ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20362, 17 September 1929, Page 13

ENTERTAINMENTS.

ST. JAMES* THEATRE. < 1 entertainment is -provided in ( 1 " f Rio Rit» tho colourful musical comedy i b- i" -Tomnfico of the Rio Grande being pro- | : \ V Kontod at St. James' Theatre. Tho idol •of tho Australian stage, Miss Gladys Moncrieff. is tho principal. Tho bright ■comedy in which the play abounds is •supplied by Dnvo .Mallen and Charles (Norman. Miss Janotto Gilmoro is seen to ■advantage in novel and eccentric dances, •while «n excellent chrfracterisation is .„ivjn by Mr. Lan Jrcdale. A matineo will ho hfld to-morrow. The arrangements for booking aro announced. REGENT THEATRE. The gay life °f modern American youth lias been brought to the screen-with remarkable realism 111 "The Wild Party," tho "all talkie." which heads tho current programme at the Regent Theatre. .Adapted from t lie story l>y Warner . Fabian tho film is interpreted by a largo ' cast of famous players. Clara Row, probably the most celebrated of the younger film actresses, has the lending role, for which sho is ideally suited. Tho supporting cast includes Fredrie March. Shirley O'Hara. Marceline Day. Jo.vco Compton, 'Adrienno Pore, Virginia Thomas, Jean Lorraine, Kav Bryant, Alice Adair, Reneo ,\Vhitnev, Amo Ingram, Marguerite Cramer' Jack Oakie, Phillips R. Holmes, •Ben Hendricks, junr., Jack Luden and Jack Raymond. In common with Miss Bow's previous successes "Tho Wild Party" i» a fast-moving film of modern life ' with an underlying theme of rom'anco and adventure. The story deals with tho career of Stella Ames, leader of a clique of eight girls at an exclusive girls' college. A new master, Gilmore, arrives at the school, and the girls aro attracted by bis athletic appearanco. They all decide to attend the lectures given by Gilmore, but are rather dismayed when they discover that, he intends to make them study. Stella falls in love . with the young master, who had rescued her from a drunken braggart at. a night club. Tho other girls are envious of the Attention which Stella receives from Gilmore, and 0110 of them, more jealous than tho rest, plans to involve tho pair in a scandal. Tho results of her plan aro told in a number of thrilling scenes, and tho film is brought to a happy conclusion. The supporting programme includes i'eins hv Eddie Cantor, comedian, and other short "talkies." MAJESTIC THEATRE. ' Douglas Fairbanks has tho most successful rolo of his career in "Tho Iron Mask," tho United Artists sound-syn-chronised picture which is now showing lor a season at the Majestic Theatre. Directed by Allan Dwan, the film is interpreted by a large cast of well-known players, including Marguerito de la Motte, Dorothy Revier, Vera Lewis, Rolfo Sedan and many others. Tho picture, which is based on "the widely read stories by Alexandre Dumas, is one of the most interesting 1 productions vet shown in Auckland, f and abounds in thrilling scenes. The adventures of D'Artagnan and his three musketeers have been brought to tho screen in a realistic manner, and make tho basis of an unusual plot. The sup- ' porting programme includes a selection oi talking and silent pictures, and incidental music is provided by the Majestic Octette, under Mr. J. Whttcford Waugli. PLAZA THEATRE. George Bancroft, who met with such ' outstanding success in the leading role in "The Wolf of Wall Street," is said to civo another outstanding portrayal in "Thunderbolt," the Paramount "talkie," which will commence a season at the l'luza Theatre on Friday. In his latest film Bancroft has the role of " J hunderbolt" Jim Lang, a notorious criminal, and lie is said to give a convincing performance in one 'of the most difficult parts of Lis career. Ho is supported by a large cast, including Fay Wray, Richard Arlen, Tully Marshall, Eugenie Besserer. James Spottswood, Fred Koliler and E. H. Calvert. The story, which is said to abound in thrilling scenes, deals with the career of Lang, who takes his sweetheart Ritzy to a night club, although he is in danger ef arrest. Lang is arrested and learns that Ritzy is in love with a young bank clerk. He plans a cruel revenge, which results, in a series of exciting incidents told in the film. A full supporting programme will be screened. STRAND THEATRE. Victor MeLaglen, whose woik in silent films has won him a considerable reputation, has his first speaking part in "Tho Black Watch," the all-talking Fox Movietone production, which is now showing at tho Strand Theatre. MeLaglen gives a fine performance as Captain Donald King, and Mvrna Loy makes the most of the part of Yasmani, a native beauty. On the eve of his /departure for France Captain King is summoned to the War Office, where he is told that a dangerous native uprising is threatening in India, arid because of his knowledge of the country ho is instructed to le.ivo immediately. On his arrival in India King learns that the revolt i 3 being organised by a dangerous native beauty, whom the fanatical tribesmen worship as a goddess. It is necessary for him to win the girl's confidence before he can accomplish his task, find the unexpected results of his plan aro strikingly pictured. Tho supporting pro gramme includes a comedy and other short "talkies." TIVOLI THEATRE: Tho well-known actress Corinne Griffith has the leading role in "Prisoners," tho screen version of Ferenc Molnar's powerful play, which will commence at tho Tivoli Theatre next Thursday. The story concerns Ri/.a Riga, a Hungarian peasant girl, who falls in love with a successful and .highly-conventional young lawyer, Cathy. To make herself more attractive J?iza commits theft, and in the subsequent Court proceedings obtains Cathy as her counsel. Cathy is genuinely sorry for her /and realises that life's real prisoners are the slaves of conventional thought and feeling. Through his lovo for Riza the lawyer obtains a wider outlook upon life, and the picture is brought to a happy conclusion. The supporting cast includes Tan Keith; Otto Matiesen, Rela Lugosi, Julanno Johnston and Jean Lavcrty. RIALTO AND EPSOM REGENT. Novel as to story, treatment and actfrig, "The Three Passions," .a United Artists' production, which will be presented at the Rialto and Epsom Regent Theatres to-day and to-morrow, typitiao ♦ho spirit expressed in the search after riches which consumes tho world to day. Adapted from the successful new novel by Cosmo Hamilton, the film was directed by Rex Ingram, whose efforts were largely responsible for the success of "Tho Four Horsemen," "Scaramouche" arid many other enjoyable productions. In decided contrast to his previous successes "The Uhroo Passions" is a story of modern life, and depicts the greed for gold which is equally prevalent in all grades of society. The leading roles are played by Alice Terry, Ivan Pctrovitch, Shaylo Gardner and Claire Eames, who appear in a dramatic story of tho three supreme passions, God, lovo and money. A full supporting programme of enjoyable films .Will be presented. DENNIS BARRY SEASON. Tho romantic English actor-singer, Dennis Barry, will commence n season of three nights in the Town Hall concert chamber _ next ' Thursday evening. Mr. Barry will bo assisted by Margot St. ■Lawioiico Toner, solo pianist. A matineo Wl " bo held on Saturday. Booking arfangomonts are advertised.

ROXY AND CRYSTAL PALACE. Excellent "talkio" entertainment, comprising "Strango Cargo" and "The Office Scandal," is offered at tho Roxy Theatre, Queon Street, and tho Crystal Palaco Theatre, Mount Eden. An absorbing mystery is unfolded in the first attraction, "Strange Cargo," which is a dramatic P.D.C. production. The action takes place at sea, and the story deals with ft mysterious murder on board a pleasure yacht. Tho principal roles are in the eapablo hands of such playei's as Leo Patrick, June Nash, George Barraud, Frank Roichor, Claude King, and Warner Richmond. The supporting feature, ''Tho Office Scandal," a part-"talkio" film with synchronised music, is a powerful story of newspaper life. The leading roTes are played by Fhyllis Haver, Raymond Halton and Leslie Lenton. The shorter films are of an interesting nature. EMPRESS THEATRE. Two splendid talking pictures, "Geral- j dine" and "Tito Leatherneck," lieatl tbe current programme at tho Empress j Theatre, Newton. Tho first attraction, j "Geraldinc," has been adapted from the j well-known novel by Booth 'l'arkington. j Prominent members of the cast aro Marion i Nixon and Eddie Quillan. The film in- j eludes a number of enjoyable singing and dancing items. The mysterious disappearance of a party of British soldiers stationed in China forms the theme of the supporting feature, "Tho Leatherneck." William Boyd, tho successful star in "Tho Volga Boatman," has the leading role, while the other members of the cast have been chosen with equal caro to ensure tho highest class of talking picture. Excellent entertainment is also provided in tho subordinate films. NATIONAL THEATRE. Tho well-known screen artists. Billic Dove and Rod La Rocque, have tho leading roles in " Tho Man and the Moment," tho principal feature on tho attractive programme at tho National Theatre. The picture has been adapted from Elinor Glvn's powerful love story of the same name. The supporting programme is of tho usual high standard. ST. ANDREW'S SOCIETY. "A Scrapo o' tho Pen," Graham Moffat's famous Scottish comedy, will bo presented by the St. Andrew's Society in tho Town Hall concert chamber on Wednesday, September 25. A strong cast has been assembled, and the play should bo well received. Tho booking arrangements for a season of four nights arc advertised. ARCADIA THEATRE. Tho successful talking picture, "In Old Arizona" is tho principal attraction at tho Arcadia Theatre. A splendid supporting programmo is also screened. GRAND CONCERT. A grand concert will bo given by the St. Michael's Society in tho Municipal Hall, Newmarket, this evening.