ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21470, 19 April 1933, Page 14

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE "Nagana" (Molvyn Douglas), a splendid drama of a white man's un--1 emitting fight against tropical disease, Mill bo screened finally at tho Majestic Theatre to-day. An excellent supporting programme is screened. Conrad Nagol, William Haines, Madge Evans and Cliff Edwards appear in "Fast Life," which will begin a season at the "Majestic Theatre to-morrow. There is not a dull moment in the film, which recounts tho adventures and misadventures of Sandy Norton, an ambitious sailor in the American Navy, who has invented a new type of motorboat engine. After wrecking an admiral's barge with a carburettor of a now design, Sandy, and his friend Bumpy, leave the navy in disgrace. Securing a position in the employment ol a millionaire speed-boat owner. Jameson, tho ex-sailors construct a craft in which they instal their new engine. Unfortunately, the boat explodes 011 its trial run and seriously injuries tho millionaire, who dismisses tho inventors. The pair then resort to piracy to secure sufficient funds to enter tlioir boat in an international race, and thrill follows thrill until tho sensational final scenes. ST. JAMES' THEATRE Hilarious comedy is tho keynote of "Pack Up Your Troubles," the latest Laurel and Hardy film, which heads the current programme at St. James' Theatre. Tho comical pair of "Pardon Us" appear as raw recruits in tho American Army. While in training camp they are the joke of tho regiment and their escapades reach a climax when they deposit garbage in the general's office. They are speedily despatched to tho front, where they continue their misadventures, but their military career | ends gloriously when they capture a German tank and a platoon of prisoners. There are excellent supporting attractions. " SMILIN' THROUGH " A notable cast interprets "Smilin' Through," 'tho sincere Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer production <vhich will have its initial presentation at St. James' Theatre 011 Friday. Norma Shearer and Leslie Howard play the leading roles with distinction, and there are also Beryl Mercer', ( . P. Heggie, the wellknown character actor, Ralph Forbes and Forrester Harvey. , "Smilin' Through" is the talking picture version of the silent film (Norma Talmadge) and has been woll received by overseas critics and picturegoers alike. Norma Shearer contributes a portrayal that is both whimsical and charming. CIVIC THEATRE George Arliss, tho polished actor of "Disraeli," "Alexander Hamilton" and "The Millionaire," has never given a more satisfying performance than in "King's Vacation," which is captivating large audiences at the Civic Theatre. As a king of a European kingdom, who tires of the pomp and vanity of his position, George Arliss invests every gesture with a wealth of meaning. To defeat the rascally designs of his Cabinet, the king abdicates and returns to his wife and child,, whom lie was forced to leave years beforo when he succeeded to the throne. The king's reactions to civil life provide an entertaining plot. There is a surprising denouement. A popular reception has been accorded the screening, at the Civic wintcrgarden luncheon sessions, of tho series of talking films, "How ] Play Golf" (Bobby Jones). "Chip Shots" is the title of tho film which is being presented this week. REGENT THEATRE The sure touch of Cecil B. de Mille, the producer of "The Ten Commandments," is evident throughout "The Sign of the Cross," tho ambitious Paramount production ivhich is being accorded an enthusiastic reception at the Regent Theatre. A critic comments: "Exercising his well-known taste for lavish display, de Mille has built up his film into a vast spectacle of Rome 111 its heyday. Ho has deliberately submerged the love interest, which was the chief concern of tho original play, by the enormous sweep and power of tho settings. He has made all the characters merely puppet figures in a tremendous pageant of luxury, courage and death." The cast includes Charles Laughton, Elissa Landi, Claudetto Colbert and Fredric March. NATIONAL THEATRE "Tho Kid From Spain," one of tho funniest films of tho year, is still popular at tho National Theatre, in spite of the fact that it is in tho third week of its Auckland season. Eddie Cantor ("Palmy Days") is as funny as ever as a college youth who poses as Don | Sebastian 11., a famous bullfighter, j Feted by all Spain, ho encounteiV n ! ferocious animal in the bullring, with hilarious results. Prior to tho main ! film, tho Roland Sextette render items ! 011 the stago. STRAND THEATRE/ Maurice Chevalier sings delightfully in "The Smiling Lieutenant," the 1 main attraction at the Strand Theai tro. It is a tuneful entertainment, ih--1 terspersed with tho melodies of j Strauss, and is embellished by the splendid acting of Claudetto Colbert land Charlie Ruggles in supporting | roles. Included in tho minor programme is the topical "News of the World" series of films, which are screened at 1.15 and 7.15. CRYSTAL PALACE AND RIALTO Tom Walls is a dashing hero in "Leap Year," the entertaining comedy-drama to bo shown at the Crystal Palace and Rialto Theatres this evening. He plays tho part of a debonair man-about-town. Anno Grey is a charming heroine and other members of the cast are Jeanne Stuart and Ellis Jeffreys. LONDON THEATRE Eddie Quillan and Sally-O'Neil are the principals of "The Sophomore," the main attraction at tho London Theatre. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE Frederick Lonsdale's delightful musical comedy "Maid of tho Mountains" heads the programme at tho Princo Edward Theatre. TUDOR CINEMA "The First Year" (Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell) is tho Tudor Cinema film. BRITANNIA THEATRE Sally Eilers' "Disorderly Conduct" and "Play Girl" are the pictures at the Britannia Theatre. LYRIC THEATRE "Innocents of Chicago" and "Strictly Business' comprise tho entertainment at the Lyric Theatre. CAPITOL THEATRE "The Misleading Lady" (Claudetto Colbert) is being presented at the Capitol Theatre.

ROXY AND TIVOLI THEATRES Edward G. Robinson, distinguished actor of "Letters of Fire" and 4 Ijger Shark," Leads a notablo cast in Saver Dollar," which will commence a season with "The Viking" at the Roxy and Tivoli Theatres to-day. Among the other artists who appear are Bene Daniels, 'remembered for a long succession of splendid films, and Anno jVIcMahon, who is steadily coming to the fore. "Silver Dollar" deals with the daring days of tho famous American silver rush. Robinson plays tho colourful part of a man who rises to giddy heights in finance. The film has been enthusiastically received by overseas critics, one of whom says: Jt is a marvellous picture, which has everything." That is high praise, indeed. All equally vivid siory is told 111 *' lG Viking," which treats of the hardships undergone by fishermen in the icefields of Newfoundland. While tho film was being produced, the sealer Viking blew up, 2G lives being lost in the disaster. Some amazing photographs were taken of the explosion. Altogether, the programme is one of outstanding merit and should appeal to a wide variety of tastes. PLAZA THEATRE How a pretty gramophone recordist falls in love with a handsome but unresponsive young man, and succeeds at last in marrying him, is told in entertaining fashion in "Marry Me," the musical Gainsborough production, which is proving popular at the Plaza Theatre. l?enato Muller, tho vivacious actress of "Sunshine Susie," makes a welcome return to tho screen as Ann Linden, who falls in love with ..her co-worker, Robert Hart. The young man lives in a bachelors' flat with two brothers, and, on the advice of her kindly manager, Ann assumes the role of housekeeper, but leaves when the young men are beginning .to appreciate her cooking. Complications ensue when Ann meets Aloysius Novak, a Hungarian farmer, at a matrimonial agency. As Novak, George liobey makes an auspicious debut 011 tho audible screen and his beetling eyebrows prove a distinct asset to Lis interpretation. A feature of tlie supporting attractions is _ a colourful stage presentation in which over 50 performers take part. EPSOM REGENT THEATRE James Dunn and Boots Mallory appear in "Handle With Care," which is being shown with "Tho Lodger at the Epsom Regent Theatre. Ivor Isovello and Elizabeth Allan are tho principals in the second film.