KING GEORGE THEATRE and PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE.

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 23, 30 October 1930, Page 5

KING GEORGE THEATRE and PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE.

•• THIS MAD WORU>.' *

An episode of the World War, dealing with the conflict between love and patriotism, has been admirably conceived, in "This Mad World," a Metro-Goldvvyn-Mayer all-talking production which opens on Saturday at the King Georgv Theatre. Although no. actual warfare is depleted the production is given a realistic military atniospEerc and is made -particularly effective through being filmed from ii'stage viewpoint, the entire action taking place - •between four p.m of one day and 10 a.m of the next. ■ - A capable cast helps put this picture across, Kay Johnson giving a sympa-th-etic performance as the General's wife; Basil Rathbonc, as the spy; Louise Dresser, as his mother; Veda Buckland, as,a maid, and Louis Nathoaux.as a co-eonspiratOT. "RTTNAWAY BRIDE.'' i Movie fans who believe dangerous screen scenes are "falted" have another "think" coming, according to Lioyd Hughes. He knows, because he had. real bullets whistling pas* his head, as he was driving an. automtfbilo for a scene in Radio Pictures' all-talk-ing romantic drama "Runaway Bride," coming to the King George and Prince Kdiward Theatres. .-"-,. But it isn't every player that has a director rated as one of the best marksmen in the country. Donald •Crisp was the director. Ho was a sharp shooter and sniper in the British army" during the Boer war and can hit .a bulls eye many yards away. The bullets whistled past Hughes' head during a scene which shows him chasing a. gang that has . kidnapped M-ary Astor. The gansters lire at Hughe* steadily.for several miles. Builots' shatter his windshield. One hits ; •him in the arm. The shooting was l-eal>- but the bullets ( that whizzed by Hughes' head and into the windshield were fired by qrisp. From the, angle at which the director was shooting, it was necessary f or 1 zaany of the bullets to pass within an inc^Qf the actor's fa«e. ; Hughes said he was somewhat perturbed when the idea of using real bullets" was first suggested. When he was told about Crisp's prowess with firearms, ho consented. • 'JAZZ HEAVEN. To the tuneful;, melody of "Someone," which is sweeping the country as a distinct hit, Radio Pictures' dramatic musical '' Jaza Heaven makes its-.bid. for, local acclaim^ opening on Wednesday next in the., double prbgrammq at the <King George and Brince Ediward: Theatres. John Mask Brown and Sally O'Neil are in .'the featured redes. . ' "iSomeone" is more than the conventional theme songv The lilting love lyric, composed by Oscar Levant jtnd j Sidney Clare, plays an integral part in , tho story. It is tho song which ultimately brings success to the young com poser and makes possible his £ utture mar ried happiness. "Someone"thus is introduced in a nova! manner,. and forms a fitting background for the entire story. • :,,. ; , ■"-.■ iSally 0 'Neil sings for the first time on the screen in "Jazz Heaven" when John Mack Brown, east as tho young composer, both plays and sings. The supporting cast includes, notaible stars of stage and screen, including Joseph Caiwthorn. Clyde Cook, AJbert Conti, Blanche Friderici and J. Barney Sherry awthorn, one of the oldest stars-of tho musical comedy stage, is seen in another delightful comedy role similar to his part in "Street Girl" the picture which brought Caiwthorn to t>he fore as an outstanding film comedian. Melville 'Brown directed ''Jazz Heaven." The picture brings to. the talking screen for the first time a reproduction of a laTgo broadcasting station Tho locale has been screened with authenticity, giving a real picturizatron - of the manner in which radio programmes are put on. tho air. . •»' "RAISE.THE ROOF." Reproducing with distinct success the actual London performance of the same title, "Raise' the Roof;" a picture dealing with-the adventures of the members of a London^revue company, will ; be shown at the Prince Edward Theatre on Saturday.. As a result of

the talkies' advent the revue company mentioned found itself compelled to leavo , tho metropolis and present the show, under rather irresponsible management, and With its finances seriously affected, in the smaller provincial towns. Nor was its success in these

'places notable, and had it not been for the fortunate advent of a young man from. Oxford, injibued with an ambition to achieve fame behind the footlights, a young man with a big income, the company would have found itself really "on the roelcs.V With his aid, however, new life is given the show. Then this young man's father comes to hear of what his son is doing and, determined to .cure him at once and for all of Tiis fascination, he bribes the "villain" 'to cause the wardrobe basket contain-

ing all the stage dresses 'to go astray

on the railway, and the company finds j itself at the town of Belton, while its stage impedimenta has gone on to another town. Not till the last moment is it realised that it would be impos-

siblc. to present the show minus the wardroibe equipment, and —-^yen more serious—'minus iiiost of the sing "hits" and dance music. "A timely discovery of the part the "villain" has played, however, produces the "dare" spirit of the leading lady, Miss Betty Balf our ! and the whole company is quickly intfected.. Some ingenious and amusing dressing schemes are evolved, and neiw; '-'acts" practised, and when the curtain goes up it does soon practically a new show. It is a sweeping success and so, and with the conclusion .'of the evening's performance comes ■'■that also of an appealing love story. "Raise the Roof" is one of the best efforts of its kind that has been seen for a long time. It is preceded by an exceptionally interesting and entertaining supporting programme.