ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22403, 27 April 1936, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAJESTIC ~ THEATRE The fifth and final week's screening in Auckland of "Mutiny on the Bounty" commenced before large audiences at the Majestic Theatre on Friday. The film lias all the qualities which make a film worth seeing twice. The story is a dramatic one, with a background of English naval history. The photographic effects may safely be said to excel any previously screened in Auckland, the scenes of the sea in all its moods and of the stately ship Bounty being surpassingly beautiful. Island scenery is presented at its best and, in contrast, there are glimpses of the stern discipline maintained by Captain Bligh in his ship. The supporting programme includes an amusing colour cartoon, "Alias St. Nick," and interesting newsreels. CIVIC THEATRE 'Delightful entertainment is provided in "The Lady Consents." the R.K.O. Radio Films' production, which commenced a season at the Civic Theatre on Friday. The film is one of those sophisticated domestic dramas which have recently proved so popular with cinema audiences, but there is always a strong undercurrent of subtle humour deftly introduced to relieve the more tense incidents in the story. Herbert Marshall and Ann Harding, in the leading roles, give most satisfying portrayals. Both arc players of proved ability, and their acting in the present film cannot do else but add to their laurels. Ann Harding is as delightfully cool and as confidently capable as ever, while Herbert Marshall gives the polished performance one has learned to expect from him. Cast as a happily-married and entirely successful New York society doctor, lie falls in love with one of his patients, much to his own amazement, and to his wife's well-concealed disappointment. Ann Harding, as Mrs. Talbot, gives a most restrained portrayal of the doctor's wife, who "behaves as a civilised woman" and divorces her husband so that he can be happy. A new situation arises, however, when she learns that the second wife is merely a "social climber." And, as Margaret Lindsay, as the second Mrs. Talbot, discovers her chagrin, she proves a most formidable rival for the affections of her former husband. Walter Ahcl does some extremely polished work as the devoted admirer of the divorced woman, while Edward Ellis, as Michael Talbot's "rough-necked" father, also contributes largely to the success of the film. His philosophy, learned in the hard school of experience, and his frank criticism of a civilisation that has too much veneer, are important features of a most entertaining and highly-diverting An associate programme of equally outstanding quality is also presented, l'n addition to a Fox Movietone newsreel and several exceptionally interesting Pa the topics, an amusing coloured cartoon, entitled "The Tooneryille Trolley." is shown. Musical selections by Desmond Tanner on the organ were enthusiastically applauded on briday nicht, while his mouth-organ rendering of "Steamboat Bill," with the assistance of Mr. Ted Healy's Civic Orchestra, was one of the most outstanding items on the programme. REGENT THEATRE Coming as Paramount's 1936 screen variety offering "The Big Broadcast of 1936" delighted the large audiences which saw it on the first day of its Auckland season at the Kegent Theatre on Friday. Presenting a galaxy of the world's foremost talent in the fields of singing, dancing and vaudeville, the production provides outstanding entertainment of a type comparativoly rarely seen on the screen. For its making, the ranks of the leading radio performers in the United States were invaded, several top-rank microphone figures being seen and heard. For the purposes of smooth continuity, the film hinges about the story of that wide-mouthed comedian, Jack Oakie, already •.ell-known to theatregoers. Oakie coutrols a * male broadcasting station in New York, which owes its existence mainly to regular broadcasts made by the owner himself, under the name of "Lochinvar, the Great Lover." Mure or less a male Dorothy Dix, Oakie. supplies heart-balm to the romantic sections of the 3'outh of America for 100 dollars an hour, the powerful Amalgamated Meats being the company privileged to link-its name with that of the great tugger of heartstrings. To finance an invention which has como into his hands, the resourceful Lochinvar enlists the aid of A crazy young woman, ruler of a remote island kingdom. His adventures on the island had Friday's audiences rocking with laughter, far-fetched as they were. Apparently overlooking the fact that the young woman is mentally deranged, Lochinvar eventually marries her. Introduced as radio acts are turns by such celebrities as Amos and Andy, the negro entertainers. Bill ("Bojangles") Robinson, world-famous coloured tap-dancer. Bine Crosby, the crooner, Charlie Buggies and Mary Boland, of screen fame. Richard Tauber, German tenor, and the Viennese Boys' Choir, who visited New Zealand last year. Also seen are those inimitable comedians, Burns and Allen. The Paramount Newsreel which heads tho supporting programme includes particularly fine scenes of the towing of the Queen Mary to sea. Also being shown are a Grantland Rice Sportlight, entitled "Jumping," a "Popeye" cartoon, "Spinach Overture" and a "Cinesound Review." Popular tunes are played by Trevor Eady's Regent orchestra.

NATIONAL THEATRE Tho story by Dostoievsky, "Crime and Punishment," is tho main item or< tho National Theatre programme. Tho story is an absorbing ono. It deals with the realities of life, not with its artificialities, and this is the secret of its success. Peter Lorre and Edward Arnold are tho prominent actors, and Marian Marsh is tho leading lady. The second film, "Lady of Secrets," is marked by unusually skilful construction on tho part of tho author. Ruth Cliatterton, one of tho most graceful actresses brought to the screen, plays an important part, and Otto Kruger, Lionel Atwill and Marian Marsh also appear. STATE THEATRE "Rose of tho Raneho," at tho State Theatre, is notable not only for the excellence of its musical score, but for the introduction to Auckland audiences of Gladys Swarthout, of tho Metropolitan Opera House. With John Boles as her leading man, Miss Swarthout holds the attention in her part of a daughter of the ranch lands of California. Her singing ability is shown in a wide variety of songs, and Boles also sinus. A Popeve cartoon heads the supporting pictures. BRITANNIA THEATRE Janet Gavnor and Warner Baxter score another success in "One More Spring," at tho Britannia Theatre. "Joy Ride" completes tho programme. "The Crusades" commences to-morrow TUDOR CINEMA Dolores Del Rio and Reginald Owen aro tho principals in the bright musical comedy, "Madamo Dubarry," at tho Tudor Cinema. There is a superlative supporting programme STAR CINEMA Loretta Young, Charles Boyer and Warner Oland appear in "Shanghai," a tale of the East, which is being shown at the Star Cinema.

PLAZA THEATRE The combination of an exciting story and a well-chosen cast make "My Marriage," which began at the Plaza Theatre on Friday, a production of outstanding merit. The scenes of the picture range from tho magnificent homes of wealthy people in New York society to tho penthouse fiat of a gangster, and there are many dramatic situations in which the principal players are given ample opportunity to show their acting ability. The story deals with a girl's fight against publicity and the scorn of social circles after it has been disclosed that her murdered father had been in league with "racketeers" while keeping up the illusion that he was a successful Wall Street financier. The efforts of a jealous mother to break up the marriage between her son and this girl in order that the family name may not suffer iilso play an important part in the story. The girl tries to leave society, but a young man marries her and brings her back to face her enemies. She fights against the influence of her husband's mother, and also works with a police official who had been a friend of her father, to clear up the mystery of the murder. Their investigations bring to light startling facts, which involve the position of her husband's family in staciety, and the picture comes to a thrilling climax after the girl and tho police lieutenant at last como face to face with her father's murderers. Claire Trevor, one of tho most promising young actresses in Hollywood to-day, is ideally cast in the role of Carol Barton, while Paulino Frederick, a well-known stage favourite, gives an outstanding performance as the jealous mother. Kent Taylor plays the part of the man who marries Carol, and Paul Kelly acts well as the polico lieutenant. Colin Tapley has a minor role which he fills effectively. Tho supporting programme, which is an excellent one, includes a burlesque on Hollywood players and directors, cleverly acted by children.nnd a short film showing how newsreel cameramen photograph the great men of the world. ST. JAMES* THEATRE "Exclusive Story," tho new film at St. .James' Theatre, is an absorbing melodrama, well acted and excellently produced. The picture discusses tho ramifications of organised crime in New York, and is often startlingly realistic in its exposure of criminal methods. Founded on fact, the theme deals with the activities of a number of criminals who endeavour to put crime on a paying basis. Among their schemes is a "numbers racket," a gigantic lottery swindle, for which unsuspecting shopkeepers are intimidated into selling tickets. As the film shows, anyone who attempts to set up a rival business, or who becomes too inquisitive into the "ring's" methods, is liable to be murdered. Even greater realism is achieved in scenes depicting a fire at sea. The racketeers hire a possible key witness against them to convey a shipment of liquid fire to Cuba, telling him it is paint. Plans go astray, the shipment is refused landing, and on the return voyage disaster overtakes tho vessel. The scenes of tragedy and stark horror, obviously inspired by the Morrc/ Castle disaster, have been brilliantly presented. The irtory is interpreted by an excellent cast. Franehot. Tone acts capably as the special prosecutor detailed to wine out tho "ring," and Madge Evans, as the daughter of a victim of the criminals' ruthlessness, makes a charming heroine. But easily the most outstanding performances are those of two lesser-known players. Stuart Erwin contributes a lifelike and humorous study of a newspaper reporter, who possesses greater acumen than his looks would suggest. As the vicious lieutenant of the criminal gang, Joseph Calleia shows he is by no means the least capable..of pcreen villains. His depiction of » gangster, sinister when at large and cringing when cornered, is a brilliant piece of acting. Much of the success of tho film must be attributed to the producer. The action is often breathlessly rapid, but the cutting has been so skilfully done that the thread of tho story is never lost in a maze of incident. A splendid selection of shorter films is also screened. These include newsreels. Our Gang and Charlie Chase comedies and a Pete Smith oddity, "Let's Dance." Tho Last-named item includes some adagio dancing scenes in slow motion, which are both beautiful and striking.

MR. CHARLES FARRELL'S VISIT After a series of personal appearances in Sydney, Melbourne and other Australian centres, the film actor Mr. Charles Farrell will appear before audiences at the Majestic and St. James' Theatres this evening. Mr. Farrell is one of the older and more experienced of Hollywood actors, and he will deliver an entertaining address on Hollywood and its people in conjunction, with the current programme. Mr. Farrell will undertake a brief tour of the North Island before his departure for America. EMBASSY THEATRE An old and well-loved story, "Little Lord Fauntlerov," has been filmed with its original appeal and with modern embellishments, and is being shown at the Embassy Theatre. David 0. Selznick produced this version, his first effort since ho broke away to become an independent producer. The little American boy who goes to England, there to live in a forbidding old castle with his gruff and hard-hearted grandfather, is presented in more modern trappings than in the book, but his part is n«ne the less attractive for that. Freddie Bartholomew has the part, and ho improves even upon his roles in "Anna Karenina" and "David Copperfiold." Dolores Del Rio makes a welcome return to the screen as "Dearest," the lad's mother, separated from her boy by the resentment of the grandfather. In the course of the story the old man's heart is softened, and finally the mother joins her loved one to live in the castle, which is her proper home. C. Aubrey Smith, Una O'Connor and Mickey Roonbv, another talented juvenile player, head the supporting cast. ROXY AND TIVOLI THEATRES Tliero are many thrilling moments in the tale of adventure on tho high seas, "Dangerous Waters," at tho Roxy and Tivoli Theatres. Jack Holt, Grace Bradley, Robert Armstrong and Charlie Murray aro among the cast. "Don't Get Personal," the second attraction, is a bright and amusing comedy of young people and their ways. Sally Filers, James Dunn and Pinky Tomlin aro tho players. LONDON CINEMA Frances Dec, Alison Skipworth and Gene Raymond have tho central rolea in "Coming Out Party," a bright comedy at the London Cinema. Otto Kruger, supported by Nils Astlier and Karen Morley, figures in 'The Crime Doctor," which is on the same programme. CRYSTAL PALACE AND RIALTO Richard Arlon gives the best performance of his eareer in "The Calling of Dan Matthews," at the Rialto and Crystal Palace Theatres. A thrilling mystery, "The Phantom Light," is a further attraction. Gordon Harker, tho English comedian,,and Binnie Hale are the principals. CAPITOL THEATRE Entertainment consisting of " Calm Yourself" and "Charlie Chan in Shanghai," featuring Warner .Oland, will be presented to-night at the Capitol Theatre.