ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21253, 5 August 1932, Page 16

ENTERTAINMENTS

PLAZA THEATRE "Attorney for the Defence," the principal attraction which opened a season at the Plaza Theatre yesterday, is" assured of a successful reception in Auckland. Judging by the appreciation with which it was greeted at its initial showing yesterday, this particular style of drama is one of the most popular types of film in Auckland. It is a production of brilliant character sketches, fine dialogue and forceful acting. The principal arple is taken by Edmund Loavc, who gave such an outstanding performance in "Transatlantic." Although having tho courtroom murder trial as its basis, it is vastly different in the sustained run of its appeal from the usual picture of this sort. Mr. Lowe scores a great success and in a decisive manner. His characterisation is nicely restrained and should result in further enhancing his reputation as an actor of forceful ability. Mr. Lowe's fine performance is given admirable support by Evelyn Brent, as a woman of the world, Constance Cummings, as the attorney's faithful and efficient secretary. Mr. Lowe is cast as a relentloss district attorney, who sees only the prospect of political promotion in his success in murder trials. He is halted when it is revealed that tho latest' of his victims is really an innocent man. Tho discovery is made after the penalty of death has been exacted and he then decides that if, is time to cease his activities in this direction. He assumes the responsibilities of the man's widow and orphan son and from then on changes his practice from tho prosecution to the defence. Things are all right until he incurs the enmity of the lawless element. He is inveigled int* a trap which results in a murder, and he is cherged with the crime. He defends the charge himself, but things look very black until, toward the end of the case, ho puts forward a unique line of cross-examination. Once started, it is only a matter of time before he is freed. The unusual turn of circumstantial events that finally gives him. the real clue to the murderer is an intriguing and cleverly worked-out plot complication. Pride of place on the wellbalanced programme of supporting pictures is given to a ludicrously funny Crazy Cat cartoon, which shows for the first time Charles Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy and many other screen favourites in caricature. The latest events in\ the world of Hollywood are interestingly presented in the latest of the popular Screen Snapshots series. A mirth-provoking comedy, entitled "Honk Your Horn," v , with tho inimitable Lloyd Hamilton dispensing more of his particular stylo of humour, and newsreels depicting the most interesting of the latest world events, complete a programme that should please the most critical. CIVIC THEATRE Clive Brook, an actor who is in the front rank of the stage celebrities because he combines porsonal attractiveness with real popularity, is the main character in the fine Paramount picture '''Husband's Holiday," which is to open a season at the Givic Theatre to-day. As the erring husband, who finds himself in love with two women, Mr. Brook has oiio of his best roles. The film presents a modern story, dealing entertainingly with a modern problem. Family life—its joys and disappointments, its excitements, its human drama, its laughing hours—all these are reproduced with facile directorial touches and skilful artistic strength. Mr. Brook is seen as the romantic-ininded husband who yields to the charms of a beautiful young woman, Juliette Compton. With tho last spark of fair-minded-ness ho tells his wife, Vivienne Osborn, about the affair and suggests that they should get a divorce. Amazed and shocked, his wife is at her wits' end, but she has courage enough to tell him that he may expect no divorce co-operation from her. She brands the affair as a passing fancy, too trivial a thing to wreck such a substantial institution as their marriage. Many complications ensue until the finale settles the dilemma in a truly joyful manner and all ends happily for the family that had been so close to disaster. Charles Ruggles and Harry Bannister are others in the talented cast. REGENT THEATRE Probably no actor on the talking screen to-day commands such respect and admiration as Mr. George Arliss. Each film he has appeared in has been an outstanding success, dominated throughout by hi 3 personality and lifted out of the ordinary class of pictures by his magnificent portrayals. Audiences spontaneously respond to his unaffected naturalness and sedate characterisations of benevolent old age. In "The Man Who Phyed God," which is now in its third week at the Regent Theatre, he takes the part of a worldfamous musician who, when about to play before a king, is rendered absolutely deaf by the explosion of a bomb. After tho first bitterness of his grief he learns lipreading and by bringing happiness to others by eavesdropping through this medium, he plays the part of "Tho Unknown God" in their affairs, thus finding a now interest in life. As well as tin's side of the picture, an appealing romance is woven into the film. The next attraction at the Regent Theatre is "Tho Honourable Mr. Wong," in which Edward G. Robinson appears as- a Chinese. NATIONAL THEATRE Picture-goers of Auckland are eagerly awaiting the return season of the popular Ald wye h Theatre farce, "Canaries Sometimes Sing," which will open at tho National Theatre to-day. The English farces have subtlety ail their own and this one is no exception. The genial Tom Walls, who took the part of the London policeman with a pronounced Irish accent in "A Night Like This" recently, has never been funnier than in this delightful comedy, which tells of tho complications which follow when matrimonial mix-ups are handled in. the typical Frederick Lonsdale manner. Yvonne Arnaud. of "Rookery Nook," 1 is in support of Mr. Walls. i LONDON THEATRE A British comedy that upholds the reputation of the English studios for the production of truly amusing films, "Why Sailors Leave Home," will commenco a season at tho London Theatre to-day. EMPRESS THEATRE Warner Oland, accomplished Swedish character actor, is a menacing character in "Drums of Jeopardy," which heads the programme at tho Empress Theatre to-day. A second film is "Love Affair," in which Dorothy Mackaill, an English actress of beauty and charm, is tho leading lady. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE Clark Gable, in the part of a clergyman, and Marion Daviea are the principals in "Polly of tho Circus," which is being shown with Clive Brook's "Twenty-four Hours" at tho Princo Edward Theatre. EPSOM REGENT THEATRE The entiro Aldwych Theatre cast appear again in "A Night Like This," another Ben Travers farce, at the Epsom Regent Theatre. CRYSTAL PALACE THEATRE . "The Passionate Plumber" (B'jster Keaton) and "The Big Shot" -.(Eddio Quillan) are the films at the Crystal Palaco Theatre. TRAINING COLLEGE PLAYS "Trial by Jury," by Gilbert and Sullivan, and "Romeo and Juliet," an operatic burlesque, will be presented finally by students of the Auckland Training College in the Town Hall concert chamber this evening.

MAJESTIC THEATRE A delightful atmosphere of regal pomp, tempered by sufficient farce to mako the story quite impossible, but none the less enjoyable, has been obtained in "The Lovo Parade," the first talking picture in which the debonair Maurice Cltyvalier appeared. The film, which was originally shown in Auckland nearly three years ago, when it created no small interest, commenced welcome return season at tho Majestic Theatre yesterday, and, judging by tho crowded houses, it is held to be ono of tho rare pictures worth seeing twice. Although ho has been scel^ 1 in many films since "The Lovo Parade" was first screened, Chevalier has never had a role that suits him better than.that of tho amorous, but manly, Count Alfred, which demands the swift changes of mood and general versatility of which only the noted French actor is capable. Chevalier, at liis besi, is inimitable, and in "Tho Love Parade" he is undoubtedly at his best. Everything suits him, even the many uniforms in which he appears. Wisely J realising that Chevalier has no claim to a singing voice, tho director, Ernst Lubitsch, has chosen for him only ditties where tho tune moans nothing; but the words convey a host of meanings, and in some instances, notably those in which ho is triumphing over his dignified queen, ho has purposely been given solos in which his voice cracks, with jubilation, it is true, on the top notes. Opposite him, as the youthful queen of a mythical kingdom, is Joanette Mac Donald. Her beautiful voice is heard in many songs that have long been popular, notably "Dream Lover" and "Tho March of the Grenadiem," and she adds distinction to an outstanding picture. A humorous element is provided by Lupino Lane and Lillian Roth, as a pair of domestics, who are responsible for some extraordinarily clever eccentric dancing. The supporting programme includes many features of interest. There is a film dealing with littleknown aspects of life in China, showing all classes of people from Peking to Shanghai, while two newsreels include items from many parts, of tho world. There is a glimpse of the SchmelingSharkey fight, a flight of R.A.F. machines over Mount Kenya, which, although on the Equator, is perpetually snowcapped, and a great pilgrimage to a shrine in a tiny French village. STRAND THEATRE A programme of two entertaining films opened a season at the Strand Theatre yesterday to appreciative audiences. Of widely differing appeal, the first film, "Tho Missing Rembrandt," brings the figure of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous character, to the screen, while tho second picture, ''Working Girls,"' is a tale of modern life in a great city. "The Missing Rembrandt" gives life to the exploits of the famous detective of fiction and rotains all those qualities which have made this character so popular. The principal role is taken by Arthur Wontner, who is Holmes personified, and tho quality of the entertainment lies chiefly in his intriguing performance. The directorial work is efficient and a good atmosphere prevails, the team work of the supporting players being highly commendable, All the admirers of Sherlock Holmes stories will enjoy this film. ''Working Girls" brings into prominence a number of exceptionally pretty girls, all possessing talent and charm in varying degree to satisfy the picturegoer's interest in rew screen faces. Judith Wood, Dorothy Hall, Frances Dee and Frances Moffett are a few of the many to be seen in this picture of tho lives of New York working girls. The leading male role is in the hands of Paul Lukas, who is supported by Charles (Buddy) Rogers and Stuart Erwin. RIALTO THEATRE Frederick Lonsdale's "Lovers Courageous" (Robert Montgomery and Madge Evans) heads the programme at the Rialto Theatre. TUDOR CINEMA Gracie Fields is a lovable character in "fially in Our Alley" at tho Tudor Cinema. LYRIC THEATRE "Corsair" (Chester Morris) and "Travelling Husbands," in which Evelyn Brent appears, are'the Lyric Theatre films. BRITANNIA THEATRE. "Amateur Daddy" (Warner Baxter) is being shown with "His Woman," with Claudette Colbert and Gary Cooper, at tho Britannia Theatre. UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' CONCERT Choruses, solos, ducts, quartettes, part songs, and items by an instrumental, trio wero included in the programme of tho first concert of tho recently-formed Auckland University College Musical Society, given in the college hall last evening. There was a large attendance. The vocalists were Mrs. V. Newberry, JHewitt, Reka Patterson, J. Wooller and Lovelace Milno, and Messrs. M. A. Fastier, D. 11. Caldcr, W. Barclay and G. A, Mather, and the instrumentalists, Mrs. Edmonds and Misses Brown and Doel. Miss Hewitt was accompanist. Tho performance was conducted by Dr. W. E. Thomas, professor of music at tho university. DRAMATIC ENTERTAINMENT A dramatic entertainment waa givon in the Mount Eden Presbyterian Sunday School Hall last evening, the proceeds being in aid of tho school unemployment fund. "The Invitation to the Waltz" was performed and tho cast was as follows: — Pierre, Mr. C. M. Brash; piano tuner, Mr. E. G. Rimmor; Rose, Miss B. Eyres; Mathilde, Miss B. Richmond; Do Sor, Mr. D. 11. Munro; Madame D'lvoy, Miss H. J. Morison j Maurice, Mr. G. E. Rimmer. Tho play was supplemented by Miss J. Gordon singing well-known songs, Mr. J. Whiteley TVlcEhvain, violin, Mr. R. Erington, songs, and Miss L. Hendra, recitations.