CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Issue 98, 27 April 1936, Page 4

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE,

Three of today's screen favourites—pliriam Hopkins. Merle Oberon, and Joel McCrea —combine to make the ■ success of Samuel Goldwyin's latest production "These Three," now at the ' Regent Theatre, and theatregoers will have different opinions "as to which of the stars is the best. The story ccmcerns the efforts of Miriam Hopkins arid Merle Oberon to conduct a girls' school. Initial financial troubles give way to quick success until -trouble is ■ started by the malicious lying Of a ( small girl who runs away from the school after a just punishment. Bonita Granville is the child,who plays this ' difficult part and she plays it exceedingly well. With another child, whom • her stronger character terrifies, she persuades the world of the truth of ■ her story of the relationships between her two teachers and a young doctor (Joel McCrea). That complicates an. ' already troubled'triangle in which the doctor loves Merle Oberon,' while he is the object of the ; silent affection of • Miriam Hopkins. It is through the efforts of the last-named that the good ' names of the three are ultimately reestablished, after a number of heavily- ' dramatic sequences. ' For those who like their pictures flavoured with plenty ;of emotion. "These Three" is ideal. Photography and acting in it are above reproach; its only possible fault to the majority of people is that it is Joo strongly dramatic. The supporting : programme includes a. Walt Disney Silly Symphony in colour, "Three Orphan Kittens," and newsreels showing .• a wide range of different sports. , DE LUXE THEATRE. 1 The double bill which is to be seen *• itt the Be Luxe Theatre this week includes "The Murder of Dr. Harrigan, i -with Ricardo Cortez and Kay Liriake/, , and "A Personal Maid's Secret, in which the principal players are War- : ren Hull, Margaret Lindsay, Anita ' Louise, Ruth Donnelly, and Arthur '. Treacher. The first film deals with the mysterious murder of a doctor who is about to perform an operation on ' a man he hates, the disappearance of the patient, and the tangled chain of ' events that surrounds a new anaesthetic which, has been discovered by the two ■ men. The murder takes place in a 'large hospital and is cloaked an the ■ greatest mystery. There are anum•ber of people who might have killed Dr Harrigan, all have the best of rea- '. sons, -and the .mystery of the guilty person is for long beyond the powers •of the police to unravel. It is Ricardo ' Cortez, an interne at the hospital, who 'finally supplies the answer and the outcome is surprising. This fast and • gripping story will appeal to all who ' lik6 mysteries, and the other film on 'the bill supplies some comedy. it '• reveals the effect which a maid has upon the lives of the people for whom .she works. Lizzie leaves the Park Avenue Bentleys because, she has not •been paid for months and takes a post "with a family in a small apartment. She •immediately places them on the road to riches and also reveals that there is •some mystery about her which furnishes some drama, too. The programme •is completed with a newsreel and the Orchestra De Luxe, which, under the • conductorship of Mr. L. D; Austin, plays such attractive music as the Halvorsen "Entry of the Boyards, the • Drigo "Serenade." and Mdskovski s '"Spanish Dances" with its usual bm'liance. , ~ "Dangerous." . "Dangerous," the Warner Bros.' picture, which will have its Wellington premiere at the De Luxe Theatre on Friday next, is a dynamic drama not•able lor its acting performances. It brings together for the first time those ■ two popular screen personalities, Bette Davis and Franchot Tone, both of whom have some excellent portrayals 'to their credit. Miss Davis scored ' with Paul Muni in "Bordertown," and •with Leslie Howard in "Of Human Bondage," while Tone can claim the \ distinction of recently having appeared , with Joan Crawford and,< Jean Harlow ,' and in such pictures as "Mutiny on the Bounty" and "The Lives of a Bengal Lancer." ' PLAZA THEATRE. ;: There have been stories of the Ame'■rican underworld filmed on numerous .occasions, but "My Marriage," now at the Plaza Theatre, is one of the most notable of its kind yet pro--duced. It mixes society with gunmen and tells the story of Carol Barton's terrible legacy left her when her 'father, presumably a leader of men, is revealed at his death by shooting as a master racketeer. As the fiancee of a young society man, Carol feels her position to the extent of desiring to break off the engagement, but John de Witt Tyler has other opinions; fixing the blame on the daughter is not among his ideas and he insists on marriage to iprotect her name. His mother, a Long Island society leader, receives the girl with pretended affection and secretly attempts to break up the marriage. She almost succeeds, and there is a tense scene of revelation during which the younger son of the proud Tyler family confesses his part in the murder of the girl's father, though Carol does all in her power to defend him. A proud mother cafe dust and society holds out open' arms to the fine girl who is Mrs." John do Witt Tyler • Pauline - Frederick as the mother, Claire Trevor as Carol, and Kent Taylor as John Tyler head a list of notable people, including Paul Kelly, Noel Maddison, Colin Tapley, the New Zealander, Beryl Mercer, Thomas Beck, and others. Also on the absorbing programme is the^ Australian race won by Cuddle a Fox International News, "Kid'n Hollywood," in which Shirley Temple and other child actors impersonate celebrities, and a comedy, "Going Spanish." PRINCESS THEATRE. Cary,Grant, Claude Rains, Gertrude Michael, Kathleen Burke, and Colin Tapley head the cast of the Paramount film, "The Last Outpost,'' which is the chief attraction- at the Princess Theatre. It is a. story of a'handful of men who control the destinies of* millions of people in the fierce, mys•teriousi deserts and jungles of Arabia and tells of a three-cornered romance between two officers and a nurse in a behind-the-lines hospital. Whimsical light comedy, tense drama, and a,delightful love story are combined m RKO-Radio's "The Return of Peter Grimm,", offered as the second picture, with Lionel Barrymore at the ■ head of a capable cast of-screen favourites. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. ' The outstanding impression left by •'My Heart Is Calling," the GaumontBritish picture, starring JanYKiepura, ■which comes to the Kilbirnie Kmema today is one of beauty—beauty -of music, vocal arid instrumental; beauty of personality and graceful selfexpression; beauty of scene. The nnp voice of Jan Kiepura was never used to better advantage in a popular number than in the theme/song, "My Heart Is Calling You." Mart.a Eggerth,'the. ■ glamorous little Hungarian, and Sonme Hale head-the supporting cast. .There is plenty of material to grip, imagination in "Mystery Liner, the Monogram picture which will be tne second feature. : Fine work is done by Noah Beery, Astrid Allyn, Cornelius Keefe, Ralph Lewis, and Guslav yon Seyffertitz. SEASIDE PICTURES, LYALL BAY. Tonight at the Seaside Theatre Will Rogers will be seen in his latest production, "Doubting Thomas." Associated with him are Billie Burke and Allison Skipworth, -as well as other •wel-known laughter-makers. Will Rogers is more hilarious than ever as the thunder-struck husband-trying to cope with a stage-struck wife, and what he does about it air produces, some rib-tickling fun.- • An additional •feature is "Black Sheep," with Edmond Lowe at his best. The story deals with the adventures of a ship's gambler who finds the odds stacked against him, when he tackles a game wherein everything he counts worthwhile is at stake. Clare Treivor, Tom Brown, and Herbert Mundin have the main roles. A comedy, Terryloon, and topicals .will also be. .shown,

tFTY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

ST. JAMES THEATRE.

Presented by Columbia Pictures, "Lady of Secrets," which opened a season at the St. James Theatre on Friday night, is,a brilliantly-acted drama interspersed with occasional touches of sparkling wit. As. Celia Whittaker, dhe leading lady, Ruth* Chatterton plays in j what is undoubtedly her finest role.) The story deals with a romance of I Celia's brought .to a tragic ending .dur-' ing the years <o£ the war. ' The scene i shifts tcK;l93(3,When'.:Celia's' sister. Joan (sympathetically played >by Marian MarshHfalls^iniove with?a handsome but ~ Unfortunately .impecunious idoctor. Joan 'proposes; he :begS/ her to/wait; she'declines to, do-so^and ; departs'for Europe-iii■■search of romance. To, all intents;and'.purposesiiShe;finds it,;for on her;Vreturn *c America" she brings with her;Dayid,.a rich and very attractive gentleihan,i capably, .enacted by Otto KrugenIWtieh David meets Celia, however, ay mutual admiration immediately occurs, and the latter realises that although Joan has announced her engagement to David, it is merely a youthful infatuation, and that she is still in love with the young doctor. The girls' father (Lionel Atwillh however, is greatly in favour of Joan and David marrying, mainly because of financial reasons. How the troubles of all are overcome and how a double marriage becomes the sequel to this powerful drama provide entertainment of outstanding quality. Excellent supports are also screened. MAJESTIC THEATRE. Filled with exciting incident and hairbreadth escapes, "Exclusive Story now showing at the Majestic Theatre tells Of the war of extermination waged between a great American newspaper and an unscrupulous gang of racketeers.' Ranked on the side of law and order via the printed sheet, Stuart Erwin. as the star crime reporter, and Franchot Tone, as the attorney of the paper, track down the various ramifications of the gang until at least the grand finale is reached. This is not achieved without. cost however. An old shopkeeper (J. Farrell Mac Donald) is inveigled into the gang as an unsuspecting • operative, and given charge of what turns out to be a cargo of liquid fire on a tramp steamer bound for South America. His beautiful daughter (Madge,,Evans) is meanwhile occupying more and; more of the attention of the young attorney. The cargo of the tramp steamer is refused entrance to South America, and on the way back the holocaust breaks loose. By a combination of circumstances in which the newspaper's aeroplane and a parachute play a part, the young attorney finds himself with proof .positive of the gang's guilt But the gang's murderer-in-chief (Joseph caileia) eliminates the evidence by shooting, the old shopkeeper. .From, then on the pace quickens, andlbefore very lons "the- police are calleds'in for the final-scene., iAlso on the programme are a Charlie Chase comedy, 'The Count Takes the Count." an Our Gang comedy, "The Pinch Singer," newsreels, and a dancing novelty. ~T*"" STATE THEATRE. As a sailor of the United States Navy Fred Astaire finds the widest scope for his comedy, musical and dancing genius. "Follow the Fleet," now in its third week at the State Theatre, continues to draw .packed,houses and can be recommended as an entirely satisfying film, combining a sound story with humour and' brightness and beauty, too, for some of the Shots of the fleet and some of the elaborate settings for dance numbers reach a high standard. Ginger Rogers shares the lead again and this time is introduced as Sherry Martin, a cabaret dancer, whose plain sister Connie is a teacher 6f music; When the,.fleet comes to town Connie with Sherry's-assistance, is transformed into a fascinating brunette. She meets and falls in love with' Randolph Scott, •who plays the part of Fred Astaire's sailor fqend and who complains that he seems to have a habit of becoming interested in teachers. When he discovers Connie's vocation he finds other interests, but everything is straightened out in the end, through the efforts of Sherry and Bake (Fred Astaire). Original tap-ballets and solos are presented against novel backgrounds and to the catchiest tunes Irving Berlin1 has written." ;t; . ': '; PARAMOUNT THEATRE. The popular Gracie Fields appears in the comedy-romance "Queen of Hearts." now being screened at the Paramount Theatre. In this attractive play Gracie Fields takes the part of a poor girl with one golden ambition—to enter upon a stage career. She somewhat rashly impersonates a rich woman who is expected to give financial backing to a new stage enterprise, and is unceremoniously ejected when the lady herself appears. Through the efforts of the - leading man, .■:•■ Derek Cooper (John Loder). she is given £er chance to realise her ambition find sing on the stage, and at last appears before a vast audience in. a big v City theatre. 'Quickly .she gains the.lapplause of the crowd. The plot is full of comedy and the final scenes are > extremely lavish, and contain many beautiful ballet scenes and song hits, s tlie most popular of which is "Queen^of Hearts." The supports in the first part of the programme are-very good, ana add materially to the excellence of the entertainment. , CAPPICADE 1936. The production of 'Varsity's capping revue, which comes to the , Grand Opera House on May 2, 4, and 5, has already reached performance standard. In both the revues, "Hell's Bells" and "Brave' New Zealand," the wit and satire of the dialogue, the verve and catch of the songs, and, perhaps, above all, the flash, of the ballets, oldtime, musical comedy, and' tap, have made the. rehearsals go with a swing. This year the : orchestra, to which particular attention i is. being paid on account of the i preponderance,; of musical numbers in both pieces, will be under the baton of Mr. R. L. Hutchens. Another .. important item, the stage management, has been assigned to Mr. Cedric Wright, who has had much valuable experience not only with previous Cappicades,: but, also with professional tours.'The, boic plan is now-open at the ; p.i.c...- : ::'r ~; . EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. Will'Ha'y, the famous English stage comedian, plays .the leading role in "Boys Will Be Boys," the current attraction at the Empire Theatre. The picture reveals Will Hay in his famous schoolmaster role. Hilarious scenes and dialogue- are the main features. Gordon Harker and Jimmy Hanley play leading roles. • ; ' ■ ' -REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. Tonight at the ; Regal Theatre . a double-feature programme will be shown. • In "Village Tale," Randolph Scott and Kay Johnson head a powerful-; cast telling a story of a love that braved the guns of scandal in a small town. The second feature, "Hot Tip," features Zasu Pitts and James Gleason in a splendid fast-moving comedy. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. Ted Lewis, high-hatted purveyor of happiness,.brings his band, his clarinet, and his famous song hits to the talking screen.in "Here Comes the Band," Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer'snew joy musical which will commence a two-day season tonight at the Grand Theatre, Petone. "Hide-out," starring Robert Montgomery and Maureen O'Sullivan, a delightful comedy drama, is the second attraction. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. Evenfbetter than "Roberta" is "Top Hat," which is now screening a fournight season at the Palace Theatre, Petone. Dancing and; singing to the tunes ■ and /'lyrics of Irving Berlin, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers unquestionably are, the screen's most popular stars today. They introduce, a number of sensational new dances. Comedy vies with romance, singing, and-dancing. Early rcservation^i^Ettsis«ad«isecU- ,

RIVOLI THEATRE. Fredric March, Charles Laughton, and-Sir Cedric Hardwicke head the brilliant cast of . "Les Miserables," Darryl Zaiyick's ' Twentieth Century production of the. Victor Hugo classic, which is now showing at the Rivoli Theatre. March ,is seen as the hero, Jean Valjean, who spends five bitter years in the galleys of a French prison ship for the theft of a loaf of bread, and. finds his whole life is shadowed by this petty crime. Laughton is cast as Javert, the fanatical detective who hounds him, and Hardwicke plays the beneficent Bishop Bienvenu whose kindness'and trust launches the brutalised convict on the road to a nobler life/ Herbert Marshall and Jean Arjthur are'teamed-in-Columbia's new ' romantic comedy, "If You Could Only I Cook," which will also be shown. The. 'film concerns itself with a disgruntled |millionaire- who.^allows:a strange but very attractive 'girKhe/'Trieets on a 1 park bench; to coax him into going with her fo an ad: for.a domestic couple. -He becomes a butler and she a-maid.'-'Leo ' Carfillb, " Lionel Stander, Alan Edwards, and: Frieda Inescourt are featured in the cast. TIVOLI THEATRE. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers sing and dance to the tunes.of Irving Berlin ia "Top Hat," the colourful musical film successor to '"Flying Down to-Rio," "The Gay Divorcee," and "Roberta," which opens at the Tivoli Theatre today for a four-day season. Berlin, king of popular song writers, did the complete musical score for the new picture, which unites the screen's premier singing and dancing romantic team for the fourth time. His five new hit numbers are woven into the romantic plot. Combining delightful comedy with love interest, "Top Hat" unfolds against the colourful backgrounds of London and the Lido. Dances, said to be the most intriguing and spectacular ever introduced by Astaire and Miss Rogers, are climaxed by the featured "Piccolino," which is done in a brilliant Venetian setting. Supporting the stars is a strong cast headed by Edward Everett Horton, Helen Broderick, Erik Rhodes, ■ and Eric Blore. The memorable battles between the McFaddens and the McTavishes in their classic feud form the background of the amiable and always interesting Paramount film, "McFadden's Flats," which will be the other feature, and which introduces Walter Kelly, famous American stage actor, to the screen. Supported by Andy Clyde, Jane Darwell, Richard Cromwell, and Betty Furness, Kelly acts the role of'the battling Irishman who rises from brick-laying to wealth without once relenting in his feud with his Scottish enemy. . SHORTT'S THEATRE. "The Camels are Coming" now showing at Shortt's Theatre as the main feature, is a starring vehicle for Britain's most famous and popular comedian, Jack Hulbert, and presents him as Squadron-Leader Jack Campbell, arriving in Egypt in charge of ten aeroplanes bought by the Egyptian Government to assist in fighting everactive smugglers. Played before novel backgrounds, the story provides Jack with limitless opportunities for comedy situations. A rollicking farcecomedy of Hollywood life and loves accurately describes the Fox Film production, "365. Nights in Hollywood," which is the second feature. Alice Faye, James Dunn, Mitchell and Durant, Grant Mitchell, and James Melton have the main roles. KING'S THEATRE. RKO-Radio's "I Dream Too Much," now screening at the King's Theatre, is convincing argument that it is possible to. transform opera for the films. In "I Dream Too Much" the lovely French coloratura, Lily Poris, reveals herself not only as a singer, but also as: a v superb actress and natural comedienne. Vocally and physically she is a perfect subject for the sound film.- Those who have heard her sing "Caro Nome" on the operatic stage know it as the spontaneous outpouring of a heart filled with the ecstasy of love. T,he beautiful melody, with its; configuration of flute passages and swirling.sound, is sung so exquisitely that it provokes instant acclaim. On the'-'same 11' programme is ah enthralling detective story, "The Sinister House," with Preston Foster and Margaret Callahan.in the leading roles. The picture deals with a series of strange happenings in the home of a wealthy banker and with the efforts of Foster as. the detective-hero to solve the riddle and find the guilty person. ' /VAUDEVILLE AT THE REX. The current programme at the Rex Theatre is being warmly received. "Variety Spice" is the title of'the vaudeville portion, which,is presented by twenty, artists, headed, by;the. popular comedian, Fred Argyle, who appears in several hilarious skits, prominent amongst them' being "Telephoning the World," "The Waiter," "The House of Mystery," and "The New Boy." In the laugh making he has splendid assistance from Pat Barnard, Tom Cristie, and Esma Chalk. Rae Williams, the popular soprano, sings "An Old Refrain," "Love in Bloom," and "Shadow Waltz." The beauty ballet are seen in; hewY snappy dances. Buddy .Rogers, the yodelling cowboy,.'is ft: popular pei> former. ■ On the screen George Raft and Anna May Wongiappear in "Limehouse Blues." ;;,:': :■;/" ,: ; .;i''•' ,' v ;■'" OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. There is delightful entertainment .in store for picture-goers who attend Our Theatre tonight, when the' -.attraction offered will be the?-beautiful .musical production; "The Student's; Romance," which brings to the English-speaking screen a beautiful' and talented artist from the Continent in Grete Natzlex-. It1 is" replete with ' lilting ' melodies, hilarious situations, and scenes of rare beauty. Hoot Gibson and Harry Carey head a cast of the screen's best Western stars in "Powder Smoke Range," the associate feature. ATHLETIC CLUBS' CONCERT. A varied and attractive, programme was presented to a large audience at the Paramount Theatre last night, under the auspices of the combined Wellington, Kiwi, Athletic, and Old Boys' Amateur Athletic Clubs and the Wellington, Brooklyn, ' and Scc-ttish Harrier Clubs. Among the many items were mouth-organ numbers by the General Motors Harmonica Band, of thirty players, whose performances individually and collectively were deserving of all the applause they received. Miss Iris Mason delighted the audience with her items on the theatre organ, and Mr. Ray Trewern, one of Wellington's foremost vocalists, demonstrated his tenor voice in favourite songs. NAVAL AND CIVILIAN CONCERT, The St. James Theatre was comfortably filled last night when a concert organised by the New Zealanders'. Association was held;' The proceeds were in aid of the Pioneer Memorial Hall, which the association' hopes to erect to perpetuate the:memory of the pioneers of the Dominion. Artists. fr.om-H.M.S. Dunedin; were; largely responsible for the entertainment, which represents the Navy's.'contribution to the-building fund. ' ' . A well-deserved ovation was given Junior; Farrell, who leaves shortly for Sydney to continue his studies, for his renditions of the Brahms "Waltz in A Flat," Poldini's "Music Box," and several of his own compositions. The remainder of the : programme' was as follows:—Banjo ' and piano, Stokers Mosheim and Hams; swordswinging, A.B.s HillindNS.' A. Booth, and Poy. Syms; pianoforte selections, Mrs. F. Cnoze;.'.violin solos,' Musician Baker; hornpipe, A.B. Cameron, Leading Seaman Hogah, and A.B, Hillind; novelty numbers, Mr. F. Cooze; xylophone solos, Telegraphist Crawford; chair tricks and tumbling, A.B.s Hillind, Cameron, S. A. Booth, and L. 3. Hogan; mouth-organ band, Petty Officer Dixon, A.B.S L'Amy, Rawlinson, Glover, Marines Apsey and FinchSmiles, and Ordinary Seaman St. Clair; Maori songs, Mr. Henare Tahiwi. Sergeant-Ma jor J. Cole was in charge of the stage arrangements. At the conclusion of the performance,- Mr. Charles..Mclntyre,' president of the association, thanked the commodore, the concert officer, Lieutenant D. G. Clutterbuck. R.N.* officers, and ratings of H.M..S. Dunedin for their efforts in conjunction with the otherartists, the members of- the- commit-