ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21068, 30 December 1931, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS.

CIVIC THEATRE. Tho magnetic personality of Maurice Chcvalior, the irresistible French matinee idol now tho screen favourite of millions, was never more devastating than in " The Smiling Lieutenant," the distinctive Ernst Lubitsch production now being presented at Iho Civic Theatre. The individualistic German director has brought to his latest screen masterpiece the same masterly touch that distinguished " The Love Parade" and " Monte Carlo." Chevalier levels in the part of a gay and sprightly Viennese cavalier, whose romance with a bet witching cabaret entertainer (Claudette Colbert) is interrupted by the caprice of a somewhat dowdy princess, played with appropriate austerity by Miriam Hopkins. There is also tho delightful music by Oscar Strauss find settings picturesque without being fantastic. The fine supporting programme includes comprehensive nowsreels, an entrancing screen-song and a. laughable comedy. The delightful pantomime " Dick Whittington and IFis Cat", is to be staged at the afternoon performance. " LET'S LOVE AND LAUGH." Gene Gerrard, the comic genius of "My Wife's Family," is at his funniest in " Let's Love and Laugh," tho hilarious comedy to follow " The Smiling Lieutenant" at the Civic Theatre on Friday. An almost equally amusing character is played by (ieorge Gee, a valuable recruit from the legitimate stage. Tho leading lacjv is Muriel Angelus, the incredulous young wife in Mr. Gerrard':, initial success. ST. JAMES' THEATRE. " Trader Horn," which is enjoying remarkable success at St. James' Theatre, is without question one of tho most astounding films, irrespective of type, to have reached tho audible screen. "Sir. W. S. van Dyke, the eminent director of such diverse films as " White Shadows of the. South Seas," " Never the Twain Shall Meet" and "Guilty Hands," lias achieved an artistic, albeit sometimes stark, jungle romantic drama which totally eclipses any previous effort. Scenes of wondrous beauty amid man and beast in their primitive "state, of unloosed savagery which knows but one code, of sheer breadth and pewer come crowding in so fast upon one another that tho audience is left, wellnigh breathless. "Trader Horn" will make an indelible impression upon all who sec the film. MAJESTIC THEATRE. Whimsy is returning to favour on the screen. And no wonder. If the latest trend in film entertainment continues to produce such artistic and exquisite films as "Daddy Long-Legs" and "Merely Mary Arm" the chiefs of Hollywood will have solved tho problem of knowing what the public wants. "Merely Mary Ann" is proving most popular at the Majestic Theatre, where it is being shown this week. The film adaptation of Israel Zangwill's charming romance of an orphan domestic in a London boarding house and an idealistic struggling musician, it reunites Janet Gaynor and Charles Farroll, the "perfect screen lovers" of "Seventh Heaven." Beryl Mercer also appears. PLAZA THEATRE. An association which has been maintained iri a lons succession of films, notably "Flight," "Submarine" and "Dirigible," is continued by Jack Holt and Ralph Graves in "A Dangerous Affair,' the comedy-drama of the rivalry between a police officer and a crime reporter for the love of tho same woman, which heads the current programme at tho Plaza Theatre. Sally Blano is both beautiful and articulate as the fascinating leading lady, who leads the two men a merry dance. Although there are occasional moments of tensity, comedy predominates in the picture. There aro many very humorous incidents. NATIONAL THEATRE. A certain sweep of action characterises "Riders of the Purplo Sage," the film transcription ofZaneGrey's fine adventureromance now being presented at the National Theatre. No more suitable actor than George O'Brien could have been chosen for the part of Lassiter, for not only is he of virile cast of feature, but ho excels in horsemanship and is astonishingly quick on the draw. Marguerite Churchill is demuro as the heroine. STRAND THEATRE. No lover of horses should fail to see "Sporting Blood," the beautiful romance of the race-track now being shown at the Strand Theatre. It is a picture which will appeal to almost every taste. Artistic photography of settings amid the famed blue grass of Kentucky are particularly notable. Tho human drama is well played by Clark Gable, Madge Evans, Ernest Torrence and Lew Cody. LONDON THEATRE. One could see "Viennese Nights," tho glorious Sigmund Rombcrg-Oscar Hnmmerstein IT. operetta now at the London Theatre, time and again without tiring of the enchanting music, the beautiful romance of blighted love and tho artistic settings and photography. Each performer gives an excellent characterisation. There are Vivienne Segal. Alexander Gray, Louise Fazenda and Bert Roach LYRIC THEATRE. Miss Joan Crawford, whose sincere and forceful characterisations of dramatic roles in several recent, successes earned her a. fine reputation, adds to it by her workin "Dance, Fools, Dance," to bo screened at tho Lyric Theatre this evening. A delightful Laurel and Hardy comedy will also be shown, and a wide variety of interesting shorter films will complete the programme. CRYSTAL PALACE THEATRE. Described as England's Marie Dressier, Maisio Gay is extremely funny in the. British picture, "To Oblige a Lady," which will be shown at. the. Crystal Palace Theatre this evening. Tho second attraction ivill be "Never the Twain Shall Moot," a fine drama, of conflicting racial traditions, based on Peter B. Kyne's novel. A newly discovered actress, Conchita Montenegro, is the. principal. TUDOR THEATRE. Wonderful songs and a. romantic story aro prominent characteristics of "One Heavenly Night," to be shown at the Tudor Theatre this evening. BRITANNIA THEATRE. A special matinee programme, including "Devil to Pay," will be given at the Britannia Theatre this afternoon. In the evening tho second feature will be "Laughing Sinners." REGENT THEATRE, EPSOM. An Edgar Wallace story forms the basis of tho hilarious English farce, "To Oblige a Lady," which will be shown at tho Regent Theatre, Epsom, this evening. "Hot Curves" will also be screened. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE. Joe, E. Brown and Winnie Lightner make an hilarious combination in tho Warner Brothers' film, "Sit Tight," to be screened at the Prince Edward Theatre this evening. From first to last, the picture moves at a rapid pace as tho pair take part in tho inimitable clowning and repartee.

REGENT THEATRE. Inimitable clowning by Eddie Cantor, beautiful ballet dancing presented as only Florenz Ziegfeld can present it, brilliantly witty dialogue and entrancing music enliven "Palmy Days," the lavish extravaganza which is proving tremendously popular at the Regent Theatre this week. As a pseudo-mystic later become a self-styled efficiency expert Mr. Cantor is perhaps even more uproariously funny than he was as the hypochondriac simpleton in "Whoopee," the classic film of its type, which was shown in Auckland this timo last year. Everything ho does is patently a burlesque, of the modern "efficient" methods upon which American magnates pride themselves. It is all very funny. TIVOLI AND EMPRESS. Two splendid films will be shown at the Tivoli and Empress Theatres this evening. Tho first, "The Speckled Band, one of tho most thrilling of Conan Doyle's well-known series of detective stories, and in it Sherlock Holmes solves an almost baffling mystery. None of the thrills of tho book have been lost, by tho producers, an English company, in transferring it to the screen. The second feature, " Platinum Blonde," is an amusing picture of American life in which Jean Harlow, the principal of " Hell's Angels," takes the leading part. Associated with her are, Loretta "Young, Louise Hale anrl Walter Catlett. RIALTO THEATRE. By special arrangement, the Rialto Theatre will present the Girls' Brass Band, under the baton of Mr. Arthur Hodgkins, this evening. The band delighted audiences at, His Majesty's Theatre recently and its programme for this evening includes several fine items. " Shipmates," with Dorothy Jordan and Robert, Montgomery as the principals, and several shorter films, will be screened. ROXY THEATRE. Tim McCoy and Buck Jones vie as daring horsemen and marksmen in the pictures being presented at the Roxv Theatre this week. " Tho Range Feud " and " Gun-shot Pass " are their very appropriate titles. They are Western pictures of the. most invigorating type. In the first Mr. Jones gives his usual virile performance as a fighting sheriff, determined to stamp out. lawlessness in the tiny community of Twin Oaks, Arizona. Other members of the cast arc John Wayne and Susan Fleming. Swift action characterises '' Gun-shot Pass," in which Mr. McCoy, who has few peers in rugged characterisation, acts with his customary abandon.