ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22392, 13 April 1936, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

ST. JAMES' THEATRE No finer entertainment has been offered in Auckland this year than "Mutiny on the Bounty," at St. James' Theatre. One reason for this film's immense appeal is its background of the sea and ships. From the opening scenes in Portsmouth Harbour, whence the Bounty, under Captain Bligh, sets out for the South Sea Islands, to the scene at the trial of the alleged mutineers, Midshipman Byam and others, the story deals with the sea and sailors. A vivid picture is given of the harsh discipline under which sailors suffered in the eighteenth century and of the bad conditions under which they worked, and of the Bounty herself, a little ship, but a staunch one. These scenic charms, however, are but the setting for a sternly dramatic story, portrayed by Charles Laughton, Clark Gable,. Franchot Tone and a number of supporting players.

PLAZA THEATRE Margaret Sullavan, who has never given an indifferent performance, has the leading part in "Next Time We Love" .at the Plaza Theatre. " Only Yesterday" and "The Good Fairy" gave a glimpse of the acting quality of this player and "Next Time We Love" has perfected it. Miss Sullavan has the role of the wife of a struggling writer. She takes a position in a musical comedy show to help the family finances and he is forced to depart for foreign lands in the cojirse of his work. The pair become estranged, not willingly, but inevitably by their long separation, and she is at the point of throwing in her lot with a well-tried and loved, friend. At a critical point her husband becomes ill and in their hour of trouble husband and wife are finally reconciled.

MAJESTIC THEATRE Appropriate holiday fare for the young people is provided in "Midshipman Easy," a film version of the well-known adventure story by Captain Marrvatt, which was shown for the first time at the Majestic Theatre on Saturday. The gallant days when there was always a Spanish galleon laden, with treasure to be captured, or a fair lady «to rescue from peril, are brought to the screen in this fast-moving film, and there are sea battles, storms, gold doubloons, duels, brigands and hand-to-hand encounters enough to delight the heart of any boy. The picture relates the adventures of young Easy, brought up on the doctrine that all men are equal, when he enters the Royal Navy as a midshipman and attempts to maintain his principles > there. How he disobeys orders and captures a valuable prize with his boat crew, escapes shipwreck by a hair's breadth in a gale, and then is fired on by his own ship, is but the first of many adventures he meets during his voyages in H.M.S. Harpy. Then there is the rescue of a senorita and her parents from a Spanish brigand who has been terrorising the countryside, and the picture reaches a climax when Easy and two cti his companions endeavour to defend her home against the bandit and a gang of desperadoes who escape from a galley. Hughie Green heads a large cast which includes some clever juvenile actors. Popeye the Sailor, who vies with Mickey Mouse as the most popular of all cartoon characters, achieves one of his greatest successes in " Dizzy Divers," one of the supporting films, in which he and a rival engage in a battle beneath the sea for the possession of a treasure chest. A coloured cartoon, " Balloon Land," a Pathe Pictorial, and two. newsreels complete a varied programme.

STRAND THEATRE For the music-lover there is no better entertainment offering in the city than "Metropolitan," the main item on the Strand Theatre programme. The picture is notable for the splendid singing and acting of Lawrence Tibbett, America's foremost baritone. Tibbett is given a wide range of operatic selections, all of a popular nature, such as the Toreador Song from "Carmen," the Largo al Factotum from "The Barber of Seville," the Prologue to "Pagliacci," a selection from "Faust" and the animated negro spiritual "De Glory Road." Virginia Bruce plays the feminine lead, and Luis Alberni the comedian. STATE THEATRE An appropriate Easter attraction at the State Theatre is "The Milky Way," Harold Lloyd's latest production. An inoffensive milkman, his only ambition to sell more milk to more customers, he rises through an amazing run of luck to some eminence as a boxer. His one asset as a fighter, the ability to duck any blow aimed at him, completely bewilders his antagonists and finally he is matched against the world's middleweight champion in an hilarious contest. Helen Mack has the feminine lead. LONDON CINEMA Richard Dix and Edna May Oliver have the principal parts in "The Great Jasper," which heads the current entertainment at the London Cinema. Bruce Cabot appears in a musical film, "Midshipman Jack," which completes the programme. EPSOM REGENT AND ALEXANDRA The eminently successful musical comedy "Top Hat" is the main item on the programme offering at the Epsom Regent and Alexandra Theatres. Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire, as the leading players, give memoraV.o exhibitions of dancing. CAPITOL THEATRE A rollicking comedy, "The Irish in Us," will be presented at the Capitol Theatre to-night. A second attraction is "Charlie Chan in Egypt."

EMPRESS THEATRE Shirley Temple gives an appealing performance in "The Littlest Rebel" at the Empress Theatre. John Boles, Karen Morlev and Jack Holt are the supporting players. "Music is Magic" is the second film. VICTORIA THEATRE "Hopalong Cassidy" and "The Bishop Misbehaves" are the films to be presented to-night at the Victoria Theatre. ADELPHI THEATRE Entertainment consisting of "Alibi Ike," featuring Joe E. Brown, and "If You Could Only Cook" will bo presented to-night at the Adelphi Theatre. DELTA THEATRE Jackie Cooper and Wallace Beerv are the principals in "The Bowery," the current film at the Delta Theatre. PRINCESS THEATRE "Tho Littlest Rebel," _ Shirley Temple's latest production,, is being shown with "Another Face" at the Princess Theatre. STATE THEATRE, DEVONPORT Ronald Colman is the central player in "The Man Who. Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo" at the State Theatre, Devonport. Joan Bennett also appears. STATE THEATRE, ONEHUNGA , Jessie Matthews heads the cast of "First a Girl" at the State Theatro. Onehunga. "Two in the Dark" is a second attraction.

REGENT THEATRE As a singer, dancer and humorist Jack Buchanan has few. rivals on the screen, and he is given ample scope for the exercise of his talents in the hilarious British comedy "When Knights Were Bold," which was presented at the Regent Theatre on Saturday. He sings two catchy songs, tap dances skilfully, and his wit and gaiety make every situation brimful of comedy. .The picture, which is one of the iirst to be released by the new organisation, Associated Distributors, ranks as one of the best comedies produced by a British studio. The story and dialogue are bright and convincing, the photography is excellent and the casting has been extremely well done. Jack Buchanan is perfectly at home in the role of a light-hearted army officer, Guy.de Vere, who inherits a title and an old English castle. Some of the most amusing situations in the film are produced hv the breezy manner in which Guy treats an assortment of aunts and other relations, who are rooted in the traditions of the past, and are always shocked by the behaviour of the lord of Beechwood Castle. Naturally, Jack Buchanan has his own ideas about brightening up the .gloomy atmosphere of the castle, and they range from introducing a parrot, a monkey and an Indian servant to inviting a trombone player to dine with him. The trombonist knocks over a suit of armour, which descends on Jack Buchanan's head, and assists in taking him back to the days when knights were bold. In these scenes the comedy reaches its highest level, and nothing funnier has been seen on the screen than the way in which Jack Buchanan dons helmet and armour and defends Beechwood Castle for the sake of the Lady Rowena, who, strangely enough, is identical with the only relative who looked upon his activities with favour. Other relatives alsb appear, and the fun becomes more and more hilarious. The end of the picture finds the Lady Rowena reconciling her devotion to the age of chivalry with her admiration for the descendant of the knightly de Veres. Fay Wray plays the part of the Lady Rowena with charm and dignity, and the roles of the two straight-laced aunts are taken by Kate Cutler and Partita Hunt. The excellent supporting programme includes "Here is Paradise," a picture showing the wealth and beauty of South Australia, a Popeye the Sailor cartoon and a Pathe Pictorial.

EMBASSY THEATRE Following the success of its opening, the great popularity of the Embassy Theatre seems assured. The comfort of the theatre, the tasteful furnishings, the perfect sound and brilliant lighting make the theatre a place for complete relaxation, and the management's policy of screening only films of proved quality should be gladly received by Auckland theatre-goers. "Rose of the Ilancho," the opening attraction, is a musical production of a type and finesse that is only too rarely seen. Gladys Swarthout, a mezzo-soprano from the Metropolitan Opera makes her screen debut, and a promising one it is. She allies a smooth, rich voice of range and purity with an attractive appearance and acting poise. Her singing is heard in several charming scenes and her leading man, John Bdles, a suitably romantic figure, also sings in company with Miss Swarthout. The story is laid in California in the middle of last century, and open-air scenes predominate.

CRYSTAL PALACE AND RIALTO The talented coloratura soprano Lily Pons has the lead in "I Dream Too Much" at the Rialto and Crystal Palace Theatres. This diminutive player has a voice of range and clarity and it is well recorded in a selection of operatic and popular numbers. There is an interesting story which does not follow too closely the usual singer theme in such productions. Fan'dro Berman, who produced "Roberta." "Top"Hat" and "The Gay Divorcee," was also responsible for "I Dream Too Much." A riotous farce, "Your Uncle Dudley," is the second attraction. Edward Everett Horton, whose acting in supporting roles has been the making of many films, has the central role and he makes the most of it. His clowning is never wearisome, and he is assisted "by capable supporting players. "Border' Law" heads the matinee programme. NATIONAL THEATRE "The Littlest Rebel," at the National Theatre, is one of the most delightful productions in which Shirley Temple appears. This little girl has captured the favour of Auckland audiences, and for those who admire her skill "The Littlest Rebel" should be a source of great enjoyment. Shirley is cast as the daughter of a property owner in America before the Civil War. The war breaks up her happiness when her father is called away, and her mother's illness increases her woe. How the little girl makes a long journey to the president- in Washington to secure her father's freedom provides the material for an exciting climax. ROXY AND TIVOLI THEATRES An all-western programme at the Boxy and Tivoli Theatres comprises " The Fighting Code " and " Law Beyond the Range." Buck Jones, a veteran of the silent screen, has the lead in the former film, a tale of action and romance. The hero takes the heroine's part in spite of the disfavour with which she is regarded through an alleged robbery by her dead father. There is a stirring climax in which he clears her father's name to earn her gratitude and love. Tim McCoy's performance in " Law Beyond the Range" ranks with the finest in his career. It is a part filled with action and thrills and is particularly well suited to his talents.

CIVIC THEATRE The ever-popular combination Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers appears in " Follow the Fleet," at the Civic Theatre. This film is an advance even on " Top Hat," "The Gay Divorcee" and " .Roberta," which is sufficient guarantee for any film. The dance and song ensembles are better than ever, particularly striking effects being obtained with choruses, one of 24 nimblefooted sailors, another of nine fault-lessly-trained ballet girls. The romantic element is there in full force with Astaire as the ardent suitor who hinders his own progress by making the most elementary blunders in courting the fair Miss Rogers. Music is supplied by Irving Berlin, who is fast becoming indispensable to the leading pair. TUDOR CINEMA Sonnie Hale and Robertson Hare appear in an hilarious English comedy, "Are You a Mason?" at the Tudor Cinema. There is a splendid supporting • programme. "People Will Talk," featuring Charlie Ruggles, will commence tomorrow. REGAL THEATRE ; "Boys Will be Boys" is the main film on the programme at the Regal Theatre. An associate feature is "Fang and Claw." ASTOR THEATRE A polished drama, "No More Ladies," will be shown, together with "Father Brown, Detective," at the Astor Theatre to-night. BRITANNIA THEATRE "Lightning Strikes Twice" heads- the current programme at the Britannia Theatre. "The Murder Man" also 1* being shown.