ENTERTAINMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 7 August 1931, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE: “LAUGHTER” TO=NIGHT

Miss Carroll renewed her meritorious work in the heavy trappings of serioussided pretending, when she portrayed the role of the misunderstood Peggy Gibson in Paramount’s “Laughter” at the Regent Theatre last night before an appreciative audience. In “Laughter” she is seen as an ex-Follies girl who marries a man. of wealth, albeit a man of years considerably more advanced than her own. It is his continual lack of confidence in her; his failure to understand the youthful psychology of her gay spirit for play which forms the plot fabric. In addition to this she is always getting the bad breaks in the play. Although innocent of blame, she is charged with bein’g a burglar; even finally with complicity in murder. But in the end she attains freedom. Fredric March, as a young composer who falls in love with her early in the picture, and stays in that happy state until its conclusion, gives a performance worthy of his talents. As tne doughty old Wall street broker to whom she is married, Frank Morgan does excellently. Miss Carroll is superb. “Laughter’ will be screened again to-night.

“CIMARRON” What is considered the largest and most carefully chosen cast in the history of films is the one that appears in Radio Pictures’ “Cimarron,” opening to-morrow at the 'Regent Theatre. Thirty-three players—names that read like a film and stage blue-book —comprise the cast. In the starring role of Yancey Cravat is Richard Dix. Irene Dunne, Louisville beauty and prima donna of many stage and musical shows, plays the part of Sabra Cravat. Estelle Taylor is DLxie Lee, tbe scarlet woman of the Edna Ferber story; Rosco Ates, eccentric comedian, is Jess Rickley, bibulous printer; Sol Levy, philosopher and father confessor of Osage, is played by Georgie Stone; and Louis Heffner, glum undertaker, is portrayed by Robert McWade. Sidney Felds plays the bad man, Lon Yountis: Edna May Oliver, Airs Tracy Wyatt; Frank Darrien, Mr Bixby; Eugene Jackson, Isaiah; Chief Bacon Rind of the Osage nation, Chief Big Elk; and Donald Dilloway, “Cim” at 21. The Venable family is composed of Frank Beal, Nance O’Neil, Ami Lee, Tyrone Brereton, Lillina Lane, Henry Roquemore, and Neil Crai’g. “Cimarron” has heeu adapted faithfully by Howard Eastabrook from Edna Ferber’s sensational best-selling novel of the same name. The Cicture, in production for months, has een acclaimed the most significant development since the screen found its voice.

BERNARD SHAW PLAY AT MAJESTIC TO=NIGHT Two fine British productions will be presented for the last time at the Majestic Theatre to-night. The first Bernard Shaw play to .be transferred to the talking screen, “How He Lied to Her Husband,” is a brilliant satire scintillating with wit. The supporting picture is also from the British studios—“ Uneasy Virtue,” a laughable expose of the danger of a husband’s indifference. It features the popular English actress Fay Compton, who is supported by such well-known English artists as Margo Grahame, Donald Calthrop and Francis Lister. “Uneasy Virtue” was one of the most popular of the London stage plays produced last season. Seats may be reserved at the Majestic Confectionery or by theatre telephone 186.

“LIGIITNIN’ ” SATURDAY Comedy vies with drama in “Liglitnin’,” Will Rogers’ latest Fox Movietone picture which commences on Saturday at the Majestic Theatre and Rogers gives a performance that outranks anything he has previously done. As the liabitualy idle whimsical old tippler and dreamer, “Liglitnin’ Bill Jones,” Rogers has a role that actually excels his remarkably characterisations in “They Had to See Paris” and “So This is London.” The role gives him his chance to register his views on the so-called “divorce-evil.” It is doubtful if any screen production can boast of so many laughs, but drama is not lacking, the court room scene where “Liglitnin’ ” discovers his wife attempting to divorce him, affording Rogers an opportunity to accept a situation that calls for some splendid emotional acting. The star’s supporting east is headed by Louise Dresser with Helen Cohan, Joel McCrea, J. M. Kerrigan and Sharon Lynn in the other featured roles. Tho direction of Henry King reflects the skill of a master hand.