ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20960, 25 August 1931, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS.

ST. JAMES' THEATRE. A flawless plot, excellent acting and masterly direction raise "Three Faces East," the present picture at St. James' Theatre, to a high level among dramas of espionage in war time. Constance Bennett endows with poise and grace the part of a mysterious woman emissary en : gaged upon a hazardous task. Equally polished is the performance contributed by Eric von Stroheim, the German actor, last seen in Howard Hughes' "Hell's Angels." He is just the type of person for the role of an artful spy who assumes the guise of butler in the household of the First Lord of the English Admiralty. The air of mystery lias been cleverly sustained by the director, Mr. Kay del Ruth.

"VIENNESE NIGHTS." "Viennese Nights," the distinctive screen-operetta to replace "Three Faces East" at St. James' Theatre on Friday, is a happy blend of glorious music, an idyllic love story and refreshing humour. The piece was written especially for the screen by Sigmund Romberg and Oscar Hammerstein 11., the collaborators of a score of enchanting stage successes. Their most famous operettas include "Rose Mario" and "New Moon." Romberg also composed tlm music for "Blossom Time," "The Student Prince" and "Rosalie"; Hammerstein was the librettist for "Sunny," "Show Boat" and "Sweet Adeline." * "Viennese Nights" is finely acted. Vivienne Segal, Walter Pidgeon and Alexander Gray, are all operatic principals of repute, and Jean Hersholt, Loniso Fazenda and Bert Roach are players of wide experience. CIVIC THEATRE. Elissa Landi, the beautiful European actress, fulfils tho bright promise she showed in "Body and Soul" in "Always Good-bye," tho new picture at tho Civic Theatre. She endows with youthful charm the part of the companion of a plausible rogue who invades the Italian villa of a wealthy bachelor and there defeats the rogue at his own game. An English critic says: " 'Always Good-bye' is easy to look at, and, since nearly all the voices are English, easy to listen to. Elissa Landi, groomed to perfection and carefully produced, is chivalrously supported by Paul Cavanagh, as a specious diamond thief, Lewis Stone, as a rich man of fashion and Frederick Kerr: the lastnamed gives a lively sketch of an elderly suitor." REGENT THEATRE. The extremely fine adaptation of Mark Twain's .classic of American boyhood "Tom Sawyer," now being shown at tho Regent Theatre, is a film with infinite appeal for both young and old. Jackie Coogan, tho famous child actor of the silent> screen, is an engaging character as tho precocious Tom, bare-footed and freckle-faced, whose ambition is to be a kind and generous pirate to savo the world from wicked men, and to win the heart of the adorable Bcckv Thatcher, delightfully played by Mitzi Green. The out-at-olbow and down-at-heel, but always cheery, Huckleberry Finn is excellently played by Junior Durkin. All the memorable episodes of the book have been preserve*! in the film, from tho whitewashing of Aunt Polly's fence, to the classic geography lesson and Tom's ardent wooing ot Becky.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. No more virile actor than Charles BickforJ could have been chosen to play the dual role in James Oliver Curwood's drama of the frozen north " River's End," at present being shown at the Majestic Theatre. Mr. Bickford gives a dynamic portrayal of a steadfast sergeant of the North-West Mounted Police made tho victim of a cruel fate. He is equally as convincing as the hunted criminal, whose remarkable resemblance to his pursuer lends the film its main theme. Evelyn Knapp is a demurely beautiful heroine and David Torrence and J. Farrell McDonald also appear.

STRAND THEATRE. Winnio Lightner, the popular comedienne of " The Gold-diggers of Broadway " and " Sit Tight," is at her best, in " She Couldn't Say No," to be shown with Billie Dove's The Other To-mor-row " at the Strand Theatre to-day. She appears as an idol of night club throngs who becomes involved with a notorious " gangster," played with customary urbanity by Chester Morris. Among the catchv songs are " She's Got Monkey Glands " and " Darn Fool Woman Like Me." PLAZA THEATRE. Rex Beach's telling drama of a duped husband's merciless scheme to avenge himself following his wife's deceitfulness, " White Shoulders," is enjoying merited popularity at the Plaza Theatre. There is an uncommonly talented cast in the leading roles. Jack Holt, an actor of wide experience; Mary Astor, who portrays the unhappy wife with distinction; and Ricardo Cortez, in a semi-villainous role, are all spendid.

CRYSTAL PALACE THEATRE. Marlene Dietrich, the.beautiful German actress, and Gary Cooper are the principals in "Morocco," the Joseph von Sternberg film to head the programme at the Crystal Palace Theatre this evening. Adolphe Menjou also appears. RIALTO THEATRE. Doiothy Mackail and Joel McCrne are called upon for some dramatic acting in "Kept Husbands" to head the double-feature programme at the Rialto Theatre this evening. "East Is West," with Lupe Velez and Lewis Ayres; is the second film. Its keynote is drama.

EPSOM REGENT THEATRE. "Lover Come Back," with Jack Mulhall, and "The Lightning Flyer" comprise the two main films to be shown at the Epsom Regent Theatre this evening. EMPRESS THEATRE. "Social Errors," with Leon Errol, will be presented with "Wall Street" at the Empress Theatre to-day. LYRIC THEATRE. English comedy is presented at its best in "The Middle Watch," to be shown at the Lyric Theatre this evening. It is interpreted by a cast of talented players. TUDOR CINEMA. "Almost a Honeymoon/' a fine English comedy, will bo shown finally at the Tudor Cinema this evening. "Africa Speaks" will head to-morrow's programme. VICTORIA THEATRE. "East Lynne," with Ann Harding and Clive Brook, will be presented at the Victoria Theatre this evening. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE. "The Spy" and "Leave It To Me" will bo shown at the Prince Edward Theatre to-day. BRITANNIA THEATRE.

The main films to be shown at the Britannia Theatre this evening are ducing" and "Dumbells in Ermine."

GREY LYNN CINEMA. Fifi Dorsay and El Brendel appear in '.'Mr. Lemon of Orange," the main film at the Grey Lynn Cinema this evening.

NATIONAL .THEATRE. All the resources of modern screen technique have been brought into play to produce " Dirigible," the remarkable aviation epic now being shown at the National Theatre. Although there is vital drama in the story of the rivalry of two men for the love of the same woman, the film's greatest appeal lies in its depiction of thrilling aviation scenes.' Writing of what lie describes as "a really entertaining film," an English reviewer says: —There are magnificent flying scenes, the most astonishing of which are the crashing of a giant dirigible into the storm-tossed waters of the Caribbean Sea and the passage of the new airship over the ice barrier, to thrill and enthrall us."

TIVOLI THEATRE. Zrine Grey's "Fighting Caravans," in which Gary Cooper and Lily Damita make an engaging romantic pair, will bo shown with "Tho Gang Buster" at the Tivoli Theatre this evening. The first is an artistically produced pioneering epic in which Cooper cuts a handsome figure as a hard-riding scout whoso prowess .and dauntless courage earn him the admiration of everybody except the girl ho loves and his sinister rival. In "The Gang Buster" Jack Oakie appears as a would-be detective. "GREEN PARROT" DANCE CLUB. An addition to tho city's places of entertainment is the Green Parrot Supper and Dance Club, which has recently been opened in Queen Street, opposite St. James' Theatre. It is fashioned on lines similar to those of European night clubs. A flat rate is charged for supper and patrons may uso the specially-con-structed dance floor. Ihe latest music is played by Perrin's Blue Four. Features of the service are well-appointed cubicles and a private room for parties. The menu embraces a wide selection of grills and supper delicacies. The cafe is open every evening until a late hour.

HIGHER THOUGHT CONCERT. A concert was given recently under tho auspices of the Auckland Higher Thought Centre. The Temple Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Mr. Herbert Barrington, gave selections from Weber-Gillet and Kostal. Perhaps their finest item was "By the Sea" (Kostal), in which the pianist, Mrs. V. J. Moller, was allowed full scope for her technique and interpretation. The following artists contributed items:—Mrs. Hamilton King (Maori songs), and Mrs. Pearl Owen, Misses Ida Walker, Beryl Debenham (violin solos), and M Wigg (cello), and Messrs. Harris, A. Wright and Moffatt. The Handel trio gave two most enjoyable items. An innovation was the children's toy symphony orchestra, under the baton of Miss Beryl Debenham.