ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21289, 16 September 1932, Page 15

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE Joan Bennett gives a skilful and appealing performance in '"Week "Ends Only" which was screened before a crowded house at the Majestic Theatre last evening. Written by Warner Fabian, and full of scintillating phrases and witty dialogue, the film is of modern setting, and so well balanced is the theme that, the audience is carried from start to finish without sudden breaks or pauses. The story takes one with equal facility from the more serious atmosphere of an artist's studio, where a prizewinning picture is in the making, to a gay week-end house-party or an exclusive speakeasy in New York, and Joan Bennett finds suitable background in each one of the scenes for her sophisticated characterisation. Supporting Joan Bennett is Ben Lyon, and his frank and easy manner is in keeping with the high standard of acting. The story deals with the sudden fall to poverty of a New York socifety girl, and it is only when face to face with realities that she starts to learn some true facts about life. Her family's former butler, rich from his life's savings, provides her with work as a hostess at night in his luxurious speakeasy. During the day her time is spent in the company of a young and good-looking artist. Meeting a wealthy bachelor at the speakeasy, the charming young hostess consents to act as such for him during the week-ends. By clever evasion, she manages to keep the real nature of her work from the artist, but complications ensue when he is invited to the party at which she is hostess. Good acting combined with smart costumes and settings are the features which recommend this film to Auckland playgoers. The supporting programme is unusually interesting. A trip through'the Guianas by the Magic Carpet of Movietone shows some of the native customs and dances, and how the natives manoeuvre their canoes with infallible skill and judgment down the swift rapids. A Fox Movietone News includes many scenes from various quarters of the globe. The King inspects the Fleet from, his private yacht, and there are several aspects of the new eightengined flying boat during its trial flights. The Eton and Harrow match at Lords is featured with all its splendid array of fashion, and amateur American riders are shown on the other side of the Atlantic. The programme concludes with an <imus-' ing comedy, "A Clean Up on the Curb," in which a neglected sweetheart and a dejected janitor are the principals. ST. JAMES* THEATRE Laurel and Hardy, the two inimitablo comedians, dispense more of their particular type of humour in " County Hospital," which will open a season at the St. James' Theatre to-day. Those who see these comedians may be assured of seeing the very best in film humour. A second feature, " Unashamed," will also bo,presented. It is a vivid emotional drama written by Bayard Veiller, author of 44 Within the Law." There are dramatic courtroom scenes, in one of which the heroine is faced with the choice of her brother's life or the loss of her reputation. Robert Young, Lewis Stone, Jean Hersholt, John Miljan and Helen Twelvetrees take. the outstanding parts in the production. . > t CIVIC THEATRE A comedy-romance of the air, 44 Sky Bride," a story of present-day aviation, will open a season at the Civic Theatre to-day. An unusually talented cast is headed by Richard Allen, Jack Oakie, Virginia Bruce and Robert Coogan. The story concerns two friends, both pilots, who crash in mid-air, one of them being killed. This causes the other to lose his nerve and he vows he will never fly again. Eventually, however, he succeeds in rescuing th'e small brother of the man for whose death he was responsible, who was clinging to the struts of a runaway aeroplane. The picture ends on an appropriately happy note. NATIONAL THEATRE Those who have seen 44 This Is the Night " will welcome the opportunity of seeing it a second time at the National Theatre, where it will commence a season to-day-after a successful run at the Civic Theatre. The film deals in an hilarious fashion with a series of matrimonial mixups. Lily Damita, Roland Young and Charles Ruggles take the main roles. STRAND THEATRE The newspaper atmosphere has been vividly captured in 44 Is My Face Red ?", which is proving popular at the Strand Theatre, where it opened a season on Wednesday. Many newspaper dramas have been shown lately, but this one strikes an entirely new note that cannot but intrigue the film-goer. The picture deals with the career of a newspaper columnist, who deals in scandal for a living. The principal artist is Ricqrdo Cortez and he is supported by Helen Twelvetrees, recently seen in 44 State's Attorney," who is cast as a show girl, who provides her lover with many of his tips. LONDON THEATRE The virile actor, Robert Armstrong, takes the part of a "gangster," who enters into the life of the socially elite after 4, offico hours," in 44 The Racketeer," which opened a season at tho London Theatre yesterday. The action is fast throughout. CRYSTAL PALACE THEATRE. Gene Gerrard, the comic genius of 44 My Wife's Family," gives another inimitable performance in 41 Out of the Blue," which heads the programme at the Crystal Palace arid Rialto Theatres. lie appears as a radio announcer. A delightful performance also comes from Jessie Matthews, in the part of the heroine. EPSOM REGENT THEATRE Clark Gable has the part of a clergyman in 44 Polly of the Circus " (Marion Davies), which is being shown with 44 Night World " at the Epsom Regent Theatre. Lew Ayrcs and Mao Clarke appear in the latter. EMPRESS THEATRE Fannie Hurst's vivid drama of city life, 44 Symphony of Six Millions," and 41 Fast Companions," a romance of youth, are tho films at tho Empress Theatre^ WEST END THEATRE Ricardo Cortez and Irene Dunne act magnificently in Fannie Hurst's 44 Symphony of Six Millions," to be presented with " The Missing Rembrandt " at the West End Theatro to-day. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE Upton Sinclair's 44 The Wet Parade, 'A with Walter Huston and Lewis Stone, and 44 The Cheat " (Tallulah Bankhead) arc the Prince Edward Theatre films. LYRIC THEATRE 44 The Perfect Lady" (Betty Amann) and 44 Murder at Covent Garden" comprise the Lyric Theatro programme. TUDOR CINEMA George Arliss acts superbly in 44 Alexander Hamilton" lit the Tudor Cinema. BRITANNIA THEATRE 44 The Woman in Room 13" (Elissa Landi) and "Partners," with Tom Keene, are the Britannia Theatre films.

PLAZA THEATRE The thousands of readers of the thrilling stories of Conan Doyle will be interested to hear that the screen adaptation of one of his most exciting tales, " The Sign of Four,"' will commence a season at the Plaza Theatre to-day. The principal part, Sherlock Ilolmos, the world-famous fictitious character, is remarkably well presented by Arthur Wontner, who has numerous other roles of the "kind to his credit. An excellent portrait of a sinister ex-convict is contributed by Ben Soutten; a hitherto comparatively unknown player. Readers of Conan Doyle, will recall that the story originates in the penal settlement of the Andaman Islands, where Johnathan Small, a powerfully-built convict "with shifty eyes and a wooden leg," reveals the hiding place of some stolen jewels to the governor and his assistant. The governor kills his subordinate and makes off with the jewels. Years later ho is murdered in England and Sherlock Holmes is called in to investigate the crime. It is only after a second murder that Holmes is finally able to track down the revengeful Small. Lan Hunter and Isla Bevan are others in the cast. "The Lame Dog Inn Mystery," a breathless newspaper story, is also on the programme. REGENT THEATRE ' A bright and sophisticated production that should, find a ready response from all who see it, " Beauty and the Boss, will open a season at tho Regent Theatre to-day. The principal roles aro taken by Warren William, who created quite a stir by his performance in " Tho Honour of the Family." and Marian Marsh, the Trilby of "Svcngali," in which she appeared with John Barrymore. This is said tc be the finest effort of either player and the film has been accorded lavish praise by critics overseas. Another good performance comes from Frederick Kerr, who acted so well with Ronald Colnian in " The Devil to Pay." The story concerns a modern business man, who treats his secretary as a machine until she displays her true personality. A novel beauty contest is being conducted by the management of the theatre, in which tho entrants' photographs only aro displayed. No names aro mentioned and the voting is carried out by the audience. A very attractive prize list is headed by a holiday of two weeks, embracing all tho principal towns of the North Island. THE CHERRY ORCHARD •The production of Chekov's classic, "Tho Cherry Orchard," by the Workers' Educational Association in tho old Grantmar School last evening was an event of more than passing importance in dramatic circles. The play has long been'recognised as one of the major achievements of the Russian theatre, and, played in English, it has always aroused keen interest among students of dramatic art. The Workers' Educational Association deserves considerable credit for introducing it to Auckland audiences. Following on tho production of Frank Harvey's " The Last Enemy," one of tho most unusual plays since " Outward Bound," it shows that the association is performing a very valuable service in presenting the works of authors not generally knOwn to the theatre in this part of the world. Quito apart from the dramatic and artistic •merits of the play, the association also deserves credit for the excellence of the production. The work of Chekov, written originally in Russian, naturally presents considerable difficulties to amateur actors. The play does not follow any modern form of dramatic technique, but is rather a smoothly flowing study in characterisation, with harcHy any plot in the generally accepted sense of the word. It depicts a family of Russian gentlefolk, living their aimless, futile lives in which notes of tragedy and comedy are inextricably mingled. Ernest Blair, Nell Lush, Norah Scott, Owen Jensen, Vera Ziman and William Constable act the principal roles with an admirable understanding of the spirit of the and other parts are well taken by Berta Zoeller, William Lindsay, Mervyn Lusty. Elsie Lovell, Lanco Hammond, W. H. Loch and Arthur G. Parsons. The play is produced by Mr. Arnold Goodwin and Mr. Ernest Blair, and ? with the limited stage space at their disposal, they have achieved something in the nature of a triumph. The settings are fine pieces of impressionist simplicity, and the unerring hand of ])/lr. Goodwin can be easily detected in the second act, the setting for which, a hilltop at sunset, with gaunt trees silhouetted against an evening sky, gives scope for some brilliant lighting. Incidentally, the acting of Mr. Constable in this scene is excellent. The play will be repeated this evening and to-morrow evening. ST. ANDREW'S SOCIETY Sir Walter Scott centenary celebrations will be held by the St. Andi'ew's Society in the Scots Hall on Wednesday evening. A varied programme has been arranged.