AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21053, 16 June 1930, Page 15

AMUSEMENTS.

PRINCESS THEATRE. Commencing the third week of its season at the Princess Theatre, “ Sally,” the colourful film version of the famous musical comedy, continues to attract crowded houses. “Sally” contains everything that good entertainment calls for, and ite manifold attractions have been presented in a manner that allows of the very best use being made of the opportunities contained in the stage play. It is a rare pleasure to hear “Look for the Silver Lining" again, sung by the possessor of a fine voice, and recorded and reproduced to perfection, “ Sally ” and “Wild Rose” are two more old favourites from the popular score of the play that are rendered in the very best style. , Doubtless the exceptional acoustic properties of the Princess Theatre account in large measure for the pleasant reproduction of these tuneful melodies. The musical interpolations that have been made are no less pleasing. “If, I’m Dreaming Don’t Wake Me Too Soon ” is one of the prettiest of the bunch, but ■“ i Want to Dance" and some of the fragments are no less acceptable. There are some scenes in “ Sally ” that beggar description, _ the chief being the butterfly ensemble in the final stages of the film. It is a riot of extravagance in colour and design, and forms a fitting climax to a film that gives unquestionable satisfaction from the first dozen feet to the finale. Miss Marilyn Miller, in the role of Sally, is nothing less than charming, and there are other notable performers, the colour work being one of the outstanding features of the production. EMPIRE THEATRE. “Seven Days’ Leave” the screen adaptation of Sir James Barrie’s famous play, “ The Old Lady Shows Her Medals,” is the principal feature on this week’s programme at the Empire Theatre, The story has its basis in the fact that Sarah Ann Dowey, a middle-aged Scottish charwoman, who had lived for 20 years in London, wanted to “ do her bit ” in the Great War. The appeal was made to everyone to help, but she could do nothing. She was too old, and she did not even have a son who was fighting. A lovable and gentle soul, she is really an outstanding character. Her longing to do something in the great struggle in which everyone seems to be taking part eventually leads her to tell the women of Friday street, where she goes to live, that she has a son at the war just as they have, and the conversations which take place between them are amusing in the extreme. Allbiit Mrs Dowey are Cockneys, and in the picture one sees some real Cockney humour, Mrs Haggerty in particular is , an outstanding character. Gary Cooper, as a member of the Black Watch, the soldier who becomes the adopted son of Mrs Dowey, fits exactly into his part. He is a lanky Canadian, who is found very difficult to deal with as a soldier and but for one heroic incident has a strikingly bad record. _ Finally, his officers decide to give him a final chance, and they send him home on seven days’ leave. He is not sorry to go. When he arrives in London a series of events takes place which bring him into touch with Mrs Dowey. A delightful story follows, and he eventually goes back to the front a reformed _ character. The supporting programme is a very entertaining one. OCTAGON THEATRE. Another British production is to be seen at the Octagon Theatre this week in the new picture “ Atlantic.” The opening scenes show a great liner —the Atlantic —on her way across the mighty ocean of that name. On board are passengers of all classes, including Mr and Mrs Rool, the young man and hie fourmonths bride, “ Dandy,” Mr Hughes and. his wife and daughter, not to mention all those who are not directly concerned in the story. Rool is an invalid, confined to his chair. As time passes, a rumour spreads among passengers that icebergs are in the vicinity. “ Dandy,” the humorist of the party, leads the derision, and all the rest of the saloon passengers laugh heartily with him at the possibility of danger. The time comes, when three bells are sounded from lookout. Only a few of the passengers know tbe meaning of this signal, but even they do not comprehend that the man in the crow’s nest has actually sighted ice immediately ahead of the vessel. In the lounge a slight jar is felt, and it soon becomes known that it has been caused by a berg. Some time elapses before the seriousness of the position is really realised, but it is eventually communicated to the captain that the ship’s side is stove in. Everything is well ordered, and the passengers are told to come on deck. Roof is the first of the passengers to be told that the ship can remain afloat for only three hours, and, during the next two. he is instrumental in inducing a number of the more reluctant women to take to the boats. He is also able to avert a panic in more than one instance. In response to radio messages sent out, advice is received that several. ships null arrive at the scene in the early morning. There are some very thrilling scenes as the boats are being manned, some of the crew becoming freuz.ied, trying to find places for themselves, only to be shot down by the officers. All is very artistically depicted, the work of every player, to the last “super,” bema magnificently enacted. There is a strong supporting programme. STRAND THEATRE. A fast-moving story of outdoor action, “ Her Private Life,” is the principal attraction at the Strand Theatrp this week. The picture tells the story of a titled English noblewoman, who is unhappily married, but who is finally divorced through the blackmailing sister of a man she loves. The English scenes are particularly effective, and one feature of the picture is an elaborate fox hunt, which is staged for the first time on the screen with sound effects. The entire chase is filmed in sound. The hunt took place on a large Southern California ranch, and the sound apparatus was scattered over an area of three square miles. The problem of following the fox and the hounds and the dashin« horsemen . and horsewomen with the microphones was one that required many weeks of planning and many days for its execution. Miss Dove plays the part of the titled Englishwoman in the story. Opening in London, the story moves to the colourful background of English country life. Then the action swings to New York, where the heroine is seen pawning her last jewels in order that she may live. The English girl, having married a ne’er-do-well, falls in love with a young American. There is an accusation of cheating at cards, then jealousy, threatened blackmail,. and then revenge that sends the girl, penniless and friendless, to America. There is a great dramatic climax of events, which brings Thayer, the young American, again into the English girl’s life, and happiness is restored. In addition to the feature picture, the management has catered for patrons by ■ screening several short supporting films of excellent merit. Every one is entertaining, and the value of the whole programme is greatly enhanced by the inclusion of these short subjects. REGENT THEATRE. The Regent Theatre offers to its patrons this week a double feature programme, the two pictures being “ The Thirteenth Chair " and “ It’s a Great Life.” The plot of “ The Thirteenth Chair ” keeps the spectators at a tense pitch of curiosity from start to finish, and it is well worked out. Spencer Lee—a not very desirable person, as it turns out —has been killed at the residence of an English governor in India, and there is no clue to his murderer. His closest friend arranges with a clairvoyant (Miss Wycherley) to come to the house and give a seance in an effort- to discover the criminal. The clairvoyant asks that tho whole party who had been at the house at the‘time —13 in all—should get in a circle. ' The doors are locked, and the lights are turned out. Then the clairvoyant goes into a trance, and tries desperately to elucidate the incidents leading up to the tragedy. She begins to falter in her story when Spencer Leo’s great friend, Walsh, asks again and again for the murderer’s name. The clairvoyant, under the reiterated questioning of Walsh, gathers her train of thought together again, and seems on the point of divulging the name when a scream rings through the room, the lights go up, and it is found that Walsh, sitting in the thirteenth chair, has been stabbed to death in the_ back. It is clear that the person who killed Lee has also killed Walsh to prevent being discovered, and the story then_ proceeds with the various clues, the misunderstandings, and the desperate attempt to find the murderer by the clairvoyant whose own daughter, she discovers, to her great surprise, is a member of the house party, and is under deep suspicion. The story works up to a fitting climax. In the film “It’s a Great Life,” the story ie

well worked out. It opens with the great amateur concert given by the stores ■ department in which the two girls impersonated by the Duncan Sisters are employed. One of the girls, with her lover, James Dean, at the piano, is overcome with stage fright, but the elder sister rushes on to the stage and by clever tomfoolery saves the situation, so far as her sister is concerned, but it costs her her billet, as one of the managers is so enraged at her eccentricities that he dismisses her on the spot. Her sister leaves, too, and so does Dean, and the trio are persuaded to go on to the professional stage by a far-seeing manager who has recognised the possibilities of their stage ability. Thenceforward the spectators follow the vicissitudes of' the stage life of the Hogan Sisters and Dean, and the film reaches a satisfactory conclusion. “STREET OF CHANCE.” What it means to play in a poker game when the turn of the next card may mean the ruin of two lives, is clearly portrayed m an emotion packed scene of “ Street of Chance,” William Powell’s Paramount picture, which will be seen at the Regent Theatre next week. In this picture of large'gamblers. Powell is forced against his will, and against his promise to his beautiful wife (played by Kay Francis), to take part in a secret poker session where stakes of hundreds of thousands of dollars are on the table. Playing across the table from him is his young brother (played by Regis Toomey), who has the gambling fever, and who is winning every-: thing, with the luck of a beginner, in the play against Powell and two other card sharpers. The last hand is dealt and the two brothers battle it out, finally betting each his whole' “ stack.” Powell has resolved to break his brother to cure him of the gambling fever. Yet he knows that his brother has him beaten on this one big hand, the last hand. Storms of emotion surge in the hearts of the two brothers, yet their practiced faces do not change. No indications of their feelings must be disclosed, Toomey has shown his hand; now Powell must show his. He turns over the last card, and . . . But one must see and hear this great picture to thrill to the full emotional tension of that scene. It is Powell at hie best. ROXY THEATRE. “The Last of Mrs Cheney,” which was accorded such strong support during its initial season in Dunedin about a year ago, gives ample evidence of its popularity by the crowded houses which have greeted its presentation at the Rosy Theatre. The plot dealt with an aristocratic, unsophisticated and thoroughly charming lady crook, who hoodwinks the elite of British society into accepting her as one of their own number, solely that she may make them her victims and prey upon them. She works in connection with a gang, the head of which is her suave butler, a part very ably played by George Barraud. Her activities are accidentally discovered by Lord Dilling (Basil Rathbone), who has already lost his heart to her. Shocked, but still enamoured. Lord Dilling uses his knowledge to force his attentions upon her. Later Mrs Cheney proves that pride and honour sometimes rank very high, even in lady crooks. The -tables are turned, and she still comes off the victor. How she does it all. and how Lord Dilling, who still loves her very dearly, wins her heart and obliterates the name of Cheney by making her Lady Dilling, is exceedingly romantic, but not beyond the bounds of probability. The story is remarkably well presented, as it is bound to be when the characters are entrusted to a company of screen artists such as has been selected. The plot is very interesting, and though the play is. to all intents and purposes, founded upon matters that are serious, there is room found for a few genuine flashes of humour. The characters have been drawn fairly true to life, one instance of that being Lord Dilling, who has a determined way with women, and is driven to desperation by the frigid aloofness of the beautiful Mrs Cheney. PLAZA THEATRE. Entertainment of a particularly high character is provided at the Plaza Theatre this week, the principal attraction being 'The-Wolf of Wall Street,” with George Bancroft in the leading role. Bancroft portrays a quick-thinking, quick-acting, chance-taking plunger in the financial dealings of the Stock Exchange. Outwardly he is immaculate, but inwardly he. is cruel, shrewd, and utterly fearless with the result that he is feared by all who know him, Baclanqva, and Nancy Carrol supply the romantic background to the sterner side of the story, whilst Paul Lukas and Brandon Hurst give excellent support. The second picture on the programme is “His Buddy’s Wife,” with Glen Hunter and Edna Murphy in the principal roles. The story concerns a young newspaper reporter, who goes away to war, where he meets a man with whom he becomes friendly. After the war be returns home and falls in love wish his friend’s wife, his friend being supposedly dead. The return of his friend and the great sacrifice of the young man provides a great cliniax to the story. . NEW PROGRAMME. In “ The Man in Hobbles,” the Peter B. Kyne story that commences at the Plaza Theatre to-morrow, there is a henpecked husband, his adored wife, and her selfish parasitical family. The family whose main asset has been a pretty daughter and sister, still tries to maintain the same attitude after her marriage, with the result that her domestic harmony suffers, and her husband’s business expires. What happens there, is graphically portrayed by a sterling cast headed by John Harron and Lila Lee in this Peter B. Kyne story. On the same programme is a delightful comedy, “ She’s a Shiek,” with Bebe Daniels in the chief role. A beautiful, high-spirited Arabian gir] returns from an American- schooling with definite ideas of her own. The veil is taboo. It has no place on one’s face, and 18 for men, she will choose her own husband. Grandpa, Sheik Yusiff ben Hamad, is placed in a rather ticklish situation, because Kada. a neighbouring sheik, has already sworn that he will have Zaida by hook or by crook. KING EDWARD THEATRE. h Weidt has the leading role in A Man's Past/* which is the principal feature on this week’s programme at the Kmg_ Edward Theatre, and the supporting cast includes a number of well-known film actors. “Love’s Option,” the second picture, is a story of the attempts of a gang of crooks to ruin a young mine owner, in which the chief burden of tlit acting falls on Pat Aherne and Dorothy Boyd.