ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20911, 29 June 1931, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

REGENT THEATRE, Evelyn Laye, an accomplished English stage player, but a newcomer to the talking screen, is largely responsible for the outstanding success of " One Heavenly Night," which is being presented at the Regent Theatre. She is ably supported by Lilyan Tashmun, John Boles and Leon Errol. Miss Layo first appears as a llower girl, Lilli, in a Hungarian cafe, where shs onvies the gaiety and romance enjoyed by a cabaret performer, Fritzi, a role played by Miss Tashman. Fritzi falls into disfavour* for becoming involved in a brawl and is ordered to leave the city. Lilli impersonates Fritzi and is sent to a small village where slie is accepted by , the magistrate, Count Mirko (John Boles) as the wayward cabaret favourite. The story then develops mainly along the lines of romance. Pleasing melodies are sung by Miss Laye and Mr. Boles, and a fund of rich humour is provided by Leon Errol. The shorter films comprise a comedy and various gazettes, including one devoted to phases of athletic sports. PLAZA THEATRE. A turbulent and mythical European kingdom is the setting for the latest film in which Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey appear together. Under the title " Cracked- Nuts," it is attracting large audiences daily to the Plaza Theatre. The Jong list of successes of the two' comedians named, including " The Cuckoos," "Half Shot at. Sunrise" and " Hook, Lino and Sinker," is worthily upheld in the film, in which sparkling dialogue and ludicrous situations aro well combined. They appear as two New York friends, each of whom, unknown to the other, ig a contender for tho throne of El Dorania. Tho ardour of the rivals is cooled, howover, when they discover that before one can assume office he must first despatch the other in a duel. The jokes introduced by Woolsey are particularly witty and amusing. Tho ingenuous Dorothy Lee, who has always played opposite Wheeler, appears' in a typical role, and Edna May Oliver, a comedienne who is rapidly acquiring prominence in the screen world, takes part in many hilarious scenes ST. JAMES' THEATRE. Compared by eminent English critics with some of tho greatest tragic actresses of tho stage, Greta Garbo, the unforgettablo principal of "Anna Christie" and "Romance," has an infinitely pathetic role in "Inspiration," which is being shown to large audiences at St. James' Theatre. She is seen as a woman of the world who sees for the first time a newer and more beautiful life dawning for her, but finds , that the past cannot bo entirely obliterated. She plays the part of Yvonno. an artist's model, with whom a young French student, ambitions, idealistic and sincere, falls deeply in lovo. Tho slow development of the girl's love, at first ephemeral, then devotional, is portrayed by Greta Garbo with an appealing tenderness. As the young student, Robert Mongomery gives a restrained characterisation. Lewis Stone, Marjorio Ramheau, Beryl Mercer and John Miljan are included in the supporting cast. Ono of tho humorous Laurel and Hardy comedies and two interesting news reels complete an ■ excellent programme. MAJESTIC THEATRE. Bright entertainment is provided by the farce-comedy "It's a Wise Child," which will continue a successful season at tho Majestic Theatre to-day. Marion Davie's is' cast As Joyce,, the belle of a small town whero gosqiping tonguefi swiftly' spread the slightest breath of Scandal. Her innocent follies cause endless troublo to her guardian, a young lawyer who has known her since- childhood, and her fiance, an elderly banker. The girl's irresponsible acts go so far as to involve her in a raid on" a disreputable inn. Her guardian'.3 efforts to straighten out the tangle only cause further misunderstandings. An unusual and . amusing Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer colourtone revue, "Pirates," an "Our Gang" comedy, and a particularly interesting news reel complete tho programme. STRAND THEATRE. ' Mistaken identity forms the basis of a very amusing plot in "Going Wild." which heads the -current programme at the Strand Theatre. Joe E. Brown, the comedian of "Sally" and "Don't Hold Everything," is cast as a reporter who, after losing his position, boards a railway train without any money •or any plans for the future. Ordered off the train, ho finds himself confronted by a procession arranged in honour of a famous aviator, who was expected by tho same train, but did not arrive. Brown poses as the aviator, and, after attending many banquets in honour of the famous ace, is forced into a competition with another stunting pilot. An amusing and spectacular ciimax is provided. The second picture, "Man to Man," is . a dramatic story of a young man's redemption. NATIONAL. THEATRE. Four distinct characterisations, embracing almost tho whole realm of farce, are given by Ralph Lynn, gifted English comedian, in" "Tons of Money," which is being shown at tho National Theatre One of the popular series of Aldwych Theatre farces, it is considered by many to be even fuhnier than "Rol-kery Nook," "On Approval" ,or "Canaries Sometimes Sing." Mr. Lynn is seen first as an unscrupulous Englishman, who decides upon a scheme of masquerade to gain possession of an estate, and with this end in view poses successively as a Mexican planter, an inoffensive clergyman, and a "wandering" minstrel. Mary Brough and Yvonne Arnaud aro included in tho cast. LONDON THEATRE. Two splei. l'.d pictures, " Grumpy " and " Amateur Night in London," are being presented at the London Theatre. Tho celebrated English actor Cyril Maudo has tho leading, role of Grumpy in tho fust production. Grumpy is an eccentric but kind-hearted retired criminal lawyer who leaves his books and flowers to solve a mysterious burglary. Tho manner in which he succeeds in bringing tho wrong-doer to justice after having only tho most slender of'clues to work on makes a particularly interesting story. A pleasing romanco has been woven into tho picture. Tho excellent typo of comedy which English studios can produce is illustrated in " Amateur Night in London." In addition there are entertaining subordinate films. EPSOM REGENT AND ALEXANDRA. " Cimarroni" a powerful epic drama in "which stirring events aro combined with an enthralling story of human ambitions and destinies, will bo screened at the Regont Theatre, Epsom, and tho Alexandra Theatre this evening. Richard Dix and Irene Dunno are, tho principals. CRYSTAL PALACE AND EMPRESS. Tho inimitable artistry of Tom Walls is scon" at its best in the British cofaedy " Pluhder" which heads the attractive programmes at the Crystal Palace Theatre, Mount Eden, and the Empress Theatre,. Newtpxi. Tho plot deals with tho efforts of Walls and his well-known associato, Ralph Lynn, to evade justice after having recovered " for a charming gill some property alleged to havo been stolen. GREY LYNN CINEMA. " Just Imagine " is boing screened a 4 the Grey Lynn Cinema,

CIVIC THEATRE. Produced by Cecil B. do Mille, "Madam Satan," which is continuing' a successful season at tho Cjvic Theatre, is typical of the spectacular and realistic methods of , the man who has for so long been recognised as ono of the foremost directors ■of tho screen. An interesting story runs through tho which, however, is remarkable principally for the wealth of spectacle it affords. In t!:c earlier stages, Reginald Denny, as a philandering young husband, takes part in many amusing scenes, in which he is assisted by Roland Young, a well-known English comedian. De Mille's capacity for dealing with huge scenes is shown in the outstanding representation of a lavish banquet given on'a Zeppelin. The subject is dealt with on a magnificent scale. There aro numerous fascinating dances, and humour is a prominent featuro of the production. The supporting programme includes items by Mr. Howard Moody on the Wurlitzcr organ and news reels. TIVOLI AND RIALTO THEATRES. Will Rogers, ono of the best-known comedians in America, is given ample scopo for his dry humour in " So This is London," which will be screened at the Tivoli and Rialto Theatres this evening. He is seen as a wealthy manufacturer who travels wth his wife and son to England and there has many amusing experiences in his attempts to understand a different national character. Will Rogers always invests his portrayals with a very likeable touch of sympathy in addition to tho witty and droll mannerisms typical (if him. One of tho funniest episodes in the picluro shows his meeting with an English squiro of " tho old school " and the development of their after a very difficult initial misunderstanding. LYRIC THEATRE. "The Yellow Mask," a powerful mystery story in which Lupino Lane appears, and " Ex-Flame," a modernised version of East Lynne," with Marion Nixon and Neil Hamilton as the principals, are being shown at the Lyric Theatre. ORGAN RECITAL. Another enjoyable organ -recital was given by tho city organist, Mr. Maughan Barnett, in the Town Hall yesterday afternoon. The attractive programmo included compositions by Handel, Bach, Schubert, Watling, Wolstenholme and Vierne. The numbers, which were artistically rendered, were appreciated by tho audience. MUNICIPAL BAND CONCERT. A fine musical treat was provided at the Town Hall on Saturday evening when the fortnightly concert was given by the Auckland Municipal Band, under tho conductorship of Mr. G. Buckley. One of the most popular numbers was a selection entitled "Classica." which cmbraced a largo number of well-known operatic and classical airs. This number was well rendered and was enthusiastically encored by a large audience. The soloists for the evening acquitted themselves very well and all were encored. Miss Bunty Stuart, who possesses a very pleasing contralto voice, sang the songs "When All Was Young" and "The Spirit Song." Mr. F. Capapbell sang two items, "Maire My Girl" and "Megan," which wero well suited to his baritone voice. Instrumental solos were played by Mr. 11. C. McLennan, who was heard in a brilliant flute solo in Briccialdi's "Romance and Tarantelle," and by Mr. Roland Jackson, whoso xylophone number, Greenwood's "Tarantelle de Concert," was greeted with loud applause. An enjoyable cornet duet, "Tho Nightingale and th 6 Thrush," was played by Mr. F. Bowes and Mr. J. Davies. Tho remaining items by the band included two interesting selections in Auber'a overture, ; "Thp Bronze - Horse" and Massenet's "Herodias." The opening number, "Tho March of tho Warriors" (Delibes) was a rousing and martial piece, which was greatly enjoyed. Two selections from Delibes' "Coppelia" Ballet Suite were "The Waltz of the Doll" and "A Hungarian Dance." A selection from Offenbach's operas and Ivetelby's fantasy, "In a Chinese Temple Garden," concluded the programme. Another fine programme was given by the band at the Zoological Park yesterday afternoon.