ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20870, 12 May 1931, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

ST. J AMES' THEATRE. For three more days the highly amusing comedy " Min and Bill " will bo screened at St. James' Theatre. Leading the cast are the inimitable Wallace Beery, whose performance thoroughly merits the reputation he established in " The Big House," and Marie Dressier, who was so successful in her deft characterisations in " Anna Christie" and "Let Us Be Gay." "Min and Bill " is a poignant story of life, wholly sordid were :.t not for an underlying and sometimes emphasised note of sheer humour, in a waterside quarter of a great city. The story depends largely on (he efforts of Min to contrive the escape of her foster daughter from a tawdry existence. "THE MIDDLE WATCH." A British production, direct from the Shaftesbury Theatre, London, where it was a great success, will be the attraction at St. James' Theatre on Friday. It is " The Middle Watch," a laughable comedy revealing the complications arising when women are trapped accidentally on board a battleship. The players are all British in this film, which is expected to be highly successful in Auckland. "THE MAN WHO CAME BACK." The strong romantic drama of regeneration, "The Man Who Came Back," will begin its season at the Civic Theatre on Friday. Produced by Fox Films, the picture has at the head of the cast the two most popular lovers on the screen, Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell. The supporting players include Kenneth MacKenna, Ulrich Haupt, Mary Forbes and William Worthington. In this film Miss Gaynor and Charles Farrell play the most dramatic pails of their careers. Farrell appears as a ne'er-do-well who sinks to degradation, eventually to be inspired to attain his former social level. The picture was directed by Raoul Walsh, and the excellent photography which distinguishes the film includes notable settings contributed by Joseph Urban, a famous scenic artist. CIVIC THEATRE. The acting of Marian Davies in "The Bachelor Father," which is having a successful season at the Civic Theatre, continues to attract attention. Miss Davies plays her part—which involves swift transition from a~New York slum to the highest English society—with fine restraint. The action is at all times commendable, the cast being exceptionally powerful. Supporting Miss Davies are C. Aubrey Smith, veteran English actor, Ralph Forbes, of "The Lady of Scandal," David Torrence, Doris Lloyd, Halliwell Hobbes and Edgar Norton. "Ihe Bachelor Father" was famous on the legitimate stage and played on Broadway lor nine months, besides being remarkably popular in London. MAJESTIC THEATRE. The splendour of ancient Bagdad has been captured in " Kismet," the lavish screen version of the stage success which is being shown at the Majestic Theatre. Otis Skinner, who created the role of the " rascal of Bagdad "—a beggar by trade and a king by inclination—in the London and New York presentations, again portrays the central character. The romantic story deals with the adventures of the beggar, who, in one day, is raised from his advantageous begging stand at the entrance to the mosque to the luxury of the Caliph's palace. , Other members of the cast are Loretta Young, David Manners, Montague Love, Blanche Frederici and Theodore Von, Eltz. At the day sessions " Fair Warning " is being shown.

STRAND THEATRE. Lovers of sophisticated comedy-drama are well catered for' in "The Boudoir Diplomat," the st-ory of a Stale attache's numerous love affairs, which will continue a successful season at the Strakd Theatre to-day. Lan Keith has the part of the philandering courtier who, by winning the favour of the wife of the War Minister of a tiny European is able to secure the ratification of an important treaty. The opening three episodes of the serial " The Indians are Coining " are being shown at the day sessions. NATIONAL THEATRE. " The Silent Enemy," the vivid drama of the eternal battle waged against hunger by the Ojibway Indians of the Temagami Forest Reserve in Canada's sub-arctic region, now at the National Theatre, is comparable to such epics of native and animal life as " Chang " and " Africa Speaks." Simply and beautifully, scenes of majestic beauty follow one another as the Indians trek from camp to camp in search of food. The ever-present threat of famine drives the tribe to the far-off north, where a "gigantic herd of hungermaddened caribou must be stampeded from wilderness to wilderness. Other engrossing scenes are a fight between a mountain lion and a bear and the .death of a moose, killed by voracious timber wolves. PLAZA THEATRE. Gary Cooper, well known for his virile characterisations. Lily Damita. a French actress, Ernest Torrence and Tullv Marshall are in the powerful cast playing in the Zane Grey story " Fighting Caravans," which is being shown at the Plaza Theatre. Gary Cooper has the picturesque role of a scout accompanying settlers into the wilds of the American West, and Miss Damita is the heroine. The story is full of action and the hazards attending the great colonising journey are faithfully portrayed. Over 5000 players took part in the making of " Fighting Caravans." The programme is particularly suited for children, and in the afternoon performances on the stage are being given by Clancy's animal circus of dogs and monkeys, in addition to the appearance of Charles Valentine, ventriloquist.

RIALTO THEATRE. Brilliantly produced, excellently acted and well photographed. "French Leave," to be screened at the Rialto Theatre this evening, provides sparkling entertainment which never flags. The cast is headed by Sydney Howard, the Yorkshire comedian, while Arth\ir Chesney, Haddon Mason, and Henry Kendall are other well-known London comedians who fake prominent parts in tho production. LYRIC THEATRE. Based on the popular musical comedy, " Hit the Deck," at the Lyric Theatre this evening, is a picture in which bright musical numbers, spectacular settings and appealing song numbers are, all cleverlv combined. " Shadow of the Law. with William Powell, will also ho screened. ELLERSLIE THEATRE. The spectacular musical comedy " Whoopee " will he screened at the Southern Cross Theatre, Ellerslie, tomorrow. PRIXOE EDWARD THEATRE. " Under Suspicion," a tale of the Canadian Mounted Police, will bo shown at the Prince Edward Theatre this evening. EMPRESS THEATRE. / " East Lynne," based on Mrs. Henry Wood's well-known novol of the same name," will be the chief attraction at the Empress Theatre this evening. REGENT AND ALEXANDRA. Thrilling scenes of a prison riot are among the attractions of " The Big House " at the Regent Theatre, Epsom, and tiie Alexandra Theatre.

REG EXT THEATRE. Harold Lloyd, the comedian whose unique type of humour was Seen at its best in "Safety Last," again combines hilarious comedy and breath-taking action in "Feet First," which is delighting largo audiences at the Regent Theatre. In the opening scene he is shown as an enthusiastic shoe, salesman kneeling before a daintily shod pair of feet, pouring forth an eloquent eulogy of the footwear made by his firm. and the vigour of his salesmanship seems only too clear until a" fresh camera angle reveals the fact that the feet are artificial. From the quiet humour of this scene the film progresses on a note of uproarious comedy when the comedian is trapped on board the liner Malolo as it leaves Honolulu. He is forced to conceal himself in the mailbag, is carried in it on a ship-to-shore aeroplane and is deposited unceremoniously in a precarious position on a painters' scaffold high above city streets. " CITY LIGHTS." Unprecedented eagerness to see Charles Chaplin's sound-synchronised film, "City Lights," is being shown by Auckland theatregoers. The picture will replace Harold Lloyd's "Feet First" at the Kegent Theatre on Friday. In a film written, composed and directed by the comedian himself, Chaplin has retained all the essential characteristics of the forlorn yet whimsically humorous tramp — the too-small bowler hat, the,cane, which is an attempt, at dignity, and the shortened coat —which have endeared him to filmgoers wherever pictures are shown. Although there is no spoken dialogue mechanical accompaniments are adroitly used- to intensify the actiorf of the story. TIVOLI THEATRE Occupying a position on the English stage rivalled only by Mr. George Arliss, Mr. Cyril Maude, tire celebrated character actor, recreates a role which has endeared him to thousands in " Grumpy," the Paramount film now. at the Tivoli Theatre. The aclor revels in the role of the eccentric and garrulous, but none the less lovable, personality of "Grumpy" Bullivant. CRYSTAL PALACE THEATRE. The stirring English production " Balaclava," which tells the story of the " Charge of the Life Brigade," will bo shown at the Crystal Palace Theatre this evening "The PerfectrAlibi," based on a well-known English play, will also be screened. UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' PLAY Many, bright topical references add enjoyment to the Auckland University students' play " Frenzy," which will be presented in His Majesty's Theatre on May 16, 18, 19 and 20. The piecq was written by Mr. J. A. S. Coppard, who will be its producer, and the cast, comprised entirely of students, will include Misses Dawn. Collier, Peggy Cherry and Kona Munro, Messrs. R. Grey, I. Moir, B. Kingston, S. White, L. Smith, R. F. Spragg, A. Stubbs, D. Milliken, A. Paterson, W. A. Edward:!, D. Gregory and C. Laui ie. The box plans are now open.