ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22117, 24 May 1935, Page 15

ENTERTAINMENTS

fINVOLI AND RIALTO THEATRES "Gridiron Flash," with Eddie Quillan juid Betty Furness in the leading roles, heads the entertaining double-feature programme being presented at the Tivoli and Rialto Theatres. The story deals with the life in a large American college and offers entertainment of a definitely higher standard than is customary in a film of this type. A delightful romance is introduced and the various incidents of the story are admirably linked together. A stirring story of the Cape Cod fishing grounds, "Captain Hurricane," is the second attraction. James Barton gives a sterling portrayal in the leading role of a petty tyrant, whose power is finally vanquished by a strond-minded lady, played convincingly by Helen Mack. MAJESTIC THEATRE "Society Doctor," a romantic drama centring around life in a great hospital and similar to such successes as "Men in White" and "The White Parade," will have its initial Auckland screening at the Majestic Theatre today. The whole of the action extends over only' eight hours, yet into this short time is packed a powerful drama depicting the rivalry of two doctors, played by Chester Morris and I'obert Taylor, for the love of a nurse (Virginia Bruce). It is repleto with very fast action, the highest point of drama being reached when one doctor is shot. (Other doctors refuse to operate and -he is forced to direct his own operation, with his rival using the knife. A splendid supporting cast gives excellent assistance to the principals, Billie Burke, who was last seen in "Forsaking All Others," being outstanding in the part of a neurotic patient. An entertaining programme of shorter films includes a coloured musical cartoon, "Toyland Broadcast," and a comedy of the popular "Our Gang" series. t CIVIC THEATRE Two of England's best-known comedians, Sonnie Hale and Robertson Hare, take the principal roles in the film "Are You a Mason?" one of the greatest comedy successes of recent years, which will open an Auckland season at the Civic Theatre to-day. Overseas critics have judged this production as the only English comedy iwhich can be placed in the same class u the celebrated farce "Charley's Aunt." It* is a film with never a dull moment. The plot turns upon the desperate efforts made by the two principal characters to keep from their respective wives the fact that they are not Masons, the truth about their debts and other facts which might cause unpleasantness. Mr. Hale's mother-in-law has a great respect for Masons and, believing that her husband is a worshipful master of the fraternity, intends that he shall be responsible for her son-in-law's initiation. The story possesses a multitude of uproarious situations which keep the audience in constant daughter to the end, which comes in the shape of a splendid climax when, rather to their relief, the tangled web the principals have anxiously woven is finally unravelled. The cast is small, hot it handles the story with great dexterity, never allowing the main threads to be lost in the almost bewildering rapidity with which situations and characters are interchanged.

REGENT THEATRE The plot of the stirring romance "The Wedding Night," the main attraction on • the programme to be screened for the first time at the Regent Theatre to-day, depends mainly on the contrast between a highly-educated and rather sophisticated city man, and a simple country girl. The man/ played by Gary Cooper, is a New York author who goes to the country to seek material for a new book. "While there he quarrels with his wife and after her return to the city life she desires, he is interested in a country girl. The girl (Anna Sten), bred in the country under the influence of the traditions brought by her parents from Europe, is equally interested in him, and a charming romance is developed to a most dramatic climax, when the girl is called upon to fulfil a "marriage bargain" arranged for her by her father. The cast is unusually good. Mr. Cooper in the leading role gives his usual distinguished performance, while the great dramatic aetiess Anna Sten is equally convincing in her most powerful role to date.

ST. : JAMES' THEATRE One of the outstanding films of the year, " Lives of a Bengal Lancer," heads the programme now in its fourth week of a popular season at St. James' Theatfe. A production which S'ps the imagination from start to ish it was inspired by the book by Captain Yeats-Brown dealing with the stirring life of the guardians of the north-west frontier of India. A particularly strong east, including Gary Cooper, Franchot Tone and Colin Tapley, gives a vivid interpretation to the story. There is a fine supporting programme. STATE THEATRE The entertaining double-feature programme to be shown for the first time at the State Theatre to-day is headed by a stirring drama, "The Outcast Lady," which has /Constance Bennett in the leading role. A bright comedy, "Big Hearted Herbert," which has aroused great enthusiasm in other centres, will be the secoitid attraction. CRYSTAL PALACE THEATRE Excellent acting by Charles Laughton, Norma Shearer and Fredric March marks the outstanding dramatic film, "The Barretts of Wimpole Street," which is proving popular with patrons of the Crystal Palace Theatre. There is a fine subsidiary programme. TUDOR CINEMA Clark Gable and Myrna Loy are the principals of "Manhattan Melodrama," the main film on the programme at the Tudor Cinema. There is a wide selection of shorter films. STAR CINEMA Chester Morris is the principal of "Let's Talk it Over," the first film being shown at the Star Cinema. " Ever Since Eve" also is being screened. NEW REGENT THEATRE The film version of the widely-read Hovel, "Anne of Green Gables," is the principal attraction at the New Regent theatre, Epsom. Anne Shirley is the Wading player i

STATE THEATRE. ONEHUNGA "Broadway Bill" and "Rendezvous ®t Midnight" are both being screened *t the State Theatre, Onehunga. STATE THEATRE, DEVONPORT Two full-length films, "Dirty Work" and "Grand Old Girl," comprise the entertaining programme being shown at the State Theatre, Devonport. BRITANNIA THEATRE "Evelyn Prentice" and "Now and Forever" are;the two full-length films wing screened at the Britannia *heatre.

PLAZA THEATRE A thrilling melodrama, "The Man Who Knew Too Much," will hare its premiere at the Plaza Theatre to-day. This film tells a story which, although rather unusual, is quite credible, and is founded to a certain extent on fact. It concerns attempts by foreign desperadoes to assassinate a great statesman who is on a visit to London. The central characters are a young man, his wife and their small daughter. They are visiting Switzerland, when an acquaintance of theirs is murdered. Ho turns out to have been a secret service agent, and he leaves a secret message for them. When this is discovered, the small daughter, played with marked ability by the new juvenile, Nova Pilbeam, is kidnapped as a hostage. This is the beginning of a startling chain of events which unfolds one of the most thrilling stories ever presented on the screen, a wonderful climax being the screen version of one of the most amazing events in the history of London—the "Sidney Street campaign," when a pitched battle was fought in the street between police and anarchists. The great tension of the drama is heightened by the vivid realism which the director, Alfred Hitchcock, has imparted to the film, while excellent relief is given by a continuous strain of unforced humour. Leslie Banks and Edna Best in the leading roles are extremely good, while Peter Lorre and Frank Vosper, as the arch-villains, are outstanding among an unusually talented cast.

NATIONAL AND PRINCE EDWARD The popular actress Kay Francis has the leading role in "Dr. Monica," a drama of hospital life, which will be the main attraction on the doublefeature programme to be shown for the first time at the National and Prince Edward Theatres to-day. Miss Francis has the part of Dr. Monica Braden, a specialist, whose husband, played by the accomplished Warren Williams, becomes involved in an affair with another woman (Jean Mufr). This film was adapted from a Polish novel and makes extremely dramatic entertainment. The second picture will be "One Hour Late," a romantic comedy; with Helen Twelvetrees and Conrad Nagel as its principal players. STRAND THEATRE One .of the greatest operettas ever presented on the screen, "One Night of Love," will commence a return season at the Strand Theatre to-day. This film has only recently concluded a nine weeks' season in Auckland and music lovers should welcome this chance of again seeing and hearing the now celebrated Grace Moore, whs takes the leading singing and dramatic role. The story is a charming romance, with a bright undercurrent of humour, the effect of which is increased by the glorious music and the fine performances of all the members of the cast. The principal has been acclaimed as one of the leading singers of the day and, besides her vocal artistry, she brings to the film a charming personality and real talent as an actress.

CIVIC THEATRETTE Herbert Mundin and Edna May Oliver provide much hilarious comedy in the film, "It's Great To Be Alive," the main attraction at the Civic Theatrette. There is a wide selection of entertaining supporting pictures.* LONDON CINEMA The popular juvenile Shirley Temple is the principal in a gay comedy, " Dora's Doughnuts," which is the main attraction on the programme to be shown for the first time at the London Cinema to-day. A second film will be "The White Ensign."