ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21291, 19 September 1932, Page 15

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE • Joan Bennett takes the role of a hostess in a night club in "Week Ends Only," which is the main attraction at the Majestic Theatre. Ben Lyon has the leading male part, as a young artist. The film is replete with witty dialogue and adroit situations. Tho story was written by Warner Fabian. " GONGORILLA " The chilling roar of the king of beasts, the lion, -the angry .shriek of the gorilla and the strangely moving rhythmic throb of the primitive jungle drums of Central Africa are but a few of tho many exciting sounds heard in tho amazing film of life in tho "Dark Continent," "Congorilla," which will open a season- at the Majestic Theatre on Thursday. This production, which was filmed by Mr. and Mrs, Martin Johnson, who are under a life contract to the American Museum of Natural History to film all wild life possible, is the first talking picture to be entirely produced in Africa. All the different phases of the weird existence of the beasts and humans of the African jungle have been collected by the camera and woven into an intensely interesting and thrilling narrative. Many times did the intrepid explorers and their party risk their lives in order to secure a good photograph. Lions, crocodiles and other deadly denizens of the interior all play their parts in the picture, which should prove one of the most interesting and instructive to be presented for some time. REGENT THEATRE A novel treatment of an old theme makes an outstanding success of "Beauty and the Boss," which seems assured of a successful season at the Regent Theatre, where it commenced on Friday. The film deals with a banking magnate who sees nothing in his secretary other than a capable stenographer until she is given an opportunity to display her real personality. The principal role is taken by Warren William, who elicited much favourable comment by his work in "The Honour of the Family" and he ia supported by Marian Marsh, who appears as tho stenographer. A fine characterisation also comes from Frederick Kerr, as an elderly man about town. Thero is an interesting programme of supporting features. Photographs of tho contestants in tho beauty competition aro screened during the evening. CIVIC THEATRE

An intensely exciting picture of tho air, but not a war film, "Sky Bride," at the Civic Theatre, has all tho elements that go to make up good entertainment. There aro thrills, pathos and an amplo measure of comedy. The picture deals with the fortunes of a daring band of "sttint" flyers. During a particularly thrilling manoeuvre, one of the pilots is killed by his plane being struck by that of his friend. After this, the one to blame loses his nerve and tho company is disbanded. llow he eventually redeems himself and saves a little boy from death forms tho climax of tho story. Richard Arlen, Jack Oakie, Robert Coogan and Virginia Bruco tako tho principal parts with distinction. ST. JAMES* THEATRE Those who enjoy comedy should not fail to witness the two screamingly funny comedians, Laurel and Hardy, in tho latest of their farces, "Tho County Hospital," which is tho first film on a double-feature programme at tho St. James' Theatre. The antics of these two funsters always amuse, but this film presents them at their inimitable best. Tho* ponderous Hardy is in hospital with It's leg in plaster and tho fun reaches its height when Laurel goes to pay him a visit. A second attraction, "Unashamed," presents Helen Twelvetrees in the role of I a young woman who defies her father's wish that she should givo up a man whom he considers is "no good." Lewis Stone, Jean Hersholt and Robert Young have minor roles, NATIONAL THEATRE A bright and amusing comedy of marital mix-ups that has an entrancing musical score to set the piquant situations off to best advantage, "This is Iho Night," is showing at the National Theatre. Roland Young is without doubt the outstanding figure of the production, appearing as a bachelor who has to provide himself with a wife at a moment's notice. This role is taken by Lily Damita, a talentod French actress who possesses both charm and ability. Further comedy effects are achieved by bringing Charles Ruggles into the cast. It will be remembered that Mr. Ruggles took tho title part of "Charley's Aunt" to perfection. STRAND THEATRE A dramatic and highly interesting story of a certain type of American newspaper method is told in "Is My Faco Red?" tho Radio production now enjoying a successful season at the Strand Theatre. The principal role, that of a reporter who stops at nothing / in collecting and printing the scandal of the city, is taken by Ricardo Cortez, who won a great reputation by his work in "Symphony of Six Millions." Supporting artists include Helen Twelvetrees, Robert Armstrong and Zasu Pitts.

CRYSTAL PALACE AND RIALTO The programme at the Crystal Palace and Rialto Theatres this evening will bo headed by Ricardo Cortez in "The Symphony of Six Millions." The film tells the story of a young doctor who forsakes his practice in the New York Ghetto and treats the ills of the idle rich, earning for himself the title of the surgeon with the "million dollar hands." Charming feminine interest is introduced by Irene Dunne, who makes her appearance as a cripple girl. Anna Apfel and Gregory Ratoff are also in prominent parts.

LONDON THEATRE A dramatic story of the underworld and the life of tho lawless element of a great city, "The Racketeer," with Robert Armstrong, is the main film at tho London Theatre. Carol Lombard makes a charming heroine. NEW REGENT THEATRE The comedian of "My Wife's Family," Gene Gerrard, is at his funniest in "Out of the Blue," to bo presented at tho New Regent Theatre this evening. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE A story of tho evil effects of tho illicit liquor traffic in the United States, "The Wet Parade," will be presented this evening at the Prince Edward Theatre with "The Cheat." TUDOR CINEMA A magnificent performance conies from George Arliss in "Alexander Hamilton," which heads the present programme at the Tudor Theatre. LYRIC THEATRE "The Perfect Lady," with Betty Amann and "Murder at Covent Garden" comprise the major entertainment at the Lyric Theatre this evening. BRITANNIA THEATRE Elissa Landi is tho principal in "The Woman in Room 13," to be screened with "Partners", at the Britannia Theatre thjg evening.

PLAZA THEATRE All lovers of the amazing adventures of Sherlock Holmes, the famous character of fiction created by the late Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, will be eager to see The Sign of Four," which heads the present programme at the Plaza Theatre. The film tells the story of Johnathan Small, a convict on the Andaman Islands, who reveals the whereabouts of a hoard of jewels to the governor of .tho settlement and his subordinate. The governor decamps with the jewels and Johnathan Small, years after, succeeds -in finding him and has vengeance on his betrayer. Tho task of finding tho murderer falls to Sherlock Holmes, a part taken with startling realism by Arthur \y°ntner. A fine portrait of the convict comes from Ben Soutten, while lan Hunter appears as Dr. Watson. "The Lamp Dog Inn," the second attraction on the programme, deals with a murder in a lonely inn and the steps taken by a young newspaper reporter to discover the culprit and,, incidentally, get a "scoop." ST. ANDREWS SOCIETY To commemorate the centenary of the death of Sir Walter Scott, the St. Andrew's Society will present an entertaining programme of Scott's compositions in the Scots Hall on Wednesday. The orchestra will be under the baton of Mr. Harold Baxter. Mr. J. W. Shaw will deliver an address. "THE CHERRY ORCHARD" Owing to tho success of the Workers' Educational Association's play "The Cherry Orchard, ' it will be repealed this evening in the old Grammar School building, Synionds Street.