ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20367, 23 September 1929, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

REGENT THEATRE. Subtle humour has been cleverly woven l into a plot of exceptional interest in j "Fashions in Love," a Paramount ail- j talkie picture, which commenced a season before a crowded house at the Regent Theatre 011 Saturday evening. Adolpbe Menjou, the artistic French actor, whose j work in a number of silent pictures has won him a large following, makes his Erst j appearance on the speaking screen in , '•Fashions In Love," and the medium of j sound reveals him as a remarkably versa 1 tile player. Eis speaking voice is clear J and well modulated, and although it has an unmistakably French accent, it is never difficult to fallow his speech. In the role of Paul de Rcmy, a famous musician. Manjou gives a fine performance. Throughout the Elm he speaks : English and French with equal fluency j and plays a number of charming piano- j forte selections. In his previous screen successes Menjou has proved himself a master of quiet, restrained acting, but in "Fashions In Lovh." he is more than a pleasing actor. He is evidently an accom- i plkhed musician, as his work at the piano j is of a high standard, and quite in keep- j ing with the difficult role he portrays. < His mannerisms, a shrug of the shoulders, J a wave of expressive hands or a mut- ! tered "Mile Tonuero'," are typically ; French, and have never been revealed to , eucu advantage as in his latest 21m. Op- | posite him, in the rcie of his sympathetic j wife. Fay Compton gives an excellent j portrayai. First seen as the rather ob- j scure wife cf the noted musician, de Remy. Miss Compton is the typical timid j wife of a celebrity, always w the back- j ground, but really the only person who ; understands and tale rates her artistic bushand. Even r.he at last tires of humoring her temperamental husband, and in the latter part of the film she appears as an entirely different type of woman. Her acting throughout is in derided contrast to that of Menjou, for whom she > forms an admirable fciL Another fine ; performance is that cf Miss Miriam Seegar. a noted stage personality,, wno makes her screen debut in "Fashions In Love." She is cast as a beaatiful yom.g married woman who is infatuated with the music and personality of de Remy. She imagines herself in iove with him, and succeens in awakening his admiration, only to find > that she really loves her own hnsLani, a role admirably filled by John Miljan. The pan of de Bemy's manager, an unfortunate individual who is driven nearly to distraction by the pianist's moods, shows Robert. Welfare to advantage, while other members of the cast are Joan Standing and Russell Powell, a jolly fellow, who is the butt of most of the humour in the film. Directed by Victor Scnert- i Z'nger. one of the most able of the motion ; picture directors, the film hag been I adapted from the popular stage play, "The 1 Concert," by Hermann Bahr. The actual j story is exceptionally simple, and deals j with the career of Paul de Remy, a world-famous musician, who is always snr- ■ rounded by a number of flattering women. His wife, Marie, understands him, but when he shows interest in Delphine Mar- : tin, a dainty young married woman, Marie plans to cure him of his flirtations. The ; film is bright throughout, and should en- j joy considerable popularity. A large nam- j her of shorter "talkies" is included in j the supporting programme. The principal j attraction is a comedy of domestic reia- j lions, in which the humorous situations j have been enhanced by the introduction of sound and dialogue. The picture deals •with the love of a rich woman of middleage for her handsome young chauffeur, and many laughable situations arise in quick succession. Some bright music is provided by the Harmony Boys, and a : novel add! .ion to the programme is a : clever sound cartoon, "Mother, Pin a j Rose On Me." The Pathe Audio Review, which includes seme interesting sub-*' marine scenes, completes a fine film programme. while selections from Gilbert and | Sullivan are played by Mr. Arthur G. 1 Frost on the Wurlitzer. PLAZA THEATRE. George Bancroft, who met with such outstanding success in the leading role in ! "The Wolf of Wall Street." gives another fine portrayal in "Thunderbolt." the Paramouii! "talkie," which is now showing at the Plaza Theatre. In his latest film Bancroft.has the role of Thunderbolt, •Tim Lang, a notorious criminal, and he gives a convincing performance in one of the-most difficult parts of his career. j He is support-ad by a large cast, includ- j in; Far vVray, Richard Arlen. Tally j Marshall, Eugenie Besserer. James Spotts- I wood, F red Kohler and E. H. Calverff, The storv. which abounds in thrilling scenes, deals with the career of Lang, who takes his sweetheart. Ritzy, to a night club, although be is in danger of 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 exdfcirg incidents told in the film. A full supporting programme is SCTSiiE £Ci STRAND THEATRE. "The Black Watch," an all-talking Fox Movietone picture, in which Mr. Victor McLaglen plays the principal role, beads the current programme at the Strand 'Theatre. Myma Loy plays opposite McLaren. and the principals are supported by a large cast. The story deals with the career cf Captain King, who is summoned to the War Office on the eve of ids departure for France with the regiment. * He is entrusted with a dangerous mission in India, where a large body of natives, led by Yasmani, a beautiful halfcaste, ars planning to revolt against British rule. The manner in which he quells the threatening uprising makes a thrilling theme for tSe production. The supporting programme includes a comedy, the Fox Movietone News and other short | talking pictures MAJESTIC THEATRE, j "Masked Emntions," an exciting film cf love and adventure, heads the current programme at the Majestic Theatre. George O'Brien. Nora Lane and Fan-ell Marrionalti are the leading arests, and they acauit themselves well m parts demanding unusual ability. Directed by David But'•«r and Kenneth Hawks, the film deals with the exploits of two friends. Bram ! Dic.kery and' Thad Gilson, who are enJ ioyinc an ocean cruise in their sloop, j They stumble upon the activities cf a I party of Oriental smugglers, who capture ! Thad, and leave him almost,lifeless on a | small island. Bram finds his friend, and i suspects that Emily, a girl whom they have met, and her father, are in league with the smugglers. After a. series of exdtmc adventures, which occur in 01nc.1t -accession, the smugglers are captured and ' the film is brought to 3 happy conclusion. A full supporting programme is screened, and enjoyable selections are playes by .he Majestic" Orchestra, under Mr. J. Whrte-fcrd-Wangh. "Innocents of Paris, an all-talking and singing film, starring Maurice Chevalier, will commence a season I shortly. ——■ ! MUNICIPAL CHOIR TON CERT. An entertaining evening for snout oOU people was provided by the Mr.nidn-il , Choir, assisted by the city organist. Mr. i Mangfaan Banjett. at isbe Town Hall on I Safcurdnv evening. Although the attendance was up to" tic average the quality of the programme warranted, greater pat ronnue than it received. Induded were choral works by Mendelssohn, Byrd sod McEwan. German's popular "Rolling Down to Rio." and a cjnamt old English air, "The Farmer's Daughter." Un- ! stinted applause was accorded Miss Mary . MacCormirk for her attractive rnging in jse veral ballads, and Miss Jean Allen I pl-.yed several enjoyable selections on the rioiiii- Mr. Harnett's numbers included Gnilmant's "Grand Cboeui." "Axidan!.-" Esprasslvc." (Elgar.), "Gavotte" (Wesley) and "Araganaise" (Massenet). The choirmaster, Mr. E. Hancall, accompanied the choii on the organ, and Mr. Lff. Whixake.r was the accompanist far tha soloista.

" JASPER'S " CONCERT. ' The seventh annual concert in aid of | funds for the Auckland City Mission | will be hc.d in tile Town Hall to-mor- ! row evening. Tlie star item is a scene I from Conan Doyle's famous play -" Sfcer- ; lock Holmes," with Mr. Colder in the i title role, Dr. Barr3dough as Professor | Moriarty, and Miss Edna Herrick as.. Billy, the p»ge boy. The scene chosen is the attempt on Holmes' Efe by the mas- | ter criminal, which turns out badly for the schemer. The prograafihe includes • conjuring by Mr. K. W. laddie, juggling by Mr. Norman Tate, a venlvriloquta] act, by the Kindleys, and other attractive items. A special appeal for supoorfc of this concert to carry on the work of the mission is being made by the mis- ! signer, Mr. Colder. AMALGAMATED THEATRES. Excellent and varied talking programmes are being presented at the Boxy Theatre, Queen Street, the Crystal Palace Theatre, Mount Eden, and the Empress Theatre, Newton. The main attraction at the Boxy Theatre is "The Dangerous Woman," a dramatic story of Me in Central East Africa. The cast includes Baclanova, Neil Hamilton, Leslie Femon and Clyde Cook "The Canary Mcrder Case," an absorbing mystery drama, feaI luring William Powell and Louise Brooks, ! heads the programme at the Crystal I Palace Theatre. Two unusually interest- : ing films,. "Strange Cargo'" and "The I Office Scandal," are being presented at | the Empress Theatre. The subordinate films at the three theatres are cf a high standard. ARCADIA THEATRE. ; The well-known German actor Emit ' Jannings has the leading *role in "Sins I of the Fathers," which is being screened at. the Arcadia Theatre. The . shelter films are of an interesting nature. ORGAN RECITAL. An enjoyable organ recital was given hv Mr. Maughan Bamett, city organist, in the Town Hall last evening. The varied • programme inclnded selections from the works of Each. Mozart, Beethoven, Wagner. Gaiimanr. Maillv, Feace and Adam. I ' £ RATIONALIST ENTERTAINMENT. Another successful entertainment- under the auspices 0: the New Zealand Association for the Ad~jar«aent of Ratiorraliraa was held in the Majestic Theatre last evening. An address on "The Major Adventures c£ a Minor Novelist" was given by Mr. E. Norman Tarry, traveller and novelist. The Sim programme induced the screen version c-f "Peter Pan" and •'Tokens of Manhood." There was a very large attendance, and the entertainment was well received. " NICOLA " SEASON. Entertainment cf a novel nature will be offered at St. James' Theatre next Fridav evenine, when tho world-famous magician "Nicola" will commence a short season. The popular entertainer will be assisted by a la~;re cast of versatile artists, and an enthusiastic reception is anticipated.. The arrangements ior book- , lag and other particulars are announced. I ST. ANDREW'S SOCIETY, i The St. Andrew's Sodety will present* , the famous Scottish comedy "A Scrape |o' the Pen" in the Town Haß concert I chamber for a season of three debts, cged- ! mer;cing next Thursday. The play Is > under the direction of the well-known | Auckland producer, Mr. Kenneth Brzvrspi ton, and will be interpreted by ,5 strong i cast of new players. Booking arrangej ments and other details are advertised. NATIONAL THEATRE. The popular stars Ramon Ncvarso and Renee Adoree are the prindpa! players in "Forbidden Hours," the main feature on. the attractive programme at the Nations' Theatre. The supporting attraction is an entertaining comedy-drama, "Beaatimi 1 But Dumb," featuring Patsy Ruth Mli- ; ler. An interesting gazette and an excellent com ei v complejto the programme.