ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22628, 16 January 1937, Page 17

ENTERTAINMENTS

CIVIC THEATRE The astonishing versatility of the Veteran English actor, George Arliss, is once more demonstrated in "East Meets West," his new film, which opened a season before large audiences at the Civic Theatre yesterday. This great actor seems to go from strength to strength and his latest performance is without a blemish. He interprets the role of a powerful Eastern sultan with the same conviction as when he played the parts of the Iron Duke, Voltaire and Disraeli, and ho is supported by an excellent cast. The theme of the film is rich in melodrama and the story is set against a colourful background. As the wilv sultan of an Eastern principality, George Arliss extracts great sums of money out of Britain and an Eastern Power, playing against them the life of a renegade Englishman, a rum-runner, whose wife has had an affair with the sultan's Oxford-educated son. As a vehicle for the* demonstration of Arliss' talents, "East Meets West" is superb and a large audience last night enjoyed immensely the cunning of his diplomacy and his masterly handling of the difficult situations facaig the province of which he is sultan. Hie acting of Arliss, Lucie Mannheim ind Romuey Brent is one very good reason why the picture is bound to achieve singular success in Auckland. Arliss plays the sultan with relish. Deftly exploiting his famous mannerisms. he succeeds in presenting a study in the ripe Arliss vein, peppering the dialogue with characteristic quips of his own. Godfrey Tearle, as the English diplomat, gives yeoman support, while Romnev Brent makes an effective foil as the representative of an Eastern Power. Lucie Mannheim is the lovely wife, Ronald Ward her drunken bushand. and Ballard Berkelv is a convincing lover. An excellent supporting programme includes a Gaumont-British iiewsrcol, a Fox-Australian newsreel and an interesting musical comedy. Scenes of the third cricket test between Australia and England, at Melbourne, show incidents of Bradimm's great innings. ,

' REGENT THEATRE Drama in tho back blocks of America's forests is dealt with in ''Come and Get It," which had its first Screenings at the Regent Theatre yesterday. In a story which extends over period of two generations, Edward .'Arnold, Joel McCrea and Frances Farmers have been assigned the most prominent roles. The honours on the female side of tho cast must go to Miss Farmer, who has been set the difacult task of portraying, at different times in the picture, a mother and her daughter. She has shown her experipnee and talent as an actress by handling her roles in a free style which a t nil times has the air of naturalness. Edward Arnold, who can always be counted on for a good performance, might be said to have excelled himself by his portrayal of Barney Glasgow. Joel McCrea has the part of his son Richard Glasgow, and it is a tribute to this actor's genius that he has made bo difficult a part seem so easy and natural. The story, which is new in stylo, deals with the rise to wealth, but not necessarily happiness of Barney Glasgow, who started as a "rouseabout" in a lumber camp and eventually became owner of vast rich forest lands. Up to this stage the story is usual, but when such complications as the rivalry of son and father for the hand of the daughter of the father's former love are introduced, the tale assumes brilliance. The solution occurs in a scene of a dramatic power which has seldom been equalled on the screen. In . an important supporting role Mady ' Christians deserves credit for the portrayal of a part which demands considerable acting ability. Others in the cast are Andrea Leeds and Walter Brennan. A supporting programme of outstanding merit is included in the entertainment, and includes another of the'er er-popnlar WaltDisney 'Cartoons entitled "Moving Day."

ST. JAMES' THEATRE As can. be judged by the exceptionfelly long season that is being enjoyed by "The Great Ziegfeld," and bv the large audiences which have been attending each screening, the picture is well above the average in film entertainment. Credit for much of the appeal of the production must go to William Powell, who has the title role. He is supported by Luise Rainer as Anna Held, Myrna Loy as Billie Burke and Bruce as Audrey Dane.

NATIONAL THEATRE A story of the lawless frontier of Texas in former days, " The Texas Hangers," which has been transferred to the National Theatre, pays a tribute to an indomitable band of men who, with great heroism and physical endurance, met the united forces of Indian skill and cunning and defeated them, making early America safe ior the pioneers. The charming Jean Parker plays the feminine lead as the daughter of the commander of a far-flung outpost of the rangers. Fred MacMurrav and Jack Oakie, hard-hitting but intensely human characters, also are in the cast. There is plenty of humour and some excellent music in the film. "The Texas Ranger's Song," "Purple Shadows" and "I Can't Play the Banjo .with Suzanna on My Knee" are some of the film's melodies. Ihe chanted Indian tribal songs are weird and unusual.

STATE THEATRE Brilliant duei; and solo pieces sung bv Nelson Eddy and Jeanctte Mac Donald are to be heard in "Naughty Marietta, which will be screened at the State Theatre to-day. Among the songs which have proved most popular in Aue!klanti are "Sweet Mystery of Life," and I m Falling in Love with Someone.

i STAR CINEMA An entertaining double-feature programme comprising "Whipsaw Bonnie Scotland" is to be shewn at the Star Cinema to-day. The principal roles in the first film are taken by Myrna Loy and Spencer Tracy, and nose in the second by Laurel and Hardy. TUDOR CINEMA Warner Oland, in the role of the wellknown screen character, Charlife Chan, again gives a fine performance in "Charlie Chan's Secret," which heads to-night's programme at tho luclor Cinema. MAYFAIR THEATRE Merle Oberon, Joel McCrea and Miriam Hopkins arc the principals in "These Three" which, with T^ vo f U1 Revolt," will be shown at the Mayiair [Theatre to-night. BRITANNIA THEATRE "Gentle Julia," with Jane Withers in tho leading role, will be shown with "Desert Gold" at the Britannia Theatre to-day. CAPITOL THEATRE "Petticoat Fever" (Robert Montgomery), and "Living Dangerously (Leonora Corbett), comprise to-night s programme at the Capitol Theatre. ASTOR THEATRE Franchot Tone appears in "The Unguarded Hour," which will be shown at the Astor Theatre to-night with Ihe Eagle's Brood.'' J - VICTORIA THEATRE ''Till We Meet Again", and "Fury" x l\ Spencer ' Tracy) comprise to-night s s r °gi:amme at the Victoria Theatre.

MAJESTIC THEATRE It would seem, by the success which has been made of "Adventure in Manhattan," that Jean Arthur is an actress who is not capable of giving a performance which is in any degree inferior to a previous one. This was realised and acclaimed by the largo and appreciative audience which attended the Majestic Theatre last night, when the picture had its first-night screening. The story of the film somewhat resembles that of "The Ex-Mrs. Bradford," which was such a success when screened in Auckland. There is the same hint of sarcastic humour, the same touch of excitement and the same brilliance of repartee. The solving of a murder provides the opportunity for the cross-talk and the excitement as well. Although Jean Arthur has not appeared on the screen recently with Joel McCrea as a leading man, the pair have justified their selection to fill roles which are among the most difficult to play.. They have succeeded in the fullest sense of the word. Th<£ masculine appeal of Joel McCrea, the whimsical attractiveness of Jean Arthur, and the outstanding brilliance of the plot have combined to make the production one of the best of its kind to have been shown in Auckland for some time. "Where The Power Gods Dwell," which is screened on the same programme, is a saga of the oil wells of America. It tells in vivid fashion of the courage of the pioneers of the oil industry and of the immense technical as well as physical difficulties that have been overcome in the search for the "god of power." There are also emphasised. in this impressive film the dangers which even now, in spite of almost super-human undertakings in the direction of promoting safety, attend the lives of the men whose work lies about these founts of oil. The whole programme cannot bo described otherwise than as most enjoyable entertainment.

ROXY AND TIVOLI THEATRES Tlio.se who are i'oiul of action pictures will find much to enthuse over in the double-feature programme at present being shown to patrons of the Roxv and Tivoli Theatres. For wild adventure and romance the Warner Brothers' production, "Isle of Fury," which is the first attraction, is a unique film. With its settings in a little-known island in the Pacific, the picture contains all the thrills associated with pearl fishing, while the plot is woven around a collection of pearls of fabulous value. The principal parts are taken by Margaret Lindsay and Humphrey Bogart. A gripping tale of a mother who waited 15 years to hear from her son, who had run away when a boy, only to discover that he is a murderer, is told in "A Son Comes Home," the second attraction. The story concerns a mother who must either deliver over to justice her own son, or let an innocent youth die. She makes a great decision. Donald Woods, Julie Hnvdon, Anthony Naco and Wallace Ford aro tho leading players.

STRAND THEATRE In the part of a negro dock labourer who longs to return to his own country and finally realises his ambition through the power of his voice, Paul Robeson gives a fine portrayal in "Song of Freedom," now screening at the Strand Theatre. Five new specially-written songs, including "Lonely Road, "Sleepy River" and "Stepping Stones," are presented by the great ac '| ; ( or " singer. An hilarious English larce, In the Soup," in which Ralph Lynn appears, also is being shown. This varied programme is one that can be well recommended.

EMBASSY THEATRE Notable for the outstanding colour photography and for the brilliant portrayals of the principals, "The Garden of Allah." with Marlene. Dietrich, and Charles Bover in the leading roles, continues to attract capacity' audiences to the Embassy Theatre. Cast in the part of the wife of an escaped Trappist monk (Charles Boyer), Miss Dietrich rises to groat dramatic heights.

CRYSTAL -PALACE AND RIALTO The noted French actress Simone Simon appears in "Girls' Dormitory, which is being screened at the C rystal Palace and Rialto Theatres to-night. The second attraction is "Charlie Chan at the Race Track," with Warner Oland prominently cast. Ruth Chatterton is in the cast of the first film.

LONDON CINEMA Jack Buchanan and Lili Damita have the main roles in "BrCwster s Millions, the hilarious comedy which is attractin£ la rge audiences to the London Cinema. There arc some very good song "hits" in the production. "The Mine With the Iron Door" also will be shown. EMPRESS THEATRE Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers appear in "Suing Tnne, which, "with "The Bride Walks Out" are the principal films being shown at the Empress Theatre, Newton.

EPSOM REGENT THEATRE "White Angel," with Kay Francis, and a spectacular technicolour musical film, "The Dancing Pirate" comprise the programme to be screened at the Epsom Regent Theatre to-day.

STATE THEATRE, ONEHUNGA •'Show Boat" (Irene Dunne) and "The End of the Trail," comprise the entertaining double-feature programme to be shown at the State lheatre, Onehunga, to-night.

STATE THEATRE, DEVONPORT Fred Mac-Murray has the principal role in "The Texas Rangers," which will be screened with o Mary, ith Love" at the State Theatre, Devonport, to-night.

REGAL CINEMA "Mary of Scotland" with Katherine Hepburn in the leading role, wiU be shown to-night with Half Angel, at the Regal Cinema. ADELPHI THEATRE "It's Love Again" (Jessie Matthews), and "Thirty-six Hours to Kill" are the films to be shown at the Adelphi lheatre to-night. ALEXANDRA THEATRE "Barred Windows" and. "White \nizcl" comprise the attractive programme to be slio'vn patrons of the Alexandra Theatre, Green Lane, to-dav KING'S THEATRE "Under Two Flags," in which Ronald Co!man, Rosalind Russell and Victoi McLaglen head a powerful cast is at present showing at the King s Jheatre, Northcote. SUNDAY PICTURES An enjovable entertainment eonsisting of the appealing film Lest VYo Forget," in which the noted actor Stewart Rome appears, is to be to-morrow night at the Strand fheatio under the auspices of the Rationalist Association and Sunday School I'reedom League. A talk on the subject .Science versus Religion" will be given by Mi. Hall Skelton. ... . , A picture programme will be shown at the Rialto Theatre, tomorrow ni e ht C'S attraction will be the J. hantom Light," an entertaining P r^ uc . tlo ]l which Gordon Harker and Bmnie Hale appear. Proceeds will be demoted local charities..

PLAZA THEATRE P. G. Wodehouse's classic characters of Jeeves, the perfect butler, prizefighter and general handy-man, and Bertie Wooster, an Englishman of excellent intentions, profound silliness and an amiable and trusting soul, have been brought to the screen in You, Jeeves," a UOth Century-l'ox production, which opened a season at the Plaza Theatre yesterday. The film is a faithful reproduction of the \\ odehouse atmosphere of hilarious and quite irresponsible .nonsense, while the actors, headed by Arthur Treacher and David Niven, give the right airy nonchalance to the inconsequential dialogue. The ridiculously polite and deferential sourness of Jeeves when his master commits each new indiscretion is richly amusing. Arthur Treacher gives one of his best performances in this role. Lank, imperturable and splendidly efficient, he is Jeeves to the life. The humorous loftiness with which herescues his master from all predicaments shows a clever understanding of an exacting part. David Niven's depiction of Bertie Wooster, a voluble and asinine young man whose efforts to restore a stolen plan to its rightful owner would have failed, but for the assistance of Jeeves, is equally convincing. Whether he is earnestly working on the wrong track, or innocently handing back the papers that the heroine has that moment arduously retrieved, he is a model of comic rightmindedness. The supporting cast includes Virginia Field and Colin Taplev, the Ditnedin actor, who is now living in Hollywood. Ncwsreels, an instructive film dealing with ant life, and a comedy "Gags and Gals," comprise the supporting items.

PRINCESS THEATRE "It's Love Again," in which Jessie Matthews appears, and "Star For a .Night" are the main attractions on the current programme at the Princess Theatre.