AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21147, 3 October 1930, Page 13

AMUSEMENTS.

REGENT THEATRE. To-day the Regent Theatre . will present the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production, “This Mad World,” which is described as a gripping love drama arising out of the World War. The featured players are Basil Rathbone and Kay Johnson, The picture deals with a phase of the World War rather than with, actual military operations, the drama being based on an emotional crisis brought about. as the result of a meeting between a French spy and the wife of a German general who is billeted in the home of the spy's mother on German occupied territory. When Victoria, the general’s wife (played by Miss Johnson), discovers Paul Pansot (Rathbone) to be in the employ of the French Secret Service she determines to reveal his identity. Paul believes he will have to put her out of the way in order to. carry out his plans, and follows her as she leaves the house to go to the Ger'man headquarters. Catching up with her, he lures her to a ruined chateau nearby with murderous. intentions, but here fate takes a hand, and Paul falls in love with the beautiful Victoria. From this point on the story deals with the tragic conflict between love and patriotism, and is said to conclude with a totally unexpected but ijgical_ climax. The three players 'associated with Rathbone and Miss Johnson are Louise Dresser as Paul’s mother, Veda Buckland as Anna, the maid, and Louis Natheaux as co-conspira-tor. It is reported that, the production is • outstanding in the respect that it resembles a stage, play more closely than any drama yet adapted for screen purf loses. Characteristics of the work which end itself to this situation' are its small cast, consisting of only five persons, and its unusual time element which limits the action of the play to the hours between 4 o’clock one afternoon and 10 o’clock of the following morning. In line with the keeping the picture in play form, William de Mills was selected to direct the production, Mr de Mille hav-ing-an established reputation not only as a motion-mature director but as a playwright, The supporting programme will include a Mickey, the Mouse cartoon entitled “ Cactus Kid,” and a comedy film, ‘‘His First Car,” featuring George Clarke. To-morrow morning at 10.30 © clock a_ children’s matinee performance will be given with Mickey the Mouse car. toons and a children’s singing competition. PRINCESS THEATRE. Combining humour of a particularly attractive character with an abundance of thrills, “The Hottentot,” which will open at the Princess Theatre this afternoon, promises to provide theatre-goers with unusually bright entertainment. It was first l presented to the public as a legiti- • mate- stage comedy, and an indication of its worth can-be found in tbe fact that it ran on Broadway for three years and became. .recognised as one of the greatest. comedy successes of the time. In the film presentation, naturally, the scope for burlesque, as well as swift action, has been immeasurably increased, with the result that' the story moves along in a torrent of laughs and thrills. A more ludicrous figure than Edward Everett Horton, as S. Jay Harrington, the love-lorn tenderfoot, could scarcely be imagined. The predicaments in which he finds himself as the result of a friend’s having told the girl of his heart that he is an experienced horseman are particularly diverting. Patsy Ruth Miller is excellently cast as Betty Fairfax, an enthusiastic horse fancier, who believes that Harrington is a true'hero of the turf. Harrington, ■ presented in a wrong light, finds himself brought nearer and nearer to the nerve-racking ordeal of having, to ride “ Hottentot," the untameable outlaw, in a steeplechase' which is to be won for Betty, and Horton’s characterisation of the part of the trembling novice, forced to mount the snorting, rearing outlaw, and take part in the steeplechase,is said to be one of the finest pieces of comedy acting ever seen on the screen. Edmund Breese gives an entertaining portrayal of a loud-mouthed, horsy individual, whilst others who also give excellent characterisations of minor parts are' Otto Hoffman, Douglas Gerard, Stanley Taylor, Edward Earle, and Maude Turner Gordon, On the same programme will be presented a bright comedy sketch featuring Polly Moran, a Tiny Town revue, selections of .Earl Burnett’s _ Orchestra, Lynn .Cowan, and the Sunshine Boys. STRAND THEATRE. “Playing Around,” the story of a girl who picked the wrong man to have a good time with, will open at the Strand Theatre to-day. Alice White is featured m, this First National all-talking film as Sheba, the girl, and Chester Morris appears opposite her. The plot, adapted from Vma Delmar’s story, “Sheba, is said to be one of the finest Miss White has had. She - as a stenographer who is not satisfied with her boy friend, but wants to “ play around ” with other men. - There are several big musical sequences, for . which special songs were written, William Bakewell, Richard Carlyle, Lionel Belmore, and others are in the cast. • OCTAGON THEATRE. “Prince of Diamonds ” will Vj e the principal attraction at the Octagon Theatre to-day. The story tells how Rupert Endon, an impoverished English aristocrat, wins the. affections of Eve Marley, the, fiancee of Robert Caryle, -i wealthy diamond merchant. Crayle manages to have Endon imprisoned on a false charge, and make Eve’s love the price of Endon’s , freedom. _ Enfion, however, succeds in gaining his release unaided, and escapes to the Orient. The hero’s adventures in the Far East supply many thrills. He finally returns to London a rich man, makes Crayle pay for tns trickery, and wins the woman he loves Aileen Pringle and lan Keith head the clever cast of players, and deserve much commendation for their handling of their roles. Colourful, settings add their quota to the pistorial value of the production, which is said > to be far above the aver-, age. . The title of the supporting pie'ture is “Fast Company.” The plot is based upon a story of baseball players written by a great American humorist. Ring Lardner. The hero, played by Jack Oakie, is a boastful but lovable slangster, who “ wise-cracks ” and “ hbme-run-hits ” his way to the helping histeam, “the Yankees,” to win the league pennant. He falls into the fast company of smart city-bred folks, including a showgirl and - some crafty gamblers, and he almost ruins bis own and his team’s chances of victory on the day of the final game of the world’s series, when something happens to change the whole aspect of the plot. ROXY THEATRE. “The Thirteenth Chair ” will commence at the Roxy Theatre to-day. Among the many fantastic scenes appears a realistic seance, which involves 13 persons. The plot is one which is not unfolded until the very end of the film Conrad Nagel, who will be remembered for his sterling work in “ Dynamite.” contributes largely to the success of the production. The story is said to be an exceptionally interesting one, and the atmosphere of mystery that permeates it is heightened by the accompanying sounds and dialogue. Leila Hyams, the latest acquisition to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s list of screen players, gives an outstanding study, and her voice is said to be one of the best yet heard in Dunedin. , “THE BLACK WATCH.” The well-known film “ The Black Watch ” will commence its second season at the Roxy Theatre next Friday. The scenes are laid in England and far-away India. Victor M'Laglen gives one of ’’is best interpretations to date as a major in the Black Watch Regiment, and so convincing is his acting that people who see the film almost think they are at the very spot where the action takes place. Supporting the leading player are Myrna Loy and Roy D’Arcy.

KING EDWARD THEATRE. Since it entered the ranks of the talking picture theatres in Dunedin the King Edward Theatre has fully maintained the standard of entertainment it set whilst presenting purely silent films, and the managements latest choice, “New York Nights,” is easily one of the best production? shown at that theatre for some time. The story is strongly melodramatic,

but the competent work of Norma Talmadge and Gilbert Roland in the leading roles saves it from the pitfall of overdramatisation, and for fast moving entertainment it has few equals. Prominent m the supporting programme is a particularly amusing “ Mickey the Mouse ” cartoon. “THE LOVES OF ROBERT BURNS.” Joseph Hislop, the famous tenor, fills the leading role in “The Loves of Robert Burns, which will commence at the King kidward Theatre to-morrow. The story deals mainly with Burns’s ‘life and career ae it was affected by two women, known wherever the English tongue is spoken— Jean Armour and Mary Campbell. Everyfrom the soft, quiet beauty ol the Ayrshire scenes and the hogmannay festi vities in the alehouse to the stern aenun ciation of Burns before a solemn congre gation, is in keeping with the spirit oi the story. The star’s acting reaches a very high standard, and his inter pretation of the part of the passion at®, yet weak, wayward, but very human poet, is something which those who see il win not soon forget, ■ REGAL SKATING RINK. The attendances at the daily sessions at tile Regal Skating Rink continue to prove the popularity •of this excellent branch or entertainment. The ordinary attractions of the rink have been enhaheed by tne introduction of skating competitions tor handsome silver cups. In the competition for the most graceful couple all patrons are ©legible to compete, and the preliminary of entrants for the nnal contest is now being carried on. Uther competitions 'are also ' being arfn W’ f” d the va , lue of the Skatjm . as a place of amusement is steadily increasing in the estimation of its patrons.