ENTERTAINMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 19 June 1931, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE: “HER WE IT DING NIGHT” ‘Tier Wedding Night,” a gay, farcical comedy of a massiago mix-up, in which Clara Bow is seen to excellent advantage, opened at the Regent Theatre last night to an appreciative audience. In “Her Wedding Night,” Clara becomes a smart, well-groomed young lady with time on her bands and money to spend,., As an unblushing bride she signs what slie believes to be a. hotel register and then discovers that she has married herself by proxy to a man she has never seen. The story is sprightly in action and peppered with an easy-ilowing line of comedy banter that makes for unrestrained gaiety. The supporting cast features a number of well-known actors: that clever comedian, Skeets Gallagher, trying to be true to Clara Bow and to |iis iinancee all at the same time; Ralph Forbes, a young composer with a talent for making the hearts of impressionable young girls go pitter-pat; Charles Rugglcs, hilariously funny as a self-appoint-ed “fixer” of Clara’s turbulent romance; and Rosita Moreno, the beautiful Spanish actress of,“The Santa Fe Trail.”

“FEET FIRST” Harold Lloyd in his newest Paramount release, “Feet First,” has a brand new hag o! tricks that will create roars of laughter. There’s action to every second. This time lie is a smiling shoe clerk, pursuing a beautiful girl (Barbara Kent), who appeared with Lloyd in “Welcome Danger.” “Feet First” is tho comedy king’s second big all-talk-ing picture, and will open at the Regent Theatre to-morrow. The supporting cast includes Robert MeWade, Lilliannc Leighton, Alee Francis and Noah Young. Although Lloyd had thought it impossible to equar*“Safcty Last,” he had not reckoned oil his own imaginative and creative genius. He made the thrill scenes, which come toward tho end of

“Feet First,” at great personal risk, spending several months at work, which lequired him to swing by his hands in precarious poses. Without his splendid physique, lie could never have accomplished such feats. But the work was so arduous that this time it seems likely he will Jet “Feet First” stand as his high mark for gasping thrills.

“UP THE RIVER,” MAJESTIC THEATRE

Gaol-breaking may be a serious business in real life, hut it provides the basis for most uproarious comedy in “Up the River,” John Ford’s screaming laugh hit that screens for the last time to-night at the Majestic Theatre. Roars from beginning to end gjpted this FoxMovietone offering and acclaimed the irresistible comedy talents of Spencer Tracy, Warren , Ilymor, Claire Luce, Humphrey Bogart, William Collier, Sr., Joan (“Clierie”) Lafes and the rest of the hundred mirth-makers in this unique production. . “BACHELOR FATHER”SATURDAY

Marion Davies achieves the finest performance of her talkie career in “The Bachelor Father,” her new Metro-Cold-wyn-Mayer starring vehicle, which commences at the Majestic Theatre on Saturday. As the madcap, vivacious and pugnacious little child-of-poverty heroine, Miss Davies registers a characterisation perfect in every respect. In a revent interview, Miss Davies said she didn’t care who made audiences weep as long as she could supply laughs. Her new picture shows she means just that, hut there were some moments in tiie new film when she displayed tenderness and sincerity. Always a convincing performer, Miss Davies, in this splendid talkie, reaches inside the role she plays and literally brings it to life, deftly shading ing tho high comedy with intervals of sentimentality. The very amusing plot deals with the adventures of a haremscarein young lady who is transplanted as it were, upon an aristocratic estate in England, where a grumpy aristocratic Englishman tries to make her a lady. She rebels at practically everything that transpires except in the case of an incipient romance with the baronet’s personable young attorney. It is a thrilling air smash that forms the climax of this funny plot and brings about a happy ending C. Aubrey Smith, notdd English stage star, who created the title role m the original play, repeats his charmingly blustering performance on the screen. Ralph Forbes is splendid in the romantic lead, and others in the capable cast are Guinn Wililams, Doris Lloyd, David Torrence, Ray Milland and James Gordon. “The Bachelor Father” is real entertainment.

“TILLY OF BLOOMSBURY” On Thursday and Friday of next week the Majestic Theatre will he the Mecca of ali lovers of true English comedy. Tho mechanical entertainment will give place on those two nights to the living word — and a strong cast of characters will portray lan Hay’s record-hre.'iking comedy. “Tilly of Bloomsbury.” It is a comedy of laughter, love and complications, with here and there little touches of pathos delicately introduced by the master hand of ’a playwright. Nelson audiences will he pleased to welcome many of their old favourites, hut there is a large sprinkling of new blood who are making their initial how over the footlights, and it is understood from the producer that there are one or two surprise packets or “finds" in store. The cast is particularly strong and includes the following: Mrs Stevens, Misses Rouse, Crichton, Jamieson, Gamboni, Everett, Avdon; Messrs Alexander, Griffith, Stewart, Mitchell, Benny, Eckholf, Kingston!, Beveridge and Johnson. The box plan is at “Snapshots,” uiul the public are advised to reserve their, seats, as without doubt tho comedy chosen is one of the finest yet. selected by the Nelson Operatic Society and should attract record patronage.