AMUSEMENTS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 22, 9 January 1935, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

STATE THEATRE “RICHEST GIRL IN THE WORLD.” Probably every girl has built castles in the air and has at times dreamed of possessing unlimited wealth. One who has indulged in such daydreams would be better satisfied with her lot if she considered the case of Dorothy Hunter, heroine of “The Richest Girl in the World,” to-day’s attraction at thu State Theatre. Realising that men pay court to hei because of her vast wealth and that in all likelihood she will never be able to be sure that she is loved for herself alone, Dorothy decides to go incognito for a while, exchanging names and identities with her private secretary. Then, when she finally meets the one who she believes may be “the right man”, things begin to happen. Miriam Hopkins is starred in the title role of the RKO-Radio Picture, and Joel McCrea and Fay Wrß»y hajvc the principal supporting roles. Others in the cast include Henry Stephenson, Reginald Denny, Beryl Mercer, George Meeker and Edgar Norton.

Miriam Hopkins, as the poor little rich girl, hasn’t been so happily cast nor done such good work since her Lubitseh pictures. Besides which, she looks gorgeous and wears a series of clothes that will enchant the women. Joel McCrea is the boy in quest'on and he’s such a very nice, handsome person that you can’t blame him for being a bit dull in bright corners. Henry Stephenson does his usual grand job of being a delightful father-confessor, and George Meeker, in a few brief scenes at the beginning of the picture, is very good. Beryl Mercer comes in for just one smile. Reginald Denny and Fay Wray help matters along well, Herbert Bunston is excellent as a director of a company. The photography is wonderful. Musuraca has done a magnificent job and Radio has extended itself on the lavish production the picture has been given. ARCADIA THEATRE BEBE DANIELS—“MY PAST” Bebe Daniels is captivating as the featured player in “My Past.” which screens to-day at the Arcadia Theatre. Also featured are Miss Daniels' lately acquired husband, Ben Lyon, and the sterling favourite, Lewis Stone. The latter plays the part of a business man who for years has madly loved the famous actress whose profession takes her away from him for much of the time. The play opens when she has returned and is being entertained on the yacht of her middle-aged lover, when his young business partner, played by Lyon, arrives, and at once falls violently in love with her. The older man sees without malice the state of affairs. The wife of Lyon returns from abroad, finds him with the actress and sails back to get a divorce, glad of a chance to marry another man. Lyon discovers the sorrow which the loss of Doree would be to Stone and himself goes abroad. The real story begins here, and ends in a climax of moving and sensational beauty. Unusual and enthralling from first to last, “My Past” warrants every effort to see it. RECENT THEATRE. “MURDER AT THE VANITIES.” There have been many musical and backstage pictures; and there have been equally as many films dealing with the diabolical designs of fiendish murderers; but Paramount brings to the screen the first picture combining the two. Earl Chrroll’s “Murder at the Vanities,” which screens at the Recent Theatre to-day, mixes music and mystery lor the first tune. With eleven of Earl Carroll’s beauties, Carl Brisson, noted Continental and English screen and stage star, Victor McLaglen, Jack Oakie, Kitty Carlisle, and Duke Ellington and his famous orchestra. “Murder at the Vanities” tells of the premiere of a new musical show. The two stars, Brisson and Miss Carlisle, late in arriving, bring news that they are to be married. Gertrude Michael, jealous, vows to get oven with Brisson. Later when the wardrobe mistress meets Brisson, it is evident she is his mother. No one knows this but Miss Michael. Once a famous opera star, his mother is wanteu m Vienna for murder. Tho jealous girl knows this too. To prevent further trouble from her, a hired detective is detailed to watch her. Then, while the orchestra is gaily playing and the girls are dancirg and sinking to a throng of fir-t-nighters, the

sinister hand of a murderer stalks backstage. “Murder at the Vanities” is really two shows in one —a gay, beautiful, tuneful spectacle, and a tense mystery story strong enough to stand on its own. The combination of these two elements provides well-nigh perfect entertainment. COSY THEATRE. BIG MUSICAL SPECTACLE. Warner Bros, created the motion picture musical. It is natural, therefore, that these same producers should have created “Dames,” the most spectacular and certainly the most gorgeous entertainment of its kind ever screened. It overtops even their own “42nd Street,” “Wonder Bar,” and “20 Million Sweethearts.” ”Dames’’ is more than a musical; it is the most lavishly staged spectacle imaginable. It is more than a musical spectacle; it is a miracle of camera mechanics and stage mechanism. It has a real plot; more beautiful girls and highly trained dancers than have ever been gathered in any one motion picture; it has six song hits; it has six of the screen’s leading stars. It is, undoubtedly, one of the finest pieces of entertainment that evdr came to the Cosy Theatre, where it opened this afternoon. Joan Biondell, Dick Powell, and Ruby Keeler head the all-star cast, which includes ZaSu Pitts, Guy Kibbee and Hugh Herbert, the three leading comedians of the screen. Busby Berkeley was responsible for spectacular dance numbers which really baffle description. Three hundred dancing girls, cavorting to catchy music, on mechanical contrivances that move in many directions, with remarkable innovations in camera angles, make the numbers as unique and sensational as they are intriguing and beautiful. Never has Joan Biondell appeared more beautiful nor more fascinating than as the wise cracking, gold-digging chorus girl who makes trouble for everyone with whom she comes in contact and who finally wing an eccentric millionaire, played by Hugh Herbert, whose mission in life was to correct the morals of everyone but himself. Guy Kibbee, as the cousin and would-be beneficiary of the millionaire, gives a hilarious performance, and ZaSu Pitts, as the straitlaced wife of Kibbee, is a real scream. The love interest is furnished by Ruby Keeler and Dick Powell, who can act as well as they can sing, which is superlative praise. There is an excel lent supporting programme of specially selected shorts. Box plans at Sutcliffe’s or ’phone the theatre (3548) after 6 p.m.