ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22540, 3 October 1936, Page 20

ENTERTAINMENTS

CIVIC THEATRE One o:: the most colourful musical productions presented on the screen for many years, "Show Boat," is at present enjeying an extremely popular season at the Civic Theatre. Both as a stage play and a film, "Show Boat" achieved previous success, hut in this latest production the story is presented / in a mos'; attractive manner. The singing of "Old Man River" and "Ah Still Suits Me" by the talented negro bass, Paul Robeson, is one of the features which helps to make the picture outstanding. Irene Dunne and Allan Jones also are heard in several haunting melodies. The associate programme is ' up to the usual high standard set bv the Civic Theatre. REGENT THEATRE Tense drama is provided in "Forgotten Faces," the Paramount picture which opened its Auckland season at the Regent Theatre last night. It is notable for the performances of its two principals, Herbert Marshall and Gertrude Michael, who appeared together so successfully in "Till We Meet Again." The two films are quite dif- . ferent, however. In their earlier appearance they were lovers, and the film had a war-time setting, but in their latest production they are cast as a man and woman, who, although married, are bitter enemies, while the action takes place in the turbulent period which followed the war and the present year. Herbert Marshall gn-cs a splendid performance as a superstitious owner of a fashionable gambling resort, who considers his luck is due largely to his favourite flower, heliotrope. The scent of the flower is an anathema to his wife, who is equally superstitious. Returning home unexpectedly he shoots bis wife's lover. Before be is arrested he takes his babv daughter and arranges for her adoption where she will not know of her parents' unhappy lot. After a long term in prison lie is released on parole to find that his wife is seeking his daughter to blackmail her foster parents. He is unable to touch her. as 110 has given his word to the warden of the prison, and the battle of wits which follows leads the stor.v to a clever and highly dramatic conclusion. Miss Michael gives an extremely capable portrayal as the scheming, vengeful wife, first as the hard, cold young wife, and later as the remorseless would-be blackmailer. There are some very sound performances by the lesser members of the cast. James Burke makes a splendid sergeant of police, who befriends the gambler, while Robert Cummings and Jane ■ Rhodes appear as the lovers of the present generation. One of the most interesting items on a varied supporting programme is a newsreel picture of the bombardment of Toledo by the rebel army. Then there are some excellently photographed scenes of tarpon fishing in Cuba, a Bettv Boop cartoon, and a short musical film. ST. JAMES' THEATRE .' One of the most popular actresses in modern films. Janet Gaynor. is seen at her best in "Small Town Girl," which heads the well varied programme being screened with success at St. James' Theatre. With Robert Taylor playing ' the oposite part in convincing style. Miss Gaynor has ample opportunity to display her true talent. One of the latest' films to come from the studios of Metro-Goldwvn-Mayer, the picture always maintains the interest. The story concerns an attractive girl in a country ' store who becomes the wife of a brilliant young surgeon in Boston. STATE THEATRE One of the most dramatic films to be ishown in Auckland for some time, the thrilling Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production "The Unguarded Hour," is the main attraction at the State Theatre. The stor.v concerns a brilliant prosecuting counsel, who wins most of his cases bv clever manipulation of circumstantial evidence. In one of his most important cases, however, he suddenly finds that he himself has become the victim of circumstantial evidence. Only by the testimony of his beautiful wife does he avert a conviction for murder. Franchot Tone and Loretta Young are the playersi. i PRINCESS THEATRE Entertainment consisting of the films "Ceiling Zero" and "Pot Luck" will be presented at the Princess Theatre to-day. STATE THEATRE. DEVONPORT "Little Miss Nobody" and "Let's Sing Agair." are the films to be shown at the State Theatre, Devonport, to- ' day. STATE THEATRE. ONEHUNGA "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" and "The Murder of Dr. Harrigan" comprise the entertainment at the State Theatre, Onehunga, to-day. / ' CAPITOL THEATRE Wallace Beery is seen at his best jn "Ah I Wilderness," which heads the double-feature programme at the Capitol Theatre. "A Night at the Opera" is the second film. REGAL THEATRE "Private Number." with Loretta . Young and Robert Taylor, and "The Country Doctor," are the films to bo shown at th« Regal Theatre to-night. ADELPHI THEATRE "Colleen" and "Song of the Saddle" are the films to be shown at the Adelphi Theatre to-day. i EPSOM REGENT AND ALEXANDRA Freddie Bartholomew and Victor McLaglen are seen together in "Professional Soldier," the entertaining film which heads the double-feature programme now being shown at the Epsom Regent and Alexandra Theatres. "Special Investigator" is the second attraction. EMPRESS THEATRE i< "Thp Ex-Mrs. Bradford," in which William Powell and Jean Arthur appear, is the main attraction at the Empress Theatre to-da.v. The entertaining musical film, "Colleen." also will be screened. / TUDOR CINEMA , The popular comedian Harold Lloyd makes a welcome reappearance on the screen in the highly entertaining , comedy "The Milky Way," which heads the programme to he presented at the Tudor Cinema to-day. ASTOR THEATRE Eddie Cantor, Hollywood's most celebrated comedian, makes a further screen appearance in "Strike Me Pink," the new film at the Astor Theatre. "Pur- ; suit," with Sally Eilers and Chester Morris, also is being shown. GREY LYNN CINEMA "So Rod the Rose" and "The Dark 'Angel" are the films to be shown at the Cinema, Grey Lynn, to-day, BRITANNIA THEATRE Entertainment consisting of the films ' •'This is the Life" and "Navy Wife" will be presented at the Britannia Theatre 1;o-day. .-v.7 , f

MAJESTIC THEATRE With the, inimitable Irish-American comedian Patsy Kelly, who is well known to film-goers, through her highly amusing performances in short screen farces with the late Thelma Todd, and the equally popular Charlie Chase, prominently cast, the Metro-Goldwvn-Mayer Comedy "Kelly the Second," which was screened for the first time in Auckland at the Majestic Theatre yesterday, is one of the most entertaining films to he shown in Auckland for some time. The story opens with the proprietor of a drug store, Dr. ,T. Willoughby Klum, arriving to find that his man, Dan, has been having a trying time taking care of customers in the absence of the lunch-counter manager. Molly Kelly. Molly, however, has been having her own troubles getting to work. In driving away from her boarding house her small ear is jerked backward and accidentally hooked on to the rear of a large truck. The truck driver, a burly Irishman, does not learn of the young woman's predicament until he stops in front oi a radio store. An argument ensues and the Irishman reveals remarkable fistic ability. The enterprising Molly conceives the idea of matching him against a well-known prize-fighter. She herself acts as his trainer, while the bombastic Dr. Klum becomes his manager. The adventures of this strangely assorted trio, culminating in an uproariously funny boxing match, provides hilarious entertainment, and last night's audience was kept in constant roars of laughter from start to finish. Molly Kelly is excellently portrayed by Patsv Kelly, while Charlie Chase makes a highly amusing figure of Dr. Klum. The pugnacious Irishman is played by Guinn Williams. Also on the same programme is a thrilling drama of the air. "The Sky Pilot," which depicts the adventures of three American pilots and a daring girl parachutist who join a flying circus. William Gargan, Kent Taylor, Jimmie Allen and Katherine de Mille are the players. A Metrotone newsreel, depicting views of the Spanish War and the opening of the Olympic Games, also is shown. Pictures of Lovelock's win in the three miles at White City are an additional attraction. ROXY AND TIVOLI THEATRES Drama is combined with appealing romance and rollicking comedy in "The Public Menace," the Columbia picture, which heads the current programme at the Roxy and Tivoli Theatres. Jean Arthur, one of America's most beautiful actresses, is cast as a ship's manicurist who tricks a reporter, portrayed by George Murphy, to marry her in a hurry so that sho may enter the United States legally. Others in the cast are Shirley Grey and Douglass Dumbrille. The second picture is "The Big Noise," with Guy Kibbee, Warren Hull, Alma Lloyd, Dick Foran, Marie Wilson and Andre Beranger. Alma Lloyd is a daughter of the famous director, Frank Lloyd. | She made a name for herself on tho New York stage before going to Hollywood. NATIONAL THEATRE Packed full of thrills, exciting gun fights and brushes with "gangsters," the Warner Brothers film "G-Men," which heads the current double-feature programme at the National Theatre, provides some interesting side-lights on America's great crusade against organised crime. James Cagney, in the part of a lawyer who becomes a Federal Agent to avenge the death of one of his closest friends, gives one of the finest portrayals of his career. He is ably assisted by a talented cast, including Ann Dvorak, Margaret Lindsay and Robert Armstrong. Dick Powell and Joan Blondell are the players in "Broadway Gondolier," the second attraction. EMBASSY THEATRE One of the latest films to come from the celebrated studios of Warner Brothers, "Personal Maid's Secret," is the current attraction at the Embassy Theatre. The picture provides light entertainment of a type seen only too seldom. The story offers a novel situation with a maid inspiring her mistress to greater enterprises. The cast has been selected with care and Ruth Donnelly, who takes the part of the maid, scores a personal triumph. She is ably supported by Margaret Lyndsay, Anita Louise, Warren Hull and Arthur Treacher. The shorter films include a colour feature entitled "Carnival Day." STRAND THEATRE "The Story of Louis Pasteur," a film which gained great popularity when shown at the Plaza Theatre, now heads the programme attracting large audiences to the Strand Theatre. Part biographical and part historical, the picture deals with one of the pioneers of the medical profession. Louis Pasteur is an admirable screen character and his story of courageous and sustained endeavour in the cause of medicine is one which never fails to impress. Paul Muni has the chief role and he plays it extremely well. Josephine Hutchinson and Anita Louise are prominent in the supporting cast. STAR CINEMA Dick Powell and Rubv Keeler head the talented cast in "Shipmates Forever," the entertaining film which heads the double-feature programme to be presented at the Star Cinema today. The talented young actress Bette Davis has the leading role in "Special Agent," which also will be shown. Bicardo Cortez and George Brent also are prominently, cast. CRYSTAL PALACE AND RIALTO The clever English comedian Jack Buchanan gives a very entertaining performance in "Come Out of the Pantry," the main attraction on the double-feature programme to be presented at the Crystal Palace and Rialto Theatres to-day. The highly diverting comedy, "And So They Were Married," is the second film. LONDON CINEMA "The Ghost Train," with Jack Hnlbert in the leading role, is the main film on the programme being screened with success at the London Cinema. John Barrymore is the principal of "Long Lost Father," the second attraction. MUNICIPAL BAND CONCERTS The Auckland Municipal Band, under the baton of Mr. T. J. O'Connor, will commence its summer season to-morrow with a recital at the Domain at '2.HO p.m. An entirely different programme will bo given at the Albert Park bandstand in the evening. SUNDAY PICTURES Thoroughly light entertainment is presented in "The Awful Truth," the film which heads the programme to bo presented at the Strand Theatre to-morrow night under the auspices of the Rationalist Association and the Sunday Freedom League. Mr. R, Mason will sjieak on "The Peoplo's Theatre Movement." "The Elusive Bride" is the film to bo shown at the National Theatre tomorrow night, when the Auckland branch of the Now Zealand Labour Party will tender a special welcome to the new member for Rlanukau, Mr. A G. Osborne. A dejightful romanco of Austria, "Good-Night Vienna," in which Jack Buchanan appears, will be screened at the Rialto Theatre, Newmarket, tomorrow night. The proceeds from the entertainment will be devoted to local charities under the personal supervision of the Mayoress of Newmarket, Mrs. S. Donaldson.

PLAZA THEATRE "Hearts Divided,"' the Warner Brothers' production tyhich began a season before large audiences at the Plaza Theatre yesterday, was directed by Frank Borzage, who, apparently, has lost none of his skill. Assisted b.v a talented cast, he has made the most of difficult material, and the result is a film which sustains the interest from beginning to end. The film was based on the well-known and popular play. "Glorious Betsy," by Laird Dovlo and Casey Robinson, and none of the entertainment value has been lost in the screen translation. Romance, tragedy and comedy have been deftly blended, and the music and lyrics are delightful, the gowning gorgeous, and the acting polished. There are some beautiful settings. Marion Davies appears again on the screen, after a lengthy absence, in "Hearts Divided," in which she gives an accomplished performance in a role which in less experienced hands might have verged on the banal. She interpreted the love passages with the ease of long stage experience, and she was equally at home in the comic episodes, which were many. A good measure of comic relief was provided by a trio, of which more should be seen on the screen, comprising Charlie Buggies, who was as whimsical as ever, Edward Everett Horton, as vacuous as usual, and Arthur Treacher, well-known for his characterisations as an austere butler. The three made an uproarious comedy team, and their diffident and ridiculous wooing of the heroine has to bo seen to be believed. Of course they have no chance against the hero, Dick Powell, who, as the gallant young brother of Napoleon (Waterloo) Bonaparte, has a role eminently suited to bis personality. The characterisation of Bonaparte has been entrusted to Claude Rains, who is rapidly gaining prominence in Hollywood, and he successfully achieves a noteworthy performance in a role bristling with difficulties. The story of "Hearts Divided" is set in Louisiana, during the early colonial days, and the historical atmosphere has been admirably recaptured. Henry Stephenson and Clara Blandick appear in a talented supporting cast. There is an entertaining varied supporting programme. Included is another of the "Can You Imagine?" series, in which strange things have been found by the cameraman for the edification and entertainment of picturegoers. EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION | The Workers' Educational Association, which already has won distinction with such productions as "Masses and Man" and "The Hairy Ape" is seeking to maintain its high standards by .staping Clifford Odets' celebrated plav, "Waiting for Lefty," which will commence in the association's hall in Lower Symonds Street on October 17. When the play was given its world premiere at New York, the drama critic of the New York Times wrote that it was "one of the most dynamic dramas of the year in any department of the theatre." Odets has since been praised from all quarters for his bold innovations in both theme and treatment.