ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21845, 6 July 1934, Page 16

ENTERTAINMENTS

PLAZA THEATRE With a delicate combination of romance, mystery and drama, the latest Fox film production, " Such Women are Dangerous," which will be shown for the first time at the Plaza Theatre to-day, is splendid entertainment. With such a versatile and appealing actor as Warner Baxter in the leading role the picture cannot fail to make a. wide appeal to theatregoers. This new crisp comedy presents Baxter in the fascinating role of a bachelor-novelist. His performance is all the more attractive through the excellent support lie receives from the three leading feminino players, Rosemary Ames, Rochelle Hudson and Mona Barrie. Baxter achieves great success with his novels, which are very popular with women. There are three women directly concerned with his private life and one of them, his secretary, seeks to protect him from the attentions of the other two. The young girl commits suicide and the novelist is accused of murder. The manner in which Baxter extricates himself from this accusation provides a highly interesting and dramatic climax to the story. The film was produced by A 1 Rockett, while the direction was in the hands of James Flood. The film record of the first cricket test match between England and Australia is one of the fine supporting features.

ROXY AND TIVOLI THEATRES With entertainment catering for a wide diversity of tastes "Three on a Honeymoon" is the first film on the double-feature programme attracting large audiences to tho Roxy and Tivoli Theatres. Sally Eilcrs and Charles Starrett head the cast of supporting players, while Zasu Pitts gives a convincing portrayal in the leading role. A wide variety of scenery is introduced with effect as the story depicts a large liner on a Mediterranean pleasure cruise. The whole film is treated in a light-hearted manner and a scene in a cabaret, arranged for the tourists in Algiers, calls for special comment. The ballet presentation, with Zasu Pitts as the central figure, is one. of the most spectacular ever performed on the talking screen. "Keep 'Em Rolling," one of the recent Radio films, also is being shown. MAJESTIC THEATRE With the recommendation of beinc one of the best stories by the late Edgar Wallace, " The Man Who Changed His Name " heads the programme to have its first presentation at the Majestic Theatre to-day. There have been numerous film adaptations of novels by this celebrated writer of thrilling fiction, the best known including "The Ringer," "The Flying Squad," "Frightened Lady " and "The Calendar." The production has the additional attraction of a large cast of talented players, headed by Lyn Harding and Betty Stockfield. Miss Stockfield, an attractive young Australian actress, has scored several successes on the London stage and reveals a striking screen personality. She lias played in several outstanding films, including " City of Song,'' " 77 Park Lane " and " The Maid of tho Mountains." CIVIC THEATRE Kay Francis, one of the most attractive actresses on the talking screen, gives perhaps the best performance of her career in " Tho House on 56th Street," which will have its initial screening at the Civic Theatre to-day. It is an unusually moving story of a woman's life. The opening scenes introduce an actress who marries a wealthy aristocrat and then suddenly finds herself alone and has to secure some means of support. The story, moving from 1905 to the present day, runs through a variety of styles in dress and shows the life of New York early in the present century and its development to 1930. The cast has been chosen with care and includes Gene Raymond, William Boyd, Ricardo Cortez and Margaret Lyndsay. The plot is developed in a series of smooth flowing scenes and the production is pleasing in every way. The fine supporting films include the pictorial record of the first cricket test match between England and Australia.

REGENT THEATRE A triumph for the popular actress Constance Bennett, " Moulin Rouge, the current film at the Regent Theatre, is a storv concerning the attraction the stage holds for a young married woman. Previous to her marriage Helen had been on the stage with an actress named Racquel, a girl who resembled her in every detail. Racquel had since become very well known and was engaged to be the principal m written by Helen's husband. Helen, whose own ambition was to return to the stage, impersonates Racquel and gives an outstanding performance. The manner in which Constance Bennett takes the role of Helen in one scene and Racquel in the next without any apparent effort is remarkable and the supporting plavers all give splendid performances. " The Bowery • will shortly commence a season at the theatre. STRAND THEATRE The fantastic idea of Death taking human shape and spending a threedays' holiday on earth is treated with such sincerity that it is made to appear credible in Death Takes a. Holiday, n which will be introduced to Auckland audiences at the Strand Theatre to-day. Fredric March, the talented young principal in " Design for Living " and " Smilin' Through, has the most difficult role of his career ns Death, but his great acting abilitv stands him in good stead and ho aquits himself well. He' first appears as a shadowy presence, but later materialises into a Continental Prince. He falls in lovo and discovers what makes people hat'? him so. The story is cleverly worked up to a thrilling and quite unexpected climax. Evelyn \ enable acts with delightful freshness and candour as the w^lo falls l° ve with Death, and other prominent players are Sir Guy Standing and Kent Taylor. Ihero is a good selection of shorter films. STATE THEATRE Two clever cpmedies of widely differing type, " Letting in the Sunshine and " Love, Honour and Oh Baby, comprise the programme boing presented at the State Theatre. RIALTO THEATRE The film version of the popular novel by Louisa M. Alcott, '/ Little Women, is the current attraction at the Rialto Theatre. It is the story of the lives of a family of four girls. NEW REGENT THEATRE " Fra Diavolo" and " Hi, Nellie," comprise the programme being screened at the New Regent Theatre, Epsom. CRYSTAL PALACE THEATRE " Hips, Hips Hooray" is the main film being shown at the Crystal Palace Theatre. " David Harum" also is being screenedTUDOR CINEMA " Midnight Club" is the main attraction being presented at the Tudor Cinema. There is a fine supporting programme. STATE THEATRE, ONEHUNGA " I Adore You" and "Night of the Party" are the two pictures on the current programme at the State Theatre, Onehunga. LONDON NEWSREEL CINEMA Betty Stockfield and Jan Kiepura appear in "The City of Song," film being shown at the London Ivewsrcel Cinema. There is a fino supporting programme.

ST. JAMES' THEATRE With three such popular screen players as Clark Gable, Myrna Loy &ti<\ William Powell together for the first time, " Manhattan Melodrama ca *?" not fail to receive strong support. It heads the programme to commence a season at St. James' Theatre to-day. Clark Gable has had wide stage experience and appeared in several films, such as "A Free Soul," 'Red Dust" and "The White Sister.". William Powell, suave and debonair as. ever, is cast as a district attorney. Myrna Loy, who will be remembered for her excellent performance in J.ne Prizefighter and the Lady and with Warner Baxter in " Penthouse, gives another very fine characterisation, Ihe introductory scenes recall fire ou the excursion steamer Geneial Slocuin in New York m 1904 involved the loss of over 1000 lives. The story is based on the lives of two lads who were saved and brought up by a kindly old man.

NATIONAL AND PRINCE EDWARD Tho film industry has recently been giving considerable publicity to risks faced by newsreel camer f ai " e J- 1 " their search for photographs of topica* events, and " Above the which will commence a season at the and Prince Edward Theatres to*day, is based on the adventures of these men. The picture abounds in thrilling scenes, deftly leavened with moments or romance. Dorothy Wilson makes a cap. tivating leading lady and oppositeher are Robert Armstrong and Richard Cromwell. In the second film, , Once to Every Woman," tho action is contained within the walls of a public hospital. The picture is based on a novel, ''Kaleidoscope Ink," by A. J. Cronin, a distinguished Scottish novelist, who is himself a doctor; and so far as a layman can judge, the film is authentic both in its details and in its general atmosphere. It offers some uncommonly intimate studies of character, which are well interpreted by a strong cast.

GRAMMAR SCHOOL CONCERT An unusually entertaining programme was presented by pupils of the &PS°?n Girls' Grammar School in th§ Hall last night, when the annual school concert was held. There was a large audience. All the items in & varied pro» gramme were excellent and bespoke careful training and rehearsal. A feature of the entertainment were the items given by the school orchestra. cbou% An excellent reception was accorded a vocal solo by Lorria Forsman, who sane Mendelssohn's "On Wings of Song, and she gave a second rendering by request later in the programme. One of the most amusing items wag an inter* pretation of Roland Pertwee s play "Postal Orders" by members of the Old Girls' Association, and it kept the audience in fits of laughter from start to finish. Two dances. "Russian Mazurka and "Gavotte" (Elizabeth Turner BeU] were splendidlv performed apd received an excellent reception. Presentations by the school orchestra included hinale from Symphony C" (Haydn), and an orchestral suite containing Schubert s "Cradle Song." An unusual item was a recitation of TV alter de la Mare 3 "Martha" by Form IVA. The programme concluded with massed drill and massed singing. The proceeds of the concert will be devoted to the swimming bath fund.