ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21698, 13 January 1934, Page 15

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE Something entirely different in screen entertainment is presented to the public in the British International production "Radio Parade," the feature attraction on this week's programme at the Regent Theatre. The picture is a large-scale screen broadcast, designed to afford audiences the world over an opportunity of seeing a brilliant company of talented variety artists —an opportunity which could only bo offered through the medium of the talking film. Contributing to this remarkable entertainment are over 50 of Britain's most popular stage, screen and radio celebrities. In primary ;iiin ".'Radio Parade" is similar to the American production "The Big Broadcast," which was shown in this country last year, but here the resemblance ends. This film is a more comprehensive production, and is notable for the fact that no attempt is made to disguise its purpose behind a thin story. It is purely a broadcast, a vaudeville show on the screen, and as such it is a great success. The items follow one another with no link between them other than the appearances of Christopher Stone, who acts as the announcer, and of Claude Hulbert and Gus McNaughton, two versatile comedians who clown their way through the programme in the roles of inquisitive onlookers. The work of the individual performers in "Radio Parade" is uniformly first-class all through the programme. One of the most entertaining appearances is that of Florence Desmond, already well known through gramophone recordings, who gives some exceptionally clever imitations of noted screen stars, especially good being her impersonations of Tallulah Bankhead and Gracie Fields. Another splendid item is that of Elsio Carlisle, a girl of great personality, whose songs are delightlul. Others in the parade who contribute some fine turns are Mario Lorenzo, playing syncopated music on a harp; the Carlyle Cousins, singing harmonised , numbers; Reginald Gardner, imitating the noises of various motor-cars in varying circumstances: Stanelli and Edgar, seen in some amazing freak violin work; the Houston sisters, in another clever vocal turn; and Roy Fox and his' dance band, introducing and closing the broadcast. Well-staged and produced, "Radio Parade" 2 combines music, comedy, songs and humour of the first order into a novel and a very excellent programme of high entertainment value. The outstanding feature in the supporting' programme is Walt Disney's Silly Symphony, "Three Little Pigs." Filmed in technicolour, with its infectious humour and popular theme song, this symphony attracts as much attention' as most full-length' pictures, and is worth seeing for itself. The whole programme is splendid.

ST. JAMES* THEATRE Supporters of- Jean Harlow will find much to interest them in "Blonde. Bombshell," which, commenced a season before large audiences at St. James' Theatre yesterday. Miss Harlow; who has a role well suited to her talents, in that it deals with a prominent moving picture actress of Hollywood, shows great ability in all respects. Some of the incidents in the film approach the dramatic, and the actress has an extremely wide scope. The story deals with a prominent actress in.Hollywood who is harried, not only by a press agent, who is almost too enthusiastic and enterprising, but also by a. father and a brother, whose habits of life are by no means suited to her social imShe i^^ always .endeavouring to escape from "the mediocre atmosphere from which her family arose, but her relatives, with, unfailing humour, which must amuse. the audience, arc invariably capable of bringing her back to hard fact when her aspirations seem at their highest peak. There is more than a suspicion that the story is based on the experiences of actresses in true life. Certainly, the emphasis of the importance of a press agent in a career in motion pictures is extremely strong. The press agent in this case is Lee Tracy. It is customary for Mr. Tracy to have lively parts, but, in "Blonde Bombshell," he perhaps exceeds his usual vigour. Mr. Tracy causes much huifiour by his sometimes eccentric arrangement of settings which earn Miss Harlow notoriety, but that is merely good publicity from his point of view. Even Miss Harlow, inured to the attentions of her relatives and publicity hunters, is forced to seek peace away from Hollywood, and the story reaches an interesting climax, but not without the inevitable presence of Mr. Tracy. The supporting programme holds particular interest. Topical events are well illustrated in a Hearst Metrotone News, including war manoeuvres by the Japanese Army, while a Walt Disney cartoon, "Old King Cole," in "technicolour," is especially amusing. There is also a sporting item dealing with motor races at Indianapolis. Some of the photography is remarkable for the exciting incidents portrayed.

BRITANNIA THEATRE "Prosperity" and "The Woman in His House" are the films to be shown at the Britannia Theatre this evening. A children's matinee has been arranged for this afternoon. PRINCE EDWARD -THEATRE Douglas Fairbanks, jun., appears in "It's Tough to be Famous" and "Rusty Rides Again," which comprise the programme to be shown at th 6 Prince Edward Theatre this evening. TUDOR CINEMA " "When Ladies Meet," featuring Ann Harding and Robert Montgomery, is the main attraction at the Tudor Cinema this evening. There will be a special matinee this afternoon. STRAND THEATRE, ONEHUNGA Jan Kiepura, in his latest musical film, " Tell Me To-night," heads the programme at the Strand Theatre, Onenunga/ NEW EMPIRE THEATRE "I Cover the Waterfront" and "Tomorrow at Seven " comprise the current programme at the New Empire Theatre. NEW REGENT THEATRE The current programme at the New Regent Theatre, Epsom, comprises the two films "Charlie Chan's Greatest Case" and "My Lips Betray." STATE THEATRE. ONEHUNGA The current programme at the State Theatre, Onehunga, comprises "Tonight is Ours" (Claudette Colbert and Frederic March) and "Insult."

LONDON NEWSREEL CINEMA In addition to newsrcels the programme at the London Newsrcel Cinema includes "Poor Old Bill" and "The Man At Six." SUNDAY PICTURES The excellent double-feature programme to be shown at the„Rialto Theatre to-morrow evening in aid of charity is. headed by "Big News," in which the leading roles are filled by Carole Lombard and Robert Armstrong. The second picture is "His First Command," in which Bill Boyd appears.

PLAZA THEATRE Ever since Stanley Lupino introduced liis own inimitable brand of foolery to Auckland audiences in "Love Lies" and "The Love Race," lie has been one of the most popular English comedians on the screen, and in "King of the Ritz," which opened a season at the Phiza Theatre yesterday, he continues h.is tradition of ready but irresponsible wit. In this film he is seen as a superefficient hotcJ porter, a factotum whose attention to every detail makes him indispensable to management and clients alike. He is particularly assiduous to Madame Cooper, a wealthy widow, who is played by the charming young Australian actress seen in "City of Song" and other productions. She, however has other admirers, including an extremely shady count, and a Ruritanian king, travelling incognito. The whole hotel has been upset by the arrival of this monarch, but he soon shows that his interests are bound up principally' with the fascinating widow. An ingenious device by means of which the jealous porter can see all that occurs in Madame Cooper's room enables him. to upset the plans of the various other suitors, and a most embarrassing and amusing situation is brought about when the king, the count and a young golfing enthusiast, who considers him--self as the fiance of Madame Cooper,] all arrive at her room at about the same time. The quick-witted way in which the porter is able to play thein all off against each other, and to his own advantage, is one of the brightest spots in the film. Eventually Madame Cooper and the porter, Claude, visit a dilapidated old castle which lias been handed over by the king, and here the fun becomes uproarious., Claude's comments on the venerable gallery of portraits, and his reactions to the antiquated atmosphere of the castle, are in true Lupino style. Apart from the excellent work of Lupino and Miss Stockfield, sound characterisations are given by Hugh Wakefield as the king and Henry Kendall as the young golfer, while Gina Malo takes the part of a chambermaid who is wildly infatuated with Claude. * The supporting programme includes a film showing the historic beauty of Oxford, and several newsreels.

MAJESTIC THEATRE One of the most enterprising and ambitious films ever produced in England, "After the Ball," a colourful Gaumoiit-British comedy-draina, heads the programme which was screened at the Majestic Theatre for the first time yesterday. The picture worthily upholds a high standard of entertainment. "After the Ball" has many unusual features and the story it tells is laid, not in gay Vienna or Paris, the customary settings for light and romantic comedies, but in the staid and ancient Swiss city of Geneva, the home of the League of Nations. An international disarmament conference and the signing of' a treaty form a basis for the story., which deals mainly with the philanderings of a certain king's courier, Captain Harrowb.y, and the startling effect his conduct, has . upon the conference and the lives of prominent diplomats. Basil Rathbone is admirably cast as the debonair courier, while Esther Ralston, who has appeared in several recent successes, is seen as the wife of an English diplomat. She' makes a charming heroine and • again reveals herself as one of the screen's foremost actresses. Others in the cast are Marie Burke, who is well-known to Auckland theatre patrons. Felix Aylmer and George Curzon. A number of lavish scenes characterise the film, those depicting a diplomatic ball being especially appealing. No less effective are the realistic scenes showing the international conference in session with delegates gathered from all quarters of the globe. The dialogue is witty and runninc through the -picture there is the intriguing waltz "A Night, a Dance, a Tune," while other music includes "In Santa Lucia'-' and "In a Cafe on the Road to Calais." The second attraction on the programme is a musical burlesque, "My Lucky Star," a picture devoted to life behind the scenes in a cinematograph studio, in which the old favourite Oscar Asche plays a prominent part.

ROXY AND TIVOLI THEATRES The excellent double-feature programme now being shown at the Roxy and Tivoli Theatres is headed by "The Mad Game," a fast moving story of life in modern America. Spencer Tracy, a young actor whose brilliant work in several recent productions hag brought him instant popularity, is cast as a criminal who is released from prison on condition that he helps the police to solve a number of mysterious kidnapping crimes. He undergoes a plastic surgery operation and returns to the underworld to spy on his erstwhile com-panions-in-crime, who do not suspect his identity. There is a dramatic endding. The leading feminine role is capably filled by Claire Trevor, who appears as a woman reporter, while Frank Morgan. whos& recent successes include "The Kiss Before the Mirror," is admirably cast as a judge. The second picture is "Olsen's Big Moment," an hilarious comedy in which El Brendel appears with Walter Catlett, Susan Fleming and Barbara Weeks.

NATIONAL AND STATE THEATRES Now in the fourth week of its Auckland season, "The Hayseeds," the current attraction at the National and State Theatres, is proving one of the most successful films to be shown locally for some time. The picture is the first musical comedy to come from Australian studios. If its success is any criterion, it should be followed by more films of a similar type. The story deals in intimate fashion with the lives of an Australian farming family, and the foibles of these simple folk are exploited to the utmost without making them appear ridiculous. Scenes showing them on a visit to Sydney are particularly humorous. The photography is excellent, and is seen to advantage in some outdoor ballet scenes. The cast includes Cecil Kellaway, one of the best-known Australian actors, Shirley Dale, who has the leading feminine role, Arthur Clarke and Kenneth Brampton. The film was produced by Mr. Beaumont Smith. There is an excellent selection of shorter films.

CRYSTAL PALACE AND RIALTO The fall of the Romanoffs in the Russian revolution is vividly portrayed in " Rasputin and the Empress," the film now being shown at the Crystal Palace and Rial to Theatres. As tho villainous monk Rasputin, Lionel Barrvmore gives a characteristic performance, and a high standard is maintained in other roles by Ethel Barrvmore, John Barrymore, Diana Wynyard and Tad Alexander. STRAND THEATRE A picture with an unusually strong cast, Disgraced," is the current attraction at the Strand Theatre. The film is specially notable for tho display of the latest fashions in dress, as the story centres round a girl in an exclusive drapery shop. Helen Twelvetrees, who appeared with Maurice Chevalier in "A Bedtime Story," takes the principal part, while Bruce Cabot whose roles in "The Great Jasper" and "King Kong" will be remembered, plays opposite her. Adrienne Ames is cast as a wealthy society girl, while minor parts .are capably filled by William Harrigan and Ken Murray. CAPITOL THEATRE " Walking Down Broadway " (James Dunn and Boots Mallory) and " The Night of June 13," with Clive Brook, comprise the programme now being shown at the Capital Theatre.