ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20595, 20 June 1930, Page 15

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"SARAH AND SON." Those who see the picture "Sarah and Son," at the Majestic Theatre, will make it their business to see-the next picture, which has the name of Miss Dorothy Arzner as its producer. America's only woman producer has, in this production, demonstrated the ability of a woman to make a talking picture equally as good if not better than those made by her male rivals She has been helped enormously by" her author, Timothy Shea, and her leading lady, Ruth Chatterton, one of the cleverest actresses playing in "talkies." The entire production has been skilfully put together. In brief, the story is that of a German emigrant girl who marries a variety artist in New York only to discover that he belongs to the genus that has a pronounced dislike for work. He neglects both his wife and child and eventually abandons her, taking the baby with him. Years go by and frantic efforts are made by the mother to find the child. The mother becomes a great opera singer, and she hears that the boy has been adopted and is living in New York. Once more she is galvanised into action in a frenzied endeavour to trace his whereabouts, and then follow some of the most poignant moments of the picture. Ruth Chatterton acts with all the charm and truth which earned her popularity in such pictures as "Madame X," "The Doctor's Secret," "Charming Sinners" and "The Laughing Lady." Among the supporting films is a delightful danca and song fantasy, "Dresden China," and a Micky Mouse cartoon. ST. JAMES' THEATRE The talking screen version of the popular musical comedy "No, No, Nanette," produced on a magnificent scale not possible within the restricted limits of the stage, commences a season at the St. Jaines' Theatre this evening. The picture takes a very amusing turn when a kindly millionaire whose main purpose in life is to make his fellow beings happy, gives his financial support to a musical company. And this in spite of his wife's confirmed thriftiness. The introduction of the musical company gives ample scope for the presentation of some magnificent stage scenes representing Japan, Holland and New York. The setting, in which a large aeroplane, built on fantastic lines, leaves the stage on a supposed trip to Mars, provides something new in screen entertainment. A Japanese legend which incorporats the hanging of a tremendous bell in the Mikado's temple, is set to music and dancing in what is perhaps the most picturesque portion of the film. Miss Bemice Claire, who plays the leading rple, is a new screen personality from the stage. Alexander Gray, who appears opposite her, is also a comparative newcomer to the screen. The element of comedy is provided by Louisa Fazenda and Lucien Littlefield. Other supporting artists are Lilyan Tashman, Bert Roach, Zasu Pitts and Mildred Harris. REGENT THEATRE. The romantic operetta "The Vagabond King," which is set in Paris in 1463, will open a season at the Regent Theatre to-day. The picture, which has been adapted by the Paramount studios from the stage presentation of the same name, has as its central hero the disreputable but immortal balladist Francois Villon. Dennis King, a leading actor-singer of the American operatic stage, takes the part of the carefree poet, who becomes in turn the leader and saviour of his*nation and the captor of a princess* heart. _ At the time the story opens Paris is besieged by the Duke of Burgundy and Louis XL is reduced to desperate straits by the imminence of disaster. Villon, the leader of the vagabonds of Paris, seems to offer some promise of ability to weld together the disunited power of the city. He is captured after an episode which renders him liable to the punishment of death, but the king offers him the throne of France for six days, sentence of death to be carried out on the seventh. Villon accepts the offer and the way in which he saves himself and his country and wins a royal princess' heart and hand provides a most romantic and enthralling story. The settings of the picture have been designed with great historical accuracy and lavishness, and the entire picture"is filmed in technicolour. 0. P. Hegeie, Jeannette Mac Donald and Warner Oland play in subsidiary roles. STRAND THEATRE. Adapted from the original stage play by John Oxenham;' "Hearts in Exile," a storv of lovo and political intrigue in Russia, comes to the Strand Theatre today. Dolores Costello makes a new departure in screen roles by enacting the part of a Russian girl who becomes a baroness. The picture gives a remarkable indication of life in the slums of Moscow and in the prison camps oi the trackless, desolate wastes of Siberia Some of the cathedral scenes, in which hundreds of Russian voices blend perfectly in a number of hymns in the native tongue, are particularly fine. The singing is entirely without musical accompaniment in order to be in keeping with the traditions of the Greek Catholic Church. The picture's strong appeal is essentially the grim realism of peasant life and the contrast between it and the lot of a nobleman. The wedding ceremony is elaborately carried out, Dolores Costello appearing in white satin and lace and the typical head-dress of the Russian aristocracy. Supporting the principal are Grant Withers. James Kirkwood, George Fawcett and David Torrence. LONDON THEATRE. An all-English cast takes part in "The Return of Sherlock Holmes, the Paramount film, which will open a season at the London Theatre to-day. Brook, who always plays a and sophisticated role, is at his best Conan Doyle's famous detective, who in this picture is set at work to solve one of the most difficult problems he ever faced. The problem is not merely theoretical, but involves running counter to Moriarty, Sherlock • Holmes' most dangerous foe. The story tells of Holmes' decision to emerce from retirement in order to help his friend, Dr. Watson, in a poison case. Suspicion falls on the boy who i? engaged to Watson's daughter. The great detective's method of unravelling the tangled clues is masterly, t PLAZA THEATRE. The final screening at the Plaza Theatre of the double-feature programme, comprising " Splinters" and " South Sea Rose," will be given to-day. To-morrow " High Society" will open a Beason. Tho picture, in which Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell, the principals of "Sunny Side Up," take the leading parts, concerns the amusing episodes that follow a «>mall town family's attempts to become members of society. CONCERT AT HOSPITAL. Patients of ward 26 in the Auckland Public Hospital were entertained on Wednesday evening by a very enjoyable concert arranged by' Mrs. Raeburn and Mr. A. Hamblin, of the Auckland Hospital Auxiliary. Items were rendered by Mrs. Edwards, Miss Mavis Riley, Miss Eileen Smithson, Miss Valeric Franette. Mr. Finlayson, Mr. 11. G. Chevis, Mr. Smithson, junr., and the Rev. T. Olds. Mrs. Dunn was the accompanist. At the conclusion a hearty vote of thanks was given to the performers. BRITANNIA THEATRE. " The Greene Murder Case," a thrilling story of conflicting personalities and deaths in an ancestral house, will be shown zrt the Britannia Theatre this evening.

CIVIC THEATRE.

The final screenings of "High Society" at the Civic Theatre will be given today. The principals are Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell, who gained popularity in "Sunny Side Up," and the cast also includes Louise Fazenda and Lucien Littlefield, who supply much of the humour in which the picture abounds. The theme of the story concerns the amusing situations following the attempt of a small-town family to break into society.. Items are contributed by Mr. Ted. Henkel's Orchestra and by Mr. Fred. Scholl on the grand organ in the supporting programme. A newsreel shows the arrival of Miss Amy Johnson at the Mascot aerodrome, Sydney, and Miss Johnson's reply to her reception is heard. To-morrow a mystery melodrama, Temple Tower," will open a season. The pictnro, which is based on a story by is the sequel to "Bulldog Drummond, which was seen in Auckland some months ago. The picture is said to achieve remarkably thrilling effects by the producer's dexterous use of unusual lighting and sound effects. The story begins with an investigation by Captain Drummond and his friend Peter Darrell of certain strange happenings at "Temple Tower,' an old English estate. The adventures that follow are said to contain all the elements of excitement and suspense. RIALTO THEATRE. The popular French actor, Maurice Chevalier, takes the leading part in "The Innocents of Paris," which is being screened this evening for the last time at the Rialto Theatre, Newmarket. As a light-hearted street vendor who gradually rises to fame as a great singer, Maurice Chevalier is ideally suited to the part he plays. To-morrow a double-fea-ture programme will be presented. The chief attraction will be " The Doctor's Secret," the first talking picture in which Ruth Chatterton took the leading part. The clav is adapted from " Half An Hour" by* Sir James Barrie, aud it shows in a "most dramatic manner the alternations of happiness _ and tragedy that can occur in a life in a comparatively brief space of time. The second picture is "The Lone Star Ranger, taken from Zano Grey's novel of the same title. "HER UNBORN CHILD." A private screening of " Her Unborn Child," which is to be the chief attraction of the opening programme at the National Theatre to-morrow, was held vesterday. Representatives of J. C. Williamson Films, Ltd., and the Western Electric Company, who were present, expressed great satisfaction with the acoustics of the theatre and the quality of the sound transmitting machinery just installed. The picture is said to have been one of the most widely discussed talking pictures made. The theatre is being completely renovated and the work will be completed in time for to-morrow's performances, which will commence at 2.15 and at 8 p.m. TUDOR THEATRE. "The Virginian," based on Owen Winter's famous romance of the same title, will be shown this evening at the Tudor Theatre, Remuera. Gary Cooper takes the part oi the virile, out-door_ hero. At to-morrow's matinee a lecture will be a " Mickey the Mouse" cartoon. TIVOLI THEATRE. " Behind the Make-up" and " South Sea Rose" will conclude a season at the Tivoli Theatre this evening. To-morrow " Jealousy" and " High Society" will be shown. i ■ ' REPERTORY THEATRE SOCIETY. Martinez Sierra's charming Spanish comedy " The Romantic Young Lady " was presented by the Everyman Repertory Theatre Society before a large audience in the Unity Hall last evening. The play, which is written in a witty, modern style and abounds in humour, gives a study of a " romantic young lady " who falls in love with a famous novelist, merelv through the influence of his books. She later finds that her novelist in real life is not as fascinating as he was reflected in the pages of his novels. Disillusionment sets 'in, but romance finally conquers. The part, of the young lady was ably taken by Miss Allie Deacon, while Mr. Andrew Beresford took the opposite role as the novelist. Other members of the cast were: Pepe, D. W. Noakes; Emilio, Godfrey Kissling; Dona Barbarita, Constance "Martin; Mario, Desmond J. Parsons; Maria Pepe, Bessie Pilkington; Irene, Margery Ryan; Don Juan, L. S. Bates; Guillermo, Dennis Knight; Amalia, Sirs. Dave Simpson. The play, which was produced by Mr. Andrew Beresford., will be presented again this evening and to-morrow evening. RELIEF CONCERT. A varied and interesting programme was presented at the concert given in the Town Hall concert chamber last evening to secure funds for the relief of ex-service men in distress. The entertainment, which was given under the auspices ,of the Ex-service Women's Association, was accorded fair patronage by the public. The first portion of the programme consisted mainly of songs interspersed with violin numbers, a dance and a monologue. The second part, in addition to songs and violin numbers, included a humorous sketch entitled " Her First Play." This was followed by a one-act play, " A Marriage Has Been Arranged," this item concluding an enjoyable entertainment.