PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 20592, 18 September 1930, Page 9

PICTURE THEATRES

resent Mr Alec Regan’s Regent Rovuette continues to provide excellent entertainment for patrons of tlie Regent Theatre. Many local artists take part v in this entertainment, which. is filled , ■ with pleasing miisic, and the ballet, under Mr Stan Lawson and led by Miss Myra Webster, has some novel and delightful items to offer. Several other artists;also contribute delightful acts. There are several excellent pictures, the principal one being ‘ The Return of Dr Fu Mancha,’ which is a thriller of the most unashamed type. The sinister figure of the insane Chinese doctor is familiar to all who saw Warner Gland play the part in the previous film, * The Mysterious Dr Fu Manchu,’ but those who enjoyed the excitement of that picture should not jump to the conclusion that here is another version of the same tale. It is the same Dr Fu Manchu, and the individuals against whom he directs his diabolical projects are the same, but the story is : new in that it is a continuation of his vendetta against the descendants of the officers who were responsible for, • the attack on a Chinese mansion which • resulted in the death of Manchu’s wife afid child. EMPIRE Xu conjunction with that hysterical mixture of Scotch fares dealing with the Cohens and Kellys, in Scotland, the Empire Theatre is featuring scenes of the sinking of the R.M.S. Tahiti. This film shows the'ship’s crew lowering the lifeboats and the final plunge or tho liner. The other supporting features are most enjoyable, while the orchestral music, under the direction of . Mods, do Rose, is always appreciated. PRINCESS Absolutely the final opportunity of seeing George Arliss of ‘ Disraeli ’ in ‘The Green Goddess’ at tho Princess . Theatre will be given moviegoers de- ,■ sirous of seeing this fine film this evening. Glamour and mystery are provided in ‘Tho Green Goddess,’ tho story of which concerns tho adventures of three English aviators who are forced to land in a barbarous State of Northern India, ruled by a cruel and unscrupulous prince, who is obsessed with a hatred of the English. George Arliss, whose artistry :n ‘Disraeli ’ was ao remarkable, takes the part of the merciless prince, who hides utter cruelty under a veneer of politeness. The part is one which Mr Arliss has made famous on the legitimate ■ stage in three continents. An exjellent supporting programme is screened. OCTAGON Something different from the usual V crime stories, which have so freely followed the advent of the talkies, is precepted in the amusing Paramount alltalking picture, ‘ The Dummy,’ which concludes its season at the Octagon Theatre to-night. Full of action of ai) absorbing and thrilling kind, ‘The Dummy * is the story of tho activities of a gang of kidnappers and black-maile-s, who _ are eventually run to earth by the ingenuity of a clever detective’s office boy. Ruth Chatterton heads the cast. ‘ The Murder on the Roof ’ is also included on the same programme, and represents one of the .most exciting stories of its kind yet shown in Dunedin. ' NOW A TALKIE THEATRE KING EDWARD’S FIRST BILL OF SOUND FILMS. With the reopening of tho King Edward Theatre last evening as a talkie house, there now remains no theatre in the city screening silent films. Talkies have swept the world by storm, and at the present time are the chief means of entertainment in the dominion, so that to keep up with the times the management of the King Edward Theatre has bad installed the latest talkie equipment. ‘ Last night’s audience, which was large, was high in its praise of the clarity of reproduction of the excellent sound films screened. The first portion of the bill included a fine selection of short talkie gems, while, in presenting a film like ‘ Splinters ’ as the main attraction on its first talkie programme, the management again aispfayed careful judgment and consideration of the tastes of patrons. This film is one of the best English productions to bo released on a local screen, ‘ Splinters * deals with the men’s own efforts to keep themselves amused in their spells from the trenches, and centres round the formation or the Bra Sat Theatre, which was built specially for tho soldiers’ amusement. Its humour and plot is away from the usual run, and brings remembrance of that groat comedy, ‘The Better ’Ole,’ which created such a furore some years ago. The film is full of genuine comedy, with the efforts of the artists and would-be artists keeping the audience in paroxysms of mirth all through. The most credit for its success goes to Hal Jones, the originator _of tho concert party, who has the principal part, and Reg. Stone, well-known female impersonator. But Sydney Howard and Nelson Keys, as two ‘‘hard-boiled” privates, contribute their share, as does the all-male “ beauty chorus.” STRAND ‘ Her Unborn Child,’ tho sensational stage success which has reached tho screen as an all-talking production, is at present on view at the Strand Theatre, where the offering is attracting large patronage. With a story based on a topic of world-wide interest, the author has not neglected to insert at the most opportune time the necessary “ punch ” to each big situation, thereby lifting the action to a tremendous dramatic climax. As a stage play * Her Unborn Child ’ scored a terrific hit. For tho past ten years it has thrilled theatregoers the world over. In New York City the piece divided a soli year’s engagement between the Eltinge and Forth-eighth Street The- ' afcres. The pungent dialogue, unconventional situations, delightful comedy interludes, and smashing dramatic power which electrified legitimate theatregoers have, been carefully preserved in the talking picture version. The dramatic story of a boy and a girl in love, forgetting everything else, presents one of the most unusual subjects yet selected for tho talkio screen, Roxy An entertaining story of outdoor romace is told in ‘ The Virginian,’ a talkie of the first water which;ends its sear a at the Roxy Theatre to-night. ‘THE SKY HAWK.’ i ‘ The Sky Hawk,’ a thrilling B’ox Movietone production, tolling of the days when London was subject to nerveracking air raids, will be the principal attraction at Roxy Theatre to-mor-row. Tho noted John Garrick, Helen ■ Chandler, and Gilbert Emery head the : oast of stage and screen celebrities, which includes Joyce Compton, Billy

Bevan, Lennox Pawle, Luinsden Hare, Daphne Pollard, and Percy Challenger. John G. Blystone, who has given tho scree.i such “ hits ” as ‘ Mother Knows Best,’ ‘ Through Different Eyes,’ and forty-four other productions for Fox Films, directed the picture. On Saturday, at 2.15, tho management has arranged to present the second treat for tho children in the shape of comedies, cartoons,, etc,, which will be shown in conjunction with ‘ The Sky Hawk.’