PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 20943, 6 November 1931, Page 7

PICTURE THEATRES

Those in search of thrilling and exciting entertainment conkl not do better than witness ‘ The Secret Six,' which opened at the Empire to-day. ‘ The Secret Six ’ is an unusual him with a real story to tell and a manner of telling it that cannot fail,..to please, it tears the veil from tho secret operations of gangsters, who aro constantly at war with rival gunmen, and shows how by their corrupt methods they manage to wield an extraordinary power in political life. The film stands out as a damning indictment of corruption, and is relentless in the exposure that it makes. Wallace Beery lias the leading role as Louis Scorpio. The story opens with Scorpio, the gang leader to be, at work in tho slaughter house. Ho is quite happy at that work, but when given an opportunity of joining a boot-legging gang he is unable to resist tho temptation of the wealth dangled in front of him. Because of Ins great strength and steady aim with the “ rod ” he quickly rises to a high position in the gang, and ultimately is seen as the great leader —a man who guides politics and is able to secure the murder of anyone who stands in his way. Operating with the gang is an unscrupulous lawyer, who is possessed of a remarkable degree of cunning and never tails to defeat tho law. This role is taken by Lewis Stone, who gives an excellent interpretation. Others in the cast are .lean Harlow, as Anne, a girl caught in the toils of the underworld, who eventually breaks free and assists to send tho leaders of the gang to the gallows; Paul Hirst, as Mizoski (“ The Gouger”), who is elected mayor as a result?of Scorpio’s influence; John Mack Brown and Clark Gable; as newspaper ■reporters, who play an important part in breaking up tho gang; Marjorie Ham beau, Ralph Bellamy, Do Witt Jennings, and John •_ Miljan. The unfolding of the story is accomplished by many highly dramatic incidents, but the gangsters are never shown in a favourable light, and a thrilling climax is provided when they are at length run to earth.

EMPIRE

REGENT

Critics have lauded Gloria Swanson as an outstanding emotional actress and again as a leading comedienne. And it is this versatility more than anything else which has quickened the interest of patrons in each of her succeeding productions. There always is an element of curiosity as to what she will do next. Now, swinging from one extreme to the other, she has followed her highly dramatic mother role in ‘The' Trespasser ’ with light comedy in ‘ What a Widow’ her latest United Artists’ singing and talking picture, which is one of the big attractions at the Regent, and in which she plays a romantic widow, whose sole ambition is to sing and dance and be gay. This new picture is a far cry from the earlier Swanson comedy features. For instead of permitting it to depend on story alone to provide entertainment she has made it the most elabor-ately-produced offering of her career. Its setting is one of smartness and sophistication. There are heaps of new clothes. And an added musical interest is her singing of three songs. The three new songs presented by the star are ‘ Love is Like a Song,’ ‘ Say Oui, Cherie,* and ‘ You’re the One.’ The supporting cast includes Owen Moore, Lew Cody, Margaret Livingston, William Holden, Herbert Braggiotti, Gregory Gaye, Adrienne D’Ambricourt, Noll a Walker, and Daphne Pollard. The other attraction, Putting on the Ritz,’ is a particularly bright song-and-danco show. Joan Bennett proves that she has still another reason for her success and popularity on the screen in ‘Putting on the Ritz.’ A capable actress and possessed of unusual beauty and charm,' playing opposite to New York’s favourite singing star, Harry Richman, Miss Bennett also demonstrates in this picture that she can sing as well. In the role of Riclunan s vaudeville partner, she sings a number of songs, including two numbers in conjunction with Richman. Richman, it might be said, is no inconsiderable partner for a newcomer, inasmuch as Ins golden voice has made him the star of George White’s ‘ Scandals ’ and the leading night club entertainer of Broadway. More than 200 dancers, all trained under the direction of Maurice Kusell, appear in several richly-dressed numbers iu ‘Putting on the Ritz. Costumes for the dances wore designed by Alice O’Neill, one of Hollywood s foremost designers, and the sets were created bv William Cameron Menzies. ‘ Putting on the Ritz ’ includes among its notable cast Joan Bennett, James Gleason, Ailecn Pringle, Lilyan lashman, Richard Tucker, Purnell Pratt, and Eddie Kane.

STRAND

Owin'* to the remarkable popularity of ‘ Daddy Long Legs ’ with- Dunedin audiences during the past meek, the (Urn has been transferred to the Strand for one final week, and it opened there, to-day. This -box romance stars Janet Gay nor and Warner Laxter. The opening scenes of this photoplay, which is the screen version of Jean Webster’s famous and beloved story and stage production, shows Janet Gaynor, as a waif in tho “John Grier Home,” ministering to the needs or forty and more small children ranging from the age of six months to ton years. , ‘ Daddy Long Legs ’ is being bailed by critics and public alike, wherever it is showing, as one of tire iinest offerings in the history of the talking screen. Many say it marks the most heart stirring and genuine performance of Miss Gaynor's career, not. excepting her unforgettable “Diane” in ‘ Seventh Heaven,’ the silent film which lifted her overnight from comparative obscurity to the heights ol stardom. Although her screen sweetheart, Charles Farrell, is missing from the picture, the producers have played one of tho screen’s most popular and capable actors in the title role, Warner Laxter, who was last seen in the Fox production, ‘ Doctor’s Wives.’ The cast which supports Miss Gaynor and Mr Laxter is one of unusual talent, and

includes such luminaries as Una Merkel and John Arledge. The box plans aro at The Bristol and tho theatre.

OCTAGON

Not since tho memorable days of ten years or more ago, when an all-star cast was that and nothing Jess, has i a more distinguished group of players appeared with a star than the one which now supports Lillian Gish in ‘ One Romantic Night,’ showing at tho | Octagon Theatre. Rod La Rocqnc, t Conrad Nagel, Mario Dressier, and 0. I P. Heggie are some of the noted j players assisting Miss Gish in bringing | to the dialogue screen tho romantic 1 flavour, tho sophisticated coined}’, and tho tense moments of drama which i characterised tho original play. Each ! member of this brilliant supporting | cast is a star by virtue of experience and accomplishment, and each one has had his or her name emblazoned in electric lights throughout the world. It is unusual in this day of the heavily exploited star for a groat motion picture player to surroun d he.rsclf with rivals whose talents arc almost as universally recognised as her own. Miss Gish, however, is not afraid that j her own dramatic efforts will be dimmed by a competent cast of supporting players, it is her belief that a picture can only bo as great as tho performances of the people who play .in it. Miss Gish believes that a star can bo made to do really great work when she is placed in direct competition with actors and actresses of recognised ability. ‘ One Romantic 'Night,’ in addition to being Miss Gish’s first talking picture, presents the popular star in a role that is new to her. As “Alexandra,” she plays the part of a modern young woman who cooly chooses between two men who wish to marry her. The innocent, flower-like roles in which she first established her name with D. W. Griffith aro past. Henceforth the star of ‘ The Birth of a Nation,’ 'Broken Blossoms,’ and 'Way Down East ’ will impersonate tho more humanised girl of to-day. ‘ June Moon,’ the tale of the humorous adventures of a budding song writer, is the supporting film. Box plans are at Tho Bristol and at the theatre.

PRINCESS

When patrons of motion pictures consider which films have given them the_ heartiest laughs they almost in variably agree that British farces top the list. For one week, commencing to-day, patrons of the Princess Theatre will be favoured with an opportunity to see what has been described as “ England’s master comedy.” This is ‘ The Love Habit,’ made by British International Pictures, who were responsible for ‘ The Middle Watch,’ ‘ The Skin Game,’ and other notable successes, and it stars no less a light than Seymour Hicks, the famous actor-author and ono of the most popular players in London. Headed by Hicks, the original British cast interprets tho farce exactly as it was staged at Home, and it can be said that it has been transported in its entirety to Dunedin. ‘ The Love Habit ’ is a gay Parisian farce, translated into English by Seymour Hicks, but the story has lost none of its frisky tone by the change. With Hicks, there appears beautiful Margot Grahame, known as “ the Lure of London,” and as one of tho most glorious actresses in Britain. Edmund Breon, of ‘ On Approval,’ has a splendid role, and other well-known artists in the picture are Ursula Jeans, Walter Armituge, Elsa Lanchester, and Clifford Hoathericy. The story is that of a gay, middle-aged Don Juan, who has a passion for a married Frenchwoman, Julie Dubois. With amazing effrontery, he pursues the lady with a reckless abandon that could only result in his becoming a. co-respondent. Under tho blast of this capricious wooing, Julie feels partly flattered and partly confused, and the fun reaches its merriest moments when all kinds of complications surround the principals in tho farce. Margot Grahame, as Julie, is described as a genuine beauty and a groat actress. Edmund Breon is the husband who, to make matters more comical, loves another woman, a part played portly by Ursula Jeans. Elsa Lanchester is a very droll maid-servant. Seymour Hicks is, of course, excellent, and Dunedin audiences .will undoubtedly find him irresistible in a rolo that suits him to perfection. ‘ The Love Habit ’ has been put down by one critic as “ tho genuine British laugh of tho times.” There will be a strong supporting programme. The box plans aro at tho Bristol.

XING EDWARD

A.n excellent double feature programme is at present being shown at tho King Edward Theatre. Tho principal film is ‘ Are You There,’ a delightful farce, featuring Beatrice Lillie, George Grosmith, and John Garrick. Tho story tolls how Lord Goofiry Brent retains Shirley Travis, a private detective, to free his father, tho duke, from tho wiles of the Countess Helenkn, an adventuress with designs on thq tamily estate, and the ensuing complications. The second picture is ‘ Reno,’ which deals with tho domestic trials of a young married couple.