ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20889, 3 June 1931, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS.

ST. JAMES' THEATRE. To see " The Middle Watch," which will close its season of three weeks at St. James' Theatre to-morrow evening, is to sample English wit and humour at its best. Based "n the stage success by lan Hay (John Hay Beith) and Stephen Kiug-llall, which was presented at tho .Shaftesbury Theatre, London, for a considerable period, the deliciously humorous plot deals with the quandary of two young women who are inadvertently marooned on a warship through the breakdown of the picket boat at tho conclusion of an afternoon dance. The two hapless officers concerned are at ther wits' end to provide suitable accommodation fur the unwitting guests, and the unexpected arrival of the austere admiral hardly adds lo their composure. " WITHIN THE LAW." " Within the Law," which will replace " The Middle Watch" at St. James' Theatre on Friday, is regarded by critics as one of the most jiotablc of the many recent serious contributions to tho talking screen. it is remaikable for the intensely dramatic portrayal by Miss Joan Crawford of a young woman who is imprisoned through a travesty of justice. She brings to the role a sincerity and depth of feeling which makes the character a living being. The actress reaches superb heights of emotional acting in one scene particularly—in which she denounces the hypocrisy of her employer, whose smug complacency is a mask to cover his sinister duplicity. Others' in the cast are Mario Prevost, John Miljan, Robert Armstrong and Kent Douglas. " MOROCCO." Some idea of the enthusiasm with which "Morocco," the Paramount film which introduces Marleno Dietrich, a noted German actress, to the talking screen, has been received in other countries may be gained from the criticism of an Australian reviewer. The film will be shown in Auckland shortly. Tho critic says: " The newcomer has warmth and human beauty. Her voice is a vibrant contralto, full of emotional power. 'Morocco' itself is a story of the French Foreign Legion and challenges anything that has been done in this field in tho past. And, quite unlike the rest, its ending stikes a note of dramatic curiosity that lingers in the mind. Joseph Von Sternberg's direction has provided somo magnificent backgrounds for the stirring action—notably a scene of tho desert with a column of soldiers marching away into an infinity of sand. Gary Cooper, as a swaggering, care-free legionnaire, and Adolpho Menjou, in the part of a suave, supercilious foreigner, contribute splendid portrayals, but Marleno Dietrich is the dominant figure throughout. The German actress has learned the dramatic value of a slowed-down tempo; all her movements and speeches arc deliberate and studied and she is as languid as anybody could wish. Tho story is magnified by her personality into a film that is a genuine triumph. Fiom the elemental box-office point of view, tho film is an obvious success, but wliat is more to its credit is that its producers havo not allowed the exploitation of popular ingredients to impair its artistry. I'or sheer emotional power, studied beauty, and prolonged interest, 'Morocco' is entitled to rank as tho best picture tho Paramount studios have given film-goers this year." Tho intensely dramatic story is portroved against tho colourful background of North Africa, a city of weird masonry, twisted streets, veiled women, peopled by a cosmopolitan collection of human beings turbaned tribesmen, smartly-tailored official, richlv gowned women, tipsy soliders. the wealth and the dregs of tho world.

REGENT THEATRE. Miss Ruth Chat (prion, the gifted actress of such notable films as "'J he Laughing Lady," " Madame X. ' and " Sarah and Son," is called upon to portray two widely-differing and difficult roles in " The Right to Love," to close a season at the Regent Theatre to-mor-row evening. First as a young woman, who, through the bigoted prejudice of her unreasoning father, is caught up in an unfortunate set of circumstances, and again as the woman's daughter, whose life is affected by her mother's youth, Miss Chatterton has every gesture and modulation of voice which the roles demand. " ABRAHAM LINCOLN." Mr. D. W. Griffith, the director of such distinctive silent films as " The Birth of a Nation " and " Way Down East," has given the talking screen what is regarded us a talking picture classic in "Abraham Lincoln," to follow " r lhe Right to Love " at the Regent Theatre on Friday. Walter Huston, a noted American character actor, makes a vivid character of Lincoln through the various stages of his career as a clerk in a country store to his election as President. His courtship of Ann Rutledge, her subsequent death, his jilting of Mary 1 odd and their ultimate marriage are incidents of the man's life around which a powerful human story has been woven. J STRAND- THEATRE. Mario Dressier, who appears in " Reducing," with Polly Moran, continues to delight audiences at the Strand Theatre, where the film is being shown in conjunction with " The Romantic Vagabond," in which Reginald Denny is the principal player. Containing less boisterous comedy, but no less thoroughly entertaining than " Caught Short, " Reducing " enables Miss Dressier to give a portrayal more like her tragicomic characterisations in " Anna Christie " and " Min and Bill." The supporting artists include Anita Page and Sally Filers. LYRIC THEATRE. The strong drama, of American prison life, "The Big House," will bo screened this afternoon and this evening at the Lyric Theatre. Wallace Beery, Chester Morris, Lewis Stone, Leila Hyams and Robert Montgomery are members of an exceptionally good cast. There is a good supporting programme, including a Dogvillc comedy. EMPRESS THEATRE. Herbert Brenon's successful production, " Beau Ideal," will be shown to-day and this evening at the Empress Theatre. Ralph Forbes, Lcni Stengel, Lester Vail, Loretta Young, Ireno Rich and Myrtle Stedman are prominent players in this gripping story of the trench foreign Legion. CRYSTAL PALACE THEATRE. Neil Hamilton, Norman Kerry and Marion Nixon play excellently in " ExFlame," a modern version of Mrs. Henry Wood's novel, " East Lynnc," which will bo screened this afternoon and this evening at the Crystal Palace Theatre. " To-day," in which Conrad Nacrel and Katherinc Dale Owen appear, will also be shown.

SANDRINGHAM CINEMA. Tho four Marx brothers appear in "Animal Crackers," which will bo shown with a good supporting programme at the Sandringham Cinema this evening. NEW REGENT THEATRE. The dramatic stpry in which Ruth Clmtterton leads a strong cast, " A Lady of Scandal,'' will be shown to-day and this evening at the Now Regent Theatre, Epsom. Miss Chatterton has one of her finest roles in this film. " The Sea God." with Richard Arlcn and Fay Wray, will also be screened.

NATIONAL THEATRE. Charles Chaplin's comedy " City Lights " will close ils season at the National Theatre to-morrow evening. The success of tho film bears out the prediction that " City Lights " would be regarded throughout the world as representing the highest quality in Chaplin's inimitable acting. Jn this film Chaplin appears in his famous characterisation as a tramp beset by the harsh forces of life in the poor quarter ot a city. All the pathos characterisatic of the actor is revealed iu (he story, but there is a fascinating element of humour. Virginia Cherrill, as a blind flower girl, is another important player in this highly successful production. On Friday the programme will be headed by tho talking screen version of " Tol'able David,' wliicL. with Richard Barthelmcss in the title-role, was regarded as a silent picture classic. Tho central character is this time portrayed by Richard Cromwell, and others in the cast are Joan Poors, who makes a delightful heroine, and Noah Beery, a well-known character actor. . CIVIC THEATRE. " Body and Soul," the enthralling drama of spying amid the hazards and perils of modern aerial warfare, will have its final screening at the Civic Theatre to-morrow evening. Apart from tho appeal which the story itself holds, the production is notable for the introduction to the talking screen of Elissa Landi, a Continental actress, whose performance in " Body and Soul " makes it easy to understand why she is regarded as one of tho most accomplished artists of the New York and London stages. Iri the words of Elinor Glyn, the noted authoress, "she is the ideal screen type, so charming and intelligent. She knows instinctively what to do. Above all, she has personality. TOLSTOY'S " RESURRECTION." This year marks the centenary of the birth of Count Leo Tolstoy, whose remarkable novels include " Resurrection," which has been brought to the talking screen by Universal Pictures, with John Boles and Lupo Velez in the leading parts. The picture will succeed " Body and Soul " at the Civic Theatre on Friday. The director, Mr. Edwin Carewe, has called upon the imaginative and practical resources of the talking picture art to present a drama of real strength. Jt is a • memorable screen achievement. Against a picturesque background, in which thousands of " extras " lend the requisite colour to the stupendous settings, he has set a vivid drama of human emotions. Both the leading players, John Boles and Lupe Velez, have established reputations, and there is a gifted supporting cast. PLAZA THEATRE. " Cimarron," the distinctive film version of Edna Ferber's epic story of the progress of Oklahoma from the stupendous land rush of April 22, 1889, until the present day, will close an extremely successful season at the Plaza Theatre to-morrow evening. Although many of the scenes arc filmed on a magnificent scale, the essential drama of the story remains in the narrative of the vicissitudes which beset the steadfast Yancey Cravat and his wife, Sabra. The part of the ruthless, though just, attorneyeditor who determines to maintain order in the " mushroom" town of Osage is splendidly interpreted by Richard Dix. Irene Dunne makes an appealing figure as his understanding wife, who nevertheless finds it difficult to reconcile herself to the new order of things. "THE CRIMINAL CODE." The Criminal Code." (he impelling drama of a youth made the victim of a cruel fate, which was remarkably successful as, a stage play, is claimed to have lost none of its dramatic quality by its transference to the talking screen. With Walter Huston, the celebrated character actor, in tho leading role, the film will replace " Cimarron" at the Plaza Theatre on Friday. It is a superbly acted drama <of prison life, which depicts the horrors endured by convicts and culminates in a terrific prison riot which grips the onlookers with its dramatic power. Besides Waller Huston, in the part of the steadfast prison warden, the cast includes Philips Holmes, of " Grumpy," Constance Cummings and Mary Doran. MAJESTIC THEATRE. The final screening of " The Hot Heiress," a modern comedy-romance of the love of a socially-prominent young woman for a handsome steel construction worker, will be given at the Majestic Theatre to-morrow. Qna Munson makes a thoroughly charming leading lady and Ben Lyon, seen recently in " Hell's Angels," is just tho type of actor for the part of the bewildered middle-class workman. On Friday, Dorothy Mackaill will be seen at this theatre in " Once a Sinner," an impelling drama of modern life. Miss Mackaill, who will be remembered for her delightful performances in " The Flirting Widow," and, more recently, " Tho Office Wife," is splendid as a woman who finds it difficult to escape the shadow of a former indiscretion. Joel McCrea, of " Lightnin'," is the leading man. TIVOLI AND RIALTO THEATRES. The inimitable screen comedians Charlie Murray and George Sidney again mako a popular appeal in " The Cohens and Ivellys in Africa," which heads the attractive programmes at the Tivoli and llialto Theatres. Cohen and Kelly are introduced as piano manufacturers whose business is being ruined because of an acute shortage of ivory. They arc persuaded by a pseudo-explorer to embark on a trip to the wilds of Africa, where their strange adventures cause unrestrained laughter. One of the most amusing incidents is the discovery of a miniature golf course where Cohen, for winning a match against a native professional, is awarded a large quantity of ivory. CAPITOL THEATRE. The amusing comedy, " Half-way to Heaven," will be screened to-day at the Capitol Theatre. Charles Rogers and Jean Arthur are the principal players. At the matinee, a Western talking film will also be shown. LONDON THEATRE. Marie Dressier and Polly Moran lead a strong cast in the comedy " Caught Short," which will be screened to-day and this evening at the London Theatre. There will be a special matinee for children. Miss Dressier and Miss Moran are at their best in " Caught Short," which is a sparkling comedy with many entertaining situations.