ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20981, 18 September 1931, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

REGENT THEATRE. v Tallulah Bankhead, the radiantly beautiful American actress who, during the last last eight years has been a warm favourite with London theatre-goers, brings her curiously-impelling personality to the audible screen for the first time in* "Tarnished Lady," in which she will be seen at the Regent Theatre this week. She endows the part of a woman made the victim of harsh circumstance with a wistful detachment which (stamps her aa an emotional actress of real dramatic worth. As a wealthy broker whoso subsequent poverty accentuates the more brutal traits in his character, Clive Brook acts with sincerity and conviction. ORGANIST AT THE REGENT. Tlie undoubted artistry and genial personality of Mr. Paul Cullen, tho "singing organist," who will commence his engagement at the Regent Theatre to-day, should soon establish him with Auckland filmgoers. Besides being an organist of talent, Mr. Cullen is the possessor of a fine baritone voice, which will be heard in popular ballads and novelty numbers. A musician of wide experience in America and Australia, Mr. Cullen has just concluded a year's engagement with a Wellington theatre. ST. JAMES' THEATRE. " Pardon Us," tho first long comedy of Liurel and Hardy, and " Shipmates," a rollicking tale of the sea in which Robert Montgomery is the leading player, should prove a popular combination at St. James' Theatre this week. " Pardon Us " shows the incongruous pair of comedians as two happy-go-lucky Southerners imprisoned when their plans to dispose of vast quantities of homebrew miscarry. One ludicrous situation follows another as tho nonsensical couple escape from prison, avoid recapture in the guise of cotton pickers who make pets of the bloodhounds on their trail, and inadvertently secure a pardon by their inane antics with a machine-gun during a convict riot. Mr. Montgomery cuts an engaging figure as a somewhat renegade sailor in " Shipmates," the cast of which also includes Dorothy Jordan, who makes a demurely charming heroine, and Ernest Torrence, in the role of a wise old mariner who reunites the estranged lovers. MAJESTIC THEATRE. A story brimful of genuine sentiment is. told in "Father's Son," the vital drama of the relationship between parent and child, to be shown at the Majestic Theatre for the first time to-day. Lewis Stone, who is one of the most popular actors appearing in films, gives another faultless performance as an austere, relentless father whoso continual strict censuring of his son's most innocent boyish pranks is in sharp contrast to the more comprehending gentleness shown by the child's mother. Leon Janney, the young actor of "Courage" and "Old English," is an appealing character, as the lad who longs to be as other boys are, and Irene Rich acts with dignity and restraint as the mother. The picture is one with a universal appeal, and should enjoy great success in Auckland.

CIVIC THEATRE. "Good Gracious, Annabelle!" the deliriously humorous stage comedy by Clare Kummer, to be shown in its film version as "Annabelle's Affairs" at the Civic Theatre for the week beginning to-day, might have been written especially for Jeanetto Mac Donald. She is wholly irresistible as the madcap young woman who marries a shaggy, almost uncouth miner (Victor McLaglen) through a etrange misconception, immediately proceeds to forget him, and fails to recognise the still burly but now more refined, wealthy mineowner when she meets him later. Another excellent performance comes from Roland Young, the subtle English comedian of "New Mwon" and "The Prodigal," who appears as a fabulously rich miner who runs counter to the girl s husband for the possession of a particular mine. Sparkling dialogue adds point to the succession of adroit situations which comprise the film. PLAZA THEATRE. The screen drama is raised to a high level in " Transgression," the distinctive Herbert Brenon film to begin a season at the Plaza Theatre to-day. It is splendidly acted. Kay Francis, whose most recent notable appearance was in George Bancroft's " Scandal Sheet," is called upon to portray an exacting role as a woman who marries a mining engineer, becomes infatuated with a Spanish philanderer during her husband's temporary absence, and finally realises her love for her husband. Paul Cavanagh, seen recently in " Always Goodbye," is splendid as the husband, and Ricardo Cortez is suitably suave as the engaging foreigner. There is an uncommonly good supporting cast of players. LONDON THEATRE. A gifted emotional actress, Marlene Dietrich, makes an auspicous appearance on the Auckland screen in " Morocco," the new film ai the London Theatre. Artistically produced by Joseph von Sternberg, ana incorporating some magnificent scenic effects, the picture is a glamorous story of the French Foreign Legion. Miss Dietrich is an appealing character as an aloof entertainer in a Moroccan cafe, who is attracted by a reckless and cynical legionary, splendidly played by Gary Cooper. STRAND THEATRE. "Captain Applejack" and "His Friend's Wife" comprise the main portion of the new programme at the Strand Theatre today. The first is notable for an unusual story. "His Friend's Wife," a telling drama of modern social life, is interpreted chiefly by Mary Astor, the charming actress of countless productions, and Grant Withers, who makes a handsome hero. EPSOM REGENT THEATRE. " The Spy," an engrossing drama of Russia under the Soviet regime, heads the programme at the Epsom Regent Theatre this evening. RIALTO THEATRE. Mario Dressier plays the leading part in " Reducing," which heads the programme at the Rialto Theatre this evening. CRYSTAL PALACE THEATRE. " Reducing," in which Marie Dressier and Polly Moran appear, and " Three Girls Lost," a modern drama, will be shown at the Crystal Palace Theatre this evening. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE. " It's a Wise Child " and " Under a Texas Moon " comprise the main entertainment at the Princa Edward Theatre to-day. GREY LYNN CINEMA. " Sunny," with Marilyn Miller, will be the main film at the Grey Lynn Cinema this evening. BRITANNIA THEATRE. " Doctors' Wives," with Joan Bennett and Warner Baxter, will bo presented at the Britannia Theatre this evening. VICTORIA THEATRE. Lewis Ayres portrays a " baby-faced killer" in "Illegal," to head the programme at the Victoria Theatre this evening. " Too Young to M.uij' " v..-. a.'.'uj b<; shown.

NATIONAL THEATRE. Lavish praise has been bestowed by Australian critics upon " The White Devil," the artistic U.F.A. romantic drama to be shown at, the National . Theatre for the first time to-day. One of them says: " As a spectacle, an artistic offering, 'The White Devil' rarely, if ever, has been surpassed on the audible screen. Magnificent in its every movement, the themo of Leo Tolstoy's 'Hadji Mural* lends itself to the type of brilliant photography and original presentation which characterises all German films. This production is as near '.per? feet as one will ever see and hear. Set: tings achieve a degree of almost overwhelming magnificence, the musical score is an unobtrusive benediction, and the appearance of the Don Cossacks and the Russian Imperial Ballet adds further delight to what is already a masterpiece." TTVOLI THEATRE. Seymour Hicks, with his humorous inspiration and lightness of touch, revels in his role of an ardent wooer in " The Love Habit," his own translation from the French of Louis Verrieuil's witty farce, to bo shown at the Tivoli Theatre this evening- Sparkling dialogue adds point to the succession of adroit situations which comprises the subtly-humor-ous story. Mr. Hicks is fortunate in his supporting artists. Margot Grahame, who plays the part of a petulant '' grass widow," appeared in' a prominent role in " Uneasy -Virtue " recently. Edmund Breon, who appears as her philandering husband, will be remembered as tho ponderous bachelor in "On Approval " and the easy-going husband in " Uneasy Virtue." TUDOR CINEMA. An orchestra under Eve Bcntlev will commence an engagement at the Tudor Cinema this evening. The film programme will be headed by "Within the Law," in which .Toan Crawford gives one of the most dramatic portrayals of her career. LYRIC THEATRE. "The Great Meadow," in which John Mack Brown appears at the Lyric Theatre this evening, is a splendid pioneering epic. EMPRESS THEATRE. / "The Love Waltz," ein artistic musical film, will be shown afc the Empress Theatre to-day. MARGHERITA ZELANDA. Margherita Zelanda, whose remarkably fine singing at the recent radio exhibition is still fresh in the memories of those who heard her, is assured 6f a warm welcome from Auckland music-lovers when she appears toward the end of the month. Three recitals will be given, the first two in the Town Hall concert chamber on Thursday, September 24, and Saturday, September 26, and the final one in the main Town Hall on the following Tuesday. Possessed of a pure coloratura voice, with a charming stage presence, Miss Zelanda will present a wide range of songs ranging from delightful ballads to difficult grand opera. COMMUNITY SINGING. Part-singing by pupils of the Parnell school, under Sir. Edwin Parker, will enliven the community singing gathering at the Lewis Eady Hall this evening. Uncle Tom, of IZR, Will be the song leader.