ENTERTAINMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 September 1939, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE—Now Showing: “DRAMATIC SCHOOL.” The ambitious struggles, disappointments and joys of a group of young people who form a caste by themselves, whose thoughts and behaviour differ widely from other strata in the social structure, are dramatically bared in “Dramatic School,’’ to be screened at the Opera House to-night, to-morrow and Thursday. The new picture brings to the screen two brilliant acting portrayals, Luise Rainer, twice winner of •' the Academy ol Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Award, who portrays the part of a poor student who works in a factory at night in order to earn her tuition, and the other, Paulette Goddaid, Hollywood’s most talked about . actress, who plays the part of a fashionable student of the school. “Dramatic School’’ is the story of Louise Mauban, a factory worker and drama pupil. She lives in a world of dreams, for everything is a play to her. She even creates an imaginary lover, whose existence her classmates doubt. They plan to expose her, to place her face to face with the handsome young Marquis whom she boasts as her lovei. But the Marquis, a stranger to her. plays her game. He falls in love with her and a beautiful romance follows. Then calamity falls upon Louise, twofold. She is threatened with expulsion from school and the Marquis abandons her. Faced with defeat on all sides, Louise awakens to find herself nominated 1 by her class to play the leading role in the year’s most important play. She scores a great triumph and not until the Marquis seeks a renewal of her love does Loujse realise that her first love is the theatre. Others in a finely balanced cast include Alan Marshal, Lana Turner, Genevieve Tobin, Anthony Alan, Henry Stephenson and Gole Sondergaard.

REGENT — Final Screening of “SMASHING THE RACKETS” & “COWBOY FROM COMMEN CING WEDNESDAY: “CHARLIE CHAN IN HONOLULU” & “LITTLE MISS THOROUGHBRED.”

Sidney Toler has been selected to carry on the great film tradition of Charlie Chan's adventures, the first of the new series being “Charlie Chan in Honolulu,” which presents a challenge to Chan in his own home town —an audacious killer daring to strike almost on the sleuth’s very doorstep. While Chan is visiting a daughter at the hospital, where she is shortly to present the sleuth with his first grandson, a call comes, to Charlie’s home; a man has been murdered on a boat in the harbour. Chan’s No. 2 son, deciding not to bother “Pop,” rushes to the scene himself. Chan, after finally learning of the call, follows. The elements of the mystery are these: A murdered man; a young girl who has been carrying 300,000 dollars (now missing) across the Pacific; a bewildered and bewildering scientist, and a motley collection of crew members, ranging from the captain down. Later on another victim is murdered, an attempt is made to assassinate Chan himself, and a number of other complications enter the mystery. Chan, carrying on in his usual manner, effectively solves the crimes and brings the case to a close with a thrilling ruse—just in time to hear that he is the grandfather of a boy! Phyllis Brooks, Sen Young, Eddie Collins, John King, Claire Dodd George Zucco, Robert Barrat and Marc Lawrence are featured in the cast surrounding Toler. Collins in particular merits mention for several convulsing comedy scenes.

THE ASSOCIATE FEATURE. “Little Miss Thoroughbred” introduces,, a new child star in six-year-old Janet'Chapman. Janet is not “cute” and her hair is not dressed in curls. Instead she has an engaging little face, and considerable natural charm. The picture opens in an orphanage Left to themselves the children discuss the authenticity of the “Daddy” to whom Janet had referred in her prayers, and while she stoutly maintains his existence somewhere, the others deny it vociferously. Janet sees him in her dreams anyway, and is eaten up with a longing to meet him in reality. Next day, in the grounds, when the gate in the great wall is left open, the child slips out into the street to hunt for Daddy. Rather complicated events bring her to gambler John Litel’S arms as his child. Frank McHugh prevents Litel from returning her to the orphanage by the discovery that she is a mascot—a “Little Lady Luck” who brings the gamblers ' so much money that they extend their operations to big time, when a horse owner gives Janet a racer and it wins over many tracks. John Litel gives a ''stand-out performance .as a hardened, loured type who’ not till the very end will let his feelings break through for the mite who has adopted’ him. Patrons are advised to make early reservations.

PAUL AND DINY SCHRAMM Recently many of New Zealand’s music lovers have had the opportunity of hearing the world-famous virtuoso of the piano, Paul Schramm, during his concert tour of the Dominion, and they have been able to judge for themselves the tremendous pianistic ability and brilliant technique of this artist. Mr. Schramm is now planning a second tour, but this time in conjunction with his wife, the former Diny Soetermeer, who is herself an accomplished pianist, also with a European reputation. This brilliant couple have combined their artistic forces to form what is probably the finest two-piano ensemble existing today. Much has been said and written about Paul Schramm recently, but Diny Schramm perhaps is less wellknown in the Dominion. Born in Holland of Dutch and Spanish ancestry, Mrs. Schramm brings to her mus-

ic the carefully-polished technique which one would expect from the Dutch, combined with the fire and sparkle of her Spanish forebears. Her musical style is in many ways similar to that of her famous husband, which means that their two-piano music blends and harmonises in a perfect manner. Diny Schramm began her earlier studies under two prominent Dutch masters, Kerrebijn and Kaltwasser, later joining the staff of the Rotterdam Conservatorium. Finally she devoted her entire attention to perfecting her musical technique under the direction of Paul Schramm. It was then that, romance stepped in and the two great artists were joined both- for art- and for life. To-day Mrs. Schramm divides her time between her playing, her -ten-year-old son. and teaching. She is a teacher both of the piano and of chamber music.

Early in their joint career the Schramms began to develop the pianoduo, and after a considerable amount of study they appeared together for the first time in 1928. Immediate success followed and they were acclaimed on their European tour for the perfection of their balance, artistry and combined technique. While in England they played a number of times for the 8.8. C., and following their European tour they set out on a triumphant world tour. Such success greeted them in Java that they stayed on in the Far East for several seasons, giving recitals as a piano-duo. and also with Paul Schramm playing solo and conducting his own symphony orchestra in Batavia. Now conies this New Zealand tour, which ( all who have heard Paul Schramm alone will agree should add to their fame and popularity. Their first Greymouth'Concert for the 1939 season will be given in the Wesley Hall on Saturday. September 23. The box plan is at Ford’s Music Shop.