AMUSEMENTS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 235, 17 September 1934, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS

REGENT THEATRE “SADIE MoKEE” TO-NIGHT. You can’t afford to miss seeing Joan Crawford as Sadie McKee, Vina Delmar's famous character, for it is the finest portrayal the star has ever essayed. This new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer championship picture, “Sadie McKee” screens to-night at the Regent Theatre. Briefly, the story concern# itself with a girl and three men, each Ilian playing a significant part in the dynamic Sadie’s successful thrust for fame. Sadie, daughter of a cook in a small town, finds herself confronted by the cruel indifference of a great city. Hardship and struggle leads to marriage to if. dipsomaniac millionaire, which sets tho stage for tho intense drama which follows. Franchot Tone, as a romantic male lead, for tho first time wins Joan Crawford in the final sequence—a change of luck for the gracious young agjot. whose romantic success in private life is well known. Gene Raymond as the weakling crooner, and Edward Afnold as the millionaire Brennan, are excellent in their parts, contrasting one another's personalities as they do. STATE THEATRE “STING RICHARD DIX “Stingaree,” at the State Theatre at 8 p-ni., a spectacular dramatisation of the career and personal romance of the lovable Australian bandit of that name, reaches the talking picture screen this season as a venture into a picturesque new locale and as a recognition of the popularity of heart-interest melodrama. 'Those two high calibre stars, [relic Dunne and Richard Dix. who scored so prodigiously several season,, ago when teamed in “Cimarron,” a production of similar great scope, play the lieroino and the hero. Adapted from tho vividly colourful stories by E. W. Hornung/ creator ol Raffles, ’ and laid in the Australia of the Seventies, “Stingaree’’ i s the tale of a dashing adventure of the Robin Hood type, who steals from the rich in order to finance his benefactors. [he film deals with his supreme adventure, his love for a pool girl whom he promotes into a world-famous operatic success. “Stingaree” has as one of its outstanding features vocalisation by Miss Dunne. She sings two new songs composed by Franke Harding, with lyrics by Gus Kahn, and 4

several classical opera selections, her cultured voice, formerly heard to advantage in Ziegfeld’s “Show Boat.’’ ]n the supporting cast of “Stingaree” are such featured players as Conway Tearle, Andy Devine, Henry Stephenson aud Una O’Connor. COSY THEATRE CHILLS AND COMEDY The grim starkness of “Frankenstein” and the cold chills of “Dracula were but delightful pranks, compared to the weird and uncanny theme of “The Black Cat,” Universal s master horror picture screening at the Cosy Theatre t>o-night. Imagine if you can, the first time on the screen together, Karloff, the monster of “Frankenstein'’ and Bela Lugosi, the vampire of “Dracula.” Two demons in human guise meet on the ground of teu thousand dead souls. Grim hatred and bitter revenge flame their hearts as they clash in what seems immortal combat. Based on that tamed tale of Edgar Allan Boe, America’s greatest mystery writer, this picture is said to be the last word in melodramatic thrills. It Abounds with intense suspense, intrigue and super-dramatic highlights. “Let's Be Ritzy,” also showing, concerns the financial trials of Jimmy Sterling (Ayres) because of the extravagances of his wife (Patricia Ellis) who has a penchant for fine silk underclothes, diamonds, and the company of her employer a wealthy lawyer, at tea at the Ritz Jimmy gives bis v/te, played by Patricia Ellis, a taste of high Ide by posing as tho son of a wealthy South American rubber magnate. Complications follow their entry int>o society, but the author brings the tale to an unusual ending. ARCADIA THEATRE “ROMANTIC NEW ZEALAND" A New Zealand film produrtie'' which is positively outstanding in everv wav, is “Romantie New Zen land,” which screens at the Arcadia Theatre to-night. “Romantie New Zealand'' tinctly refreshing in every way I’ opens with a prologue embracing •’ torical developments from Maori dir through the tensely anxious colonisation period to the present day. Th-' enmoramnn has covered a wide fie'<’ and no section of the community coucomplain that their favoured beaut) spots have been disregarded Even eity views enter into the picture, which is a striking pnnor-imn of N- w Z" Inn ’

untold beauty and wealth, both natural and physical.’ One is stirred to a sonso of thrilling pride in the heritage left us by the hardy pioneers who were responsible for carving their homes from the wilderness.

In dramatic fashion, “Romantie New Zealand,” now being released for the first time in this country, unfolds the life story of “ Aotearoa, ” “ Tho Long White Cloud” of Polynesian navigators. The coming of the great Captain Cook in his historic ship the Endeavour is followed by many colourful phases of pioneer life. Bushfelling, surveying, road making in the back country, the hectic life of the early gold-diggings all come to life again oa the silver screen, with sound, colour, and bright descriptive talk to give the absolute atmosphere of the period de--picted. Stage by stage the picture leads one on through the country’s development to the New Zealand of to-day with its progressive cities and busy ports. Technically, the film is a credit to New Zealand enterprise, which is also responsible for the presentation of many beautiful scenes in their true colours by n process which is the invention of this country. “Romantic New Zealand” should not be missed on any account, and it can he unhesitatingly recommended ng ideal film fare for children, who are to be catered for at the matinees with supporting pictures specially selected to suit the juvenile mind.