PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 21099, 11 May 1932, Page 5

PICTURE THEATRES

REGENT Was lie madman or genius—ogre or tirtist? Tsarakov, master mind of tne Imperial Ballet driving power behind Serge, crazed genius of the dance — creator and master of Fedor, dancer extraordinary—carried through his hopes and plans with all the driving force of a powerful intellect, a ruthless will, and a burning sense of injustice. Chained for ever to dull earth by a deformed foot, Tsarakov sought to create the perfect copy of his own hampered genius by shaping the life of a lad he had kidnapped. To do this he trampled relentlessly on bodies and souls ot those he dominated. So weirdly powerful a character is rarely created for an artist’s portrayal. John Barrymore is the only man able to successfully play the role of Tsarakov in ‘ The Mad Genius,’ at the Regent. Marian Marsh and Donald Cook play the juvenile leads. Barrymore has the most dramatic role of his entire career. Tsarakov, embittered because of a physical blemish which prevents him personally becoming the embodiment of the dance, kidnaps a homeless lad, pours into him all the fanatical ambition thwarted in himself, dominates him body and soul, and finally banishes the dancing girl whom Fedor loves. fTsarakov’s ruthless selfishness finally alienates the lad who. has become the (world's - greatest dancer. Then follow scenes o£ tremendous power, in winch figure a drug-crazed ballet master and a strangely glittering concourse of persons and situations which lead the melodrama to its inevitable end. EMPIRE No more dynamic portrayal of frustrated power has been given by George Bancroft, than his thunderbolt shipbuilder role in ‘ Rich Man’s Folly,’ suggested by Dickens’s * Dombey and Son, at the Empire. The theme of the story concerns a man who surrenders himself ruthlessly to the accomplishment of two desires. He wants money and the power that money brings, and he wants to perpetuate the firm of Trumbull and Son, for six generations the builders of a fine fleet of ships. Also interwoven into the story is a glimpse .of the life of a girl who finds no affection An her father because of his obsession for his son, and therefore turns to his rival in business, who, years before, was his rival in courtship. The son, as a little boy, is told by his father that some day he will make great sums of money and build ships, blit he desires none of these acquisitions in his appreciation of other things in life. When Trumbull’s mad ambition for his son precipitates his child into a situation which is responsible for his death, it t is the daughter who enters into conflict .with, her own father, providing a climax of. compelling dramatic intensity. As an added attraction the pictorial record of Phar Lap’s last race, at Agua Galiente, a-few days before the death of this notable performer on the turf, heads an excellent list of “ shorts.” Mr Paul Cullen again presides at the Christie organ. ST. JAMES . In a score of ways or more ‘ Susan Lenox, Her Fall and Rise,’ at the St. James Theatre, is a remarkable picture. Greta Garbo, in the name part, ascends to new emotional heights in this her fourth talkie, and it is conceivable that on the--merits of-her work-alone, .without the aid of a strong cast, and with settings and photography of only average standard, ‘ Susan Lenox ’ would have been listed as one of the great films of 1932. No review which merely told the story of Susan Lenox ’ would do justice to the film, although to know the Idialoguc as thoroughly as an understudy prior to seeing the film would not detract from one’s enjoyment of it. The story, is commonplace enough —that of an unfortunate but beautiful girl, who never had a chance, fighting against almost insuperable odds for the love of a man and a decent life. The beloved Garbo makes of it 'a romantic tAmph. In every mood she is convincing! Tho girl escapes from lier childhood surroundings on tho eve of her marriage to a brute she scarcely knows, and meets the man of her heart in a mountain lodge, after a night of terror. It is a case of love at first sight. All too short are the golden hours. Circumstances separate them, and the girl, fleeing from her brutal foster-father, joins a circus. From this on her lover finds her in a series of situations which lead to misunderstandings, which even the full force of the girl’s passionate love cannot put right. Clark Gable, the leading man, portrays brilliantly a difficult chatactor of many moods. The supporting programme includes a specially fine short feature, entitled ‘ Tennis Technique,’ in which Tilden, exchampion of the world, explains each individual shot necessary in perfect tennis technique. OCTAGON The Octagon Theatre is one of the bright spots in Dunedin at present, for Winnie Lightncr, the versatile comc/lienne, is making her appearance again in ‘ Gold Dust Gertie.’ This gaycomedy gives Miss Lightner ample scope for wide play of the typo of entertainment which is peculiarly her own. 1 Gold Dust Gertie ’ more than lives up to the claim of the management that it is designed to make a troubled world forget its worries at least for one remembered hour. Nobody likes to see a nice young chap lose a fortune just because it was left to his wife—-and ho is wifoles. And that is why ‘ Borrowed Partners ’ is one of those pictures that keeps you laughing and gasping and gurgling and happy! It starts early to do this, and keeps it up to the end. ‘ Borrowed Partners ’ is tho Octagon’s other attraction. Rex Lease and Vera Reynolds play leading roles, Lease being the troubled Peter, and Vera Reynolds as Alice, who would inherit the fortune if a lot of persons and things didn’t conspire against Peter’s plan to marry her before midnight, when Mrs Peter Foley is to receive the legacy. STRAND Warner Gland has so often been seen in this Oriental role that it is enough to say that ho is as good as ever in the title part of ‘ Charlie Chan’s Chance at the Strand, and in some ways probably better, for ho has now played tho role so many times that each new film in the series finds him more completely at homo in it than before. Hq it is who makes the film the entertainment that it is, hut great credit must also go to the director for his smooth and logical treatment of tho story and to the fine supporting cast which includes H. B. Warner as Inspector Fyfo of Scotland Yard ; Alexander Kirkland and Marian Nixon, who supply the love Linda Watkins. Ralph Morgan, James Kirkwood, and many other capable actors. There is a brilliant British comedy by Fox, entitled ‘ The Professional " Guest ’ heading tho supporting list.

KING EDWARD The double-feature programme commencing at the King Edward Theatre to-night will consist of ‘ The Black Camel ’ and ‘ Once A Gentleman.’ In tho former Warner Oland enacts tho role of Charlie Chan, and Sally Eilors has tho romantic load, with Bela Lugosi, Dorothy Revicr, Victor Varconi, Robert Young, Murray, .Kinnoll, and William Post in tho principal roles. The picture is rated as being very thrilling, with the beauty of its Hawaiian backgrounds adding greatly to its entertainment value. Edward Everett Horton, one of the most popular actors on the screen, has the leading role in tho second feature.