ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20924, 14 July 1931, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

CIVIC THEATRE. Sheer far re from the opening scene to the final curtain, " Parlour, Bedroom and Bath," now at the Civic Theatre, is one of the most entertaining films of its type to have been shown in Auckland. It is enlivened by the hilarious antics of Reginald Denny, the charming English actor of " Jenny Lind" and . V Madam Satan," and the " wooden-faced " acting of Buster Kenton, whose acting, provides ludicrous contrast to the gay abandon of Denny. Further uproarious comedy is contributed by Charlotte Greenwood, the tall comedienne of the filni version of the delightful musical cornedv "So Long, Letty." Another splendid performance conies from Cliff. Edwards, of " Montana Moon" and " Those Three French Girls." Comedy also predominates among the supporting items. Selections on the grand organ by Mr. Howard Moody complete a line programme VAUDEVILLE FOR THE CIVIC. The first of a series of distinctive vaudeville acts to be presented by J. C. Williamson Films will be given at the Civic Theatre for the week commencing on Friday, when Joy and Lazzoroni, the " skating aviators," will perform their remarkable act, they have recently enjoyed great popularity in Australian centres. Entertaining films will also be shown. Winnie Lightner, of " The Gold Diggers of Broadway," and Joe E. Brown, the inimitable player of " Sally, who together made such an excellent comedy team in Hold Everything," run riot again in " Sit Tight," the main picture on the new programme. Auckland filmgoers need little reminder of these two delightful artists, whose boisterous type of comedy has made a wide appeal. MAJESTIC THEATRE. Two entertaining English films, "Uneasy Virtue" and George Bernard Shaw's " How He Lied to Her Husband," are being shown at the Majestic Theatre, lhe first is distinguished by the excellence of the acting of a talented cast of London players, including Fay Compton, a gifted actress, Edmund . Breon, last seen with Tom Walls in "On Approval," Dodo Watts, of " The Middle Watch," and Donald Calthrop The story concerns the efforts of a piqued wife to disillusion her easy-going husband, who imagines the woman to be incapable of conducting an " affair," as do other members of her social set. In " How He Lied to Her Husband," George Bernard Shaw makes a tilt at present-day conventions—and the lack of them. Although there are only three characters, they all act splendidly. PLAZA THEATRE. Mary Astor, ono of the favourite actresses of the silent screen, acts with her usual charm in "Behind Office Doors," in which she is appealing to large audiences at the Plaza Theatre. She has the part of a pretty stenographer whose- efforts to secure the promotion of the man she loves—a salesman in the same office—-first pass almost unrecognised by the man when he rises to an important position with the firm. A capable cast of supporting artists has been chosen, including Ricardo Cortez, last seen in "Her Man"; Robert Ames, who will be remembered for his performance with Ann Harding in "Holiday," and Catherine Dale Owen, the. princess of "The Rogue Song." The film gives an insight into the lives of those engaged in business in a large city.

NATIONAL THEATRE. Tlie.. Call of the Sea/' the English mystery story which is enjoying great popularity at the National Theatre, is notable for the return to the screen of Henry Edwards,; the engaging actor of " The Flag Lieutenant." The plot recounts the adventures of a* young naval officer sent to investigate the mysterious happenings 011 an idyllic tropic island. Chrissie White, as the wife of a villainous half-caste deputy-governor, who secretly conducts a platinum mine, gives a charming portrayal which makes an immediate appeal. The director has incorporated some delightful scenic effects amid the glamorous charrti of the tropics. A second film is " Eve's Fall," a picture of modern life.

STRAND THEATRE. Russia during the new regime is the chequer-board on which is played a thrilling game of life and death in " The' Spy," the vivid drama which heads the programme now at the Strand Theatre. Kay Johnson, the talented emotional actress of " Madam Satan," gives a dignified portrayal of a patrician member of the Russian aristocracy who is forced to sec her husband flee before the wrath of the revolutionists and her infant son become an urchin of the streets. Neil Hamilton is just the type of actor for the part of the nobleman compelled to flee the "country.

1U ALTO THEATRE. " Cimarron," the magnificent pioneering epic of the progress, of Oklahoma from its early settlement until the present day, heads the programme to be shown at the Rialto Theatre for a short season, commencing this evening. Richard D.ix gives a fine portrayal of Yancey Cravat, a steadfast attorney-editor, who determines to rid the " mushroom" town of its notorious element. Irene Dunne is delightful as his wife.

TIVOLI THEATRE. Tlie appeal which good humour has for Auckland film-goers has been shown in striking fashion by the phenomenally successful season being enjoyed by Charles Chaplin's film " City Lights," at iho Tivoli Theatre. The comedian has retained all. the characteristics of the little disreputable tramp known to audiences' wherever pictures are shown —the small bowler hat, the shortened coat, the quizzical moustache and the cane, which is an attempt at dignity. LYRIC THEATRE. Richard Arlen has the part of a seadiver who gains a strange hold over the superstitions of a native race in " J'he Soil Cod." to be shown with the English film " The Perfect Alibi" at the Lyric Theatre this evening. EPSOM RECENT THEATRE. "Men of the North" and "The Silent Enemy " will be screened at the Epsom Regent Tbeatro this evening. EMPRESS THEATRE. " Bachelor Apartments," with Lowell Sherman and Irene Dunne, and " The Man From Wyoming," in which Gary Cooper appears, are the films at the Empress Theatre to-day. CRYSTAL PALACE THEATRE " Those Threo French Girls," with Fifi Dorsay and Reginald Denny, and " Millie," hti impelling drama, will be shown at the Crystal Palace Theatre this evening. BRITANNIA THEATRE. " Jenny' Lind " ("A Lady's Morals "). with Grace Moore, and " Wedding Rings " are the main film's at the Britannia Theatre this evening. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE. Ten talented children take part in the " Bijou Revuette," to be presented at the Prince Edward Theatre to-day. The film is "The Seas Beneath," a thrilling marine drama, with George O'Brien.

ST. JAMES' THEATRE. Those who enjoy the modern sophisticated comedy-drama at its best will revel in "The Virtuous Husband," which is delighting audiences at St. James' Theatre. The ' delieiously-humorous story tells of the :love and matrimonial affairs of an ultra-serious youth and a charming young woman of lovable disposition, who little anticipates the atmosphere of frigidity which, under the guise of high principles, is to mark the first few weeks of their married life. The exalted young man's courting of his lover, which consists .alternately of frequent and furtive references to a succession of letters on conduct J eft him by his mother and ludicrous speeches ol rhetoric, is satire at. its best. Elliot Nugent, Jean Arthur, J. C. Nugent, and Alison. Skipworth all act exceedingly well. TiBBETT IN "THE PRODIGAL." Lawrence Tibbett, the singing Robin liood of the steppes of "The .Rogue Song," and the debonair Russian lieutenant of "New Moon," appears on the screen in modern dress for the first time in "The Prodigal," to follow "The Virtuous Husband" at St. James' Theatre on Friday. He acts and sings with Ins accustomed vigour in the part of the renegade son of a wealthy family who returns to his home, there to fall in love with his brother's wife. As in his previous pictures, Tibbett's glorious voice is heard to perfection. He gives a moving interpretation of "Home, Sweet liome/j "Life is a Dream," "Without a Song" and "Looks Like a Pappy." Choruses by coloured spiritual singers lend the film further distinction. REGENT THEATRE. The sacrifice of personality and life upon the altar of a machine was never more vividly depicted on the Screen than in. "Scandal Sheet," the vital newspaper drama at the Regent Theatre. The acting is of so high a level and the tension so taut throughout the film that even the most exaggerated type of American journalist depicted rings true. George Bancroft's Mark Flint, the relentless managing editor of an influential New York "yellow" daily, is a character which has all the substance of reality. With less extravagant gesture than has characterised a number of his former portrayals, Bancroft conveys an impression of vitality and vigour which even the infidelity "of his wife (Kay Francis) and the duplicity of hi 3 banker-friend (Olive Brook) cannot entirely subdue.

"RANGO" AND "SOCIAL ERRORS." Described as even more intensely alive than "Chang," regarded by many as the classic jungle picture, "Rango'' will be shown with "Social Errors," a full-length comedy, at the Regent Theatre for a season commencing on Friday. Produced by E. B. Schoedzack, who was one of the directors of "Chang," "Rango" is a simple story of primitive jungle life in which the protagonists are a baby orangoutang and its father, whose lives closely parallel those of a native Malayan tigerhunter and his little son, Bin. There is an association of interests between man and monkey which finds its expression in their battle against the common enemy—the tiger. One of the most thrilling scenes shows a ferocious combat between a tiger and a tenacious water-buffalo. Leon Errol, the Australian comedian of "One Heavenly Night," Stuart Erwin, Richard Arlen and Mary Brian are the leading players in the second film, "Social Errors."

TUDOR THEATRE. The popular screen lovers Janet Gaynor and Cnarles Farrell appear in "High Society Blues," to be shown again at the Tudor Theatre this evening.

CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY. The Auckland Chamber Music Society Avill give the second concert of its present season in the Lewis Eady Hall next Monday evening. Works by Schubert, Bach and Beethoven will be played. "THE CARNIVAL FOLLIES." The "Carnival Follies" concert party, under the direction of Miss Betty Weldon, will give its first performance in Auckland in the Lewis Eady Hall this evening. A programme of music and songs, interspersed with humorous items, will be presented. Miss Weldon, who is well-known in London concert and vaudeville circles, will be supported by a cast oKtnlented artists, including Miss .Thelma Brian, soprano-dancer, Miss Minnie Parker, pianiste and vocalist, Mr. Harry Burton, baritone, Mr. Al. Grade, violinist, and Mr. Jack Bradshaw, a versatile entertainer.