ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21069, 31 December 1931, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS.

CIVIC THEATRE, Miriam Hopkins deserves special meniion for her thoroughly delightful portrayal of tho simpering dowdy princess ia " Tho Smijing Lieutenant," the excellent Maurice Chevalier-Ernst Lubitsch. film which will end its season at tho Civic Theatre this evening. Iler transformation to a typical modern miss under the apt tutelage of her former rival—an al-, luring cabaret entertainer—is skilfully, done. The film is in the true Gilbertian tradition throughout, and the mock pomp of tiny Ruritanian kingdoms 'is mercilessly satirised. "LET'S LOVE AND LAUGH." Gene Gerrard is. a. comic genius. His performance in "My Wife's Family" proved that. He has been inspired to even greater heights of affable ludicrous-, ness iii " Let's Love and Laugh," the musical comedy to follow " Tho Smiling Lieutenant" at the Civic Theatre tomorrow. The introduction of music will be welcome to thoso who remember tho duct by Mr. Gerrard and Jimmie Godden on their release from prison as one of tho most delightful memories of "My Wife's Family." Muriel Angelas, the incredulous wife in that film, gives another facilo portrayal of a young bride unable to believe tho worst of her husband. It' is not difficult to imagine Mr. Gerrard as a fabulously wealthy young man who, having become affianced to a designing woman ho does not love, marries a demuro cabaret entertainer (Miss. Angelus) while in a state of intoxication. Then tho fun begins. Other members of the cast are George Gee, the accomplished comedian who appeared on the Auckland stage with the " Lilac Time " company some years ago, as a riotously funny detective; Henry Wenman, the amusing Marine Ogg in " The Middle Watch," as a sedulous and imperturbable valet; Ronald Frankau and Dennis Wyndham. Tho appealing songs include "My Share of Love" and "The A.B.C. of Love." ROXY THEATRE. An excellent holiday comprising two of the latest Western films from the Columbia studios, "The Range Feud" and " Gunshot Pass," is being presented ! at the Roxy Theatre this week. The I principal players arc Tim McCoy and j Buck Jones, past-masters in the arts of | rough riding and quick shooting. In : " The Range Feud " Mr. Jones has a ! part which suits his particular accomplish- j incuts to perfection. Two stern old men j begin a range war that divides the coin- | munity of Twin Oaks, Arizona, into two ! factions. This situation introduces the i fighting sheriff of the town/ who succeeds ! iu saving an innocent man frOm the gal- j lows and. running to earth tho guilty one. Tho cast, also includes John Wayne, of i " The Big Trail," and Susan Fleming, a I former Ziegfeld Follies actress. Romance j and adventure are skilfully, mingled in " Gunshot Pass," in which Mr. McC'oy has a typical role as a hard-riding cowboy caught in an unusual train of circumstances. Virginia Leo Corbin is the j heroine. PIOTUREDROME THEATRE. A carnival spirit should prevail this evening at the Picturedromo Theatre, Milford, where special arrangements have been made to celebrate tho advent of the now year. The main film will be "Caught Short," ail hilarious comedy in which' j Mario Dressier and Polly Moran appear | as rival boardinghouse keepers .of different, temperaments who arc persuaded to dabble in stocks and shares. Tho picture programme will be followed by four hours' jazz. The music will be played by Carl's Whoop-te-do Boy 5 ', an excellent ! combination. Patrons are promised a i delightful evening's entertainment, cul- ! minating in new year celebrations. | . STRAND THEATRE. "Sporting Blood," the uncommonly fine j romance of the turf which will end its season at the Strand .Theatre this evening, ! is dedicated to tho memory of all the j famous thoroughbreds of the world. It is a wholly admirable film. The scenes of stud farm and track reach a very high level of artistic excellence. The leading players are Clark Gable, the most impelling new screen personality, Madge Evans, Ernest Torrence and Lew Cody; TIVOH AND EMPRESS THEATRES. Charles G.. Norris' impressive story"Seed," depicting tho conflict between a man's domestic ties and his ambition as an author, has been, skilfully- transferred to the screen hy the Universal Studios. With John Boles, Lois Wilson and Gene< vieve Tobin in the principal roles, it will lie shown at the Tivoli and Empress Theatres this evening. | CENTRAL THEATRE, PAPATOETOE. Maurice Chevalier gives a captivating j performance in " Playboy of Paris," the I brilliant musical comedy which will head | the programme at the Central Theatre, 1 | Papatoetoe, this evening. He appears as i a Parisian waiter who inherits a fortune. | A special programme will be shown on | Saturday afternoon. ! PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE. Hilarious comedy is tho keynote of "Sit : Tight," tho very amusing film to be ' shown at the Prince Edward Theatre I again to-day. Joe E. Brown and Winnie | Lightner, supreme in their particular | classes, are an excellent comedy pair and j do the humour full justice. KINGSLAND TALKIES. j " Captain Applejack," in which Claude j Allister, the inimitable actor of "silly i ass" parts, and Mary Brian appear, heads' the programme at tho Kingsland Talkies j this evening. " His Friend's Wife" is | the other film. ADELPHI THEATRE. A grand carnival, including a film pro- : gramme, will be held at the Adelphi Theatre this' evening. The picture is j " Once a Gentleman," in which Edward [ Everett Horton is tho principal. It will | bo followed by jazz. TUDOR CINEMA. Evelyn Lave, tho beautiful English actress of the Noel Coward stage success "Bitter Sweet," appears with John Boles in the operetta "One Heavenly Night" at the Tudor Cinema this evening. EPSOM REGENT THEATRE. Warner Ohmd plays tho part of the benevolent Oriental detective Charlie Chan in "The Black Camel," to he pre- | sented at the Epsom Regent Theatre this evening. RL ALTO THEATRE. Percy Crosby's classic of boyhood,"Skippy" (Jackie Cooper), heads the programme to be shown at the Rialto Theatre this evening. "Alibi," an English drama, is also being shown. CRYSTAL PALACE THEATRE. Robert Montgomery, Dorothy Jordan. Ernest Torrence and Cliff Edwards ("Ukulele Ike") appear in "Shipmates," the main film on the programme at tho Crystal Palace Theatre this evening. The other is "Costollo Case," a mystery drama. LYRIC THEATRE. Joan Crawford gives.a superb dramatic portrayal as a society girl forced to earn her own living as a journalist in "Dance, Fools, Dance," which will head the programme at the Lyric Theatre this evening. Lester Vail also has » prominent role.

NATIONAL THEATRE. The final screenings of the thrilling Zana Grey story, " Riders of the Purple Sage," will be given at the National Theatre today. To-morrow a further splendid holiday programme will open a season. The main picture will he " Lasca of tho Rio Grande," an outdoor film of the Mexican frontier. All the elements of romance, serenading senors, dancing senoritas, a half-bred cattle king who over-rules law and order, and-tho treacherous, tempestuous girl who is transformed eventually by. lier lovo for tho hero, Aro present and the production moves at a rapid pace from - start to finish. Leo Carrillo, Dorothy - Burgess and Johnny Mack Brown are the principals, and tho ever-popular Slim iSummerville, supplies abundant humour. Several attractive song numbers aro a feature of the picture. REGENT THEATRE. Eddie Cantor has been described by Punch as initiating an entirely new and refreshing style of, comedy and his . latest production, " Palmy Days," which is continuing to attract crowds to the Regent Theatre, shows jhim at his. funniest. The whole action of the picture takes place in a gigantic bakery, characterised by a delightful mixture of modern efficiency methods and an unexpected atmosphere of irresponsibility. Cantor is first introduced as the assistant to a bogus fortune-teller, and, as a. means to gaining further control of a credulous financier, ho is induced to take over tha position of " efficiency Jexpert" to the bakery. The events that occur when tho fortune-teller endeavours to rob the safo of s, large sum of motley and Cantor's efforts to prevent him, form the basis of an intensely interesting and amusing film. Clever ballet dancing, spectacular settings and bright song numbers add to the entertainment of the production. PLAZA THEATRE. Hie final performances, of ''A Dangerous Affair," in which; Jack Holt and Ralph Graves continue a screen association begun a considerable time ago, will lie given at the Plaza Theatre to-day. Sally Blane is tho heroine. Tho English mystery drama is presented at its best in "'I he House of Unrest," to succeed " A Dangerous Affair 'V to-morrow. Tt is notablo for tho sane logic of the plot and tho excellence of the acting of a talented English cast. There arc such notable players s.s Dorothy Boyd. Malcolm Keen, Tom Helmoie, Leslie Perrins and Mary Mavfrcn. The baffling storv deals with tho strange goings-on in a .deserted mansion at dead of night. ST. JAMES' THEATRE. " Trader Horn,"' the jungle film now at St. James' Theatre, is a giant among pictures. It completely overshadows any other production yet to hav.e reached tho audible screen. An Australian critic says: " Ono sees alligators, Izebras, gazelles, wildebeestos, hartebeestqs, irnpala, all tho <;ame-herds of the grass-country, giraffes., ('beautiful in a comic, sort of way'), ostriches, watcr-buck, baboons, leopards, hyenas, elephants, wild dogs, jackals, buffalo, crynx, wart-hogs,) crocodiles, antelopes, and even the geranuk-giraffe gazelle, of whom Trader Horn remarks contemptuously, 'Don't bother with him, lad; I havo no use for these mixed-up creatures-.' " I ! MAJESTIC THEATRE. No one who enjoyed the sincere simplicity of " Daddy Long-Legs " should miss " Merely Mary Ann," which reunites Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell, undoubtedly tho most popular lovers of the screen. It is being | .presented at the Majestic Theatre. There is an indefinable air of charm about " Merely Mary Ann " which will make an immediate appeal to all'who view the (exquisite film version of the noted Israel Zangwill play. Miss Gaynor is totally irresistible, in the part of the wistful orphan drudge in a cheap English boarding-house,, and Mr. Farrell is .'just the type of actor for the role of the idealistic composer. . LONDON 1 THEATRE. \ ienneso Nights" continues to prove popular at the London Theatre. The music, composed by Oscar Hammerstein 11. and Sigrnund Romberg, has an evergreen appeal. Then there is the tenderly beautiful story of a romance that was blighted, but which blossomed anew with the happiness of a late? generation. BRITANNIA THEATRE. ; " The Devil to Pay," with Ronald C'olman, and " Laughing Sinners " (Joan Crawford) comprise the films at tho Britannia Theatre this evening. ■" Daddy . Long-legs " will begin to-morrow. ' | FINAL COMMUNITY SINGING. Tho final community singing gathering of the season will be held in the Lewis Eady Hall this evening at 7.30. The past - season has been a most successful one and a large attendance; is anticipated at the final meeting. Novelties have been arranged. Uncle Tom and Uncle Matt, will be the song leaders.;