ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20956, 20 August 1931, Page 13

ENTERTAINMENTS.

ST. JAMES' THEATRE. "Tho Secret Six," an unsparing satire on the corruption and lawlessness which are reported to hold Chicago in its grip, will be shown for the last time at St James* Theatre this evening. Occasional sardonic humour relieves the tension of the highly melodramatic plot, in which revolvers "bark" at the slightest command of gang leaders. Wallace Beery gives an incisive study of a stockyard slaughterman who gains such power that with the aid of a complacent Mayor he virtually rules the city. There is an uncommonly talented supporting cast. " THREE FACES EAST." Breathless suspense characterises "Three Faces East," tho enthralling spy drama to follow "The Secret Six" at St, James Theatre to-morrow. It is enriched by the polished acting of Constance Bennett, the gifted emotional actress of " Common Clay" and "Sin Takes a Holiday," and Eric von Stroheim, who portrayed the Zeppelin commander in "Hell's Angels. The film also is an artistic triumph lor Mr. Rov del Ruth, the director, whose deft skill has successfully accentuated the air of mystery which is the essence of the plot. Although tho picture deals with international espionage in the momentous davs of the war, the picture is entirely free from grim battlefield scenes. It is essentially a study of the emotional conflict ,between personal love and duty to , a cause. Miss Bennett endows with considerable dignity and charm the part of a mysterious woman emissary who tempoiarily. runs counter to tho plans of a man employed as butler in the household of the First Lord of the British Admnal y. The denouement is most surprising. " VIENNESE NIGHTS." Sigmund Romberg aud Oscar Hammerstein 11., two famous composers, wrote the entrancing musical score of " Viennese Nights,"- the gorgeous natural colour screen-operetta which will replace " Iliree Faces East " at St. James' Theatre tomorrow week. The picture has achieved phenomenal success wherever it has been shown and is now in the 16th week of its season at the Prince Edward Theatre, Sydney Filmed on a magnificent scale, the delightfully romantic story is interpreted by a cast of talented screen and stage players. Vinienne Segal's beautiful soprano voice is heard to perfection in the principal part, and both the leading men, Alexander Gray, of "Sally" and "No, ISO, Nanette," and Walter Pidgeon smg well. Jean Hersholt makes a sinister villain and the comedy element is in the capable hands of Louise Fazenda and Bert Roach. CIVIC THEATRE. Will Rogers revels in the part of Hank Martin in the film version of Mark Twain's "A_ Connecticut "i ankee at the Court of King Arthur," to be shown finally at the Civic Iheatre this evening. An incongruous figure when ho is transported to the antiquity of sixth century Britain,-the practical Hank is soon a serious contender for Merlin's position as chief magician in the court of King Arthur and irrefutably establishes _ his superiority by means of a common cigar lighter and a convenient total eclipse of the sun. There follow many humorous episodes. " ALWAYS GOOD-BYE." Elissa Landi, the beautiful and gifted iactress who won many admirers by her portrayal in "Body and boul, will be eagerly awaited in her second Hollywood production "Alwavs Good-bye," to replace the present film at the Civic Theatre toi morrow. The eminent critic Michael Orme says: "In 'Always Good-bye' Elissa Landi's sense of humour and inherent youthfulness are given a chance. Groomed to perfection she is chivalrously supported by Lewis' Stone, Paul Cavanagh and Frederick Kerr." ! NATIONAL THEATRE. : Tense drama and exhilarating adven-ture-romance are happily blended in the two pictures to be shown for the last time at the National Theatre this evening. "No Limit" is notable for the splendid performance given by Clara Bow, who plays a dramatic role with vivacity and charm. She appears as an unsuspecting woman who is duped by criminals. Stuart Erwin, Norman Foster and Harry Green are the other principal players. "Gun Smoke" is a stimulating outdoor i story abounding in action. Richard Arlen is splendid as a cowboy who finally succeeds in dispersing a band of city criminals and convinces tho winsome feminine ranch-owner of his abiding love for her. STRAND THEATRE. The final screenings of "Strictly Modern," in which Dorothy Mackail ap pears as an unconventional novelist, and "Conspiracy," a telling drama of illicit drug traffickers, will be given at tho Strand Theatre to day. Winnie Lightner,the popular comedienne of "The Golddiggers of Broadway" and "Sit Tight," will make her reappearance on tho Auckland screen in /'She Couldn't Say No," to replace the present programme to-mor-row. She acts with her usual boisterous charm. Comedy is the keynote of the film and there are innumerable funny incidents. LONDON TIIBATRE. After an extremely successful return Auckland season at the London Theatre the English comedy success " The Middle Watch will be shown for the last time this evening. It is based on the popular [ stage play bv lan Hay (John Hay Beith) ! and Stephen King-Hall. The leading ! players are Dodo Watts, Jacqueline Logan, Owen Nares and Jack Raine. | "Common Clay" will head the programme for the season to be begun tomorrow. It is distinguished by the fine emotional acting of Constance Bennett, who appears as a young woman treated harshly by fate. Lewis Ay res and Beryl Mercer also appear. TIVOLI THEATRE. "Tons of Money," tho excellent English comedy in which Ralph Lynn and Yvonne Arnaud are the leading players, will be shown finally at the Tivoli Theatre ths evening. Mr. Lynn reachos the height of comic .artistry in the part of an impecunious Englishman beset on all sides by insistent creditors. A double-feature programme will bo showD to-mOrrow. VICTORIA THEATRE. John McCormack's'fine'voice is flawlessly recorded in " Song o' My Heart," to be shown at the Victoria Tneatre this evening. ' PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE. " Charlie Chan Carries On," in which Warner Oland plays the role of a Chinese detective, and " Good News " will be the main films at the Prince Edward Theatre to-day. ; •' LYRIC THEATRE. " City Lights," .in which Charles Chaplin is at his best, will bo shown at the Lyric Theatre this eveniug. "The Middle Watch " will head to-morrow's programme. EPSOM REGENT THEATRE. "Not Exactly Gentlemen" and "Behind Office Doors" are the two main films on this evening's programme at the Epsom Regent, Theatre. ; EMPRESS THEATRE. * Dorothy Mackail plays a difficult role well in "Kept Husbands," which heads the .double-feature' programme at the Em press Theatre to-day. "Behind Office D'otfrs" wiU'also be presented.

REGENT THEATRE. Seldom has such imaginative photography bean brought to the screen as in "Dirigible,'' the remarkable drama of aerial exploration to be shown for the last time at the Regent Theatre this evening. Produced by Mr. Frank. Capra,the director of such epics of modern achievement as "Flight" and "Submarine," the film is an intensely human drama sot against a ceaselessly shifting background which in a few swift seconds changes from the semi-tropical beauty of a Californian beach to the bleakness of the merciless frozen wastes of the Antarctic. "TOM SAWYER" FOR REGENT. Jackie Coogau, who won fame as a child actor and is now 17 years old, returns to the screen in an extremely shrewd adaptation of Mark Twain's classic of American boyhood, "Tom Sawyer." A film with infinite appeal for both young and old, it will succeed "Dirigible" at the Regent Theatre tomorrow, It will be shown at all sessions. Jackie Coogan plays the title-role. Delightfully natural performances also are contributed by Mitzi Green, as the precocious Tom's sweetheart, "Becky" Thatcher and Junior Durkin, as Hucklebery Finn. Writing of the film, one critic says: " 'Tom Sawyer' is a profoundly interesting and sympathetic picture of the real America, that New England whiph is so rarely seen in films, and the children are wonderful in their humour and fancy and intense seriousness. The director has been at pains to develop characterisation and atmosphere and has given the screen a beautiful picture, not less acceptable because stretches of it revert to the technique of silenoe." An added attraction during the afternoon and evening sessions will be a humorous performance by Miss Betty Weldon and Mr. Jack Bradshaw, of London. MAJESTIC THEATRE. Ramon Novarro, the popular actor of "Ben Hur," "Call of the Flesh" and "In Gay Madrid," acts with his customary romantic charm in "Daybreak," to be shown for the last time at the Majestic Theatre this evening. In a colourful story of Vienna he is ably supported by Helen Chandler, of "Dracula," who makes a charming heroine. "RIVER'S END" FOR MAJESTIC. James Oliver Curwood's vital drama of the frozen north, "River's End," has lost none of its power and vividness by its transference to the talking screen. It will follow "Daybreak" at the Majestii* Theatre to-morrow. Charles Bickford. the idealistic Irish seaman in Greta Garbo's "Anna Christie," gives a dynamic portrayal of the principal character. a, resolute sergeant of the Canadian North-West Mounted Police, who, by a cruel trick of fate, is wrongfully suspected of murder. Mr. Bickford is extremely fortunate in his supporting artists." Evelyn Knapp is a wholly charming heroine, and Walter McGrail makes a specious villain. Excellent character studies are contributed by J. Farrel McDonald, as the hero's bibulous companion-in-arms, and David Torrence, in the part of Colonel McDowell, the father of the "pretty girl." Zasu Pitts and Tom Santschi provide the comic relief. Swift action dominates the plot from first to last and the atmosphere of suspense has been deftly sustained by the director, Michael Curtiz. The whole is artistically photographed. PLAZA THEATRE. " The Chinese Bungalow " and " Paradise Island " will be shown at the Plaza Theatre for the last time this evening. In the first Matheson Lang, noted English actor, gives an excellent characterisation of ' a, wealthy Chinese mandarin who reverts to his former standards of life when bis innate jealousy is aroused by his discovery of his European wife's love for a youthful Englishman. "Paradise Island" is a romance of the South Seas. Jack Holt, Ricardo Cortez and Mary Astor are the leading players in "White Shoulders," which will follow,, the present programme at the Plaza Theatre to-morrow. Mr. Holt, who has few peers in the art of portraying virile roles, makes an impelling figure of the central character in a mora sophisticated typo of film than those in which he usually appears.' Miss Astor, last seen in " Behind Office Doors," acts naturally, and Mr. Cortez plays a semivillainous role with distinction. CRYSTAL PALACE THEATRE. There is an air of quiet conviction about "Charlie Chan Carries On," the film version of Earl Der Biggers' detective story, to be shown at the Crystal Palace Theatre. Warner Oland, the accomplished Swedish actor, portrays the role of a benevolent and astute Chinese who sets out to solve a mysterious murder. Clara Bow is at her brightest in "Her Wedding Night," a second picture. EI ALTO THEATRE. The final screening of ''Tons of Money," in which Ralph Lynn gives a splendid comic portrayal, will be given at the Rialto Theatre this evening. Based on the Aldwych Theatre success, the immensely funny story deals with a harassed, impecunious Englishman who feigns he is dead and reappears as his noarest heir in order to avoid the demands of creditors. "The Lightning Flyer" is a second film. | TUDOR CINEMA. I Excerpts from Shakespeare, Sheridan | and Goldsmith will be presented by Mr. I Allan Wilkie and Miss Hunter-Watts at the Tudor Cinema this evening. This method of presenting works of these English dramatists is proving popular in Auckland. The programme chosen for fhis evening is varied, including both comedy and drama. COMMUNITY SINGING. Community singing continues to increase in popularity among Auckland people, if yesterday's enthusiastic gathering at the Town Hall is any indication. Mr. Len. Barnes led the singing of old melodies and new favourites anil solos were given by Mr. S. Asquith. Mrs. Barrington Snow was the accompanist. ROYAL AUCKLAND CHOIR, The Royal Auckland Choir, comprising 70 singers, will give a performance in the Town Hall this evening. The assisting artists will be Miss Margery Ryan, contralto, Mr. F. Sutherland, bass, and Dr. Trevor do Clive Lowe, 'cellist, I *