ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20891, 5 June 1931, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

REGENT THEATRE. Just as Mr. D. W. Griffith's " Birth of a Nation" and "Way Down' East" wero classics of the silent screen, so his "Abraham Lincoln," to open at the Regent Theatre to-day, is regarded by many critics as a talking picture epic. The pioneer director has called upon the imag:native and practical resources of the cinema art to givo the screen a vital piece of drama, which is more a human story of the joys and sorrows of the great President than a bald recital of historical fact. Although the production possesses all tho ingredients of historical spectacle—magnificent settings, stupendous battle scenes and mob riots —its essential greatness is founded on the simplicity of its direction and the sympathetic treatment of its romantic and tragic episodes. Lincoln's heroic figure is seen jn all its complexity of conflicting moods. Ilis courtship of Ann Rutledge, her subsequent death, his jilting of Mary Todd and their ultimato marriage, aro incidents of the man's life around which a powerful human story has been woven. Mr. Griffith has taken tho full life of Lincoln, from his birth to his assassination, and assembled his moments of broad humour, romance, drama and tragedy into a narrative which should make a wide appeal among Auckland film-goers. A j lyrical beauty creeps into those rich pas- I sages of romance, which show Lincoln ; and the unfortunate Ann Rutledge in a j poignant, scene before their separation j through death. The film is particularly j notable for the performance of Walter : Huston," tho celebrated character actor, in tho part of Lincoln. Ho brings -to tho ; role a vigour and sincerity which make j it a living • character. Una Merkcl, as | Ann Rutledge, invests the part of tho woman with a quiet beauty and con- j veys an impression of infinite pathos in ; the tragic death-bed scene. Kay Ham- j mond plays the part of the caustic, sharptongued Mary Todd Lincoln perfectly, her domestic bickerings with the President adding tho requisite relieving touches of humour. ' lan Keith docs splendidly as tho sinister John Wilkes Booth, whoso ! cruel shot ended Lincoln's life. Other | accomplished artists who contribute deft j character-skotches are Hobart Bosworth, as Robert K. Lee, Jason Robards, in tho j part of Herndon, and Frank Campeau, as Sheridan. •' PLAZA THEATRE. Regarded as one of the most notable of the' many recent serious contributions to the talking screen, "The Criminal Code" will open a season at the Plaza Theatre to-day. In an impelling drama of American penitentiary life, Walter Huston gives a convincing characterisation as a district attorney whose strict code forces him to sentence to ten years' imprisonment a youth responsible for the more or less justifiable death of an insulting man Philips Holmes, the youthful actor of "Grumpy." is excellent as the convicted boy and Miss Constance Cunimings is splendid as the heroine. Tho story opens with the twentieth birthday of a country youth. Alone in a large city, the boy is desperately lonely and chances to make the acquaintance of a young woman. Together they visit a night club, where tho girl is grossly insulted by an inebriated man. In a moment of hot anger, the impetuous country youth strikes the offender a staggering blow, killing him outright. Tho scene moves forward. The boy of a few years before is now a haggard and embittered convict in the depressing jute mills. Completely broken in health and spirit he is seen by the former district attorney, now the prison's warden, and is engaged as the official's chauffeur. This chance to make good opens up a new vision of life, and with the lovo and faith of the warden's daughter to guide him, tho man is won back to a saner outlook on life. One of the most stupendous scenes is a thrilling prison riot in which thousands of desperate convicts make a determined bid for . freedom. Although many of the scenes reach great heights of emotion they never lapso into melodrama. NATIONAL THEATRE, " Tol'able David, " the picture to commence a season at the National Theatre to-day, is claimed to bo equally as convincing a drama as was the silent* film version with Richard Barthelmess in the leading role. In the part of the mountain boy without a care in the world, who is transformed by tragedy into a purposeful man overnight, Richard Cromwell gives a performance which must rank with that of Richard Barthelmess. , Miss Joan Peers, a delightful newcomer to the screen, makes a charming heroine and Noah Beery, the well-known character actor, gives a splendid study as Luke. The vivid story of Virginia by Joseph Hergesheimer follows the adventures of David from the time when three ruffians in their neighbourhood disturb the peace of his family, until he despatches all three of them by the simple expedient of a sixshooter. MAJESTIC THEATRE. The charming leading lady of "The Flirting Widow" and "The Office Wife," Dorothy Mackaill, has the chief role in "Once a Sinner," a drama of modern marriage which will open a season at the Majestic Theatre to-day. She invests with genuine depth of feeling the part of a woman who finds it difficult to escape the shadow of a former indiscretion. Joel McCrea, the young actor who portrayed the romantic lead in Will Roger's "Lightnin'," gives anothei engaging portrayal as tha steadfast young husband, who is shocked to discover after his marriage that his wife has had a chequered past. He appears as a struggling young inventor who, after a few unhappy months, realises, that nothing can come between him and tho girl he loves. The third important character in tho story is interpreted by John Ilalliday, a capable actor who has appeared in many rocent films. LONDON THEATRE. Mario Dresslor, Polly Moran, Charles King and Bessie Love aro four of the large number of accomplished artists who appear in "Chasing Rainbows," the spectacular technicolour film which will head the programme commencing at the London Theatre to-day. Brimful of delightful songs and entertaining comedy, tlio film will make a welcome reappearance in Auckland. By a series (if connected sketches the audience follows the tips and downs of a Broadway musical company. Although the greater portion of the action centres in Charles King and Miss Love, ono of tho most entertaining items is contributed by Miss Dressier. EPSOM REGENT THEATRE. " Under Suspicion," an artistic film of tho Canadian North-West, and ''Fast and Loose," a story of modern life, will be shown at the Epsom Regent Theatre this evening. CRYSTAL PALACE THEATRE. " Beau Ideal," Herbert Brenon's successor to " Beau Geste," will be shown at tho Crystal Palace Theatre this evening. Ralph Forbes, Lester Vail and Loretta Forbes arc the principal players. Ramon Novarro appears in " Call of the Flesh," tlio second film. EMPRESS THEATRE. The spirit of abandon in which men of .every nationality join the French Foraign Legion is successfully captured in " Beau Ideal," Herbert Brenon's successor to " Beau Geste," to be shown at the Empress Theatre to-day.' LYRIC THEATRE. "Tho Big House," to bo shown at 1 the Lyric Theatre this evening, is a thrilling drama of American prison life in which Conrad Nagel, "Robert Montgomery, Chester Morris, Wallace Beery and Leila Hyams are the loading players, There is a dramatic riot Hcene,

"MOROCCO." . \. Marlene Dietrich, the beautiful German actress, is introduced to the talking' screen in "Morocco," the Paramount film to be shown in Auckland shortly. "Discovered" in Berlin by Joseph Von Sternberg while ho was working in Germanywith Emil Jannings, Miss Dietrich was persuaded to go to Hollywood for Paramount Pictures. . Miss Dietrich was born in Berlin, the daughter of Captain Von Losch, a cavalry officer, and much of her professional career was spent £.t the German wlnfe she worked with Max Rcinhardt. It was music rather than the stage which first attracted her, but after a musical education at Weimar, she joined the dramatic school of the Deutches, Theatre, Berlin. After six weeks of , study, Miss Dietrich obtained her first engagement, a role in a production of Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shr.ew." Then she played in the German presentation of "Broadway." Two years ago she had her first film experience, in the silent , picturo "Die Frnu, Nach der Man Sicli Sehnt." Under the title "Three Loves," the picture ran for six weeks in New Yo-k. Turning again to the stage, she portrayad the ieading part in Bernard Shaw's "Mesalliance" in Berlin, before, making further screen appearances. She was seen by Von Sternberg when she was playing in George Kaiser's revue "ZweiKrawatten," and was engaged a.-s the lead'" ing lady for "The Blue Angel," in which. Emil Jannings was the principal., "Morocco," her first talking picture, is a love story of exotic charm, stit amid the languorous beauty of North Africa, and the picturesque French Foreign Legion. Gary Cooper, whose slow, deliberate' stride, and shy, quick smile' in- such; notable films as "The Virginian," "Onlythe Bravo" and "The Texan," have won him many admirers, is at his best as a dare-devil legionnaire who is irresistibly attracted to a beautiful and aloof entertainer in a Moroccan cabaret. Adolphe Menjou, the gifted actor of a long list of silent films, also gives a splendid portrayal as a suave and socially-prominent foreigner who threatens to ccme between the two lovers. ' CIVIC THEATRE!. All the pathos and tragedy of Count Leo Tolstoy's immortal drama, of life has:, been captured in the Universal Pictures film version of "Resurrection," which will , open its season at the Civic Theatre; to-day. Mr. Edwin Carewe, regarded as one of the most artistic directors in Hollywood,' has given of his best in his.; latest production. He has been fortu-.. nate in his artists. No more gifted act- I ', ress than Miss Lupe Vclez could have been chosen for the difncult part ofKatusha, a beautiful peasant girl, who,disillusioned by a callous Russian noble-, man, loses her grip on life and finally," by the harshness of circumstance, is condemned to prison for a crime she did not commit. In a more dramatic role than those she interpreted in "Hell Harbour"... or even "The Storm," the actress has the right gesture and modulation of voice for every changing mood which the part demands. John Boles, the handsome actor= of " Rio Rita," " The Desert: Song" and " King of Jazz," cuts a debonair figure as the indifferent nobleman whose lack of responsibility causes much of their, sorrow in the woman's life. The Russian setting of the story haa allowed the. director to introduce some magnificent' settings, which lend colour to the background. Although as many as 5000 extra players appear in several of the scenes, the director has wisely concentrated on the' essential drama of the story for his effect-. : A well-chosen selection of supporting, items will be shown. Oswald the Rabbit has a host of fresh _ antics iin another ,of - the series of ingenious animated sound cartoons, entitled, " College Nuts," a satire on modern university lifo_vn, America, Of particular interest, is "The Romance of Radio," which depicts the marvels of wireless. if ST. JAMES' THEATRE. £ A vital piece of drama is brought <° : the screen in "Within the Law." the story of a woman imprisoned by a s travesty of justice, which will head the programme commencing at St. James Theatre to-day. It is notable for the balanced portrayal of a difficult role given by Miss Joan Crawford, who has formerly been restricted by the. limits of her characterisations. As Mary Turner, she is given an opportunity to givo a-finelv-drawn interpretation of a womansent'to prison by her unscrupulous ern- ; ployer, in whom & mask of condescension conceals a sinister duplicity of nature. In. an intensely dramatic courtroom scene the woman, embittered against, life, swears vengeance upon those responsible for her wrongful imprisonment, and the ultimate' working out of hor plan provides the main theme of the story. Miss - Crawford is fortunate in her supporting artists, Marie Prevost. gives another of her inimitable portrayals of a precocious young woman with a ready-made philosophy, and John Miljan, the "racketeer" of " A Gentleman's Fate," is splendid as Inspector Burke. Other notable players are Robert Armstrong, Kent Douglas, a young; English actor, Tyrell Davis, who was. inimitable as "Wally" in "Let Us Be Gay," Purnell B. Pratt, Hale Hamilton j and 'William Bukewell. STRAND THEATRE. Two more full-length pictures will be included in the programme to be shown at the Strand Theatre for the first time-to-day. "Scarlet Pages," a drama of' I mother love, and "Oh, Sailor, Behave, _ an hilarious comedy, aro two widelydiffering types of film which should meet; the tastes of even the most discriminating film-goer. In the first the chief player is. Elsie Ferguson, who imparts considerable dignity and warmth to the part "of a mother whoso past has its influence upon the future happiness of her daughter. A* the daughter, who is passing through the "heroic" stage and determines to givo up her lover when she realises her true position, Marion Nixon portrays a very i similar role to that she played in | "Courage" recently. "Oh, Sailor, Behave" lis good fun. Olseu and Johnson, two I American comedians, keep the audience, in jii continual stale of merriment by their ! antics as two amorous sailors, TIVOLI AND RI ALTO THEATRES. The inspiring war film, "Hell's Angels," will open a season' at the Tivoli and Rialto Theatres this evening. Eightyseven aeroplanes, all war-time models, were used in producing " Hell's Angels'," which was made at a cost of £BOO,OOO. . Howard Hughes began the film with* the intention of producing the most lavish and realistic of war stories, and tlio entertainment includes thrilling aerial battles in which entire squadrons of air-, craft take part. A Zeppelin sequence is -• one of the. features of the picture and; responsible critics have agreed that the technique of this particular sot is of the highest order. In addition, difficult feats are performed by trick fliers. Twentythousand players and technicians were concerned in making the film. The prill*' cipal artists, who include James Hall, Jean Jlarlow, Ben Lyon and- Lu'cicn Prival. all have established reputations. COMMUNITY SINGING. There will be a special community singing gathering at the Lewis Eady Hall this evening. No meeting was held in. the Town Hall on Wednesday ly.ing jo the fact that it was the King's Birthday.