ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20597, 23 June 1930, Page 15

ENTERTAINMENTS.

CIVIC THEATRE. "Temple Tower," the screen talking version of "Sapper's" mystery story, which was presented before a large audience at the Civic Theatre on Saturday evening, is a picture of considerable merit. The theme is engrossing, the action is rapid and the mystery remains "unsolved until the conclusion. As "Bulldog" Druiamond, the immaculately-attired gentleman det-ectiva, Kenneth MacKenr.a makes the most of his role- The resourcefulness and brilliant deductive powers of Drummond are made the more noticeable by the "Dr. Watson" kind of dumb admiration and stupidity shown by his friend, Darrell. Cyril Chadwick appears as Darrell and acquits himself The exploits of Darrell and Const,able Muggins, a sleepy-beaded village policeman, introduce appropriate touches of comedy into the dramatic nature of the story. Mareehne Day is cast as the girl who, seeking her stolen jewels, takes a position in "Temple Tower." Henry B. Walthall gives one of his best portrayals as the unscrupulous criminal, Blackton. The greater part cf the story takes place in the grounds of "Temple Tower," an isolated stone castle with subterranean pas- ■ sages and diabolical death trans. The sound effects and the remarkable photography add to the realism of the picture, Ttie wind screaming through the trees ! and the savage cotes of the sentinel blood- i ■ hound are heard, while a hidecus masned ' shape is seen scahnc the walls of the j castle. Exciting incidents in which an i accomplice of Blackton's is hurled through j a trap-door into a quicksand, and in which i Drummond is nearly strangled fay the ! masked figure in a tunnel, follow in succession. How, after another encounter with the mysterious figure, Drummond rescues the girl, recovers the stolen jewels and reveals the unexpected identity of the masked figure makes a traditional "thriller ' climax. A short film showing i the latest developments at Arapuni takes j pride of place on the splendid support- j xng programme. The dry spillway w»»ir, i near which the 'line of fault occurred, and j the rapidly-eroding falls over which the foaming torrent used to ra.es to the buried i forest beneath ara among the views presented. A survey of world-wide events ! is made in two news reels. Qi outstanding interest are the scenes dealing with the arrival at Dane din from the Antarctic of Pear-Admiral Byrd. The gazettes also incluoe a talk on the finances of Australia by the Federal Treasurer, Mr. E. G. Theodore, and a presentation of Maori canoe-scngs. The amusing adventures of "Krary Cat" in the sound novelty cartoon "Desert Sunk" cause unrestrained laughter. Rich humour abounds in a ! comedy dealing with the rivalry between ! two "gangsters." How one of the gang leaders, "Mick the Shiek." finds he' hat: a "double," and the complications that ensue before the "doable" captures both "M:ck" and the ether leader makes a highly-diverting story. Lovers of music are well catered for. A number cf pepu- } iar classics are excellently rendered by Mr. Fred Schoil at. the origin, while tht; Civic Orchestra, under Mr. led Henkei. plays in a masterly manner a selection rroin Strauss' "Tha .Chocolate Soldier." The orchestral concert given before the pictorial programme was of the usual high ; standard. RECENT THEATRE. ''The \ agabenu Sing," which has ! cr.Tr.nenced a season at the Regent Theatre, proves definitely the suitability of a romantic operetta for the talking screen. Pnxamount's screen version retains all the essentials of the original stage play. Any alterations enhance , rather than detract from the value of the production. The introduction cf massed scenes of soldiery gives tie picture an added realism- The production is acted in a manner befitting the martial and romantic nature of the piece, and has as its background trie changing scenes of Paris in the-fifteenth .century. The central"'figure of" the romance is the disreputable chief of the vagabonds of Paris, who became King cf Francs for si- days, faced with the prospect of execution, on the seventh. Scenes cf the underground dens cf the vagabonds and of the rabble army which marched upon the Burgundians present in an unforgettable manner the history of the period. The romantic element is provided by the leve of Villon, condemned to die for an attempt to weld together the disunited rabble of the city, for a royal princess. Dennis King, a leading principal recruited from the American operatic stage, gives a fine interpretation of the rcnecade, and opposite him is Jeannette Macdonald. seen in Auckland last in "The Love Parade."' MAJESTIC THEATRE. A dramatic actress of rare ability. Miss i Ruth Chatt«rton, adds yet another talk- ! ing picture to her list of successes with "Sarah and Son," which has commenced : a season at the Majestic Theatre. The [ story ia essentially feminine in its appeal. ! Produced by America's only woman direc- | tor, it has as its pivot the heroic struggle i of a vaudeville player against dire poverty jto discover her son. Angered by her ! chiding of faim for his lack of industry | her husband disappears, taking in rei veage their son. The way in which she ! rises from a vaudeville artist to be an I operatic principal provides some t«n*e J situations, which are, however, handled j with restraint. Over-acting is never alj lowed to spoil the production. STRAND THEATRE. In "Hearts in Exile," an adaptation of the stage play by John Oxenbam, which ! is the principal picture at the Strand S Theal re. Dolores Costello makes a new departure in screen roles. Knowing only | the life in a convent for Russian 1 peasantry, she meets a member of the aristocracy, and, swayed by the prospect of riches, marries the nobleman in spite of her peasant lover's entreaties. Subsequent events in a prison camp on the trackless wastes of Siberia provide some dramatic moments, besides giving a vivid picture of conditions on the bleak steppes. ST. JAMES' THEATRE. Although the talking screen version of the popular musical comedy "No, No, Nanette.'' which is at present piaying at St. James' Theatre, has an entertaining story, its mam appeal lies in its musical score. Most of the popular songs which made the original stage presentation such :i success are retained, and arc augmented by fresh songs. The scene representing Japan is particularly fins A Japanese legend which incorporates the hanging of a tremendous beil in the Mikado s temple is set to music ana dancing. Lucira Littlefield and Louise Fazenda provide the element of comedy, and are largely responsible for the success cf the production. BRITANNIA THEATRE. William Powell, who is one of the most popumr talking screen principals, appears in "The Greene Murder Case " at the Britannia Theatre this evening. PLAZA THEATRE. " High Society Blues," a laughable farce of American society life, is the chief attraction at the Plaza Theatre. The next change of programme will be headed by " The Three Godfathers." TIVOLI THEATRE. "High Society Blues" and "Jealousy" . will be screened at' the Tivoli Theatre this evening. PICTUREDROME. Maa Murray' appears in " Peacock Alley " which will be screened at the Pictaredrome Theatre this evening.

NATIONAL THEATRE.

The passing cf tea Last silent, picture theatre in the city was marked on Satur day, when a full talking picture programme was screened for the first time at the National Theatre nnder the J C. Williamson management. This picture house has always enjoyed a generous measnra of pccularity with Auckland audiences nad aitliough there Trill be several who will regret the definite passing of silent pictures the quality of the opening entertainment under the new policy augurs well for the future. Coincident with the installation of the sound apparatus a small army of decorators transformed the interior and vestibules of the theatre, which \provided an attractive surprise for patrons on Saturday. The items on the supporting programme were varied and interesting. A Hearst Metrctone news reel provided several features, notable among them being j scenes of Arab school children receiving j a lesson from their teacher. "On the j March" was an item in which William j O'Neal, a newcomer to the talking screen, j sang several excellent songs, including ! numbers from "The Desert Song" and [ '"New Moon." Then followed an enjoy- j able comedy, "On Uneasy Street." in j which Jimmy Hussey, a popular stage j comedian, excelled himself in a bright ; Bow of humorous patter. The chief ; picture, "Her Unborn Child," proved to j be an escellent piece of human drama, j presented with a wholesome good taste ; which weald have permitted cf much j greater frankness without transgressing in j any way rhe bounds cf propriety. Che j picture shows an average home, with ] three average children, a girl approaching j womanhood, a younger brother and a j smajj sister in the "tomboy stage. Ttie j love of the eider sister Tcr a youth who j is the ward of a wealthy and modern- j thinking aunt provides the theme icr a i story of adolescent love regardless at con- j sequences. The interference cf the aunt, j who thinks the girl is not -cod enough for her nephew, introduces tragedy into the I little drama. She tells him that he_ is not really her nephew, but a foundling j whom she had adopted. The boy is torn j between his desire to marry the girl and j the knowledge that if he does so his aunt will expose him as a nameless foundling. Eventually he learns the truth about him- j and sroes to the girl, only to find : that she is no longer willing to accept I the protection which he oners her, a* j she believes he failed her when he was j most needed. The conclusion of the story j is remarkably weil presented. Although ; the picture e-tends to very delicate | ground, it- is never at any stage likely j to olend the tenderest susceptibilities and j it is characterised throughout by a high j moral tons. j I MUNICIPAL CHOIR CONCERT. j A varied programme of well-chosen , numbers "xas r,resented by the Municipal j Choir and assisting artists in the Town j Hail cn Saturday evening. The choir s j numbers ranged" from Gounod's sacred j music to an old Scottish cradle scng, and j ail were equally well received. Con- , ducted by Mr. Maughan Bamett. the city J o, —tiniit. the choir made a good beginning j with Bvrd'e "I Thought That Love." ana j followed it with "In These Delightful, j Pleasant Groves" by PnrcelL Both short ; numbers, the choir's opening itens lost j nothing by their brevity, and weil-bai- I ancrd singing enhanced the daint.ir.ess of ! both selections. An opportunity few j fine contrasts cf tone was given by_ the j nesl clioir number, "Come Unto Him,'* , by Gounod. The majestic qualities of the ; Gounod selecticn were weil interpreted by j the choir, and the solemn . hymn came | in pleasing contrast to the lighter open- ; inc numbers- Balfour Gardiner's arrange- j ment of "Sir Egiamare." a quaint old- j fashioned sore, was well received, and j the old Scottish cradle scng, "0 Can \e j Sew Cushions," arranged by Granviiie i BantocK.. was anotlier novel addition to | trie programme- The chcir's final sum- ! ber was "Here's a Health Unto His : Majesty." an old English air which mad" j a rollicking finish to the programme. | Mr. Cvril Towsey, the solo pianist tor j the evening, chose Raff's "Romance and 1 Minuet" as his opening number, and j played in his usual finished style. He \ also care Chopin's "Nocturne in C ; j Minor." As encores Mr. Towsey played j I une cf McDowell's pieces, givine a char- | acteristic version of the expressive music. I nnd also played "Humoresque," one cf ) Mr. Maughan Barnett's compositions ) Mias Sarah Stacpoole, the vocalist, was j heard in "Ships That Pass in the Night." followed by the rather mere effective "Morning," by Qiey Speak. She also sang pleasingly "The Fairy's Lullaby.'* Two numbers which are always appreciated were played by Mr. Maughan Barnet;. His first item was Bcellrnann's '"Toccata," which was paired with "Wild Rose," Benders best-known composition There was a fair attendance, in spite of j the unpleasant weather. Mr. Leo Whit- | taker played the accompaniments. t * ■ ———' i MUNICIPAL BAND. ! Two enjoyable recitals were given by the Municipal Band yesterday. In the I afternoon tbe band was at the Zoological j Pari:, and presented a programme conj si.sthug largely of operatic selections The | afternoon'-: programme included Wagner's ! "Tannhaaser" march, the overture from { Flouw'r "Martha." the popular "Anvil j Chorus" from Verdi's "II Trovatore." j and a- selection from "I Fagliacci" by | Leoncavallo. Other items were "The j V{.ioe That Breathed O'er Eden," "Rem ■ iniscences of Verdi," a selection from ; "The Desert Song," the Russian dance, j "Gopak." and Edward German's hymn, [ "Through the Night of Doubt and ; Sorrow." Mr. F. Bowes played "Come j Per Me Sereno." by Bellini, j / In the evening the band piayed at the • Town HalL The programme included 1 the overture from "Don Giovanni," | Mendelssohn's "Wedding March," two i movements of Beethoven's No. 1 Sonata ■; in C Major, and the selection. "Remin- ; iscscces cf Wagner." Mr. F. Bowes and I Mr. J. Purchase played "Echoes of i Castille" as a cornet and euphonium duet, i while Mr. H. C. McLennan piayed the 1 flute solo. "Happv Be Thy Dreams." j • j j RATI ON ALLS" ENTERTAINMENT. An illustrated lantern lecture, "Great j Men of the Free-Thought Movement," ! was given by Mrs M. L'reaver during an j entertainment held under the auspices of j the New Zealand Association for the Ad i van cement of Rationalism at the Majestic j Theatre last evening. The programme ! included the film, "News Parade." featuring Nick Stuart and Sally Phipps, a i scenic, "Sea Breezes," and other short j itarns. TUDOR THEATRE. I An entertaining musical review, I " Pointed .Heels," is the main attraction iat the Tudor Theatre this evening William Powell, Helen Kane and Fay Wray are the principal players. There is an excellent supporting programme. ARCADIA THEATRE. i To-dav's programme at the Arcadia Theatre" includes two excellent pictures. In. "Woman Tran" Evelyn Brent and Hal Skelly are the principals, and in " The Love Doctor " Richard Din plays opposite June Collyer. AMBULANCE CONCERT. | Tim Onehunga division, St. John I Ambulance Brigade, held a successful j concert, in the Presbyterian Hall, Onehunsa, last week in aid of a fund to obtain equipment for the division, i The programme, which, was arranged by Dr. J. Eirkwood, surgeon to the division, included a display of first aid work by members of the brigade, each movement beine explained by a senior member.