ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22611, 26 December 1936, Page 13

ENTERTAINMENTS

ST. JAMES' THEATRE Makers of some of tho funniest comedies ever screened, the inimitable pair, Stanley Laurel and Oliver Hardy, have improved upon all previous efforts in their latest Metro-Goldwyn-Maver production, "Our Relations," which opened a season at St. James' Theatre on Christinas Eve. For an entertainment appropriate to the merry spirit of Christmas none better could have been chosen than this delightful farce. It is crammed with humour, with amazing situations, and uproarious adventures. In every way this remarkable pair are at their best. Adapted from \V. W. Jacobs' story, "The Money Box," "Our Relations" concerns two respectably married men, residents of a quiet and sedate seaport town, and their ne'er-do-well twin brothers, members of the crew of the good ship Periwinkle. Naturally, of course. Laurel and Hardy plav both parts, and it would lie fair to say that by so doing the humour is doubled. The tale opens with tho respectable pair having afternoon tea with their wives, a delightfully funny passage which concludes witii their wives departing for an engagement. As they depart, a letter arrives for the men stating that their twin brothers have been hanged for mutiny. Fearful of incurring disfavour with their socially minded wives and of losing prestige in the community, the pair decide to keep the news to themselves. The information they have received, however, is wrong, for a lew scenes later the sea-going pair make their appearance in the Periwinkle as she sails into the same little seaport town. When the two go ashore and commence looking for entertainment tho most involved series of adventures conceivable is introduced, with the respective twins getting hopelessly mixed up. Humorous incident is crowded upon humorous incident as the unravelling takes place, and it is not until indignant wives and sailors' sweethearts have been ameliorated 'and angry gangsters and ship's officers have been dealt with that the process is concluded. Supporting Laurel and Hardy is a capable cast including Sidney Toler, Hetty Healy, Daphne Pollard, James Finlayson. Lona Andre, Ralph Harolde, Noel Madison and Alan Hale. All enter into the spirit of the rollicking fun and play their parts with the abandon necessary for such riotous comedy. "Our Relations" is shown in conjunction with an excellent programme of short features, including an "Our Gang" comedy of outstanding merit.

PLAZA THEATRE It. is seldom that film-goers have the opportunity of seeing so many firstclass players acting together in the same film as in the Twentieth Century Fox production, "Ladies In Love," which was/warmly received by a large audience when it was shown for the first time in Auckland at the Plaza Theatre last night. Chief interest centres in the appearance of the talented young actress Simone Simon, who recently created such a wide impression in the film world with her remarkably fine performance opposite Herbert Marshall in "Girls' Dormitory." Although discerning film-goers were able to form some idea of her undisputed ability in that picture, her performance in the present picture leaves no room for criticism. Although ihe cast includes actresses of the calibre of Loretta Young, Constance Bennett and Janet Gaynor, this young French girl acts with a charm and convincing naturalness that immediately captures the sympathies of her audience. In spite of the fact that any one of the three well-known players with whom she appears is generally regarded as an attraction in herself, Miss Simon eclipses them all, and it can be said without hesitation that she "dominates" every scene in which she appears. Miss Simon is certainly deserving of the largest share of praise, but the performances of Ilie other three actresses also are deserving of commendation. Miss Young in particular does some very fine work and has seldom been seen in a part which suits her to better advantage. The male roles are played by Paul Lukas, Don Atneeho and Alan Mowbray. Of these, Lukas needs 110 introduction, and the high standard of his previous films is well maintained. Don Ameche, a player who is destined to go far, gives a very well-balanced performance and one which reveals that the promise of his early films is being fully realised. A feature of the film which is bound to appeal to all feminine tastes is the gorgeous array of frocking. With its delightful romance, its gay, light-hearted comedy and its outstanding acting, "Ladies In Love" is a film which provides the very best in screen entertainment, and it should be assured of a very successful season in Auekland.

MAJESTIC THEATRE Willi two famous operatic stars, Lawrence Tibbett and Grace Moore, heading the cast, exceptional entertainment is provided in "New Moon," Metro-Goldwyn-Maver's film version of the famous stage success, which commenced a season at the Majestic Theatre last night. "New Moon" is a story of adventure and romance, excitement and intrigue, with popular musical numbers introduced nt appropriate intervals. As the fiery lieutenant, Tibbett gives a dashing performance which contrasts with the charming poise of Miss Moore, who appears as a Russian princess. The story opens with the lieutenant and the princess carrying on an "atl'air" on a steamer bound for Russia. All goes well until the ship reaches port, where a nobleman, played by Adolphe Menjoii, makes his appearance. He is engaged to the princess, and the lieutenant is enraged when the latter forsakes him and leaves with her fiance. At a ball given by the nobleman for his prospective bride the lieutenant appears and insults the princess with a scornful song. The nobleman then orders him to command a desert post, where no officer has vet been able to outwit the fierce tribesmen. The lieutenant is followed to the post by the princess, who is determined to avenge his insult personally. Here she becomes enmeshed in an attack by the tribesmen, and is forced to turn for protection to the man whom she has conic to punish. The singing of both Tibbett and Miss Moore is of outstanding mcfit, and they are equally competent in their dramatic work. Menjou, Roland Young, Gus Shy and Emily Fitzro.v also give capable performances. The original song successes, including "Lover Come Hack to Me," "Wanting You" and "Stouthearted Men" are augmented with additional numbers by Herbert Stolhart and Clifford Grey. "New Moon" is being shown in conjunction with an attractive programme of short features, including a British news reel with pictures of the recent Crystal Palace Fire. "Show Kids" is a delightful production in loehuicoloitr. "Asleep in the Feet" is a comedy with Patsy Kelly and Thclnia Todd, and "Panama Canal" is another interesting Fit /.- patriek Travelogue. All the pictures combine to make excellent entertainment for the holiday season.

EMPRESS THEATRE Thoroughly enjoyable entertainment is promised patrons of tho Km press Theatre in "Hearts Divided," tho main attraction on the double-feature programme to ho presented to-day. "Star For a Night" also will be screened. CIVIC THEATRETTE Lew Ayros and Alice Fayo have the leading roles in "She Learned About Sailors," the amusing film which will commence a season at tho Civic Theatrotte to-day.

RECENT THEATRE Hilarious comedy and romance arc well combined in "Cain and Mabel," the amusing Warner Brothers' production, with Marion Davics and Clark Gable, which began at the Regent Theatre on Thursday. A lively and entertaining story makes the picture a perfect vehicle for the talents of Marion Davies and Clark Gable, who arc featured together for the first time. The film is full of melody and humour, and the former ranges from grand opera to modern dance tunes, while the latter consists of a mixture of sheer comedy and penetratingly witty remarks. Features of the production are magnificent casting right down to the smallest part, and beautiful tenor voices employed in the presentation of a number of favourite songs. The title Cain and Mabel" is also apt, for it sums up the story, which deals with a champion heavy-weight boxer, Larry Cain, and a waitress turned dancer, Mabel O'Dare. When Mabel graduates from her job as a waitress to a principal part in a musical revue she is told that she lacks box-office glamour. The same complaint is levelled against Larry Cain when he wins the world's heavy-weight title, and as a result a publicity agent decides to manufacture a synthetic romance between the boxer and dancer. His efforts are only moderately successful, however, for Cain and Mabel have already met in circumstances which do not make them the best of friends. But their romance eventually becomes real, and although misunderstandings arise, everything ends happily. Clark Gable and Marion Davies play their parts perfectly, and their squabbles and verbal encounters provide some most amusing situations. The fact that Marion Davies plays the part of a dancer in a musical revue has enabled the producers of "Cain and Mabel" to present some scenes from the revue, and the singing and dancing in these help to make the film first-class entertainment. Thrills are provided in the climax to the picture, which is an ex-cellently-photographed contest between Larry and Cain and the. challenger for the title. Among the carefully-selected supporting cast are Roseoe Karns, who provides plenty of humour as the enthusiastic publicity agent, and Allen Jenkins as Larry Cain's second. His expressive face and his "wise-cracking" are responsible, for some of the funniest moments in the picture. The supportins programme, which is excellent, includes a colour cartoon vhich has as its principal figure a scarecrow; a newsreel, a musical novelty showing Christmas in different lands, and an outstanding film of logging operations in a lumber camp. It shows men riding rolling logs in river torrents, the breaking of a log jam with dynamite, and the topping of huge trees by a timber feller.

EMBASSY THEATRE "The Garden of Allah," at the Embassy Theatre, reproduced as it is in natural colour, must be ranked as an outstanding picture. Not that the colour dominates the film, for both the desert settings in which the film abounds and the interiors are chosen with irreproachable taste. The colours for the most part are quiet and it is rarely that bright contrasts arc introduced. When they are, they are unusually attractive, such as a rich blue desert sky over golden desert sands, their surface rippled by the wind. Against such a notably beautiful background is thrown a story somewhat deeper than the average screen story. The dominant issue is the love of fi beautiful girl who is seeking peace in the desert after the loss of her cherished father, and a man unused to the ways of world, an escapee from a Trappist monastery. A strange courtship, in which the woman does her best to allay the unrest in her lover's soul, marriage, and a honeymoon in the desert lead up to a protracted climax, in winch the man is revealed as one who has broken vows more sacred than those of marriage—a contract with the Church. It is at this stage that Charles Bover, the leading actor in the film, rises to great heights, as he tells of the unrest he has suffered since lie forsook the Church for the world. Marlene Dietrich, too, plays her slightly less difficult part surely and sincerely. Like many good plays, the picture leaves the audience something to figure out for itself, for the decision of these two lovers is not one be taken as the only possible one. "The Garden of Allah," as the producer acknowledges, is not intended as pure entertainment and nothing else. It deals with emotional issues capably and convincingly, and as such will be n-reatly appreciated. Its characters will be found at times repellent, at times delightful, and always wholly understandable, and a hard-thinking producer has included in it many of the sights of the East, a number of its desert folk, some superb photography and an orchestral accompaniment which greatly assists the story. A cartoon in colour, one of Disney's finest efforts, and a* travelogue of Dutch Guiana are included among the supporting pictures.

STRAND THEATRE ■\\ 'arncr Oland scores yet another notable success in "Charlie Chan at the Race Track," at the Strand Theatre. As the Chinese detective Oland solves a crime which at first appears impossible to solve, and he does it in such a way that the audience can follow his investigations clearly without having the conclusion made too obvious. Chan presents more of the Eastern sayings, which have proved popular in all his previous films, as well as a curiously naive modern quip or two. Of the supporting items songs by Ambrose and his renowned orchestra, tap dancing by the Four Flash Devils, and a musical film are most popular. NATIONAL THEATRE Irene Dunne has found her most suitable role in an illustrious career in "Show Moat," which opened a season last night at the National Theatre. She has the centre of the stago in every scene in which she. appears and she proves herself worth tlio honour. Her acting and singing are as good as anything she has produced to date and she appears in a favourable light as a dancer. Paul Robeson, tlio negro bass of "Sanders of the River," sings "01' Man River" as only a negro can sing it.. Walter Winniger and Helen Westlev as Captain Andy Hawks and his wife have prominent roles and Allan .Jones appears as Ravcnal.

STATE THEATRE Tlio Boxing Day attraction at the St ato Theatre, Upper Symonds Street, is "Desire," in which tho loading roles aro played by Marlene Dietrich and Gary Cooper. A clover and amusing story of tho incidents surrounding tho amazing theft of a pearl necklace, this iiim is one that can bo well recommended. There .is a well varied selection of supporting films. LONDON CINEMA "Mutiny on tho Bounty," notable for splendid performances by Clark Gable, as tho mutineer, Fletcher Christian, Charles Laughton, as tho tryani iot is Captain Bhgli, and Franchot Tone, as Midshipman liyam, was enthusiastically received at the London Cinema last night. Tho sea photography is outstanding. STAR CINEMA An entertaining holiday programme is being shown to-day at tho Star Theatre, where "1 Married a Doctor," with Pat O'Brien anil Josephine Hutchison, and "Go into your Danco," in which AI Jolson and Ruby Keeler appear, aro being screened. ADELPHi THEATRE Franchot Tone and Grace Moore in "Tho King Steps Out," and a second attraction, "Half Angel," are being tiho\yi at tho Adelpki Theatre*

CIVIC THEATRE Compelling in its appeal of Indian life in California in 1870, the main attraction on the Christmas programme at the Civic Theatre, "Ramona," had its initial screening on Thursday before large audiences. Based on Helen Hunt Jackson's immortal love idyll, "Ramona" is filmed in'the new tochnicolour, which gives the settings an air of naturalness. As Senorita Ramona, beautiful Loretta Young makes a charming heroine, and it is little wonder that she is the centre of an admiring circle of male friends. Her affection is for one Felipi Moreno (Kent Taylor), until Allesandro, an Indian, is so completely carried away by her beauty and charm that he asks her to become his wife. Mystery surrounded Ramona's parental relations, but events disclose that Indian blood is in her veins. She runs away, marries Allesandro, and the couple settle in the rolling hills of California. The emotional scenes that follow the killing of the husband call for exceptional ability on the part of the actress, but the sensitive, restrained acting of Loretta Young reveals her to be a player eminently suited for the role. Her devotion and belief add a touch of pathos to the film that cannot help but find a place in the hearts of the audience. The selection of Don Ameclie for the part of Allesandro is perfect. The varied scenes are vividly portrayed and great credit is due to the producer, Darryl F. Zanuck, whose skill and knowledge go a long way in determining the success of the film. This recent adaptation for the screen is accurately transformed and must provo popular with film-goers. In keeping with the Civic Theatre's policy of presenting high-class entertainment, an excellent selection of shorter features is also being shown. There is a delightful novelty newsreel, and one film shows the opening of the giant Boulder Dam in America and the ceremonial pageant attached to the event. Nicholas Robins, the "Wurlitzer Wizard," gives an adept rendering of popular film songs of ]M6, while a comedy with hilarious complications completes the supporting programme.

ROXY AND TIVOLI THEATRES Clarence K. Mulford's hard-hitting cowboy Hopalone Cassidy comes to the screen again in "Hopalong Gassidy Returns," the stirring drama, of the wild West now enjoying a popular season at the Roxv and Tivoli Theatres. William Boyd again takes the leading role and his performance is an outstanding one. Jimmy Ellison, who again takes the part of the hero's inseparable friend, also gives a fine portrayal. A racing picture, "Down the Stretch," with Mickey Rooney, Patricia Ellis and Dennis Moore in the leading roles, is a second attraction. The principal figure in the story is a hoy who, liecause his father, a famous jockey, had once thrown away a race, is unable to obtain work with any stable. He is finally taken into the care of a woman owner of a famous Kentucky racing stable, but even then is given no opportunity to ride because of the prejudices of the trainer. When a horse depended on to win the Derby is injured, the boy and a colt, considered bad. which lie had befriended, are given a chance and a thrilling race ensues. From the original story by William Jacobs, the picture is directed by William Clemens.

CRYSTAL PALACE AND RIALTO Two of the most popular players appearing on the screen to-day, the handsome Warner Baxter and the charming Myrna Lov, have the principal roles in "To Mary—With Love," the main attraction on the current double-feature programme at the Crystal Palace and Rialto Theatres. "China Clipper" is the second film. PRINCE EDWARD The holiday programme at the Prince Edward Theatre consists of "Thirteen Hours by Air," with Fred McMurray, and "Speed," a drama of the motor speedway. GREY LYNN CINEMA "Roberta," with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and " Moonlight Murder," in which Chester Morris appears, are the main films now being screened at the Grey Lynn Cinema. CAPITOL THEATRE An exciting drama of the American sky lines, "Thirteen Hours by Air," and "Bohemian Girl," with Laurel and Hardy, make a very entertaining programme at the Capitol Theatre. MAYFAIR THEATRE An excellent double-feature programme at the Mayfair Theatre comprises "Mutiny on the Bounty" and "Murder Man." BRITANNIA THEATRE "Wife versus Secretary" and the English farce, "Foreign Affaires," comprise the programme being shown at the Britannia Theatre. TUDOR CINEMA A picture dedicated to the code experts, who worked day and night to decipher secret messages during the Great War, is "Rendezvous," the thrilling film now at the Tudor Cinema. EPSOM REGENT THEATRE "Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back" is the exciting film which heads the programme at the Epsom Regent Theatre to-night. ALEXANDRA THEATRE Entertainment consisting of the films "It's Love Again" and "Dancing Pirate" will be shown at the Alexandra Theatre to-night. PRINCESS THEATRE "Devil's Squadron," in which Richard Dix has a prominent role, is the main attraction on the double-feature programme at the Princess Theatre today. "White Fang" is the second film.

STATE THEATRE, DEVONPORT Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers are seen at their best in "Swing Time," the entertaining musical film at the State Theatre, Devon port. STATE THEATRE, ONEHUNGA "It's Love Again," in which Jessie Matthews appears, and "Ballots or Ballots" aro tho films to bo shown at tho State Theatre, Onehunga, to-day. ASTOR THEATRE "Tho Garden Murder Case" and "Bohemian Girl" comprise tho entertaining double-fcaturo programme at the Astor Theatre. VICTORIA THEATRE Clark Gable, Joan Harlow and Myrna Loy appear in "Wife Versus Secretary," which, with "Her Master's Voice," is being screened at the Victoria Theatre. REGAL THEATRE Tho thrilling story of lifo in the French Foreign Legion, "Under Two Flags," will be shown at the l?ep;al Theatre to-day. "High' Tension" is a second attraction. KING'S, NORTHCOTE Katherine Hepburn has the leading role in "Mary of Scotland," the current attraction at the King's Theatre, Northcote, "Sea Spoilers" also is being shown.