PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 20653, 28 November 1930, Page 7

PICTURE THEATRES

REGENT ‘ la Gay Madrid,’ a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production, is the all-talking at- ■ traction at the Ilegont Theatre, a charming .story of that ancient city of gunny Spain, which figures through the centuries oi' history, and of Santiago. It is a love drama in which Raymond Novarro figures as the scion of a proud House of Madrid, but through an atfair witii a music hall artist, who iniatuates him, is banished for the rest of his college career to Santiago. Here he meets Carmina, daughter .of his father’s dearest friend, and though his reception is somewhat cool—for the story of his escapade has travelled ahead of him—he manages to break down that reserve, and the possibility of their betrothal brings happiness to both families. ' La Goyita .(Lottico Howell), the music hall syren, follows him to Santiago, and is discovered in his rooih by Carolina's old lover. Ho divulges Ins discovery to the parents at the dinner at which the betrothal is announced,, and the consequence is a challenge to a duel by Carolina’s brother. Ricardo fifes in the air, but his opponent’s bullet finds its billet.' Believing him unhurt, Carmina, who af-’ rives on the scone with others as the shots are fired, scathingly denounces Ricardo and turns to leave him,. and he immediately collapses. Carmina, loving him still, takes him to her amis unconscious. Ho recovers, however, and the story concludes with the wedding bells ringing. There arc some splendid scenesin the college at Santiago. some rousing choruses by the students, and the play is not lacking in delightful touches of humour. Novarro uses his fine tenor voice to perfection in idyllic love songs, and the part of Carolina is well presented by Dorothy Jordan. At the evening performances the popular Regent Revue Company, under the direction of Mr Alec; Regan, will offer forty minutes of singing and dancing entertainment. _ The company will present a pot-pourri of some of the more successful items from the previous .two - revuettes, and the performers engaged are as follow;—Misses Rita Holmes, Anita Winkel. Tui Northqy, Myra "Webster, and Vida Mackenzie. Messrs Stan. Lawson, Reg. Richards, Brendon Finlayson, Jimmy Macfarlane, and Alec Regan. There will also be the “Regent Rockets.’' The supporting featurettes offer a wide range of interesting subjects. EMPIRE An all-British talkie week commenced at the Empire Theatre to-day, when the .two British super-productions, ‘ Loose Ends’ and ‘Not So Quiet on the Western Front.’ were presented. This splendid all-British double star programme is claimed to be the best and biggest ever shown in the dominion. ALoose Eends ’ is a thrilling and'daring society drama of the London of to-day. It is a stage play which is .still more attractive on the talking screen. It is a controversial and original film, full of excellent entertainment and some food for thought. The theme in' one of gripping interest, and- in the hands of a strong oast it looses nothing. Owen Nafes. Edna Best, Adrinnne Allen, Miles Mander, and Donald Calthrop all act in a well-polished manner, and it is pleasant to hear good. English. ‘ Not so Quiet on the Western Front,’ starring one of London’s favourite comedians, Leslie Fuller, is . a humorous full.of dancing, singing, and comedians. The story opens in the kitchen of a fashionable London restaurant. The chefs are all ex-soldiers of a certain company who fought together at the front. A flashback takes the audience to a little cafe at the front, and the scenes that "follow are one long, roaring riot of fun. This special week of • all-British pictures should prove very popular with picturegoers. _ who will have the opportunity ■ of seeing two of the most successful of the British film specials screened on the same programme. At the evening sessions the Empire Orchestra, tinder Af. de Rose, will bo heard in a selection of British airs.

PRINCESS For those who like musical comedy which is hopelessly absurd, but nevertheless most delightfully amusing, there have been few better talkies than ‘ Hold •'.Everything,’ the technicolour production that commenced a season at the Princess Theatre to-day. : It stars two most original comedians 1 who have been gaining a firm place in the favour of; theatre-goers during the past year. Joe E. Brown possesses in the y highest measure the gift of making people laugh. • He looks ludicrous, and nis dialogue is as funny as his acting. And in this picture he. is associated with Winnie Lightner, who made a name for herself in ‘ The Gold Diggers of Broadway'.’ jShe is a charming 1 piece of .boisterous, femininity, whose type of comedy would he tlic pitfall of anv other actress. The pair of them make an uproarious combination. The part of the more conventional hero is taken by another attraction, the famous French boxer, Georges Carpentier. As an actor he shows considerable aptitude, and he sings several ditties in a 'pleasant voice. Sally O’Neill makes a pretty heroine. • The: comedians find plenty of scope for their talent in a farcical boxers’ training camp, and Joe Brown brings the laughs to a climax in the funniest of preliminary bouts. Then Carpenticr ana an opponent give a whirlwind exhibition, while comedy is close by in two ringside seats. ; The supporting programme is one of the best, STRAND Like many of the greatest stage dramas, ‘ The Furies,’ which commenced to-day at the Strand Theatre, was not adapted to silent: film portrayal. Lois Wilson and H. B. 'Warner head the featured screen cast of ‘The Furies,’ and both stage and screen have contributed notable supporting talent. A revolver shot was the signal for action to start when the surprise climax of the picture was being made. The shot, according to the director, helped to get the players up to the tense emotional pitch necessary to act the scene properly. “ Since the arrival of talking pictures,” says Crosland, who directed the film, “we cannot have orchestras on, the set to aid the characters in getting into the right frame of mind for a scene. On the stage the players lead up to the action gradually, and so can reach the tenseness demanded for a hard scene. But in making “ movies ’ the. most dramatic scene of the story may sometimes be started early in the morning when the players.are cold to the situation. The shot put every one on edgh. I followed out the same principle for other places in the story. For a romantic sequence between Lois Wilson and Theodor Von Eltz, I tapped a Chinese vgong for a few moments to give the signal to players and cameramen. For a party sequence .1 had a man play, several rolls on a drum, ror ordinary scenes 1 used the regiiltu {. -starting, cricket, which makes pn unobstrurtive metallic chck t

A THRILLER FROM “ SAPPER" AT OCTAGON

The inimitable “Sapper” touch has been successfully infused into ‘Temple Tower,’ a Fox production based on H. C. M'Neilc’s latest thriller. For their last-moving plots, their desperate criminals, and their likeable heroes, “ Sapper’s ” novels have appealed to all classes of readers. Perhaps none have won such ready admiration as the series which introduces the now-famous creation “Bulldog Drummond,” who represents a particularly manly type of Englishman. In ‘ Temple Tower, a breathtaking, adventurous drama, this famous character makes yet another appearance. and there is no doubt that the picture will attract large crowds nightly to the Octagon Theatre. Possessed of the information that the tenants of the Temple Tower are involved in tho death of an American jewel collector, and also in the theft of the dead man’s valuable ; emeralds. Captain .Drummond and his friend, Peter Darrell, motor into the country to make investigations. When tho adventurers are discussing their plans at a quaint old inn Drummond is disturbed by a fall of small debris into the fireplace, and on looking up tho chimney ho sees a weird, masked face peering down at him. Darrell, whose people used to own Temple Tower, has a map of tho strange old building and its environments, a map which more people than one seemingly would like to possess. In order to make sure that tho map. is’safe, Darrell rushes upstairs, only to make tho discovery that it lias disappeared from his room. hi the meantime the men meet a Miss Verney, who tells them she is going to Temple Tower as secretary to. the occupier, Mr Blnckston. Against Drummond’s advice she insists on keeping to her original plans. The story then resolves itself into a battle of wits and uncanny doings in ,and around Temple Tower, the rival crooks • seeking the diamonds, and Drummond seeking to gather them all in. Lovers of this type of picture will welcome an opportunity to exercise their wits in tho manner of amateur detectives. The talking all through the film is clear and pleasantly enunciated, while the acting is well up to the quality expected from a Fox production. The part of “ Bulldog ” Drummond is admirably portrayed by Kenneth M'Kenna. a British actor who has versatility and power. Marceline Day makes a convincing impression in this her first talkie. Her performance should carry her on to many further triumphs. It will seem strange to “Sapper” to find Peter Darrell portrayed as a timid, “silly ass” type, but the Americans seem to have their own ideas about theatrical effect, and one must simply pass over such deviations from the “ Bulldog ” Drummond atmosphere. Anyhow, Cyril Chadwick manages with great success to convert, Darrell into a comedian, whoso rabbit-like antics amuse the audience vastly. Henry B. Walthall’s representation of the villainous Blaekton elevates him to a high position among the foremost dramatic actors. A pleasing variety of entertainment is provided by the Octagon featnrettes. and the incidental music, with ‘ Taucredi ’ as a very attractive overture, is quite a treat. In ‘ Screen Snapshots ’ one sees not only a large number of Hollywood celebrities, hut also the studios which play such an important part in the art of picture-making. This week’s horoscope series deals with the character of people born in May. These features have been proving extremely popular, and there is no reason why tiie present one should he an exception. An interesting Fox Movietone News Reel, complete with Australasian edition, and a'marriage comedy complete a most enjoyable programme. ROXY ‘Atlantic,’ which was initially screened at tho Roxy Theatre to-day, opens with scenes on hoard a liner on a calm moonlight night. A dance is in progress, and the strains, ot jazz, popping of corks, and general atmosphere arc typical. Gradually a lew individuals are introduced —John 11001, a famous author, who is paralysed, his wife Alice, a clergyman, Monica and Lawrence, "a newly married couple, The first hint of danger comes with the captain’s orde- to the second officer tlu.it any rumour shad immediately be_ suppressed. and the calm in no wise disturbed Then there is the sighting of the iceberg, the terrific impact, the flooded hold the precise orders of the officers, the sending out of the 5.0.5., and finally the alarm. While the lifeboats are being filled with women and children, the action returns to the smoking room, and tho reactions of certain of those present to tho impending disaster. Tin story, the quality of which is seldom seen at pictures, works up to a climax that will bo long remembered for its dramatic power. KING EDWARD Eddie Quillan and Sally O’Neil have the principal roles in ‘ Tho Sophomore,’ which heads the current programme at the King Edward Theatre. In this bright story of college life tho main action takes place at Hanford College, wehro two students aro rivals in everything to win the same girl. The supporting films include an amusing comedy entitled ‘ Her Hired Husband ’ and an animated cartoon. TO-MORROW’S ATTRACTION.; ‘ To-night at Twelve,’ Universal’s sensational and daring all-talking scibeu production of Owen Davis’s famous stage play, will open to-morrow at the King Edward Theatre. The picture has an all-stai cast, which includes many favourites. LAURIER THEATRE. PORT CHALMERS ‘On With the Show ’ is the current attraction at the Laurier. The colour in this production is sott and glamorous, and has none of tho eye-offending “ rawness ”" which has marked other and earlier productions photographed in colour Yitaphonc, perfect in rendition of the speech, songs, and music of ‘ On With the Show,’ is given marvellous reality by this innovation. Tho story has t<> do with a company of stranded troupers, who, while their amusing adventures go on, are playing a.musical phantasy known as ‘The I’liantom Lover.’ Many famous song hits are sung in this production, including ‘ Am I Blue,’ ‘ Lift the Julips to Your Twolips.' ’ Birmingham Bertha, ‘ Welcome Home.’ and ‘ Let Mo Have My Dreams.’ Tho cast includes such screen favourites as Betty Conipson, Arthur Lake, Louise Fazenda, Joe E. Brown, and Sam Hardy.