AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21054, 17 June 1930, Page 14

AMUSEMENTS.

EMPIRE THEATRE. The screen adaptation of Sir James Barrie’s famous play “The Old Lady Shows Her Medals,” “ Seven days’ Leave,” a story of the war time, occupies pride of place on the present >rogrammo 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 1? London, wanted to “ do her bit ” in the Great War. A lovable and gentle souh she is really an outstanding character. Her longing to do something m the great struggle in which everyone seems to be taking . part e Y e otually leads' her to tell the women , oi Friday street, where she goes to live, ■ that she has a son at the war just as ' * , ey pave, and the conversations which take place between them are amusing in the extreme. All but Mrs Dowey ire i Cockneys, and in the picture one sees I some real Cockney humour. Gary' ; Cooper, as a member of the Black Watch, j the soldier who becomes the adopted son ot Airs Dowey, fits exactly into nis part. , e ,s ,&.‘ an * s y Canadian, who is found veT , y .difficult to deal with as a soldier a ?-i ■ t one heroic incident has a : strikingly bad record. Finally, his officers decide to give him a final chance, ana 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 i programme is a very entertaining one. | ‘ OCTAGON THEATRE. Among a people with a great maritime tradition a motion picture ■ dealing with an epic of the sea can scarcely fail to attract attention if the film be at all realistically reproduced.- When ,in addition the production is essentially British ;. and the parts are in the hands of capable l actors, the success of the picture is almost ■ assured. Such is the film “Atlantic,” at present being shown, at the Octagon theatre. Some of the scenes dealing with tne wreck of the great liner amidst utmost confusion' and despair-are thrilling in, the extreme, and the producer has left little to be desired in the manner in which. ho Las . filmed the whole story* Among several excellent parts those of . chief officer, faithful to his duty to i the last, and 8001, an invalid confined to Ins chair, who nevertheless, by his greatness of sou I, stands out from the crowd in the terrible crisis, will not soon be forgotten. The speaking of all the players u ' y . up *° the best British standard. There is a. strong, supporting programme, winch makes the night's entertainment one ot more than usual merit.

STRAND THEATRE. Mer_ Private Life,” which is at present being shown at the Strand theatre, the action of the story takes place jn Both England- and America. a? 6 .. scenes are particularly enective, 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 turned 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, Tho problem of following the fox and the hounds and ;tho dashing horsemen and. horsewomen With the microphones was one that re*, quired many weeks of planning and manv days for its execution. Miss Dove plays the part of the titled. Englishwoman in the story. Opening in London, tho Story moves to the colourlui background of English country iifb. Then the action swings to New York, where the heroine is_ seen pawning her last jewels in order that she may live. The Englishgirl, 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 great dramatic climax of events, which brings Thayer. the young American, again into the English girl’s "life, and happiness is restored. The supporting programme is up usual standard.

“YOUNG NOWHERES.” That firm favourite, Richard Barthelmess,, will be seen in “ Young Nowheres,” which will be commenced at the Strand iliGatre pu .Friday. u Young Nowheres ** was originally a magazine snort story by 1. A. K. Wylie, a widely-read author of short stories. Barthelmess became interested in the characters in it and determined that, he would do the story. The result is said to be a kinematic mood such « s the • one achieved by Barthelmess in Tor able David.” Marion Nixon plays the feminine lead opposite Barthelmess, g|he will be remembered for her excellent work in the same capacity in other' pictures. Bradley King adapted the story and wrote the dialogue. It is the third Barthelmess feature, to be done entirely in dialogue with music and song interpolated.

PLAZA THEATRE. In’ “The Man in 'Hobbles," the Peter B. Kyne story which commences at. the Plaza Theatre to-day, there is a- henpecked husband, his adored wife, and her selfish parasitical family. The family whose main asset has been daughter and sister, still tries tp 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 nor-, trayed 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 Sheik, 1 ' with Bebe Daniels in the chief role, A beautiful, high-spirited Arabian girl returns from an American schooling with definite ideas of her own. The veil is taboo. It has no place on one’s face, and as 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. The supporting programme includes a comedy, “Papa Spank,” with Jack Duffy in the leading role, a Krazy Kat Kartoon, “ The Phantom Trial.” The orchestral entr’acte will be “The Gates of Bagdad” (Hall). REGENT THEATRE. The current programme at” the Regent Theatre is a double feature one, two excellent films in “The Thirteenth Chair” and “It’s a Great Life" being screened. lii “ The Thirteenth Chair,' the action of which takes place in India, there is a considerable element of the uncanny, in which a clairvoyant plays a . prominent part: A murder, has been committed, and spiritualistic methods are employed to discover the criminal. In the course of these experiments some startling happenings occur. While the room in which the clairvoyant and the investigators are seated is in darkness, a piercing scream rings through the air. The lights go up, and it is found that the murdered man’s friend has been stabbed to death. From this point .the, story works up to a fitting climax. In the film “ It’s a Great Life ” the story is well worked out. It opens with I the great amateur concert given by the stores department in which the two I girls impersonated by the Duncan Sisters' are employed. One of the girls, with her lover, James Dean, at the piano, is j overcome with stage fright, but the elder i sister rushes on to the stage and by clever ( tomfoolery saves the situation, so far as I her sister is concerned, but it costa her 1 her billet, os one of the managers is so j 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 Hoguu Sisters and Dean, aud the film reaches a satisfactory conclusion. At last night’s screening the members jot the British ■ Rugby football team were the guests of the management of the 1 theatre, and expressed themselves highly pleased with the quality of the entertainment. “STREET OF CHANCE.” What it means to play in a poker game when the turn of .the next card may mean the rum of two lives, is clearly portrayed in an emotion _ packed scene of “ Street of Chance. ’ William Powell’s Paramount picture, ■which will be seen at the Regent' Theatre on Friday. In this picture of large gamblers, Powell is forced against nis‘ 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 trie table from Inin 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 °ne big hand,' the last band. 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 liandh. 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.

PRINCESS THEATRE. Iu the third week of its season at the Princess Theatre, “Sally,” the film version of the popular musical comedy, continues to receive strong public support. . “ Sally ” .contains everything that good entertainment calls for, end its manifold attractions have been presented iq a manner that allows of the very best use being made of the opportunities contained in the stage play, it rare pleasure to hear “ Look for the Silver Lining ” ajrain, 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 “ 1 Want to Dance ” and some, of the fragments are no less acceptable. There are some scenes' in “ Sally " that beggar de-. scription, _ the chief being the butterfly ensemble in the final stages of t,he film. It is a riot of extravagance in colour and design, and forms a fitting climax to a fihn that gives unquestionable satis, faction 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. ■ .i i. “SMILING IRISH EYES.” The Princess Theatre's’next attraction will be “Smiling Irish Eyes,” in which Colleen Moore, the charming comedienne, who has made herself a firm favourite with picture-goers, has the leading role. This is an all-talking First " National Vitaphone production, and deals with the .fortunes of an Irish girl and-her sweetheart. Miss Moore lias been ideally cast m this picture, as she is typically Irish., The culmination of the film takes place •on Broadway, where Miss Moore’s leading man-wins fame with his singing and violin playing. H

ROXY THEATRE. “ The Last of Mrs Cheney,” which gained Such popularity iu its initial season at Dunedin close on a year ago, continues to attract' good houses to the Roxy Theatre. The plot i- e + j 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 yictims 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 Ratnbone), 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 highi even in lady crooks. The tables aro 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. , “ ROOKERY ,NOOK.” Wholesome,'sparkling comedy is always a welcome change on the stage or screen, and for that reason “Rookery Nook," which will be commenced at the Roxy Theatre next Friday, should prove as popular a success as a “ talkie ” as it did iu the stage version.* Members of the original cast act in this picture. The play was written by Ben Travers, well knowp a* a very successful farceur.

KING EDWARD THEATRE. Sue Carol will be seen at the King Edward Theatre to-day in “ Skyscraper,” in which she plays opposite William Boyd. The_ supporting picture, is “Heart of a Follies Girl,” in which Billie Dove is cast in the leading role. : RETURNED SOLDIERS' CHOIR i The Returned Soldiers’ Choir will present the first programme of the 1030 season in the new Town Hall Concert Chamber to-morrow evening. Foremoet '"ill be “King Olaf’s Christmas,” a cantata of surprising interest. The musical setting by Dudley Buck invests a poetic narrative of one of the most extraordm ary incidents in the history of Norway with melodic phrases and fundamental themes, refecting the spirit and character .of this stirring choral ballad./ The soloists bf this cantata are Mr P. S. Anderson and Mr George Crawford. The supporting choral items are well chosen, and include “ The Martyrs of .the Arena/’ “A Wet Sheet and a' Flowing Sea,” "Drink to Me .Only,” arid one or two old favourites. The choir will hhve the support of Miss Mary Pratt. This will be the contralto’s first appearance on the Returned Soldiers’ platform, and her contributions will have added interest. Miss Eva Judd will play two violin solos. The choir soloists are Messrs Fred-Haig, and Harry Guyton. Messrs John Leech and W. N. Satterthwaite will sing a duet. The concert will be directed by Mr John Leech, with Mr Charles A. Martin aa pianist. The box plan arrangements ar» advertised.