PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 22619, 10 April 1937, Page 9

PICTURE THEATRES

THE NEW PROGRAMMES

‘THE GREAT ZIEGFELO' BIOGRAPHY OF FOLLIES GENIUS As an important addition to the screen’s growing list of biographical romances, and as a pageant of beauty, in which hundreds of the famous Follies girls parade before the footlights, ‘ The Great Ziegfeld,’ which opened a season at the Empire Theatre yesterday, has never been surpassed. To fit adjectives to the film is useless—there have been many brilliant show pictures before, but the enormous length of 16,700 ft of entertainment in this instance is actually the screen’s most successful effort. If for no other reason than it takes three complete hours to screen and keeps the audience intensely interested all the time, ‘ The Great Ziegfeld ’ is truly remarkable.

It is based upon incidents in the career of the late Florehz Ziegfeld, played by William Powell, who built a fortune on beauty and slogan. _ ‘ The Great Ziegfeld ’ is the most painstakingly produced and obviously the most expensive glorification of the musical revue yet to reach the screen. A magnificent edition, in shadows and sound, of one of those Ziegfeld Pollies, it overflows with melody and feminine pulchritude. ' At the outset the picture shows' Ziegfeld as a partly successful showman before the stall of Sandow, the Strong Man at the Chicago World’s Fair. It interpolates a San Francisco eposide which airs Ziegfeld’s flambuoyant offer to have his muscular prodigy wrestle a ‘‘ man-eating lion,” and touches upon his high-handed signing for a New York appearnce of Anna Held, reigning London star, at a time when he had 50 cents in his pocket. It traces the upward steps of a career in which the discoveries of such personalities as Will Rogers, Eddie Cantor, Fannie Brice (gorgeously played by herself), Ray Bolger, Harriett Hoctor, and many others played an important part. It sketches setbacks of the great girl glorifieiv describes his magnificent comeback with the simultaneous Broadway production pf ‘ Rio Rita,’ ‘ Whoopee,’ ‘ The Three Musketeers,’ and ‘ Show Boat,’ four hit shows. The curtain is rung down on the dolorous hour of Ziegfeld’s defea,t, following the stock market crash. William Powell, in the leading role as the reckless and resourceful Ziggy.” is most competent, as also is Luise Rainer, whose vibrant, exquisitely feminine Anna Held captures and holds one’s sympathy. Myrna Loy comes in as Ziegfeld’s second wife, whose love and understanding of his charming, extravagant nature, are with him through all his triumphs and disappointments. Together they reach the peak of their art. Ziegfeld makes money, onlv to lose it and in the end dies penniless. Nevertheless, his life is a triumph, for his genius had found expression in the greatest combinations of love and musio. To the musically inclined, ‘ The Great Ziegfeld ’ is a feast. All the songs are catchy and tuneful, and their presentation in the glamorous settings serves to make them more acceptable. me musical- numbers have elegance and richness, and it is a relief to find among them not one that might not actually have been staged in a theatre—given, that is, a producer such as Ziegfeld. who was extravagant enough to have undertaken them. So artistic yet impressive are each of the settings that spontaneous applause is drawn from tne audience as .the pictures fade on the patrons of the Empire would be well advised to be seated at the advertised times—2 p.m. and 7.45p.m. as ‘ The Greta Ziegfeld ’ actually commences at those hours and occupies the whole programme.

'THE GARDEN OF ALLAH'

REGENT'S OUTSTAHDIKG PRESENTATION Seldom, if ever, has there been shown in Dunedin, a picture of such remarkable merit as ‘ The Garden of Allah, which commenced a local season at tne Regent Theatre yesterday. Not for the vivid character portrayals alone is the picture deserving of _ praise, but the introduction of technicolour brings to the audience the glorious colours of the desert of the Sahara, and made unnecessary the brilliant word pictures which were an outstanding feature of the book of the same name, written by Robert Hichens. It is doubtless the most successful technicolour film yet to be shown in Dunedin. The colouring is not as vivid as in previous attempts, but at the same time shows the deep glowing hues which are found only in the desert. Though these may appear to be exaggerated, to anyone who has seen a desert dawn or sunset they represent the true magic of the scene. There are not only the vivid changing colours of the native Arabian life with its rapid changes from light to dark, from gay to tragic, but somehow the fatalism that characterises the Arab is expressed in the changing face of the desert—a face whose every mood is reflected by the technique of the colour camera. Against this background is enacted one of the strangest love stories that has ever been told, the story of a Trappist monk who left the monastery because of something he had seen in the eyes of a man and woman reunited after a long absence. The role, a difficult one to make convincing, is played by Charles Boyer, whose very silences give the impression of the tremendous emotional crises he could never express in words. With him is starred Marlene Dietrich, a woman who is wandering through the villages of the Sahara seeking consolation after the death of her father. Their meeting and wedding and pilgrimage through the desert occupy a relatively short time, but never does she suspect what is at the bottom of her husband’s obvious reticence and unhappiness. When retribution follows him, even out into the desert, she is strong enough to realise what his only course must be. Less of the glamour that is usually associated with Marlene Dietrich and more of the splendid spirit of understanding and willing renunciation make this film a notable one, in that it shows her ability to carry through a strange and difficult role with high honours. A woman who realises the value of silence, who is not inquisitive when her husband is reticent, who could never make the common and fatal mistake of counting the world well lost for such is the Marlene Dietrich who will be found in this film, which is undoubtedly her best so far. It is a pleasure to find that Basil Rathbono is not the villain of the piece, but a friendly cultured Arab chief, who has the unenviable task of revealing who the husband

really is. C. Aubrey Smith, whose versatility is amazing, plays the part of the French priest, who understands so much more than he dare say. The smaller parts, including that of the humorous and highly poetic Arab servant, are very carefully cast. ‘ The Garden of Allah,’ as the producer acknowledges, is not intended as entertainment alone. It deals with emotional issues capably and convincingly, and as such, will be greatly appreciated. Its characters will be found at times repellent, at times delightful, and always wholly understandable, and a hard-thinking producer has included in it many of the sights of the East, a number of its desert folk, some superb photography, and an orchestral accompaniment which greatly assists the story. A cartoon in colour, one of Disney’s finest efforts, and a travelogue of Dutch Guiana are included among the supporting pictures.

WOOEHOUSEAN NONSENSE

• THANK YOU, JEEVES,’ CROWDED WITH HUMOUR If ever two fictional characters were suited to stepping from the pages of a book on to the screen they are P. G. Wodehouse’s figures, Jeeves, the perfect butler, and his master, Bertie Wooster, the perfect nincompoop. They were associated for the first occasion here last night in ‘ Thank You, Jeeves,’ which vastly entertained a large crowd at the State. The film is a faithful reproduction of the Wodehouse atmosphere of hilarious and quite irresponsible nonsense. Bertie Wooster, forced by the complaints of his neighbours to abandon the only thing in life that gave him anything like a kick—playing the drums—finds life empty, dull, and dingy; he is bored. Feeling, then, the urge for adventure, and lured on by his extravagant admiration for a young woman who descends into his flat one night, be becomes entangled—there is no other word for it—in tho plots of spies and arch-plotters and other interesting people. With Virginia Field as “ the lady in distress ” and David Niven as that amiable crackpot, Bertie Wooster, fiction’s most furiously funny characters —as charming as they are convulsing —move through a hilarious series of typical Wodehouse adventures. As the picture opens, the poker-faced Jeeves is painfully giving notice to the pleasantly mad_ Bertie. _ What, with drumming, banjolele playing, and romancing in various knife-throwing countries, even the iron Jeeves’s nerves are frayed. With a “ what-lio ” and a “ cheerio ” it’s the quiet life for Jeeves from now on. Jeeves’s dream of peace is rudely shattered by the ringing of the doorbell. Opening the door, a girl brushes past Jeeves’s stony disapproval to the baffled. hut welcoming Bertie. She has tea, meanwhile making cryptic remarks about Bertie’s brother (he has • none) and the old Wooster spirit for adventure is aroused. When the girl leaves Bertie calmly announces to the apathetic Jeeves that they are going to follow her. Bertie, with his customary blundering, gets everything all mixed up, and ft remains for the imperturbable Jeeves, as usual, to straighten matters out, which he does in a wildly hilarious series of adventures. Arthur Treacher is the living embodiment of Jeeves, with David Niven perfect as the muddle-headed Bertie. Virginia Field provides a lovely and winsome “ lady in distress.” The best of a lengthy list of short films deals with the life of the industrious ant, this presentation affording one a splendid opportunity of watching these almost human insects carry out their daily tasks. Appealing scenes of Ireland are embodied in one of the films, which mostly present reviews of topical happenings throughout the world.

EXCITING POLICE DRAMA

‘SWORN ENEMY' AT ST. JAMES The eternal warfare between America’s police forces and the ever-active gangsters has been the subject of many a good film, but perhaps the most exciting is ‘ Sworn Enemy,’ which was shown to an enthusiastic audience at the St. James Theatre last night. Apart from the suspense aroused towards the end of the story, the picture has a finesse and balance which should enhance the reputation of its producer, Lucien Hubbard. Hank and Steve Sherman, brothers whose efforts to better their positions in the world eam_ the audience’s approval in the opening scenes, come across as thorough and as sinister a group of racketeers as one could imagine. In a most dramatically contrived scene one of the brothers and his benefactor are killed, crushed to death when a towering steel crane crashes through the roof of their motor car. Incident leads to incident ns a scheme is gradually formed to ‘‘ crack ” the gangster chief’s safe for incriminating evidence. When finally the hunters are trapped in a steam chamber and the steam is turned on by the hunted, all seems to be lost. Only a charge of dynamite, it seems could reverse the positions—and does, to the relief of the police inside the chamber, the joy of two young lovers, and the discomfiture of the criminals. Consistently good acting adds a touch of polish to an uamsually gripping and well-thought-out tale, with Robert Young, Joseph Calleia. Lewis Stone, and a charming young actress. Florence Rice, outstanding. Nat Pendleton, whose task is to annihilate numerous doubtful characters inside and outside of a boxing ring, deserves special mention, and the remaining members of the cast are all finely in tune. Adding to the enjoyment of the main picture are first-class supporting items, including a Pete Smith film.

‘SAN FRANCISCO’

AN OUTSTANDING PRESENTATION Clark Gable returns to the vigorous type of role that first elevated him to stardom as a blustery Barbary Coast gambling baron who has no faith in anything but his own power and his charm over women. Co-starring with Miss MacDonald and Gable is Spencer Tracy in his most unusual role, that of a priest. A distinguished supporting cast includes Jack Holt, Jessie Ralph, Ted Healy, Shirley Ross, Margaret Irving, Harold Huber, A 1 Shean, William Ricciardi, and Kenneth Harlan. ‘ San Francisco,’ now at the Mayfair, is laid in the colourful period of 190506, its life of gaiety and song, its Barbary Coast prior to and through the disaster that levelled the famous Golden Gate city 30 years ago. Among Miss MacDonald’s vocal numbers are the ‘ Jewel Song ’ from ‘ Faust,’ musical excerpts throughout the ‘ Faust ’ opera, the ‘ Prison Trio ’ with Mcphistopheles and Faust, an aria from ‘ La Traviata,’

1 Love Me and the World is Mine,’ ‘ My Heart is Free,’ Gounod’s * Ave Maria ’ ‘ Nearer, My God, to Thee,’ ‘ Battle Hymn of the Republic,’ ‘ San Fi’ancisco.’ ‘ Where the Power God Dwells ’ supports.

MODERN ROMANTIC COMEDY

EXTENSIVE RANGE OF TALENTS Entertainment of a particularly healthy and bright type is provided by the R.K.O. comedy, ‘ The Bride Walks Out,’ which heads the current programme at the Grand. With no other intentions than to be amusing and romantic, this film fulfils its promise excellently and is thoroughly enjoyable. Its success is assured by the cast that has been chosen. With Barbara Stanwyck and Gene Raymond in the romantic roles, and Robert Young, Helen Broderick, and Ned Sparks assisting, the different scenes, from dramatic to highly comic, are taken very smoothly. Ned Sparks and Helen Broderick are an inimitable pair, and their matrimonial tangles, on behalf of both themselves and the Martins (Barbara Stanwyck and Gene Raymond) yield so many hilarious situations that at times it is impossible to keep up with the laughs. For the first time, too. Sparks is seen for a moment without his cigar, when his wife, determined not to be done out of her New Year’s entertainment, drags it from his mouth, kisses him, and thrusts it back again. The very charming Barbara Stanwyck and Gene Raymond are a well-matched pair, both by looks and in their desire to live their own lives, and their romance is properly set off by the ardour of Robert Young in his inebriated pursuit of the young wife. There are so many highlights in the film that it is almost impossible to single out scenes that are better than others.

WORLD’S FASTEST SPORT

DRAMA OF ICE HOCKEY AT OCTAGON Practically every sport of to-clay and yesterday lias at one time or another formed the plot of a film, but it was not until ‘ King of Hockey ’ was released that theatregoers saw a featurelength picture of “ the fastest game on earth.” ‘ King of Hockey,’ in conjunction with ‘ Along Came Love,’ opened a season at the Octagon yesterday. ‘ King of Hockey ’ is a stirring romance with the popular ice sport ns its background. Staged in the atmosphere of Madiso.i Square Garden, New York, the exciting incidents of the game, with the crowds of spectators, are brought to _ the screen by crack hockey players, including Dick Purcell, the masculine lead, who was the former ice star of EJordham University. The romance between Purcell, the hockey star, and. Anne Nagel, in the role of a wealthy society girl, springs up in the ice rink, and is furthered by the debutante’s seven-year-old sister, who is one of the most ardent fans of the team’s crack puck pusher. The head of a gambling syndicate tries to bribe the hockey star to throw the games to the opposing teams. Wayne Morris, thestar’s room mate, sees the two together, and when the team loses he jumps to conclusions and accuses his chum. A light ensues, in which the star is sent to hospital with a cracked head. The blow affects the optic nerve,, and -the youth is slowly . going blind without knowing it. This results in poor, playing, which leads the manager to think he is crooked. The star is fired from the league, and winds up as a pathetic figure in the bread line. But chance brings him in contact with the seven-year-old sister of the woman he had loved and lost. She senses the fact that he is nearly blind, and relays the information to her sister. But the hockey player cannot be found until one clay a fortuitous circumstance brings him to the arms of the girl in a most astonishing climax. Besides Purcell and Miss Nagel, the cast includes Mario Wilson, Wayne Morris, George E. Stone, Joseph Crehan, Gordon Hart, Ann Gilfes, and Andre Beranger. How a romantic shopgirl fell in love with an ancient Greek god, looked for his counterpart on earth to-day, found him in the form of a theatre doorman, and then forced him to fall in love with her is hilariously told in Paramount’s ‘ Along Came Love,’ a gay comedy of young love, which is the other attraction. IretK, Hervey and Charles Starrctt play the leading roles. It’s a mixture of gay and boisterous romance, pathos, and' deep emotion, written by Austin Strong, author of the all-time moving picture hit, ‘ Seventh Heaven,’ and there’s a lot about ‘ Along Came Love ’ which is reminiscent of that great success. Bert Lytell, former silent screen star, directed the picture. Irene Franklin, Doris Kenyon, H. B. Warner, Bernadene Hayes, Ferdinand Gottschalk, and Charles .Tudels are included in the cast of skilled performers who make 1 Along Came Love ’ the delightful love story it is.

STRAND THEATRE

TWO OUTSTANDIKG ATTRACTIONS Two attractive offerings —‘ Murder by an Aristocrat,’ a baffling mystery melodrama, and ‘ Rainbow’s End,’ a stirring Western romance —head the new programme offered yesterday to satisfied attendances at the popular Strand Theatre. Both are exciting, entertaining, and well produced. ‘ Murder by an Aristocrat ’ is a fine adaptation of Mignon G. Eberhart’s exciting novel, and is packed with thrilling situations and eerie and bloodcurdling episodes. The story tells how five members of an aristocratic family are blackmailed by the ne’er-do-well of the family, who later is found in the library with a bullet through his heart. This starts a series of thrilling events. A second member of the family is found dead in the attic, the victim of a poisonous drug. The remaining members of the family all come under suspicion, as do the butler and maids. Then an aged spinster, the head of the family, announces that a string of costly emeralds has been stolen. The district attorney, a member of the family, endeavours to make out a case of murder in order to avoid scandal. The murder is eventually solved by a nurse and a doctor, after a series of harrowing events in which an attempt is made to kill the nurse. _ Lyle Talbot and Marguerite Churchill do some capital acting as the doctor and the nurse, who are in love with each other, and others on the strong cast are Claire Dodd, John Eldridge, Virginia Brissac, William Davidson, and Gordon Elliott.

The evcr-popular Western actor, Hoot Gibson, is seen in a typical action role in ‘ Rainbow’s End,’ and opposite him is the charming young actress, June Gale. There are thrills, romance, and comedy in this picture, which ho.ds the rapt attention of the onlooker

throughout. Riding thrills, cattle stealing, and other incidents of life on the ranches are skilfully combined in the production of a very engaging story.

SPARKLING COMEDY

RICHARD ARLEH BRILLIANT With Richard Arlen heading a notable cast, comedy, drama, and romance are romping across the screen of the Green Island Theatre this week. The picture is ‘ Three Live Ghosts,’ which opened to-day. In many respects this photoplay is guaranteed entertainment. Originally a best-selling novel and a hit play by Frederick S. [sham, it established new high records everywhere. Now it comes to the screen with a freshness and a sparkle that make it superb entertainment. The story concerns the adventures of three soldiers who escape from a German prison camp and returned to London, to find themselves officially “ dead.” For varying reasons they decide to remain so, and their escapades provide moments of hilarious comedy, thrilling excitement, and tender romance.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE

<> DRUIDS HONOUR MR J. W. DOVE On April 5, 1916, Bro. J. W. Dove was elected secretary of the Otago Lodge of Druids, and last Monday evening completed 21 years’ continuous service in that office. The brethren of his lodge celebrated the occasion by holding a social evening in his honour. Arch Druid Bro. Harbour presided over a very large and representative gathering of the order, including the grand president and his executive officers and several past grand presidents, together with members of lodges from near and far. Bro. Himhurg supplied the musical programme, which was much appreciated. Grand President Bro. Young presented the guest of the evening with an inscribed gold watch from the members of his lodge and paid appreciative tributes to the work done by the recipient during his long terra, emphasising especially the kindly advice and useful assistance always given to brethren on various occasions. Bro. Young was supported by Bro. I. W. Wood, who praised Bro. Dove’s example as a worthy citizen by his untiring efforts to aid and assist any good public movement or association. Past Grand President Bro. Brabara (who, together with other members, journeyed from Invercargill) also added his testimonial to the good work' always done by Bro. Dove, and brought heartiest congratulations from the south. P.G.P. Bro. Connor, together with P.D.P. Bro. A. Bomoril, also paid tribute to Bro. Dove’s long term of such useful sendee.

On rising to reply Bro. Dove was accorded an ovation, and, in thanking the brethren for their handsome gift, feelingly referred to many incidents that had occurred during his secretaryship. Bro. Dove paid a tribute to the founders of the order, and especially urged the younger members to treasure and enjoy the great privileges handed down to them. One of his happiest evenings had been the occasion when the lodge had been handed over to him, and. with the assistance of two sons in the lodge, he had the pleasure and unique privilege of initiating a third son ; During the evening a framed photograph of Bro. Dove was presented to the Arch Druid and a handsome bouquet to Mrs Dove. During supper, at which a large birthday cake with 21 candles was cut, opportunity was taken for old members to fraternise with each other. Bro. Dove joined the order m 1902, and soon became an active member. He was elected district president in 1907 and Grand Lodge representative in 1910, and soon afterwards successfully carried into effect the consolidation scheme of the sick and funeral fund He was grand president from 1918 to 1920, at the same time having been for many years a member of the board of management.

VAUDEVILLE SEASON

SUCCESS OF 1 HELLO. PROSPERITY ' Attractive entertainment of a varied character is proving acceptable to Dunedin audiences who are visiting xlis Majesty’s Theatre just now. Hello Prosperity,’ this week s show by the Connors and Paul Revue Company, was again witnessed by a large audience last night, and George Wallace, who largely contributes to the success of the programme, was once more a firm favourite. The sketches in which he appears are cleverly thought out and ably portrayed by the comedian and his supporters, including Mike Connors, Queenie Paul, Lulla . Fanning, Will Miller, and several others. Specialty items add considerably to the enjoyment of the bill, which was also staged this afternoon. Its final presentation will be given to-night, and there will be a complete change of programme on Monday.

WATER SUPPLY *

RENEWAL OF MAINS The Water Committee of the City Council reports that authority has been given for 96 chains of 3in water mams to be renewed in 4in pipes in the following streets :—Duncan street, IMm Row, Bishops road, Oban street, Preston Crescent, Harcourt street, and Highgat© (Brownville Crescent to Spylaw street). The estimated cost is £1 895. These renewals were authorised during the last financial

year, but jvere not completed, and will now be done under the speciajj renewal programme. Authority has also been given to proceed with main renewal chains of 4in and 30 chains of Din under the special renewal programme in the following\streets:—Ross street, Leven street, Sheen street,. Charlotte street, Kilgour .street, Erin street* Scarba street, Sligo Terrace (to Littlebourne Crescent), Braeview Dudley Place, Cawnmgton road, PUkington street, Grater street. Crescent, Brownville* Crescent, SpylaW street Prestwick street, Balmacewen. road, Munro street, Bstler street Burwood Avenue, Grendon street Brent street, Baxter street, and Wilkie road. The total estimated cost of these works is £8,700.

CITY WORKS

INSTRUCTIONS TO EHCWEtR The Works Committee of the City Council reports that the city .engineer has been instructed as follows in respect of the following matters: — Remove the bank on the western sid« of Maitland street, below High street, to permit the owner to erect a wall ort his boundary. The estimated cost i« a footway and tbs level of the walling in Skibo street at an estimated cost of £4O. Construct a small wall to support the carriageway above the ram P Dowling street.•• where already a small slip has taken place. The estimated cost is £4O. 1