ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20392, 22 October 1929, Page 16

ENTERTAINMENTS.

DUSOLINA GIANNINI

'M tho Town Hull this evening tlio world-famous young dramatic soprano Dusjjjilina Qiannini will make lier fust appearance before a New Zealand audionco. Thil sensationally successful singer has 'jus^'completed a memorable tour of tho Australian cities, during which slio repeated hor European and American triumphs. ■ Throughout tho Commonwealth slio has been received with an enthusiasm reminiscent of the first return of Melba to her native shores. At tonight's concert tho famous prima donna williing old-world airs by Handel, Mozart andif Donaudy, tho "Vissi d'arto" aria from "La Tosca," a group of Italian folk KongS, and sevoral songs in English by contemporary composers. Tho assisting artists will bo Mr. Sol Doutsch, violinist, nnd i.Miss Molly Bernstein, pianist. Box plaiT arrangements are advertised. i REGENT THEATRE. Acjapted from a play by tho celebrated playwright, W. Somerset Maugham, tho Paramount all-talking film "The Letter" is attracting largo audiences to the Regent Theatre. Tho leading player is Miss Jeanne Eagels, tho well-known Broadway nctress, who makc3 her screen debut in this production. Both her striking personality and her acting ability have been fully, exploited. Other prominent membors of tho cast are 0. P. Ileggio, tho Australian actor, Reginald Owen, Herbert ■Marshall, Irene Brown, Tsen Mei and Tamaki Yoshiwara. Tho story is set in Java, and deals with a conventional English married couplo, tho Crosbies, who live on a plantation. Ono evening the husband, Robert, goes to tho city on business; and tho wife, Leslie, sends a letter • to a bachelor, Hammond, who lives in tho neighbourhood. Hammond goes to tlio Crosbie house, and is shot. Lesjie, charged with the murder, makes a concise defence, but tho arrival of tho letter complicates the case. There is also a full supporting programme of shorter talking pictures. MAJESTIC THEATRE. The well-known actress, Miss Mary Duncan, has the loading rolo in ' Through Different Eyes," the all-talking Fox Movietone production which heads the current . programme at the Majestic Theatre. She is cast in a triplo role, as ' a demure young wife, as a somewhat blasos wiiman of tho world, and finally as si modern young woman of unconventional tast'es. Other prominent players are Warner Baxter and Edmund Lowe. A variety of excellent short talking features compriso> the supporting programme. "The Last .-Warning," a Universal mystery talking film, will be presented on Friday. The picture is claimed to be one of tho most exciting mystery dramas ever screened. The Vivacious Laura La Plante, who was successfully cast in "The Cat and the Canary," is the principal, while assisting ;her are Roy D'Arcy, Margaret Livingstone, John Boles, Bert Roach, MacK Swain, and Burr Mcintosh. y , TIVOLI THEATRE. Thp popular screen artists Irene Rich and Audrey Ferris play the leading roles in "Women They Talk About," tho talking Warner Brothers' production which will commence a season at tho Tivoli Theatre next Thursday. The picture is j;tate{i to be a commentary on the effect of entering politics. Miss Rich is cast as a wealthy young widow, whose daughter is in love with the son of her opponent for tho mayoralty -of a small town; The Mayor, when younger and in straitened circumstances, had been a suitor for the hand of tho widow. Tho .story, becomes complicated when a confederate of the Mayor kidnaps the daughter to ruin tho chances of tho lady candidate,: The pursuit of the pair, the rescue «f the girl and a fight, in which the •Mayor is wounded, make an exciting ; story. There is a notable supporting cast. Tho subordinate films will be of an entertaining nature. PLAZA THEATRE. A picture in which some very fine singing and dancing effects havo been interspersed in a story of unusual interest is "Tho Rainbow Man," which is tho main feature of the current programmo at the Plaza Theatre. Eddie Dowling, the American stage comedian and actor, makes his screen debut in "Tho Rainbow Man," and;,his work is of a particularly pleasing style. Opposite him in tho feminino lead is Miss Marion Nixon, and the principals arc supported by a large and capable cast, including the Rounders Quintet, a pleasing combination who liberally supply the film with delightful music. The story deals with the life of tho Rainbow Man, a member of a small vaudeville troupe, who adopts the young son of an injured acrobat. The adventures of the man and tho boy form a plot of outstanding merit. A supporting programme of shorter "talkies" will bo shown. RIALTO AND EPSOM RECENT. Excellont entertainment will be offered the Rialto and Epsom Regent Theatres to-day. Tho principal feature on the attractive programmo will bo "The Lost Patrol." Tho themo deals with tho adventures of a party of British soldiers in Palestine. Tho officer in charge is killed by Arabs, and the patrol finds itself lost in the dosert. To add to their misfortunes their horses are stolen by marauding tribes, and tho party is faced with starvation. The picturo vividly depicts tho suffering of tho men from tho torments of heat, fever and insects. Repeated at- . tacks aro made by the Arabs, and the members of tho patrol aro steadily diminished. Two of tho men leavo in the hopo of reaching a British outpost, and their companions watch them disappear over the hills of -sand. Help does not arrive find tho conclusion of tlio film shows the death of tho last survivor of tho patrol. ROXY THEATRE. Tho excellent sound-synchronised and Singing film " Manhattan Cocktail " will conclude a successful season at tho Roxy Theatro to-day. Nancy Carroll and Richard Arlcn head the distinguished cast in this production. They aro first cast a.s sweethearts at college, but when the ' boy is offered a responsible position (ho girl, -who is longing to win success on Broadway, refuses his offer of marriage. How tho story is brought to a happy conclusion provides enjoyable entertainment. A powerful talking picture, " Tho Lone Wolf," will be presented to-morrow. . CRYSTAL PALACE THEATRE. Tlio successful all-talking, singing and dancing production " Closo Harmony " will bo screened for the last time at tho Crystal Palaco Theatre to-day. The film, which includes an entire musical comedy, •is one of tho most enjoyable talking productions ovor released from tho Paramount studios. Charles Rogers, tho popular star of " Wings " and Nancv Carroll, who was successfully cast in " tho Shopworn Angel" are tho principals, while I! 1 ® "otabio cast includes Jack Oakio, okeets Gallagher and Harry Green. An absorbing ' talkie" drama, " Tho Lone Wolf, will be screened to-morrow. ' . MOULIN ROUGE THEATRE. The favourite actress of the silent screen Miss Vilma Bnnky has hor first talking role in "This is Heaven," the synchronised production which heads the * attractive programme at the Moulin Rouge Theatre. Tho story deals with the adventures of a petite waitress and a J . '.«»»«iona|ro masquerading as a taxi(in Now York. Tho subordinate v £ l - e ,'- f' lins comprise an operatic item and Do Luca, and an excellont "The Bookworm,".

STRAND THEATRE. A 1 Jolson, who won outstanding success in "Tho Singing Fool," has another congenial rolo in "Tlio Jazz Singer," tho sound-synchronised Master Pictures film which is being screened for an extended season at tho Strand Theatro. Jolson s rendering of sentimental songs has won him many admirers, and his singing in "The Jazz Singer" adds considerably to tho merit of tho production. Tho story deals with the career of a young Jowish boy, whoso father is training him to sing at a Now York synagoguo. Tho boy, however, has a preference for tho theatro life, and is disowned by his irate parent. His subsequent adventures and.changes of fortuno mako an absorbing story. _ Tho supporting "talkie" features include items by Reinwald Weronath, tho famous* baritone, and JToo Browning, the popular comedian. EMPRESS THEATRE. *' Tho Hole in tho Wall," a Paramount talking picture of unusual dramatic intensity, heads the now programme at tho Empress Theatro. Claucietto Colbert, who is cast as a beautiful young girl, ensnared in a web of plotting and mtriguo, and Edward G. Robinson, who appears as tho leader of a gang of blackmailers, are tho principals. There is also a strong supporting cast, while tho shorter films are of a high standard. NATIONAL THEATRE. Plots and counter-plots abound in " The Flying Squad," tho British production which is being presented at the National Theatre. Adapted from the well-known novel and play by Edgar Wallace, the film deals with the operations of a ruthless smuggling organisation. Tho supporting programmo includes an interesting gazette and an excellent comedy. A xylophone solo is rendered _by Mr. T. Geo, whilo enjoyable music is played by tho orchestra. ARCAP THEATRE. A film of unusual dramatic merit, the powerful talking production, " Tho Doctor's Secret," is the principal attraction on tho current programme at the Arcadia Theatre. Excellent entertainment is provided in the various shorter " talkie "