ENTERTAINMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 23 July 1935, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAJESTIC: BRILLIANT COMEDY ••After Office Hours,” Metro-Goldwyn-Mayers’ gay comedy successor to “F or : •sakiug AIT Others,” and co-starring Clark Gable' and Constance Bqnnett, \Fill ljavo its final screening to night. A fast moving -adventurous roinuiice, it deals dvit.lt society mu' der mystery against a 09.de* ground of modern newspaper life. The pace, amusing incident, and witty dialogue. reflect great credit to its producers. The (lawless performance of its two principal players place the picture well above the ordinary.

Another gay, effervescent and lighthearted comedy somewhat similar to it '-Happened One Night,” will be shown on Wednesday and Thursday. It stars Claudette Colbert, remembered for her many recent successes. In this delightful comedy romance, where she is assisted by Fred McMiirry and Ray Milland, Miss Colbert plays the romantic role of a lass who expects much from love, and eventually finds it on a seat in a city park, where she and a shipping reporter sit and munch popcorn.

The outstanding musical operetta,

“One Night of Love,” will have its gala opening performance on Friday at the Majestic. This supreme musical film has recently completed a nine weeks season in Auckland and is now in its thirtieth week at the Sydney Liberty. This is not surprising, as the singing of Grace Moore is undoubtedly the besit yet heard on the screen. Added clarity and precision are given to her glorious voice by the new wide-range system. In addition to her brilliant rendering of excerpts from ‘‘Carmen” and “Madame Butterfly,” Miss Moore reveals a bright and engaging personality and acting ability in a role which gives her ample scope - for light-hearted comedy, pathos and romance. The slight but whimsical story tells of the adventures of a young singer who is struggling to take her place in an opera company. Her joys and disappointments and final triumph after several years of hard work keep the audience" deeply interested. The success of the film is also due in a large measure to the sound portrayals of the supporting cast, which includes Tullio Carminati, Mona Barrie and Lyle Talbot. Enormous interest is being manifested in its Nelson season and it is suggested that intending patrons take advantage of the advance booking plans, which are filling rapily, to obviate any possible" disappointment. “FIREBIRD”: SENSATIONAL DRAMA, REGENT, TO-NIGHT The attraction at the Regent Theatre to-night and to-morrow is “The Firebird,” the . sensational Broadway stage success of a season ago. The picture, based on the play by Lajos Zilahy carries one of the most novel and unusual romances, as well as being one of the most powerful emotional dramas of the day. The theme evolves abdut the strange, and fatal fascination exerted by a popular, although unscrupulous actor over a beautiful young gii-1. Born of a proud and aristocratic family, surrounded by wealth and luxury, the girl is educated and trained with such care and watchfulness that her constantly suppressed emoiions finally burst forth in a secret and tawdry, although passionate romance, .which ends in the mysterious murder of the actor lo'Ver. The theme seeks to parallel the emotions of the girl with that of the firebird, which is drawn irrevocably to the fire to bask in the glow of the flames. Ricardo Cortez has the role of an egotistical and insufferable actor who first attempts to lure the mother into a clandestine affair, and upon failing, turns his attention to the daughter. Veree Teasdnle has the part of the mother who' tries to sacrifice her own reputation and her very life to shield her daughter. Anita Louise, the daughter, is the firebird, while Lionel A twill is the father. C. Aubrey Smith has tlie role of a police inspector, while Dorothy Tree, the actor’s, estranged wife, and Helen Trenholme, a beautiful governess in the diplomatic household, are the two feminine suspects, other than the mother and daughter. The supporting programme is a well chosen one and includes a very entertaining revue, a comedy, musical number and a Paramount News. Music lovers will welcome the news that “Blossom Time,” Richard Tauber’s great musical triumph, is to be revived at the Regent on Thursday and Friday this week. A special matinee is being held on Friday afternoon to enable country visitors to enjoy this wonderful masterpiece of melody. THEATRE ROYAL “I AM SUZANNE” j FINAL TO=NIGHT “I Am Suzanne 1” is the story of a young stage star who falls in love with a youth who is the representative of a declining family of puppeteers. The young star leaves the stage to join the puppet show. The show is a success, but she discovers, that the love and praise of her sweetheart is lavished upon her puppet rather than upon herself. Infuriated by his thoughtlessness of her, she destroys the puppet and returns to the stage. The producer of the show,, however, has also engaged the puppet show. The star’s manager pleads with the voting man to profess his love for the girl who he fears will ruin his production. The young man does so and inspires her to give a perfect performance, insuring the pair of success and happiness. The film is said to offer something new, in that its background is found in the unique setting of a puppet show. In direct contrast to the tiny puppet show, there are three spectacular revue numbers that form the major : part of the film. The three song numbers, “St. Moritz Waltz,” “Just A Little Garret” and “Eski-a-lay-li-o-mo.” all taken from the revues, have already proved popular. Gene Raymond has the leading masculine role opposite Miss Harvey. The carefully selected cast boasts of such names as Leslie Banks, Georgia Caine, Geneva Mitchell, Halliwell Hobbes, Murray Kinnell and Edward Keane.