ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19931, 27 April 1928, Page 16

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OF THE FIELD." Tn the presence of the Governor-General, JBir Charles Fergusson, and Lady Alice I'ergusson, the Auckland Comedy Players *will produce "Lilies of the Field," the delightful three-act comedy by J. Hastings "Turner, in the Town Hall concert chamber ihis evening. The play will also be presented to-morrow. The talented company, in which will be found many amateurs ■who have achieved considerable success In other productions in Auckland, consists ■of friends and old boys of King's College, and the proceeds will be devoted to the erection of swimming baths at the college. Both the nature of the production And the personnel of the Comedy Players ensure an. excellent entertainme-nt. REGENT THEATRE. "Second to None," a Paramount British irelease starring Moore Marriott, is the feature to be screened at tho Regent 'Theatre this evening. It is the story of a newspaper boy whose ambition is to join the navy and rise to commissioned rank, that he may win the hand of his former playmate. His love is not reciprocated and the object of his adoration marries the commander of his vessel. The hero deserts, but at the outbreak of war he returns to his vessel, and the climax is a naval engagement in which he is killed while attaching a new ensign to the masthead, in place of one shot away. The story is from the pen of the naval writer, Bartimeus, and all warship scenes above' and below decks, are reai. They were taken on board H.M.S. Tiger, H.M.S. Champion, H.M.S. Tara and H.M.S. Tarpan. One scene was actually taken in the boiler-room of one of the ships, into which the producer, players, cameramen and electricians had to lower themselves through double manholes. Portions of the picture were taken at Portland, Weymouth and Portsmouth. Those in the Royal Naval Barracks at Portsmouth represent the first films ever taken there. Some early scenes in the film were also taken at the Royal Naval Training Establishment at Shotley. Many of these scenes involved considerable difficulty, but the producer insisted upon tie maintenance of actuality in the naval scenes, whatever the technical or other difficulties involved. The players have been well cast and some good comedy has been worked in as a relief. Although not familiar to New Zealand audiences, the players are well-known British screen and stage stars. The cast, besides Moore Marriott in the role of the sailor hero, includes lan Fleming, Benita Hume, Micky Brantford, Aggie Brantford and Johnny Butt. Prior to the screening of "Second to None" a naval spectacle, in which Hilton Parter, of the "Rose Marie" company, and a cast of 30 will take part, will be presented on the stage. A full supporting programme will be screened, while at the day sessions an added attraction will be "The City Gone Wild," in which Tom "Msighan has the leading role. New numbers will be played by Mr. Leslie Harvey at the organ and the Regent Orchestra finder Mr. Maurice Guttridge.

STRAND THEATRE. "Resurrection," the United Artists S reduction, based on the celebrated novel y Count Leo Tolstoy, will be the new attraction on the programme to be presented for the first time at the Strand Theatre to-day. One of the most widelyread classics of modern times, enjoyed wherever people read books, translated from the Russian into eleven languages in the past thirty years, "Resurrection ' is of unusual interest to film-goers because it is based on a drama strong and absorbing enough to have made Tolstoy beloved by the masses of the world. In the screen version Rod La Rocque and Dolores del Rio have the leading roles. The story concerns the love of Prince Dmitri for Katusha Maslova, a young peasant ward of his two maiden aunts ■with,whom he is spending the summer. When, the prince returns to his home it is understood he will return later for the girl, but he becomes involved in the dissolute army and social life of the prewar Bays in St. Petersburg. The prince's regiment is stationed many months later in the village where bis aunts live, but he is- by this time a profligate and his «arlier innocent love has turned to a passionate infatuation for Katusha. When his aunts suspect his conduct the girl is expelled from their household, and makes her way to inform him of her position. Finding him in a drunken condition in the company of two gipsy women, she turns away disillusioned. Later she is charged with the robbery and murder of a rich merchant "who was attracted by her beauty and on the jury at her trial sits Prince. Dmitri. In spite of his efforts on her behalf she i 3 sentenced to exile in Siberia. Suffering keen remorse, he tries to make restitution by voluntarily following her and the picture closes with prince and peasant alike marching across the frozen steppes. The supporting cast jpcludes Marc McDermott, Lucy Beaumont, Vera Lewis, Eve Southern and Clarissa Selwvnne.

if "THE KING OF KINGS." i" The King of Kings," Cecil B. de Mille's much-discussed production, based on the life of Christ, has now entered the seventh week of its season at Everybody's Theatre. Not only on account of the august and sacred natura of its theme, but also because of the very high degree of technical perfection attained in its presentation, the picture is one that cannot fail to make a profound and lasting impression on everyone who sees it. Dealing with the supreme drama of all time, tne life and death of Christ, it could not be otherwise than intensely dramatic. Some parts grip the attention because they are familiar and satisfying, and others because of the very novelty of their viewpoint. The aid of some of the world's masterpieces in religious painting and in sacred music has been skilfully enlisted to heighten the effect. Once and again there suddenly flashes on the screen a familiar painting of one of the old masters, "with this difference, that the figures in it live and move. The closing scenes in the sublime tragedy are depicted with terrible realism, and many will prrfer to remember the graciousness of such incidents as the blessing of the little children, the healing of a little blind girl, the raising of Lazarus from the dead, and the protection of the sinful woman from her cruel and shameless accusers. A special orchestra under Mr. Howard Moody makes most approDriate use of such beautiful music as " The Pilgrims' Chorus," " The Halleluiah Chorus " and " Lead, Kindly Light."

MAJESTIC THEATRE. In "Very Confidential," (ho Fox Films comedy-romance which is the principal attraction on the new programme commencing at the Majestic Theatre to-day, Madge Bellamy, who appeared with great success in "Sandy" and "Ankles Preferred," is said to have an even more congenial role. Dealing with the adventures of an enterprising sales-girl at an exclusive society summer resort, "Very Confidential" contains ample opportunities for dever humour and fast action. On her arrival at the vacation resort the girl poses as Adelaide Melbourne, a noted sportswoman, in order to impress a well-known football player to whom she is attracted and who is spending a holiday in the locality. Although she succeeds in greatly impressing him she soon finds herself in a series of insecure situations, which tax her audacity and ingenuity to the utmost. In her assumed role the girl is forced to pilot a fast speedboat and finally the climax is reached when she is called upon to drive a racing car in a road race over a dangerous mountainous circuit. The girl's many adventures arc said to provide abundant comedy, while a pleasing romance runs through the picture. Included in the supporting cast are Pat Cunning, Marjorie Beebe, Mary Duncan, Joseph Cawthorne and Isabella Keith. This week tin*. Majestic Orchestra, under Mr. J. Whitoford-Waugh, will give an orchestral interlude, Haydn's "Farewell Symphony," in addition to t'ic usual introductory inarch. The supporting picture programme includes the Majestic Magazine, «s-|So>nedy and a New Zealand scenic film showing the beauties of the Waipoua State Forest.

NATIONAL AND LYRIC. Two very fine pictures, " Sharp Shooters," a Fox Films production, in which George O'Brien and Lois Moran are featured, and "The Lovelorn," constitute tho attractive double-feature programme presented for the first time at t,he National and Lyric Theatres yesterday. "Sharp Shooters" is an unusual comedy-drama laid against the picturesque background of a small port in Morocco. O'Brien is seen as a sailor in the American Navy who goes ashore in search of adventure and falls in love with a French dancer, who, never thinking that the affair was a momentary infatuation due to the glamour.of a foreign land and the carefree spirit of shore-leave, follows the sailor to. New York, Failing to find him there, she becomes a professional dancer in a dance-hall in the East Side. When she finally meets hiin the sailor ts completely nonplussed at the idea of the girl following him so far, but after a series of thrilling incidents and comical adventures the girl regains his love. Included in the supporting cast are Gwen Lee, William Demaiest, Nancy Carroll and Joseph Swickard. "The Lovelorn" describes the aspirations arid tragedies of the younger generation to-day, telling the story of two sisters. One is a frivolous girl whose main ambition is the pursuit of pleasure, the other a more demure character who has a very different attitude toward life. The two girls are played by Sally O'Neil, who was recently seen in "Becky," "Frisco Sally Levy" and "Tlie Caliahans and the Murphys," and Molly O'Day. who appeared with great success in "The Patent Leather Kid." The story, which is based on real life, was written by Beatrice Fairfax, who has for 15 years conducted a correspondence column in a great New York daily newspaper. Included in the supporting cast are Larry Kent, James Murray, Charles Delaney, Allan Forrest and George Cooper. A full programme of short supporting subjects is also screened.

PRINCESS AND TIVOLI. "Les Miserables," a picturisation of the immortal novel by Victor Hugo, is the principal attraction on the excellent double-feature programme now showing at the Princess and Tivoli Theatres. This great picture, which was made by tho Universal Company in conjunction with the Film-de-France Corporation, is the second story by Hugo to be brought to the screen, the first, "The Phantom of the Opera," having proved a remarkable success. The plot of "Les Miserables is even better suited to screen presentation than its predecessor, and all the vivid scenes and characters which Hugo portrayed have been preserved with the greatest care. In his powerful story Hugo undertook a great task —that of appealing to the heart of humanity and touching the springs of human pity. His intense sympathy with all human suffering—that of the weak as well as tho strong—is shown with power and utter sincerity. "Les Miserables" is not alone the recital of fine adventures, but throughout his story Victor Hugo has written the great epic of human suffering. He has probed every kind, has sounded the depths of the "abyss into which so many souls have fallen, crushed by overwhelming forces. All the depth of feeling that is contained in the book is captured by the screen version and all the powerful characters, Jean Valjean, Fantine, Cosette, Champmafhieu and Thenardier, appear as the author conceived them. In the chief role of Valjean appears Gabriel Gabrio, a noted figure on the French stage. In support of "Les Miserables" will be screened "Sunny Side Up." a dramatic story of stage life, in which Vera Reynolds. Edward Burns, Georce K. Arthur and Zasu Pitts are the leading players.

AMY EVANS AND FRASER GANGE. Mr. •E. J. Gravestock has arranged for the two famous British singers, Miss Amy Evans and Mr. Eraser Gange, to make a return visit to New Zealand. They will give two concerts in the Auckland Town Hall on Saturday and Tuesday, May 12 and 15. Few singers have endeared themselves so much to New Zealand audiences as these brilliant artists have. Since their previous visit, they have gone from triumph to triumph in England and America. On their return to London after their Dominion tour, they had a wonderful reception, and the London Westminster Gazette said: "Miss Amv Evans and Mr. Eraser Gange are certainly two of the best equipped and most popular vocalists at the present time, j.nd their success has been prodigious. It is not in the least difficult to understand how mightily they pleased their Australian and New Zealand hearers. Both are remarkably fine artists, who make the most of exceptional natural endowments. Both have splendid voices, which are a joy to hear. Their reception by a large audience last night- could not have been more cordial." 'lheir success in America has been phenomenal, and Mr. Gauge on his arrival in America created a furore, and he was hailed as "a welcome addition to our short list of really great concert singers." Since then he has won his way to the position of chief oratorio singer in the United States, and the most popular baritone in the country. Miss Amy Evans has sung with conspicuous success at the Chicago Opera, and has further added to her achievements by her beautiful singing in concert and recitals. An added attraction to the concerts will be the appearance of Miss Enid Conley, who is making her first appearance in New Zealand. Miss Conley comes with a reputation as a solo pianist. Box plan arrangements are announced.