AMUSEMENTS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 94, 4 April 1934, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS

DRAMA AT ARCADIA. “CHANNEL CROSSING.” “Channel Crossing,” a GaumontBritish picture, directed by Milton Rosmer from a story by Angus MacPhail and W. P. Lipseombe, will be screened at the Arcadia Theatre tonight. The strong, dramatic story is interpreted by a carefully selected cast, headed by Matheson Lang, as a multi-millionaire financier, and Constance Cummings as his secretary, Anthony Bushel! is her lover who is responsible for tragic happenings. Edmund Gwenn enjoys a feature role as a passenger —a Lancashire man of substance paying his first visit to France. Max Miller, really an actor but making believe that he is a commercial traveller, is another leading figure in in comedy scenes, elevery interspersed comedy scenes interspersed with the drama. Others in the cast are Dorothy Dickson, Nigel Bruce, Douglas Jefferies, talented artists all. The story is of dramatic and tragic happen, ings on a cross-Channel run between Dover and Calais. The plot covers the failure of an international financier to overcome the consequences of an issue of false scrip and. at the same time, to face the tragedy of his rejection by the women he loves, and a tragedy deep ened by his realisation that she loves the man he had nearly murdered. The denouement is thrilling in the extreme. The picture is not only a fine, original entertainment but, in many ways, is a thoughtful contribution to cinematic art. Milton Rosmer, who directed, has used artists and material with a mas-ter-hand. Great attention has been paid in every detail, and smoothness of direction is never allowed to degenerate into the merely slick. The film Is also made notable by the number of its character cameos. Apart from the stars and their chief support there are several delightful studies in the smaller parts, it being nn eminently sensible practice of Gaumont-British to ensure adequate distribution of quality.

ENGLISH COMEDY AT MUNICIPAL “HIS GRACE GIVES NOTICE.” A typically English comedy dealing with the consternation following the discovery of a Duke working as a footman is offered at the Municipal Theatre, when “His Grace Gives Notice” plays there to-night. In this comedy-drama George, the footman in the employ of Lord Bannock, perplexes the “kitchen” because he seems to lack the humility becoming to a gentleman’s servant. In fact he so far forgets his position as to hang up a photograph of the Hon. Barbara Rannock, his employer’s daughter. When he is reminded of his place he mentions the fact that anyone can procure such a photograph who has the shilling with which to purchase the magazine from which it is cut. When George turns out to be the Duke of Marlow, a fact of which he himself was totally unaware, everything is explained, but becomes even more trying. Try as George may tie cannot prove to the servants that he is the same man as he was a day ago, calling them all by the Christian names.

Meantime, Barbara, although attracted to the man, feels she cannot accept his attentions as a Duke which she refused when he was a footman. With the help of the valet he has acquired with his new title, George is the means of aiding Barbara when she falls into the hands of a product of American gangdom, and. the slate wiped clean, an engagement between the Duke of Marlow and the Hon. Barbara Rannock is all ready for announcement. Arthur Margetson plays the role of George, Duke of Marlow, with an admirable rot straint and his characterisation rings true both as a footman and later as the Duke of Marlow. S. Victor Stanley. Viola Keats, Dick Francis nnd O. B. Clarance all add admirable support. MARLENE DIETRICH AT COSY. “THE SONG OF SONGS” A new Marlene Dietrich, different than hei millions of screen admirers nave evei glimpsed in her previous pictures will be seen in “The Song of Songs' , her new Paramount picture, showing finally at the Cosy tonight. Miss Dietrich, who hitherto has appealed as a sophisticated, worldly woman is revealed in her new production as an innocent young country girl of rare beauty, who goes to Berlin, ami, jilted by a handsome young sculptor, runs the gamut of tragic experience She marries a rich and elderly Baron, whom she does not love, and, following their divorce, she becomes bitter and disillusioned, and a notorious woman in the gay German city’s night life. FLYING PICTURE TO-MORROW. One of tho most interesting films to be made last year by British and Dominions Films Ltd. was “The King’s Cup,” which is the first film to bo made dealing with the activities of British flying clubs. This remarkable picture will bo shown at the Cosy Theatre to-morrow. Tho production took thirteen months to make and cost about £40,000. anil is based on a. story bv Sir Alan Cobham, himself a King’ o Cup winner, and carries a guarantee of complete authenticity in its attempt to present a record of civil aviation in Great Britain. Tn order to present onthontic scones nf the King’s Cup Air Derby, British and Dominions Corporation actually filmed tho race when it took place.