ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20793, 9 February 1931, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. Charles (Buddy) Rogers, "America'."* boy friend." is as typically ingenuous as ever in his latest film, "Safety in !N umbers," which is at present enjoying a successful season at the Majestic Iheatre. lie plays the role of a somewhat pampered young man who is shortly to come into a huge fortune, and who has to bp educated ir the ways of tho world before leaving the guardianship of his uncle. To accomplish this, his guardian decides to send him to New York under the care of three trusted young chorus girls. It is not long, however, before the situation gets out of their control, and many amusing scenes take place before tho satisfactory ending is reached. Tho fine supporting programme is headed by an amazing film showing scenes from the Hawke s Bay disaster. PLAZA THEATRE. The noted American stage and screen entertainer, A 1 Jolsoh, appears in a different type of role from that he usually plays in " Big Boy," at present being screened before large audiences at the Plaza Theatre. He is seen as a negro jockey who takes part in one of the most exciting stories of the turf seen for some time in Auckland. The part allows him to si/ig a number of entertaining songs. The second picture on the programme, " The Way of All Men," is a dramatic story based on a noted European stage success. The story is an attempt to show how a group of people, all different in emotion, temperament and station in life, would act if they were all facing almost certain death. A group, including a far from perfect young man, a stage girl, and various other types,-is found one afternoon in an undperground bar when, without warning, the levees holding back the Mississippi River break, arid tho waters start to flood the place. An evangelist, two actors and a tramp hurry in for refuge and the steel doors are shut. The play moves on from this point in a series of exceptionally dramatic scenes. CIVIC THEATRE. The miracles of modern plastic surgery make possible the unusual plot of "Scotland Yard," the mystery melodrama which is at present being shown to appreciative audiences at the Civic Theatre. Edmund Lowe, whose acting in "The Cock-eyed World" and "Love Comes Along" stamped him as being one of the finest actors of virile yet subtle roles, is seen as a notorious criminal, who, by means of facial surgery, is able to usurp the place of a prominent bank president. Following upon an attempted robbery the criminal carries away with him a locket containing a photograph of the bank president, and when, in the war, his face is mutilated shockingly, _ the surgeon, thinkinc the photograph in the locket represents its owner's face, remoulds the criminal's face so that it becomes exactly like that- of the banker. Fate having thus placed an opportunity in his hands, the unscrupulous man does not fail to take advantage of it. From this stage on to the unusual climax, the attention of audiences is gripped by the tense scenes and fast action of the drama. Included in the fine supporting programme is a film showing vividly the horrors of the Napier disaster NATIONAL THEATRE. "Balaclava," produced by English studios and including in its cast many of the best-known players of the London stage, will be shown at the National Theatre to-day. It presents in worthy manner the stirring events of the Crimean campaign, culminating in the tragic heroism of the Charge of the Light Brigade, immortalised in verse by Lord Tennyson. The photography of the battle scenes is superb while the careful and accurate reconstruction of the historical settings of the times add further interest to the picture. Running through it is a simple but beautiful and dramatic story of human love and sacrifice. The supporting programme, which includes a diversified list of entertaining items, is headed by a film giving vivid impressions of the earthquake disaster, in Napier. Hastings, and surrounding districts. LONDON THEATRE. A realistic series of pictures of the havoc wrought at Napier by the earthquake is included in the programme at tho London Theatre. The main production is " Romance," in which Greta Garbo has the leading role of a successful operatic singer whose hqppiness has been shattered by. an ill-starred romance. The opening of the film is in the form of a prologue in which a young man seeks the. sanction of his grandfather to marry the actress. Realising the inevitable consequences of such a match the grandfather endeavours to dissuade his nephew by recounting a similar and pathetic incident in his own life. The counsels oft the elderly man are not heeded and the future of the young man is only saved from being ruined by the self-sacrifice of the actress. ROXY THEATRE. Pleasing enteri.ainment is offered in " Dumb-bells in Ermine," which heads the attractive p:rogramme at the Roxy Theatre. The plot, which deals with the efforts of a self-styled social reformer to prevent a marriage between an heiress and a prize-fighter, allows amplo scope for a series of unexpected end humorous incidents. The witty dialogue is of outstanding interest. Robert- Armstrong, Barbara Kent and Beryl Mercer are the principals. The supporting production is " The Love Racket," in which Dorothy Mackaill and Sidney Blackman appear to advantage. Both productions are being shown for the first time in New Zealand.

TIVOLI AND RIALTO THEATRES. A travel picture that is more fascinating and even more exciting than most ordinary films is " Africa Speaks," which will continue its successful season at the Tivoli and Rialto Theatres this evening. It is a record of the Colorado expedition which crossed central equatorial Africa, penetrating into places where white men had never before been seen and photographing many amazing customs' and ox- ' nmples of wild and barbaric life. The sconce of lion-hunting by the tribesmen arethrilling. Another enthralling portion of the film shows the lifo of the " croco-dile-faced" tribes. , LYRIC THEATRE. Ronald ColmaYi lias one of tho most successful roles of his stage career in " Raffles," which heads the current programme at tho Rialto Theatre. The \story deals with the career of a young man who makes a hobby of scientific burglary, and for a while enjoys plienominal success. He falls in love with a beautiful girl, but his difficulties in giving up his criminal career make an interesting plot. The second feature is "Love Among the Millionaires." EMPRESS THEATRE. A 1 Jolson sings several songs in " Big Boy," the story of turf life, which will be screened at the Empress Theatre this evening. " The Way of All Men," a tense and unusual drama, will also be screened. CRYSTAL PALACE THEATRE. One of the most successful films yet seen in Auckland, " Disraeli," will be shown at the Crystal Palace Theatre this evening. Tho leading role is played by George Arliss, who is supported by a strong cast. "THE MAN FROM TORONTO." Tho St. Cuthbert's Old Girls' Association will repeat their successful play "The Man From Toronto," in aid of the Hawke's Bay relief fund, in the lown Hall concert chamber on Februaiy <!o.

STRAND THEATRE. Splendid entertainment of two different types is provided by the current programme at the Strand Theatre. Ihe first attraction. " Midnight Mystery,"!/'contains all the elements of the most thruling melodrama. The action takes place in a huge mansion perched on cliffs above a storm-tossed sea, and in this house a drama is enacted, which, while nnusual, is well within the bounds of possibility. The story tells of a clever and unscrupulous man who seizes an opportunity of turning a foolish prank into an opportunity for unavenged murder. Lowell Sherman and Betty Compson in the leading roles are responsible for fine characterisations. . The second feature is "Love in the Rough," an amusing picture based on the musical comedy "Spring Fever.'REGENT THEATRE. ' Typical and witty. English comedy is presented in "Canaries Sometimes Sing, which at present is being shown to large houses at tho Regest Theatre. . The picture, which is the third of a series made from the greatest successes of the Aldwych Theatre, London, is played by the same artists who .made the great popularity of "Rookery Nook" and "On Approval," the picture's two, predecessors in the series. Tom Walls and Yvonne Arnaud play the leading roles and Kathleen Nesbitt and Arthur Stewart ably interpret supporting parts. The story deals with (he matrimonial troubles of two oddly-assorted couples and the ludicrous situations which arise provide endless merriment. The picture is based on Frederick Lonsdale's scintillating play, and there is very little deviation in scrip or settings from the original. There is an excellent supporting programme, headed by views of the earthquake disaster and including newsreels and a "Melody Comedy." ST. JAMES' THEATRE. An artistic interpretation of _ a theme which in the past has been given veiy little attention is presented by the English film, "Young Woodley," which has commenced a season at St. James' Theatre. The plav, by John Van Druten, on which the picture is based, created on its first appearance a heated controversy in England, but in the end it won unstinted praise from critics and public alike. English critics who saw both the original stage presentation and the screen version state that nothing has been lost by the translation to a new medium and that in several respects the picture captures more truthfully the spirit of the original. The cast chosen includes in the principal role Frank Lawton, who created the role of Young Woodley on the London stage. The supporting programme covers a wide range of interest and includes graphic pictures of the Hawke's Bay disaster. CAPITOL THEATRE. The successful, humorous film " Alf's Button," will bo presented at the Capitol Theatre this evening. The programme will also include pictures showing the Hawke's Bay disaster. '