CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 153, 26 December 1936, Page 4

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

j REGENT THEATRE. | I That vivid story of the internal; struggles of China, "The General Died! at Dawn," was again accorded the full \ appreciation of the audience last even-; ing, when it began another week at the : Regent Theatre. Unlike many other : productions of a similar nature, there is no suggestion of over-acting 'or the use of too much imagination. The acting, scenery, and photography convey a realistic image of the conditions of the country, and the romance and intrigue which form the plot have the benefit of a convincing background. Gary Cooper and Madeleine Carroll, the former as an American soldier of fortune and the latter as an adventuress who lets, her heart interfere with her schemes, are excellent in the principal roles, but Porter Hall, as a drink-sodden waster, threatens to steal the honours with, his brilliant acting. The subsidiary roles are filled by both Europeans and Chinese, Akim Tamirofl givihg fine colour to the ..role of the ruthless and cruel war lord. Gary Cooper sets out to help • the peasants j oppressed by General Yang, and in doing so he has his hands full in running guns through hostile territory. He is trapped by Yang by the scheming of the adventuress, and struggles for | the money, threats of torture, and general fast-moving excitement work the film to a .climax of great drama.- There is a fine supporting programme. MAJESTIC THEATRE. Fun of the brightest, balanced by a few streaks of pathos, make "The Devil is a Sissy," which opened at the Majestic Theatre last evening, a holiday attraction of the first order. The film is of more than usual length, but there is not a dull moment in it. The talent and delightful ingenuousness of Freddie Bartholomew add to the popularity he gained in "Little Lord Fauntleroy" and "David Copperfield." In this he is an urchin of the New York slums, and Jackie Cooper and Mickey Rooney, two other brilliant child actors .cast as hooligans, make up an excellent trio. Freddie's parents, who are divorced, share his custody, and it is when he is handed over to his father that he finds trouble awaiting him. He engineers a burglary at his mother's home to buy a tombstone for the grave of the •father of one of the boys. Into the court they go, and what occurs there sets Freddie's companions against him, but eventually he succeeds in retaining their friendship. The romantic interest in the production is supplied by lan Hunter and Peggy Conklin, but it is dwarfed by the activities of the young rebels. ST. JAMES THEATRE. The screen's leading pair of entertaining fools, the reedy Laurel and corpulent Hardy, add further to their successes in "Our Relations," which is continuing at .the St. James Theatre. As if they were not capable of getting into enough trouble by themselves, the incomparable comedians have been converted into a quartet by the addition of another Laurel and another Hardy. It appears that there were two sets of twins; one of each pair turned out to be a good little boy, but the other was not so good. In the fullness of time, both of the good boys married and settled down to quiet suburban lives. The two others ran away to sea, and were presumed to have taken part in a mutiny and been duly hanged. Their secret was closely guarded by their brothers. With the return of the wayward pair remarkable things happen in which a sea captain, a valuable pearl ring, a couple of girls of the village, and a large and dangerous-looking waiter are involved. The supporting programme is unusually entertaining. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. The return of the thrilling spy drama "Stamboul Quest" to the Paramount Theatre, commencing today, will be welcomed by all, for.it gives a new combination, the beautiful Myrna Loy with George Brent. The picture is based upon an original story by Leo Birinski, released through the famous studios of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and produced by Bernard Hyman, with Sam Wood as director. It throws a new light upon the World War, revealing the involved intrigue of international espionage as practised by the Central Powers and of the system of unleashing one spy to catch another. The story has its beginning in war r ravaged Berlin and carries the action of the exciting drama into Turkey. Settings for the film were carefully chosen after many weeks of research, and as the story unfolds it reveals colourful settings in the headquarters of a foreign espionage department, also various pleasure palaces and mysterious haunts of the Near East. Many occurrences of actual fact have been incorporated in this picture. Lionel Atwill, veteran of the stage and screen, who can always be depended upon for a fine performance, appears as chief of a foreign espionage department. "Vanessa," starring Helen Hayes and Robert Montgomery, was.^show.n last night. KING'S THEATRE. Once more film producers , have brought a world-renowned story to the screen—Jack London's powerful drama of the north, ■ "White Fang," which is the main feature -at tne King's Theatre. Marvellous scenes of the summerless north, wild scenes of savage yet faithful animals in their natural element, poignant, touching love scenes are all shown in this brilliant sequel to "Call of the Wild." Michael Whalen, Jean Muir, and Slim Summerville have the main roles. The additional attraction is. "A Son Comes Home," a highly entertaining story of mother love. Mary Boland, Julie Haydon, Donald Woods, Wallace Ford, and Roger Imhof are the featured players. PRINCESS THEATRE. Two enjoyable pictures are now showing at the Princess Theatre. An entertaining and magnificently-pro-duced film, "Forget Me Not," starring Benjamino Gigli, one of the world's leading tenors, is the principal attraction. Gigli brings to bear a powerful personality and reveals himself as a first-class actor_ in a story written especially for him. There is a strong supporting cast. The additional feature, "Love Before Breakfast," starring'Carole Lombard, reflects the modern attitude towards romance,, treating it with sophistication and a gay touch. The leading men are Preston Foster and Cesar Romero. SHORTT'S THEATRE. "If You Could Only Cook," Columbia's new romantic comedy, which is now showing at Shortt's Theatre, brings to the screen a new love team, Herbert . Marshall and Jean Arthur. Miss Arthur has been rewarded with stardom for her fine work in "Passport to Fame" and other successes. The other feature, Columbia's new mystery thriller, "Guard That Girl," has to do with a threatened heiress and the efforts to guard her from an unknown death. Robert Allen, Florence Rice. Ward Bond, Wyrley Birch, Arthur Hohl. Elizabeth Risdon, and others comprise the cast. EMPIRE THEATRE. ISLAND BAY. One of the best double-feature programmes in any suburban theatre will be shown at the Empire Theatre to night. "The Last Outpost," a magnificent production distributed by Paramount Films, is a successor to "The Lives of a Bengal Lancer," produced by the same firm, and features Cary Grant. Wallace Beery, another firm favourite with Empire patrons, will be seen in his greatest role since "Viva Villa!" this time associated with John Boles and Barbara Stanwyck in "A Message to Garcia." SEASIDE PICTURES, LYALL BAY. The programme tonight includes the popular comedians Tom Walls, Ralph Lynn, and Robertson Hare, in the riotous comedy "Pot Luck." Jane Withers adds to an already long list of successes with "Little Miss Nobody," a story that will appeal to all. Excellent supports include the latest Cinesound News.-

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

I PLAZA THEATRE. i ' The astonishing versatility of the! i veteran English actor, George Arliss, |is once more demonstrated in "East i Meets West," his new film, which ; opened at the Plaza Theatre last night, i This great actor seems to go from ■ strength to strength, and his latest performance is without a blemish. He interprets the role of a powerful Eastern Sultan with the same conviction as when he played the parts of the Iron Duke, Vollaire, and Disraeli, and he is supported by an excellent cast. The theme of the film is rich in melodrama, and the story is set against a colourful Eastern background. As the wily Sultan of an Eastern principality, George Arliss successfully extracts great sums of money out of Britain and an Eastern Power, playing against them the life of a renegade i Englishman, a rurh-runner, whose wife has had an affair with the Sultan's Oxford-educated son. There is action ■in plenty in this offering from Gau-mont-British. Lucie Mannheim is an attractive and appealing figure as the unfortunate wife. She gives a peri formance that compels attention. She is an actress of the intense, highly dramatic type, and completely lives whatever part she is playing. The splendour of settings, dress, and manner is wholly satisfying. The supporting cast includes Godfrey Tearle, Stella Moya, and Romney Brent. STATE THEATRE. Paul Robeson, the negro actor and singer, is the complete artist. He has a magnificent presence and physique, an unerring dramatic sense, and a glorious voice, and in his latest film, "Song of Freedom," which opened at the State Theatre last night, he uses all his talents to the fullest advantage. Robeson takes the part of John Zinga, a negro dock-labourer in London. He and his wife are very happy, although John always feels that' his true home is in Africa. He sings magnificently as he works, and is overheard by Donnizetti, a famous impresario, who trains him for the concert stage. Fame comes to him, and he learns that he must be a direct descendant of the old King Zinga. John and his wife set out for the lonely island off the coast of Africa. The natives are suspicious of them, but John is tireless in his efforts to give them the enlightenment that he has brought from overseas. The witch doctor stirs up trouble, and | Zinga's wife is sentenced to death for witnessing a sacred ceremonial dance. John, as professed king, must sentence] her. Suddenly he remembers the haunting native song that he has always known. He sings it, softly, and the great crowds of natives suddenly smile, cheer, ,and hail him as king. John's mission has been accomplished. He returns to his career in Europe; with the care of the natives always in his hands. The other players in the cast are Elizabeth Welch, Esme Percy, George Mozart, and Robert Adams, all players of merit. There is a splendid supporting programme. REX THEATRE. More hilarious laughs and more, big thrills than seen on the screen in many a long day are packed into the Warner Bros.' comedy drama, "The Big Noise," which opens at the Rex Theatre today, j There is a lilting and frothy lightness to the film that makes it highly humorous and entertaining, although this is punctuated by exciting episodes. Guy Kibbee has the featured role of the business man, while Alma Lloyd and Warren Hull are the young lovers. Dick Foran is the young romantic villain and William Davidson his archvillain father. With a motion picture studio as its background Paramounl's "The Preview Murder Mystery," which is also showing, offers an exciting mystery story and a glimpse behind the scenes in the world's movie capital. Reginald Denny, Frances Drake, Gail Patrick, Rod la Rogue, George Barbier, ian Keith, Conway Tearle, and Jack Mulhallhead the cast. ROXY THEATRE. "- "Forsaking /All Others," now screening at the Roxy Theatre, has a cast headed by three outstanding stars, Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, and Robert Montgomery. The picture has verve and Tjace, the result of brilliant direction by W. S. Van Dyke. As a light comedienne, Joan Crawford reveals a new side to her many admirers. "The Casino Murder Case," which is the supporting feature, brings a new Philo Vance to the screen in Paul Lukas, who is ably assisted in solving the "perfect crime" of a diabolical poison plot by Rosalind Russell. ; KILBIRNIE KINEMA. / Because of its dramatic suspense and its many scenes of tender pathos, "The Littlest Rebel," showing tonight at the Kilbirnie Kinema, gives Shirley Temple her first real opportunity as a dramatic actress, while her capacity for song, dance, and laughter never fails to astonish and delight audiences. John Boles and Karen Morley play Shirley's parents, while Jack Holt is cast as a gallant Union Officer. The second attraction, "The Three Maxims," is ■a thrilling story of. the circus featuring Anna Neagle, Tullio Carminati, and Leslie Banks. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. Will Bogers, one of the world's most beloved stars, will be seen at the Regal Theatre tonight, in his last great offering, "Life Begins at Forty." Some of the sequences in the picture are unforgettable, particularly the one where Will has a duel. The second attraction' will be 'The Amateur Gentleman," featuring Douglas Fairbanks, jun., in the role of a romantic adventurer, who fights his way through life as the romantic hero created by Jeffery Farnol. Fairbanks has the able co-opera-tion of such well-known stars as Elissa Landi aid Gordon Harker. The performance commences at 7.30 p.m. STATE THEATRE, PETONE. Tonight and Monday the. State Theatre,' Petone, will feature the great love drama of' the Great War, "Tie Road to Glory," one of the outstanding cinema achievements of the year. Painted against a background of the seething kaleidoscope of battle, jo-man's land, and war-torn France, the story is vibrantly enacted by an impressive cast, including Fredric Matth, Warner Baxter, Lionel Barrymcre, June Lang, and Gregory Ratofr. Vhe film tells a robust, dramatic story and maintains an intense suspense frpm beginning to end. PAIiCE THEATRE, PETONE. "One Bxciting Adventure," starring Neil Hamilton and Binnie Barnes, opens,atithe Palace Theatre today. It is a thrilling story of diamond thieves and theif methods. In support Barton McLanejand Mary Astor will be seen in "Man'of Iron," a red-blooded action story, i GR/iND THEATRE, PETONE. Jean larlow is starred in "Suzy," now showing at the Grand Theatre, Petone, aid she has two of the screen's most popular leading men in Franchot Tone anq Cary Grant. "Suzy" tells an electrifying story of an American chorus grl stranded in London at the outbreak of the World War and caught in the wrfb of war-time espionage. OURJTHEATRE, NEWTOWN. A splendid double-feature holiday programrie is showing at Our Theatre. Social inequalities and the consequences (t a young man's falling in love with his mother's personal maid, make the, story of "Private Number." Robert Tiylor is the young man and that appealing actress Loretta Young is the girl A brilliant supporting cast is headed by Patsy Kelly and Basil Rathbone.j One of the most amazing and drantitic court scenes in history comes tof life as gripping drama in "The VoicS of Bugle Ann." which stars Lionel Bajrymore and Maureen O'Sullivan. j BROOKLYN THEATRE. The main attractions at Brooklyn tonight wil be Tom Walls, Robertson Hare, and5, Ralph Lynn in "Foreign Affaires" md "The Crime of Dr. Forbes," With Gloria Stuart and Robert Kelt.

DE LUXE THEATRE. The scope of Hervey Allen's famous novel "Anthony Adverse" would seem to make the filming of this giant work almost too difficult to be undertaken. ■ Warner Bros-First National have met ( this difficulty by selecting the romantic early portion of the highly-successful book and packing the thniling incidents in Italy, France, and Africa into a film •of considerable dimensions still, but !of manageable proportions and this was i screened at the De Luxe Theatre at the commencement of its local season yesterday. The translation from novel to film has inevitably brought some changes, some, in the interests of the conventions which are more rigid than on the stage or in the novel. But the remaining framework, vast in design and lavishly mounted in production, makes the film an experience and the acting of the famous stars who have been chosen for the various important roles, Fredric March, Edmund ■ Gwenn, Claude Rains, Anita Louise, i Olivia de Havilland, Steffi Duna, Donald Woods, and Ralph Morgan, is on a high plane. The result must be viewed as an adequate film version of the novel; it stops short with the dejparture of Anthony for the United States and thus is not called upon to deal with the later portion of the book, but as this, in the view of most readers, is 'the least satisfactory, part of the novel there is little lost.' '"Anthony : Adverse" is Dumas up to date. It has the vitality, the sweep, the romantic fervour, the immense absorption, in the events of the moment of Dumas; but it also has something of the modern restlessness, the twentieth century questioning of values. In the film, however, Anthony emerges with a code and few who see his struggle through the years and his victimisation by fate will question its validity. The supporting cast plays up to the level set by Fredric March as Anthony and his work is of a very high order, while Olivia de Havilland, as Angela, reveals depths of character which place this talented actress in a new light. Also on the programme are a newsreel of world events and "Let it Be Me," a coloured cartoon. TIVOLI THEATRE. Dolores Costello Barrymore makss her return to the screen after four years' absence, sharing stellar honours with Freddie Bartholomew in Selznick International's "Little Lord Fauntleroy," which is now, at the Tivoli Theatre. She plays "Dearest," the beautiful and adored young mother of Ceddie Errol, ;the little American boy who becomesjLord Fauntleroy, in this filmisation of the world-famous Frances Hodgson Burnett story. Columbia's "You May be Next!" a tensely thrilling action melodrama featuring Ann Sothern, Lloyd Nolan, and Douglas Dumbrille is the second attraction. RIVOLI THEATRE. "One. Rainy Afternoon," the first offering of Pickford-Lasky Productions, the new producing company headed by Mary Pickford and Jesse Lasky,. comes to the Rivoli Theatre tonight, and will also be shown at a midnight matinee tomorrow. Francis Lederer sings for the first time on the sareen as the star of this sophisticated Parisian romantic comedy, and Ida Lupino, Hugh Herbert, Roland Young, Erik Rhodes, and Joseph Cawthorn are seen in important featured roles. The story depicts , the series of hilarious developments that ensue when a struggling young Paris actor kisses the wrong girl in a darkened movie theatre "one rainy afternoon." The new Warner Bros, comedy "Brides are Like That" will also be shown. Ross Alexander and Anita Louise play I the featured roles. EVANS BAY CARNIVAL. Chairoplanes, merry-go-founds, a miniature railway, shooting galleries, and donkey rides all contribute their share to the enjoyment that the carnival being held by the Tramways Band on the foreshore at the head of Evans Bay is able to provide. Holidaymakers will find much to interest them at the fair, for which some outstanding attractions have been arranged. The carnivai boasts one of the biggest collections of attractions yet. assembled at a similar show in New Zealand. A large and varied collection of sideshows provides a fine field for those tired of winning prizes (or losing ■ money) at the many games of skill. ] The fair promises to be one pf the best of its, kind ever held in Wellington. Features are the Evans Bay Yacht Club's regatta on December 28, 29, 30, and January 2," and the Kilbirnie Wrestling Club's 'displays each night. A hew feature at the carnival is "Bubbly," an innovation fresh from America. ' Hundreds of coloured balls are thrown up in the air and are collected in special nets by competitors, j VAUDEVILLE AT ITS BEST. That lively comedian so familiar to Wellington audiences, George Wallace, heads a new company of thirty-five artists in a fine vaudeville team brought to the country by Sir Benjamin Fuller and Connors and Paul Productions. This company experienced a tremendously successful season in Auckland, and with such a pleasing New Zealand premiere season the show will unquestionably prove a wonderful holiday attraction for Wellington. This vaudeville, which promises to provide merry entertainment, will be staged in tile New Opera House, opening with a matinee today. "Calling All Stars" is the show with which the stars of the company will endeavour to enhance the reputation of vaudeville at its best. It contains a vastly entertaining variety of humorous sketches, songs, dances, and specialty acts. George Wallace is said to be funnier than ever, Queenie Paul and Mike Connors are old favourites, and the duets are bound to be received with enthusiasm. The company includes a wide variety of artists with an appealing series of entertaining "turns," as well as a clever and attractive ballet, the "Sunkissed Beauties." _^