ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21564, 8 August 1933, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

ROXY AND TIVOLI THEATRES

:■ ~I- " ! A .splendid cast including Jack Holt, Fay Wray and Noah Beery, appears in " Tlio Woman I Stole,'/ which, together with " The Best of Enemies," W'iU bo shown finally .at the Rosy» and Tivoli Theatres to-day. J ' 1 "SO THIS .IS AFRICA" So This is Africa," which will com- . mence a season at the Roxy and Tivoli Theatres to-morrow, combines brilliant' and biting satire oji tho making of films with some of the most abusing humour to be seen in Auckland for some time. Wheeler and Wpolsey, inimitable comedians of "••Teach o' Reno" and "Hold 'Em Jail " are at their best as two penniless owners of a troupe' of performing lions. They are engaged to make a jungle picture by Mrs. Johnson-Martini,' an explorer, who unfortunately is very afraid of hons. The tame lions are lost oti*tho way to Africa, but the expedition continues on its hilarious way without them. Armed with an amazing collection of baggage, they enter the heart of the African jungle. There they undergo one adventure after another, and tho film reaches a climax when Wheeler, while walking in his sleen, meets a beautiful Amazon, who falls in love with him and carries him off to hei» hut. Next morning the expedition .is attacked -.by : tho whole tribe of Amazons, and tho two comedians - are saved' from being forcibly married, to some of tho tribe only after, a series of ludicrous incidents. The- supporting cast includes llaquel Torres, Esther Muir. Ber.ton Churchill, Henry Armetta and Spencer Charters. ST, JAMES* THEATRE The building of a hugo department store, from its earliest beginnings, is dramatically told ■ in " Sweepings," which is now attracting large andiences to St. James' Theatre. Lionel Barrymore's acting as Daniel Pardway, the owner of the store, • equals his brilliant performances in " Grand Hotel " and " Rasputin and the Empress." Eric Linden, William Gargan,. George Meeker and Gloria Stuart aro well cast as the children who prove unworthy of the magnificent' inheritance prepared for them. The screen version of the popular musical comedy " Rio Rita " will open a season at St. James' on Friday. It is a lighthearted romance dealing' with Mexico, bandits and Texas Rangers, and is interspersed with some delightful humour. John Boles and Bebo Daniels are admirable in the principal parts, and their singing of several of the finessongs in the production is an outstanding feature of the film. Much of the humour is provided by Wheeler and Woolsey. The episode where they find a bottle of very potent liquid is one of the- funniest yet filmed. '. REGENT THEATRE The lives of the passengers on a great liner make, a splendidly realistic basis for '' Luxury Liner," the current attraction -at the Regent Theatre. The central figure in the story is a young doctor , who changes places with the ship's surgeon in order to be near his wife, who has run away with a wealthy shipping magnate. But this is only one phase of the . plot, for tho whole ship comes within the range of the camera and the- petty disappointments and ambitions or steerage passengers are contrasted with the emotions of their wealthier fellows in the first class. George Brent appears as the doctor, 'while other outstanding performances are given bv Frank Morgan and Zita Johaen. " The Woman in His House," adapted from Philip Barry's sensational play ./'The Animal Kingdom,".will commence a season at the theatre on Friday. Ann Harding, Leslie Howard ~a|wl are the principals. ■ STRAND THEATRE " Wedding Rehearsal,'.' one of the most successful British films yet made, isfriow being screened at the Strand Theatre. 'Roland Young is supported te a distinguished cast, including George Grossmith, Edmund Breon, Lady Tree -and -John Loder. - George Raft, who has been seen recently in " Undercover Man," is the principal of " Night After Night," the second, film. !; NATIONAL THEATRE ■ '' Miss Pinkerton," the film version of the novel by Mary Roberts Rinehart,- heads the current programme at the National Theatre. Joan Blondell is cast as a'young nurse'who helps a de•tective, George Brent, to solve a murder lnystery. The second film,is "The River's End, 5 -', a, • story of the North West Mounted Police,from the - novel by James Oliver Curwood.. Charles Bickford and Evalyn Eifapp the principals*"'" • ' ■ MAJESTIC THEATRE s , The story of the mutiny, of the Bounty, one of the most' amazing passages in the history of- the Pacific, makes a thrilling background for " In the, Wake of the Bounty," which is now being shown at the Majestic Theatre. Adventure and romance are judiciously blended with photography ! of a high order to make excellent entertainment. The shorter films on the programme include a novelty, " Strange as it Seems," a comedy and two news reels. ' v ' CIVIC THEATRE The screen version of Noel Coward's epic of Empire, " Cavalcade," continues to prove popular at tho Civic Theatre. as the picture of tho generation, it presents the history of Britain during the last 33 years as an emotional force in the life of a woman. Tho allBritish cast includes Diana Wynyard, as Jane Marryot, Clivo Brook, • Herbert Mundin and Ursula Jeans. NEW REGENT THEATRE A delightful musical romance, " High Society Blues," is now being shown at tho New Regent Theatre, Epeom. Jessi" Mn ++~e w« Jn " The Man From Toronto," which is being .screened on tho stimo programme. STATE THEATRE A notable cast, including Victor McLaglen, Edmund Lowe and Lupo Velez, appears in " Raoketv Jiax," which is being screened at tho State Theatre, Onehunga, together with " False Face 3." ■ ■ •' ' ' RIALTO THEATRE Kay Francis gives a finished performance in " The Keyhole," which heads the double-feature programme at the Bialto .Theatre. Tho second film is "Lawyer Man," in which William Powell and Joan Blondell are the principals. f. ® ; '.TUDOR , CINEMA y§Dhe current attraction'at the Tudor OWema is f The Love-Contract," a Charming romancQ in .which. Winifred Shotter and Owen Nares appear.. BRITANNIA . THEATRE . Eddie Cantor_ is at his best in " The Kid From Spain," the lavish niusical comedy which is now being screened at tho Britannia Theatre. LONDON THEATRE A realistic film of the Gold Coast, " White Cargo," will open a season at the London Theatre to-day. Leslie Fabor and Gypsy llhouina are in tho i cast* J

PLAZA THEATRE Gertrude Lawrence, one of England'® best-known stage actresses, has the ; principal role in " No Funny Business," the Lnited Artists' film which is now being shown at the Plaza Theatre. Sho is seen as a wife who is afixious to obtain a divorce, while Edmund Breou has the part of her husband, who is taking proceedings simultaneously. Tho film abounds in hilarious situations which adhere to the best traditions of British farce. Jill Esmond and Lawrence Olivier are the' principals of si second romance which runs through -the film. r The second picture on the programme is " Tho Man They Couldn't Arrest," with Gordon Harker and Hugh Wakefield. THE "WARRIOR'S HUSBAND" Elissa Landi, who will bo remembered for her outstanding performance as Mercia in " The Sign of the Cross," will be seen again in " The Warrior's Husband," which will be shown for tho first time at tho Plaza Theatre on Friday. It is an amazing story of the Amazons, who go out and fight whilo their husbands stay at home and do tho housework. The cast includes Marjori© Rambeau, • David Manners and Ernest Trucx, whilo tho girls who have been assembled to play the parts of the Amazons have been specially chosen for their beauty. CRYSTAL PALACE THEATRE The programme at tho Crystal Palaco' Theatre comprises " Tho Keyhole " and " Lawyer Man," the story of a New York lawyer's rise to wealth and influence. Joan Blondell and William Powell aro in the cast. . LITTLE THEATRE SOCIETY "R.U.R.," the -sensational drama which was acclaimed as a master- 1 piece when presented by Basil Dean in London, will bo tho Little Theatre's 31st offering, and will be staged at Scots Hall to-morrow evening and on.. Thursday. It will be acted by an accomplished cast xmder the direction of Mr< Frederic E. McCallum. AUCKLAND THEATRE " GUILD An ingenious farce, " He Walked in Her Sleep," has been chosen for tho Auckland Theatre Guild's seventh production to be presented in the Lewis Eady Hall on August and 17. The cast includes Harold Haines, Dawn Collier, J. G. Boyle and Adele do Marr-