ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21533, 3 July 1933, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE "Kiss Before the Mirror," one of the most absorbingly interesting films to be shown in Auckland for some time, is now attracting large audiences to the Regent Theatre. The film is characterised not only by an unusually novel [dot, but also by uniformly good acting by tlio cast. The success of the production depends on the acting of Frank Morgan, in the part of a lawyer, who is defending a man charged with the murder of his wife, and he rises to the occasion magnificently. Nancy Carroll gives a fascinating performance as the lawyer's wife, while Paul Lukas is most convincing as the accused man. Others in the cast are Gloria Stuart, .lean Dixon and Reginald Mason. Uiere is the usual excellent supporting programme, including items by Knight Harnett on the grand organ. " CHRISTOPHER STRONG " Adapted from one of the most widely read of Gilbert Frankau's novels, ' Christopher Strong" will be the next attraction at the Regent Theatre. Katharine. Hepburn, who scored an instantaneous success in "A Bill of Divorcement," heads a notable cast, which includes Colin Clive. Billie Burk<\ Irene -Brown, Helen Chandler, Ralph Forbes and Jack la Rue. PLAZA THEATRE The innumerable people who have enjoyed the music of Jack Payne's dance band are provided with an unrivalled opportunity of hearing it and seeing it in action in "Say it With Music," which is drawing appreciative audiences to the Plaza Theatre. "Love is the Sweotest Thing," "Say it With Music" and "Good Morning, Mr. Sun" are played with such a wealth of variation that the listener is almost bewildered by the amazing resourcefulness of the orchestration and the skilfulncss of the players. Jack Payne himself is an engaging personality before the camera, and has a pleasing and natural style. The story concerns a poor composer whom Jack Payne knocks down with his car. He finds that the composer is an old war-time friend, who has suffered a run of ill-fortune. He arranges for the band to play one of his friend's old compositions in a novel setting, and the success it achieves wins a recognition that has been long denied. Leading roles are filled by Percy Marmont, Evelyn Roberts and Joyce Kennedy. ST. JAMES* THEATRE One of the outstanding historical dramas to be seen in Auckland, "Rasputin and the Empress," continues to enjoy great popularity at St. James' Theatre. The film deals with the rise and fall of Rasputin, the sinister monk who gained such an influence over the Russian family. This part is brilliantly played by Lionel Barrymore, and he is well supported by his brother John as Prince Chagodieff, and his sister Ethel as the Tsarina. Excellent performances are registered by Ralph Morgan, Diana Wynyard, Henry Gordon and Tad Alexander. "To-day We Live," one of the most eagerly awaited motion pictures of the present season, will be shown on Friday. It ls from the story by William Faulkner, the noted American author, and deals with the experiences of a woman and three men during the Avar. A distinguished cast includes Joan Crawford, Gary Cooper, Robert Young, Roscoe Karns and Francbot Tone, a young actor of great ability. CIVIC THEATRE Spectacular dancing, tuneful music and an interesting story are features of "42nd Street," which is proving very popular at the. Civic Theatre. The picture shows the building up of a lavishly produced musical comedy from its conception to the frenzied first night of the premiere five weeks later. Warner Baxter gives a most convincing performance as a producer, famous for the successes he achieves, and equally notorious for the slave-driving methods by which he gains them. Rubv Keeler, wife of AI Jolson, is oharming as a chorus girl, who is forced to take a leading part at the last minute, while Bebe Daniels makes a successful reappearance as the leading lady.; Other well-known players in the cast are George Brent. Guy Kibbee, Dick Powell, Una Merkel and Ginger Rogers. MAJESTIC THEATRE George Wallace proves himself to be one of the best comedians on the screen in "Harmony Row," which is now delighting audiences at the Majestic Theatre. His humour is of that spontaneous variety which keeps an audience in continuous chuckles and roars of laughter from the rise of the curtain. In this picture he is cast as Constable Dreadnought, a diminutive police recruit, who is given the task of controlling the hooligans of Harmony Row, a notoriously dangerous street. His amusing adventures reach - a climax when he meets "Sloggor" Lee, the terror of the underworld, in a boxing match. A capable cast includes Marshall Crosby and John Dobbie, who appeared with Wallace in "His Royal Highness." STRAND THEATRE "Let Me Explain, Dear," the hilarious British coincdv now being shown at the Strand Theatre, gives Gene Gerrard an opportunity to surpass the triumphs ho scored in "'M.v Wile's Family" and "Brother Alfred." He is cast as an unfortunate young husband who is continually falling in and out of domestic trouble. Claude Hulbert makes an admirable foil as a young sculptor who is an" inane and unhelpful accomplice in the husband's" adventures, while Viola Lvel as the stern and unrelenting wife, and Jane Carr head the supporting east. A good programme of shorter British films includes a Pathe Pictorial, another of the Beautiful England series, and a Paramount British newsreel. .LONDON THEATRE Merna Kennedy appears in ""RedHaired Alibi." which is being shown with "Old China" at the London Theatre. NEW REGENT THEATRE James Dunn and Sally Filers, who have appeared together in many successes, are seen with Sammy Cohen in "Sailor's Luck," which heads the programme at the New Regent Theatre, Epsom. CRYSTAL PALACE THEATRE Ruth Chatterton gives one of the outstanding performances of her career in " 'Frisco Jenny," which is the current attraction at the Crystal Palace Theatre. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE Eric Linden and Sidney Fox are splendid in "Afraid to Talk" at the Prince Edward Theatre. 5 BRITANNIA THEATRE Spencer Tracy and .Joan Bennett appear in "Me and My Gal." which is being shown with "The Phantom of Crestwood" and "Russia at Work" at the Britannia Theatre.

NATIONAL THEATRE Nancv Carroll, charming heroine of "Hot 'Saturday" and "Wayward, gives one of the best performances of her career in "Under Cover Man, which is one of tlio splendid films now being shown at the National Theatre. It is an exciting story-of a man and a girl who pit themselves against the craftiest brains of the underworld to avenge the death of the man's father. The second film is "Here's George," an amusing British comedy in which George Clarke appears. The first episode of a new serial, "Heroes of the West," based on the story by Peter B. Kyne, /Completes a well-balanced programme.

RIALTO THEATRE Beginning with some magnificent scenes of the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906, " 'Frisco Jenny," which is the main film at the Rialto Theatre, gives Ruth Chatterton an opportunity to return to the type of role she portrayed so successfully in "Madame X." MUSICAL RECITAL A musical recital will be given in the Lewis Kady Hall this evening by Winifred Cooke, Winifred Hill and Leo Whittakcr.