PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 20982, 22 December 1931, Page 7

PICTURE THEATRES

REGENT Douglas Fairbanks lias thrown aside armour, steel, sword, and buckler for the first time in ten years—has attired himself in a well-fitting business suithas exchanged battlements for a penthouse apartment topping a skyscraper—and the result is a happy mixture of entertainment. The picture is ' Reaching for the, Moon/ and it is at the Regent Theatre, with Bebe Daniels as the object of Fairbanks's affections. The stoiy and dialogue are smart and sophisticated, the action is romantic and rapid, the settings range from fashionable New York to a luxurious liner at sea, and there'is a bountiful seasoning of comedy. And when the last word is said about lovely women it should be in connection with the hand-picked beauties who glide through' the scenes of ' Reaching for the Moon.' They called it a " million dollar cast " when the filming was taking place, and a g'ance at the names seems to make the sum fall short. For, in addition to Fairbanks arid Daniels, there are Edward Everett Horton, surefire farceur; Jack Mulhall, a star in his own right; Claud Allister, the comic Britisher; June Mac Cloy, gorgeous to gaze upon; Luana Walters, a' new beauty; and such veteran troupers as Emmett Corrigan, Walter Walker, Helen Jerome Eddy, Adrienno d'Ambricourt, and Phil Tead. Fairbanks plays the role of a dynamic young stock broker who is so busy playing the game of finance that he has somehow lost sight of love. That is, until Bebe Daniels, portraying a society aviatrix, comes along and makes him realise he has missed the most important thing in his life. Just about the time this weighty thought takes possession of him Bebe starts for Europe with a group of debs to take part in an air meet in England, and Doug, has to hustle to catch the boat. SPECIAL SESSIONS. As 'advertised, there will be a treat for the children at the Regent Theatre on the morning of Boxing Day (Saturday next), at 10.30, when a speciallyarranged programme for children will be screened. For this special matinee only the picture from the Octagon Theatre will be screened at the Regent Theatre. ' Fighting Caravans,' starring Gary Cooper, and the Regent's miniature pantomime will be represented on the stage. This pantomime is performed by twenty clever juvenile performers, and is called ' The Old Woman in the Shoe.' In addition, some Mickey the Mouse cartoons will be screened. Special attention is drawn to the fact that at this special matinee all children will be admitted for sixpence, and should the stalls be filled they will not be turned away but will be admitted to the dress circle for the same price. Attention is specially drawn to the fact that at all other Regent matinees ' The Smiling Lieutenant ' will be screened, and not ' Fighting Caravans.' All children attending this morning matinee will be presented with a Mickey Mouse calendar for 1932. EMPIRE Richard Barthelmess, one of the most prominent actors to-day, adds another notable success to his career in ' The Lash,' at present showing at the Empire Theatre. Ably played by a strong cast, the picture is full of exciting incident, and interest rapidly grows as the story* proceeds. Richard Barthelmess is well equipped to play the part of the dashing young Don Francisco, who, returning to his ancestral estate after four years in Mexico City, finds the hand of the conqueror pressing heavily on his people. Mary Astor, as the lovely Spanish lady Rosita, with whom Don Francisco falls in love on renewing their childhood acquaintance, is an ideal Spanish type with her dark, languorous beauty, and she plays her role with a deep sincerity. No less attractive is Marion Nixon, who plays the part of Don Francisco's sister, and who is fated to fall in love with one of the hated gringoes—a gringo who is sworn to capture and hang"her brother. One of the most spectacular scenes in the picture is the deliberate stampeding of a herd of 3,000 cattle through the narrow main street of the town—an act of vengeance by Don Francisco for brutal treatment at the hands of the land commissioner. Supporting the main picture is a short vaudeville programme, which has been given the title of ' Bubbly,' and which offers to Mr Stan Lawson and his pupils opportunities of displaying their capabilities as entertainers, of which they take the fullest advantage. The warmth of the applause with which their efforts are being received leaves no doubt as to the success of the perfoimance, which includes comedy items, songs, and dancing. Tho outstanding features of the entertainment are tho brilliance of the costuming and general staging and the high standard of the dancing, the items being both novel and original. The performers include Mr Lawson, Mr Angus Gorrie, and Mr Les Hill, Misses Rosetta Powell, Shirley M'Clatchy, and Dorothy JuckLalso contributing largely to the success of the performance. ' They are accorded excellent support from other pupils. The supporting pictures include interesting news reels and an excellent cartoon. ST. JAMES One of the most outstanding comedies of the year, ' Virtuous Husbands,' which is the principal picture at the St. James Theatre this week, has already created a strong impression in Dunedin for its clever dialogue and its sparkling wit. The plot lias to do with a young man of singularly high moral standards, a young woman, normal and sophisticated, whom he marries, convinced that his bride is as a delicate and fragile flower, and must be treated accordingly, and the amazing contretemps which results from the close association of two human beings so utterly dissimilar in mental outlook. Elliott Nugent, in the role of Daniel Curtis, the young husband, determined to stand by his iron-bound moral principles, gives a brilliant performance. Jean Arthur plays the part of Barbara Olwell, the disillusioned bride, with great skill, while Betty Compson is excellently cast as Inez Wakefield, the .sophisticated young married woman who has no illusions about Daniel Curtis, to whom she publicly refers as a " poor fish." One of the most amusing characters in the story, that of Mr Olwell, Barbara's father, is given a masterly portrayal by J._ C. Nugent, whilst Allison Skipworthis responsiblefor a striking characterisation of the part of his managing wife. The supporting programme includes several excellent news reels, a clever and anmssing animated cartoon, and a diverting Slim Summervillc comedy, entitled ' Let's Play.' OCTAGON One of the most gripping dramatic situations filmed in many years occurs in Henry King's production of ' Eyes of the World,' now playing at the Octagon Theatre. The three players

enacting this powerful scene are Una Merkel, Nance O'Neil, and Hugh Huntley. Miss O'Neil, shotgun in hand, interrupts a desperate struggle between Miss Merkel and Huntley, and compels the latter to get down on his knees to pray for forgiveness. She is about to shot the man down at the end _ of the prayer, when John Holland arrives and wrests the gun from her hands. The scene is typical of the power which King has put into this entertaining dramatisation of one of Harold Bell Wright's most popular novels. Richard Arlen's new Western picture, ' Gun Smoke,' in which the courage of the cowboy clashes with the machine guns of the modern underworld, is also showing. STRAND The last time that Joan Crawford appeared in a film in Dunedin with Clark Gable—one of the rising he-men offcthe' screen—she was a hard-boiled society girl, and later a newspaper reporter. The hefty Mr Gable was a "big shot" in the underworld, the sort of person who had so many bad men in his bodyguard that he never had to lift a gun to anyone himself. in ' Laughing Sinners,' at the Strand Theatre now, he is on the other side of the fence, and in his Salvation Army uniform he was just as convincing as he was in the ultra-smart tailoring of the gangster. With Joan Crawford in a picture there is never much room in a criticism for praise for anyone else. Clark Gable makes things worse, for it is impossible to ignore his steady mounting steps towards stardom. But there is another character in this film who must be mentioned. His part is not a big one, but everything he does is so well done that his arrival on the screen is always a signal for pleasure. That is Cliff Edwards, better known as Ukulele Ike. KINS EDWARD ' Parlour, Bedroom, and Bath,' with Buster Keaton in the leading role, is at present being shown at the King Edward Theatre. It was directed by Edward Sedgwick, Keaton's director in ' Spite Marriage,' ' Free and Easy,' and ' Forward March.' Charlotte Greenwood is seen in the role of Polly, and Reginald Denny, hero of ' A Lady's Morals,' plays the romantic male lead. Cliff Edwards, Dorothy Christy, Joan Peers, Sally Eilers, Natalie Moorhead, Edward Brophy, Walter Merrill, and Sidney Bracy, are in tho cast.