ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21129, 11 March 1932, Page 13

ENTERTAINMENTS.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. No film spectacle left a more lasting impression on the memory and imagination of audiences than "Ben Huv" chd when it was first presented six years ago, and its revival at the Majestic Theatre last evening proved that in spite of the revolutionary changes in the screen world since 1926, its grandeur and immensity of production makes it still one of the highest achievements in film history, 'lhe piescnt revival, which has been remarkably successful all over the world, presents the identical film of 1926, in an elaborate setting of sound ellc-ds. It is not surprising that directors should have quailed before lhe task of re filming tlie picture, since "Bon llur," as it is known to the public, occupied three years and cost, £1.400,000. The film is therefore essentially a ".silent," complete with subtitles, but the excellence of the musical score accompanying it, and the deftness with which suitable sound effects, such as the beating of the. horses' hoofs in the great chariot race, have been introduced, makes the absence of speech negligible. The picture is, moreover, essentially based on panoramic and vast action in which dialogue is unnecessary. After the restraint uf the talking pictures, the acting. being solely dependent on facial expression and gesture, is refreshingly vigorous. The film, however, will retain its outstanding place by reason of the majestic spectacles it affords, rather than by its character portrayals. 'J he Roman world, at the height of its magnificence and power, is exposed in a series of tinforget able scenes. The story opens in the grim stone city of Jerusalem, where the smouldering race hatred of the Jews shows itself by lowering glances and continuous incipient revolts against the hated rulers and conquerors. Hero in the princely house of llur, the arrogant spirit of the Roman soldier is typified by the attitude talien up by Messala toward Judah, the son of the house, once his bosom companion. He makes no scruples about treating the family with contempt, and on a slight pretext, Ben Hur is delivered into Roman captivity. Sentenced as a galley slave, Ben llur nourishes a bitter and overpowering desire for revenge, and the way in which this is eventually satisfied forms the basis of the intensely interesting plot. The naval battle and galley scenes in which the combat between the Roman fleet and pirates is shown is as outstanding to-day as it was when the film was first shown. No more terrible or exciting spectacle could be imagined. The climax of the film, however, comes with the unforgetable chariot race, in which Ben Hur is matched against his deadly rival, Mes-ala. The photography of the scene makes it the greatest technical triumph of the screen. 'lhe cast, of course, includes many who are merely names of the past to-day, but in the principal role Ramon Novarro gives a sterling performance, and one which is well up to his latest productions. As Messala, Francis N. Bushman, still a well-known actor, gives a typical portrayal of the "villain." The two and aquarter hours of the main picture is supplemented by a very interesting Australian Fox newsreel.

ST. JAMES' THEATRE. "My Wife's Family." a delightfully humorous comedy of mistaken meanings and cross-purposes, will commence a season at the St. James' Theatre to-day. The film, a production of British International Pictures, is an example of the quality that has made .such a name for most British comedies. The cast is headed bv Gene Gerrarcl, who never fails to convulse an audience. Jimmy Godden. who made a personal (appearance at St. James' Theatre in 1928, adds to the very amusing incidents in a most humorous manner, and Murie! Angelus, Amy Veness and Dodo Watts take the feminine

roles. The parts of .Tack Gay, the husband, and Peggy, his wife, are played by Gene Gerrard and Muriel Angelus with artistic skill which immediately appeals, the former for his ability to create laughter in any quantity at will, and the latter for her skilful ci-operat ion in the various situations. The storv revolves round the household of a happily-married young couple who are the recipients of an extended visit from an unwelcome mother-in-law. played by Amy Veness, who makes it her business to discover mischief before it is even apparent. Many amusing complications arise.

REGENT THEATRE. The hilarious British comedy " Love Lies." which is considered to be one of the finest and most genuinely humorous productions to come from an English studio, will open a season at the Regent Theatre to-day. Directed by the wellknown comedian, Lupino Lane, the leading role is in the capable hands of Stanley Lupino, and the cast is flawless. A Wellington critic remarks: "Stanley Lupino, as Jerry Walker, the nephew who will not wed, and Bimiic Barnes as the ' she sheik ' who ultimately makes him do so, are the chief funmakers of ' Love Lies.' They are aided by Jack Ilohbs, who weds dainty Dorothy Boyd despite (ho other pigheaded uncle. Never were six people at such cross-purposes. Lupino's humour lies as much in his acting as in his speech, arid the crown of facial interpretations is achieved in his impersonation of the girl lie wants his uncle, to believe has a hold on him. No better comedy has been produced—if is a succession of smiles, giggles and guffaws."

LONDON THEATRE. Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell, "the perfect screen lovers." arc reunited on the screen in "Merely Mary Ann," now enjoying a successful season at the London Theatre. It is the film version of the exquisite Israel Zangwill stage success. it is romance in Hs most delightful form. RIAL 10 THEATRE. Tense drama is the keynote of "A Free Soul," to head the. programme at the Rialto Theatre to-day. Norma Shearer, Lionel Barrynmro and Clark Gable appear. "The Secret Witness ' is a second film. CRYSTAL PALACE THEATRE. Norma Shearer, Lionel Barrytnorc and Clark Gable head a notable cast in "A Free Soul." to be shown with "Maker of Men" at the Crystal Palace Theatre this evening. Jack Holt plays the titlerole in the latter. EPSOM REGENT THEATRE. Jack Holt appears with Richard Cromwell in "Mai <er of Men," to be shown with "The Secret Witness" at the Epsom Regent Theatre this evening. Una Merkel appears in the latter. BRITANNIA THEATRE. "Bad Girl" (Sally Filers) and "Father's Son." with Lewis Stone, arc the main films to be shown at the Britannia Theatre this evening.

TUDOR CINEMA. Mvstery pervades "The Spider" (Edmund Lowe), to l>e shown at the Tudor Cinema this evening. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE. ''Sporting Blood." with Clark Gable, will he shown with "Bad Girl (Sally Eilers) at the Prince Edward Theatre today. LYRIC THEATRE. Ramon Novarro gives a typically romantic portrayal in "Son of lodia," to head the Lyric Theatre programme this evening.

STRAND THEATRE. " Rebound " is the title of the notable E. H. Griffith film which commences a season at the Strand Theatre to-day. It is in every way a polished production. Miss lina Claire, whose every inflection of voice, every word, every gesture counts, contributes a magnificent performance as Sara, "a heroine who is as real as she "is unheroic." Slic is admirably supported by Robert Williams, and the pair Hive as iine and delicate a piece of acting as the screen has seen for a very long time. " Rebound," is from first to last a battle of wits and repartee, in which words are used to cover feelings rather than to express them. Mr. Griffith is extraordinarily clever in his handling of the subtleties of interplay between genuinely sophisticated people, and in lua Claire he has a star whose gracious femininity and sparkling intelligence are exactly suited to the role. A critic says: " Not only is Miss Claire supremely delightful, but the film itself is one so delicately balanced, so trenchant in its treatment of the story, and so poised in its sophistication that it is entertainment that, will appeal to all, and particularly to those who admire intelligence and polish. Situations that would generally be t rife are given a dramatic significance through the wit of the dialogue and the resource of the direction." PLAZA THEATRE. 'file glamorous and spectacular film version of Matheson Lang's stage play. " Carnival," which already has proved its value as screen material in a silent film, will commenco a season at the Plaza Theatre to-day. In the new version of this glittering musical extravaganza, sound and dialogue reinforce tile melodrama, but the director, Mr. Herbert Wilcox, approaches his subject from a definitely pictorial angle, and gains so many wonderful effects that the absence of the spoken word would scarcely be felt. The cast of 5000 includes " England's Greta Garbo," Dorothy Bouchier, Joseph Schildkraut and Alfred Rode and his Tzigane Hand. An English critic savs:

" Mr. Wilcox's decorations fill the eye with beauty, with a lovely play of light and shadow, with the romance of Venice, quiet lapping wafer, gliding gondolas, mellow masonry. Mr. Lang, picturesquely cloaked or gigantically turbaned, lends distinction to the part of an Italian actor driven almost to madness by his suspicions of bis pleasure-loving young wife. Against a background so highpitched in colour and so turbulent, his must, perforce, lie a monumental rather than a tragic figure, but he has an eloquence of movement that dominates and arrests attention. Miss Dorothy Bouchier drifts most charmingly through this kaleidoscopic picture." CIVIC THEATRE. The alluring American actress Tallulah Bankhead is claimed to give her most dynamic and forceful performance in "My Sin," the excellent Paramount drama, which will open a season at the Civic Theatre to-day. Regarding Miss Bankhead's emotional talent an overseas reviewer writes: " Her Carlotta, hostess in a Panama cabaret, whose acquittal on a murder charge is secured by a brokendown lawyer who afterwards encourages her to kill, in her own mind, the girl she has been and face Lhe future under an assumed name, is something of a fateful figure. Disillusioned, beaten to passivity, she is yet capable of making Iter own way in tile world, and cherishes an innate honesty that compels her to confess the truth when the boomerang of her disgraceful past flies back in the face of new-found love. Miss Bankhead s emotional restraint has deepened; she has now a quiet power of suggestion in voice and movement, a sterner control of pose and gesture, that makes her acting interesting. Frederic March's study of the lawyer who also makes good and ultimately wins his client's love is an excellent, performance that strikes a note, of virile tenderness in the closing sequence."

NATIONAL THEATRE. A bree/.v, dashing comedy romance, "I Like Your Nerve," with Douglas Fairbanks, junr., Lorelta Young and Claude Allister in the principal parts, will commence a season at the National Theatre today. This picture, the second in which Douglas Fairbanks, junr. has been starred, offers him a chance to display his versatility both as an actor and as an athlete. 'lhe story is an original by Roland Pertwee. noted English playwright, author of the stage success, " Interference." TFVOLI AND EMPRESS THEATRES. "The Rosary," the vital English film version of the notable drama, to be shown again at the Tivoli and Empress Theatres fo-day, has a persuasive power which will move well-nigh everyone who sees it. It is splendidly acted by Margot Grahame. Elizabeth Allen and Walter Piers. A second film on the programme is "The Fourth Alarm," a thrilling fire-fighting melodrama.