a murder mystery in "The Nitwits," their new R.K.0.-Radio feature comedy, which commences at a matinee at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. tomorrow at the Grand Theatre, Petone. Wheeler and Woolsey are supported by Fred Keating, Betty Grable, Eyelyn Brent, and Erik Rhodes in this hilarious comedy which provides mystery, thrills, and melody moments. EMPIRE THEATRE, PETONE. "Murder in Trinidad," the Fox Film release which will be shown at the Empire Theatre tomorrow, is full of suspense, thrills, and excitement. This intense mystery adventure takes you through a strange maze of drama, romance, and mystery. The picture features Nigel Bruce. British stage and screen favourite, Heather Angel, and Victor Jory. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. The vivacious Loretta Young and the famous Continental star Charles Boyer head an imposing cast in Fox i Films spectacular musical "Caravan," which commences a three-day season tomorrow at the Palace Theatre Petonp. Lavishly produced at the Fox studios, with Hungarian villages, castles, inn--, and vast gipsy caravans swiftly alternating as backgrounds, "Caravan" telis a romantic love story in a delightful new vein. THE VIENNA BOYS' CHOIR. Last year on a triumphal tour of the European capitals the" Vienna Boys' Choir sang to an English audience for the first time at Queen's Hall, London, and achieved an instant success. Commenting on the opening performance "The Times'" said: •'These Sangerknaben appeal to English audiences no doubt partly because their singing is so unlike that of English boys; and. possessing a style of our own in boys' singing, we are the better able to appreciate that of other people, but still more perhaps because their training, so far from curbing spontaneity of expression, liberates it. Whether they are singing polyphonic motets of ths sixteenth century or arrangements by Brahms and others of folk songs, or transcriptions of the waltzes of Johann Strauss, they seem genuinely impelled by. the style of the music. They delighted last night's audience with liberal selections in all these different styles. After the interval the choir became an opera company, and exchanging their sailor suits for the costumes appropriate to an eighteenth century Court, they sang'and acted with remarkable spirit and skill. Theirs is an artistic entertainment of a very high order." Messrs. J. and N. Tait will present the. choir at the Grand Opera House for a short season commencing on Saturday. November 23. Plans will be opened at the D.I.C. next Monday morning. THE THESPIANS. Tomorrow night will see the opening performance of the new Thespian show, "Afterwards," a new play by Walter Hackett, the famous American author of a long line of English stage successes—more English than many plays' by England's own playwrights. "Afterwards" was first produced in London towards the end of 1933, and it-ran for well over six months, being taken off about the middle of last year to make room for a new play. The, play was given a unanimously enthusiastic reception from both Press and public, and . was featured by the theatre weeklies as "the play of the week," a distinction which some much-lauded plays have missed. An exceptionally strong cast has been gathered for "Afterwards," and the Thespians hope to make the production outstanding in acting, stage settings, and lighting. There are still seats available for reservation at Begg's, but patrons are advised to book at once, as the demand is heavy. The cast includes Wan-en Toogood, Zenocrate Mountjoy, Harry Painter, Nancy Williams. Norman Hannah. Gay Dean. G. H. Bassant, Alona Priestley. Hugh Herd, Sylvia McLaren, Eric Evan-Young, Hilary Henderson. Bill Bain, Mary Marshall, Evan Harrowell, and G. T. Phipps-Williams. The play is produced by Victor S. Lloyd, assisted by Winnie Cooley: the stage manager is Myles F. E. Wright, the i property master and mistress E. R. Render and Florence L. Render respectively, and the wardrobe mistresses Maie Webster and Ruby Colledge. PIANOFORTE RECITAL. A pianoforte recital by Miss Frances Revere will be given at Nimmo's Hall this evening. Miss Revere has chosen a very interesting and ambitious programme, including Sonata in B flat minor (Glazounovi. Liszt's brilliant etude "Mazeppa," the intricate Toccata by Ravel, and. works by Chopin, Bach, Rachmaninoff, and Toch. Seats may be reserved at Nimmo's. Two cases of diphtheria, one case of scarlet' fever, and one of pulmonary tuberculosis vere reported to the Petone Borough Inspector (Mr. G. A. Booth) durin;; October. The Petone Borough Council decided last evening tii send a remit to the annual conference of the Municipal Association, ask ng the Government to comply with 1 seal bylaws.