AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21032, 22 May 1930, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS.

PRINCESS THEATRE. Only one more night of the season of “Disraeli" at the Princess Theatre remain, so that all who have not seen this exceptional film should make a point of attending either to-day or to-night. The picture is a remarkable example of the tremendous strides that have been made in respect to moving picture production during the past two years, and since it takes a leaf but of one of the most interesting chapters of British history _ it should appeal to all tastes. The alien Prime Minister of England, who started her Imperial history by the purchase of the Suez canal against the fiercest opposition, has always been an outstanding and romantic figure in the political history of Great Britain, and in taking this incident and dramatising it the Warner Bros, picture corporation has made a welcome- departure from the rather tiring monotony of too many of the American productions that are finding their way into this country. George Arliss, an English actor with a remarkable record on the legitimate stage, fills the title role with distinction, and is supported by a cast that is peculiarly suited to the particular needs of the film. The recording is perfect, and the technique of the film scarcely less so. “Disraeli" should not be missed. "ON WITH THE SHOW.” The new programme at the Princess Theatre, which will commence to-morrow, promises _to give general satisfaction. It is a gorgeous extravaganza of colour and song, sight and sound being perfectly blended in one of the greatest triumphs of the motion picture studios to date. “On With the Show ” is the title of the coming film, and the fact that it is a product of the famous Warner Bros.' Vitaphone studios, which have been the source of the finest sound films seen in Dunedin, should give a very fair indication of its worth. It has been produced on a gigantic scale, but at the same time there has been such attention devoted to detail that the whole piece moves from beginning to end with a pleasing freedom and rhythm that hold the attention for every minute of the show. The lavishness of its settings' are staggering, and the wonderful runge of attractions that have been are amazing. Dancing, singing, laughing, and. joking their way through the production, a long list of stars keep the audience in the best of humours all night, and he milst- be a curmudgeon indeed who‘can leave the Princess Theatre during the coming week without feeling the better for the follies and nonsense, the beauty and melody, the artistry and drama, and the general excellence which make up "On With the bhow. The vaudeville or musical comedy stage could offer nothing better than the varied magnificence and engaging colour of On With the Show.” The list of featured players is a formidable one, and includes such general favourites as Sally O Neill, Lee Moran, Betty Compson, Louise Fazenda/William Bakewell, Sam Hardy, and a host of others. The elaborate settings, masterly ballet work, musicianly song production follow one another so rapidly that the mind is overwhelmed by the generous scale.on which it has been produced. The dialogue of the film is in excellent taste, and should he presented to the very best advantage in a theatre with such excellent acoustics as those possessed by . the Princess Theatre.

REGENT THEATRE. The chief attraction at the Regent llieatre ; this week has been “Syncopation, in which the 'famous Waring Pennsylvanians are responsible for the entertainment. It is a tale of a dancing team, Sloane and Darrell, who have been playing »the vaudeville circuit. Fame and fortune unexpectedly smile upon them, and, with wealth and society, come heart-' freaking differences. Villainy ■ stalks the wife and sorrow visits the heart-broken husband In the end all comes out right. One of the most amusing characterisations seen for many a day is that of Professor Cunningham, and the best speaking is gone by lan Hunter, the home-wrecker. Sconically, " Syncopations ” has much to commend it, and the playing by the Pennsylvanians is worth, going a long way to hear. The band not only plays its instruments most artistically, but the members have very tuneful voices, and their drill would shame many of the ballets seen on the films, “Square Shoulders” is a melodramatic story of American’ youth. The precocious actors and the blonde actress put plenty of swing into their work,, and Louis Wolheim, as the father who hides his identity, is responsible for some virile acting. In addition, there is a special Paramount sound reel featuring the arrival and stay in Dunedin of Rearadmiral Byrd and the members of the Antarctic Expedition, The scenes include those of the actual arrival in the harbour as well as at the quayside. "LOVE COMES ALONG.” An exceptionally strong programme will be commenced at the Regent Theatre tomorrow, headed by a powerful all-talking musical drama entitled “ Love Comes Along," starring Miss Bebe Daniels. The phenomeal success which Miss Daniels scored in “ Rio Rata ” is still fresh in the memories of the public of Dunedin, for nearly 35,000 people saw that picture when it was screened here. Miss Daniels proved that she is not only a great singer, but also a first-class dramatic actress, who couples with her talents a delightful naivette as a comedienne. The story takes place in Latin America, where is seen Bebe Daniels, the heroine, stranded, a chorus girl, dancing and singing in a wine shop in her endeavour to earn her ticket back to America. It is here that Lloyd -Hughes, the hero, finds her. Miss Daniels sings several songs. The plot has been founded on the play “ Conchita,” by Edward Knoblock, and was directed by Rupert Julian. Montague Love is the villain, and Ned Spark is the hero’s friend. Lionel Belmore, Evelyn Selbie, Alma Tell, and others are in the cast. The sound production is said to be perfect, and every word . the actors speak is understood- without 'any effort. One of the features of' the outstanding “ talkie ” supports is a stage presentation of Techaikowsky’s " 1812 Overture,” rendered by a chorus of over 100 voices and an orchestra of 70. This is one of United- Artists “ super-talkie ” featurettes. Another of "Mickey the Mouse ” cartoons, “ Mickey’s Choo Chop," is an item which will no doubt receive popular acclamation, whilst the remainder of the supports include an all-talking comedy entitled " Hurdy Gurdy,” a vaudeville tit-bi£. Van and Schenk, and the Hearst Metrotone News. EMPIRE THEATRE. The session of “ They Had to See Paris ” at the Theatre is practically finished, only one more day remaining. The story is a simple one, and 'yet so deftly is it told, and so capably and naturally are the principal roles handled, that it is without doubt one of the most entertaining and laughable productions ever‘shown here. Much of the success of the" picture is due. to. the remarkable portrayal of the principal role by Will Rogers, who is more than a mere comedian —he is an artist in every sense of the. word. From his first appearance and right through the piece he is irresistibly funny, and the whimsical philosophy and droll humour of Pike with , his good-natured, yet firm stand against his wife’s determination to marry their daughter into society, are admirably done. The musical programme provided by Mr Joseph Wayne and M. de Rose, give every satisfaction. “BLACKMAIL,” . Nothing but congratulation baa been given to the producers of "Blackmail,” the first of. the British talkies which will be the principal film at the Empire Theatre commencing to-morrow at the matinee. “ Blackmail ” is an original for the screen, with dialogue by Ben Levy, the author of " Mrs Moonlight.” The story is a simple one, and is told in that very direct manner that is typical of English play-writing, no idle dilly-dallying about this and that, but a presentation of bald facts and then " getting on with the work,” in the manner beloved of the Englishman. Even the American critics, including “Variety,” the official organ of the American theatre, have said that Californian producers may well take a leaf from Elstree’s' book, and may carry on where the English started. ■' This is very flattering to those who have been suffering from a well-deserved inferiority complex where, the British product was concerned. But given plots. like that of “ Blackmail,” and .trained artists, good directors, and an ability to. shed the hampering garments .of prejudice and conservatism, the picture people at Home should soon leave the foreign'producers far behind. The story of " Blackmail ” is the story of primarily four people—the girl, the. artist, the detective, and the blackmailer, played respectively by Anny Ondra, Cyril Richards,

i John Longden, and Donald Calthrop, The j girl is the victim of indiscretion, and the 1 blackmailer; the detective is the butt of j his professional conscience and bis love i f° r the girl; the artist, who could tell so much, lies dead, and Scotland Yard broods like an inscrutable Nemesis over the whole drama. , An excellent musical programme has been arranged to be ren- , dered by M. de Rose and his Concert Or- | chestra, in conjunction with Mr Joseph I Wayne at the Grand Organ. I OCTAGON THEATRE, j To-morrow Octagon Theatre patrons i will have a final opportunity of seeing I Mexicali Rose,” in which Barbara i Stanwych and Sam Hardy have the leadj ing roles. It is a colourful romance of i Mexico, in which primitive emotions and j passions play a large part, so large, in fact, that the censor has seen fit to sugj gest that it should be reserved as much ias possible for adult audiences. Barj kara Stanwych portrays with rare vigour and understanding the picturesque, forceful, and at times disconcertingly frank character of a woman whose ideas of right and wrong are determined entirely by her own daring and unruly passions. The other picture, “Light Fingers," deals with the stern battle waged by a master crook against the keenest minds and wits the police force could place in opposition to ,“ ltn - lan Keith carries the burden of the entertainment, and acquits himself singularly well in a remarkable role, but his performances gain much from his association with two very competent actresses, Dorothy Revier and Carroll Nye, who fill the leading female roles with distinction. / “ SONG OF LOVE." “ The Song of Love,” Columbia’s alltalking, singing, and dancing feature, starring Belle Baker, will be commenced at the Octagon Theatre to-morrow. In addition to the star performance of Belle Baker, historically and vocally, and the excellent musical score, there is a human interest story_with plenty of heart interest The Three Gibsons," Tom. Anna, and their little boy. Buddy, make up a small vaudeville team. Anna decides to give up her career for the sake of her sons future. Tom, lovable, but weak, succumbs to the wiles of another woman when his wife leaves him to make a home for their boy, Buddy. Anna goes into show business again. This time she is alone. She proves a tremendous sensation. _ When Buddy, who has been placed m a military school, hears of his v separation, lie decides to bring them together again, and does so. Tom repents, reforms, and-.proves himfcelf a real man. Ralph Graves and David Durand score in the roles of father and son. PLAZA THEATRE, the feature picture at the Plaza Theatre, is a story of sailor* and of the sea. The film deala with the love of the son of the. captain of the schooner Sampson for a girl who had come aboard with the intention of working her-passage from Singapore to San hrancisoo. The captain, who is a confirmed woman-hater, does all in his power to poison his eon’s mind against the girl, but his efforts are fruitless. The two lovers leave the ship in a longboat, and in a terrible storm which arises they are wrecked on a coral reef. The story has a dramatic and entirely satisfactory ending-, The supporting picture is -Risky Business, ’ a story of an ambitious mother’s plans to marry her daughter to a wealthy suitor, although her heart has already been won by a struggling young doctor. The Plaza Orchestra renders as an overture, the well-known song, “Forever and Forever ” (Tosti). "THE RETURN OP SHERLOCK HOLMES.” The management of the Plaza Theatre has booked Paramount’s whole-show programme of pictures, and these will bs commenced The first programme is headed by "The Return o! Sherlock Holmes.” Holmes is portrayed by Clive Brook, one of the most distinguished of actors of the screen, and an Englishman by birth. He forsakec the ancient garb of a century ago of the original Holmes of the brain of Conan Doyle for the more modern dress, but it makes him just as fascinating as tfie fiction character. In the case, too, is Betty Lawford, the leading lady, whose troubles and fears about the safety of her sweetheart and the death of her father are the cause of Holmes coming from retirement and taking up this case, in which he bests the arch-criminal, Mori* arty. The other picture is “The Loves of an Actress,” starring Pola Negri and Nils Asther, It is the tale of a notorious woman, who sacrifices herself to save the career of the man she loves. ‘ KING EDWARD THEATRE. “ The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come,” the screen adaptation of John Fox’s’ well-known romance of the Kentucky mountains, is the principal picture on the current programme at the King Edward Theatre. The supporting picture is “ Hold ’Em, Yale," with Rod la Rocque in the leading role. BENEFIT CONCERT. A feast of music, song, and oratory is promised in the benefit programme of entertainment by Maori singers, orators, and' musicians to be held at the City Town Hall on Tuesday next. The object of the entertainment is to provide funds for the education of four little Maori children, one of whom, is deaf and dumb. . The press elsewher.e speaks in glowing terms of the wonderful programmes of these Maori artists, declaring that they are both entertaining and educative.