ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21647, 13 November 1933, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

PLAZA THEATRE Tlie inimitable AVill Rogers, typical of the average American citizen, gives another delightful character study in "'Doctor Hull,"- which heads the current program mo at the Plaza Theatre. He appears as physician and health officer in a charming little New England village, where the inhabitants have n sharp difference of opinion concerning him and his methods. One faction comprises a number of keen supporters who firmly believe in his commonsense prescriptions, but another faction tries its hardest to have hint dismissed in favour of a doctor from a neighbouring village. His friendship with Janet Cardmaker, a pretty widow who always champions him in village quarrels, causes more discontent and a meeting is held to have him removed from office. The closing scenes, whilo combining sentiment, humour and drama, are logical. Louise Dresser, who plavod opposite Will Rogers in "S'tate [''air," is seen as one of his bitterest opponents. while Marion Nixon appears as the wife of one of his patients. Vera Allen is cast as Janet Cardmaker. and others in the cast are Ralph Morgan. Anu.v Devi no and Rochelle Hudson. I here is an excellent supporting programme r l he film version of J. IS. Priestley's widely-read novel, "The Good Companions." wiJl be shown at the theatre shortly. The cast includes Jessie Matthews, Edmund Gwonn and A. W. Baskcomb. ST. JAMES' THEATRE Musical comedy is given a novel twist iu "Ladies Must. Love," which js attracting large audiences to • St. James' Theatre. When four attractive young women lo,?e their positions and decide to maintain a luxurious New York apartment by their wits they little imagine the difficulties they will encounter. One of the four falls in lovo and trouble follows when she refuses to accept a bracelet which has been offered her. There is an ingenious and dramatic climax. June Knight, a newccmer to the screen, invests the part of the heroine with sincerity and charm, and the other three girls, Mary Carlisle, Sally O'Neil and Dorothy Burgess, are excellent as ruthless "gold-diggers." Neil Hamilton has the leading male role. The excellent supporting programme includes a clever burlesque on "King Kong." Splendid entertainment should be afforded by "Tugboat Annie," which will commence a season at the theatre shortly. Fine character studies are given by the principals, Wallace Beery and Mario Dressier. MAJESTIC THEATRE Memories of the success of "Rockery Nook" and "Plunder" arc revived by "Thark," the current attraction nt the Majestic Theatre, in which the ever-popular Aldwych Theatre players appear once more. The Tom WallsRalph Lvnn combination has lost none of its flair for producing comedy of the best type and probably no players are better'suited to the interpretation of a Ben Travers farce. Associated with them are such popular artists as Mary Brough, again very conscious of moral rectitude; Robertson Hare, as browbeaten as ever; and Claude Hulbert, once more a likeable ass. The picture was produced by Tom "\\ alls. A feature of the preliminary programme is "With Cobham to Kivu," a graphic pictorial record of Sir Alan Cobham's flight across Africa. CIVIC THEATRE Charlie Chan, the astute Chinese detective who is known to theatre-goers in all parts of the world, returns to the screen in "Charlie Chan's Greatest Case," which is proving popular at thp Civic Theatre. .Following a murder in glamorous Hawaii, Charlie Chan is called in by the police to assist them in solving the mystery surrounding tho death of a wealthy American visitor. But the picture is not merely a mystery film; woven throughout are numerous little snatches of comedy ,which do much to relieve the tension. The supporting cast includes Heather Angel and John Warburton, of "Cavalcade." There is a well-chosen supporting programme. STRAND THEATRE A touching story of mother love is told in "Pilgrimage," which heads the current double-feature programme at the Strand Theatre. It is a story of a mother who sends her son to the war in order to break off his engagement to a girl of whom she does not approve. Ho is killed. Years later she is persuaded to visit her son's grave in France and by finding happiness for another boy she in some measure atones for her wrong. "Annabel's Affairs," with Boland Young and Jeanette Mac Donald, also is being shown. REGENT THEATRE Splendid photography and keen direction do much to lift "The Squatter's Daughter," which is now at the Regent Theatre, far above the plane_ of previous Australian pictures. The spirit of outdoor Australia is conveyed to tho screen by some magnificent scenes of sheep droving, while pictures of a raging bush fire rival anything of similar scope which has yet appeared on the screen. Tho lending role is filled by I Jocelyn Howarth and others in the cost arc Grant Lvndsay, Fred Macj Donald and John Warwick. NATIONAL THEATRE I Now in the fourth week of its | Vuckland season, "The. Masquerador" continues to attract large audiences to | the National Theatre. In a difficult ! dual role which offers little help in ! tho way of make-up Ronald Cohnan ' portrays two very diverse characters by i acting' ability alone. He-appears both as a dissolute politician'who collapses owing to the prolonged use of drugs, I juid as an obscure cousin who takes 'his place. Klissa Landi heads a strong ' supporting cast. 1 here is an excellent ! programme of shorter films. i CRYSTAL PALACE AND RIALTO 1 William Powell is as suave as ever ; in "Private Detective t32." which heads ! the current programme at the Crystal Palace and Kialto Theatres. Margaret ; Lindsay, who created at profound im- : prcssion by her acting in "Cavalcade, ' is his leading lady, j STATE THEATRE ! Spencer Tracer and Peggy Shannon inre'the principals of "Alter the Ram which is being shown at the -rate ; Theatre, Onehunga. NEW REGENT THEATRE P„th Chatterton gives another fine , h -ter studvin "Lilly Turner," now at tiie New Regent Theatre, Epsom. NEWSREEL CINEMA I Tn addition to newsreels the proNewsrecl Cinema inirramnie at tne • "--'v 1 , r ,• i„ " j eludes "Three Little I'rench Girls. CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY | Tho will I.rosciit iits ' Hil|) this evennss.st.