AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20917, 6 January 1930, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

STRAND THEATRE. "Sapper" is undoubtedly one of the most popular of present-day writers of “thrillers/’ and one of his very beat efforts is “ Bulldog Drummond;” the screen version of which heads the current bill at the Strand Theatre. Ronald 'Column, one of the present-day favourites oi the screen, is seen and ‘heard in the title role. It is Colman’s first talking production, and he is heard to every advantage in the stirring tale of a demobilised army officer. He is ably supported by a cast which includes such . well-known players as Lilyan Tashmau. , I Montague Love, Joan Bennett and Claude ■ Allister. The last-named takes the part , :of Algy, a foppish, sentimental, typical • i dude, to perfection. Ha provides the ! comedy, which is necessary for the success of a good picture. The story is well known to most readers of fiction. There is also a good selection of short subjects, all of which are up to the usual standard. OCTAGON THEATRE. With Alan Birmingham in the leading role, "Masquerade,” which is the principal attraction at the Octagon Theatre at. present, is the screen adaptation of ' Louis Joseph Vance’s well-known novel, “The Brass Bowl.” The theme of the story is a slightly complicated one, but can be described in a few words. It deals with a wealthy young New York bachelor, who, on arriving home from the Continent, falls _in love with a woman' burglar. There is also a notorious society bandit, who so closely resembles the hero, that he is able to impersonate the latter successfully. A cast of favourite players has been chosen for " Masquerade.” It is headed‘by Alan Birmingham, who capably enacts the dual role of Dan Maitland. the young bachelor, and Anisty, tho bandit. He is supported by Leila Hyams, as the woman burglar, Clyde Cook as Martin, Birmingham’s valet, Arnold Lucy and Earrell Macddnald. The last-named is undoubtedly one of the screen’s most capable actors, and he handles the role of Detective Sergeant Hickey in a way which is _at once dramatic and comic. Included in the programme of short films are a come ay featuring Clark and M'Culluugh, who are fast achieving considerable popularity, a Krazy Kat cartoon, mews and scenic pictures. Two excellent orchestral numbers are also presented by the unseen orchestra. . . REGENT THEATRE. Much comment has been excited by the first appearance of Mary Bickford in a talking picture, and many theatre patrons have been waiting impatiently for her advent in Dunedin. This has taken place, and Miss Bickford is now appearing at the Regent Theatre in “ Coquette." She anpeuis as Norma Besant, the young and charming daughter of a small-town physician, delighting in her conquests among the' boys and men of her little world. Heartless and alluring is this little coqu„.te, who is the worry of her adoring father’s heart. Her one staunch friend is Stanley Wentworth, who loves her with a devotion of perfect understanding, Norma merrily plays her make-believe of love, until Michael Jeffery.comes down from the hills. He refuses to provide anoth<fr scalp for the little coquette to hang on her belt, and his love for Norma is as sincere as it is ; stubborn in its pride. He engages in a free-for-all fight in th€ town defending the name of the girl he loves, but Norma’s father hears of the occurrence and forbids his daughter to cee him again/ An angry scene ensues between Dr Besant and Michael, as the result of which he goes back to the hills swearing to prove himself .worthy of. Norma. Eddie Quillam and Alberta Vaughan also appear in “Noisy Neighbours.'’ -"THE CUUJANUTS.” At the Regent ..Theatre on Friday a Broadway musical comedy entitled “The ■Cocoanuts,” which created a sensation in New York, where it ran for nearly a year, will be presented. All its infectious comedy, its delightful melodies, and wonderful dancing, have been caught by the camera and the microphone. The Pour Marx, Brothers, who were such a success m the original stage show, make their debut qn the screen, in this Paramount all-talking, singing, and dancing production. They are distinctly different from , any of the comedians on the stage to-day, and are considered by many to be the most gifted and joyous of Broadway enter, tamers. Primarily, of course, Harpo, Groucho, Chico, and Zeppo, as they call themselves on and off the stage, are comedians. But they are naturally spontanc“e’r humour springing from sources which never seem to.run dry. They can elaborate on the most commonplace idea and carry it through until the audience is convulsed with laughter. One thing is sure; there is more hearty laughing by audiences attending one of their shows than is usually accorded the most engaging of musical comedies. The supporting cast includes two other Broadway stars famous in their own right, namely, Mary « Sm? 31 % c ? r ,®kaw, who co-starred in The Five 0 clock Girl during the long run of tins popular musical comedy in New York. Together they sing many of tbe tuneful melodies which Irving Berlin wrote for “The Cocoanuts." “The Cocoaj v - .J 8 , h/larioua sparkling gaiety, with delightful lilting melodies, ana wonderful dancing, and the dancers are some of the most famous in America. EMPIRE THEATRE. Each time Harold Lloyd appears in a . new comedy, motion picture patrons foregather eagerly, confidently anticipating something better in the way of entertainment than he has ever offered before, and, so far, they have never been disappomted. There is certainly no doubt latest picture, “ Welcome Danger, which is now being screened at the Empire Theatre, is the best comedy this popular star has yet produced, and it would seem impossible for him to improve on it In " Welcome Danger,” the • comedian takes the part of a very seriousminded Boston botanist, whose principal interest in life appears to be a monumental work on floriculture, upon the compilation of which all his energies are pent. He hopes also to make himself famous by the perfecting of a new species ot cactus, which he is endeavouring to evolve. But he is fated to abandon involuntarily the even _ tenor of his. way, and betore he has time to realise what has Snds himsel . f the central ngure m the- most, exciting and imfamiliar surroundings. He forsakes the calm serenity of botany for the eventful sphere of crime. Friends of his deceased tather, who was at one time a celebrated ■SiS £ At pollce San Francisco, decide that the young botanist was just the man to undertake the task of dean--OUt the criminals and gangsters and Tong men from the Chinatown quarter • x fl° ur ( e hing provincial centre. An invitation is extended to the young man to follow m his father’s footsteps, alnS °2 e arrears to have taken the trouble to find put whether he is sufficiently a chip of the old block to undertake the work successfully. All unconscious of the significance of the job the i? an 03 A le father’s friends, and takes over _ leadership of the local P° h £ e - v L 13 wonderfully supported ' & H.n ara . Kent ’ , and the °ther positions Mr T«lf o fc TT re a 50 satisfactorily filled. SS,« e t Harv <£ pla >' s the “William Tell overture (Rossini) and “The Pertherel;!s! on , tho CbriGti e organ, and theie is a good programme of supporting “ STARK MAD.” S kt r^^ lade h a J mystery drama, which b Fr;£v en - ed “j t i le Theatre next Friday, is said to be full 0 £ thrills and contains much genuine comedy. One senses the weird life of the jungle-the whistle of winds the beat of rain, arrows of thTru fv°h gh dar A css - the creaking the ffr rnf jpnges of mysterious doors, the groan of disappearing floors, even the E c *£ la ™t,ons of the terrified plorers. The story i s that of an expedition made up of eminently respectable people, who go to the Central American the son 01 the miiw kiln L of t f he expedition, who has inrM if there f° r . some time. In the jungle they are confronted bv grim and unearthly powers, not the least ofwhich is Bunawanga. a huge gorilla. The cast is an exceptionally strong one and is Claud! W B - V arne r r ’ Fazendi w Gll !j n^ a ,tee. Jacqueline Logan, and Henry B. Walthall .“Stark Mad" is ll ’ ta ' lk *P? Picture which, it is claimed, rivals anything yet seen in Dunedin. KING EDWARD THEATRE. • Fex Bell has the leading role in “Taking a. Chance, ’ which is the foremost attraction at the King Edward Theatre at Present. The other feature picture is “The Sunset Legion,” in which the popular Western star, Fred. Thompson, has the leading role.