AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21197, 1 December 1930, Page 15

AMUSEMENTS.

PRINCESS THEATRE. latest picture to l>e featured l, rlnees s Theatre is “ Hold Everything m which Winnie Lightner, the popular star in “The Gold Diggers of Broadway, has the principal role. Mies Lightner is so well known that little need ne said ot her performance. ' She has seveF al Sol3 n,numbers, and her. conversation is as witty ns usual, while the spirit and energy which she infuses into her .part ai - e astonishing. It is a typical modern American comedy, enhanced by several spectacular scenes made doubly attractive •by the brilliance of the colouring. ‘Technicoiour may not reach the perfection that producers have been seeking for so long, P l, t 'j as a peculiar attractiveness whicu is well brought out in such films as “ Hold Everything.’ The picture, however, has other claims to the attention of theatregoers,. among which are the inclusion in the cast_ of such noted comedy players as Winnie, Lightner, of “ Gold Diggers of Broadway fame, and Joe E. Brown, one of the most familiar figures of silent him days. Perhaps even more interesting is the fact that Georges Cafpentier, the once-famous boxer, is included in the cast.. . Carpentier is one of the most interesting figures whom modern boxing lias brought to light, and it was not long after his retirement that he became an actor. Sally O’Neill also has.an important role, j There is no lull in the witty dialogue and broad comedy of the picture except when spectacular scenes are occasionally introduced. EMPIRE THEATRE. : Two all-British pictures—'“Loose Ends” :aud “Not So Quiet on the Western Front”—are the main items on the new programme at the Empire Theatre. Large audiences witnessed the screenings of these pictures both on the opening night' and on Saturday, and it seemed to be generally agreed that no better programme has been seen in Dunedin for a long time. 1 “ Loose Ends ” is the story of a man who, after serving a lengthy' term of penal servitude for what would appear to be‘ a perfectly justifiable homicide, finds himself suddenly brought into the whirl of present-day London society. His history unknown, he falls in love with, and marries one of the ultra-smart set, only to find that their ways do not lie along the same lines, and that in 15 year's a startling change has come over the world he used. to know. He is appalled at what he considers to be the loose ways of his wife’s friends, and still more upset to’ find that she takes them quite in the natural course of .events. Then comes the exposure of his crime of 15 years ago, and he finds who are his true friends, a discovery which leads to a somewhat ■■'sur•prisinw but altogether satisfactory climax, “No So Quiet on the Western Front ” forma the supporting feature, and it also, as comedies go, indicates the high pitch of perfection- to which the Elstrce studios have brought their list. It is an hilarious comedy, which is, one long laugh from beginning to end. Including some clever dancing and tuneful songs, it is an intensely humorous burlesque of wav time. The Empire Orchestra has now become an institution with music lovers, and under the direction of M. de Hose it presents this week:—Overture, selection of British airs; and entr’acte, “ Semiramide ” (Rossini).

REGENT THEATRE. The outstanding item on the present programme at the Regent Theatre is undoubtedly that offered by Mr Alec Regan’s Regent Revuette, which provides 40 minutes of bright and happy entertainment of. a type that is universally appreciated. There are 11 numbers in the suite presented, and they are composed of songs, dances, sketches, and dialogues. Mr Regan takes a prominent part in. the production, and he is assisted by a small but extremely capable company comprising entirely local talent. Miss Tui Norlhey, Miss Anita Winkel, and Miss Rita Holmes each give several songs, and Miss Winkel takes part in one extremely amusing sketch entitled “ The Square Triangle.” Messrs Jim Macfarlane and Stan Lawson also appear frequently and Mr Reg. Richard’s very pleasing voice is heard to considerable advantage in several vocal numbers. .The “ Regent Rockets,” a ballet of eight charming young ladies, do all that can be expected of a ballet and also offer one or two numbers in an extremely pleasing manner. The picture programme is no less entertaining than the stage presentation. Ramon Novarro has the leading role in “In Gay Madrid," and he plays the part of the selfish, conceited lover of high life to perfection. The scene of the picture is the gay city of Madrid, centre of the high-life of modern Spain. Ricardo, leader of the younger set, is in one of his favourite, haunts, a night club of not very good reputation. Goyita, the vamp, sings, and Ricardo goes to meet her afterwards. Rivas, a famous bullfighter, appears, and there is a quarrel over the girl. Ricardo tries to conceal the escapade from his father, but the newspapers-have the story and his father is'not to be denied. He' decides that a quieter atmosphere would be more suited to one so high spirited, and he informs Ricardo that he will go to college in Santiago. The boy ■is appalled at the idea of living in such a place, but he takes heart when he is introduced to his school fellows and to the sister of his friend, Ernesto, . “THE RICHEST MAN IN THE WORLD.” “ The' Richest Man In the World,” an intimate story of family life, will open at the Regent on Friday next, with a cast which includes Louis Mann, Elliott Nugent. Leila Hyams, Robert Montgomery, Francis X. Bushman, jun., Mary Doran. Robert M'Wade, Henry Armetta. Jeane Wood, Lee Kohlman, and a number of child actors. Nugent is not only acting in the picture, but collaborated on the story with ' his father, J. C. Nugent. The story, chockfull of the realities of life itself, deals with an old lovable German who settles down in an American town. How he rears his family, his ups and downs, the lapses of his children, and the grand and happy climax make this “ short and simple an nais of the people ” something worth while. Three generations of the old German’s family are shown in the picture, and in each sphere the human trend of the story will touch the heart of every spectator. “ The Richest Man In the World” can really be termed “a splendid human document.” Mann, who is probably one of the world’s best actors, plays the featured role of the old German barber, and as the old German who, sacrifices everything for his children only to see them drift away from him, the veteran actor has a part for which he is eminently qualified. Taken as a whole, “ The Richest Man In the World ” presents a most acceptable change in the movie diet. It is remarkably human anil touchingly sincere, ROXY THEATRE. One of the most dramatic pictures yet made at the Elstree studios for British Dominions Films is “ Atlantic,” the screen adaptation of Ernest Raymond’s story. The Berg,” is at present being screened at the Roxy Theatre. The picture represents a wreck at sea, in connection with which the cynical John Rool, displays a greater mind, and heart, than others from whom much more might have been expected. The opening scene is the deck of an ocean liner. It is moonlight, and a dance is in progress, and everything is bright and happy. Here there is introduced to notice John Rool. a famous author, who is paralysed, his wife Alice, a clergyman, and Monica and Lawrence, a newly-married couple. Suddenly there is a hint of approaching danger, but this is very properly kept from the passengers An iceberg is sighted, there is a terrific impact, the hold is flooded, and the S.O.S sent out. This particular scene is extremely well depicted. The lifeboats are being filled with women in an excited and exhausted condition, helpless children are hurried into the boats, while in the smoking room Lanchester, the second oflicer, tells Rool that the. ship may keep afloat for three hours, and that there is no hope for anyone who may be left on board. The story works up to an excellent climax ' There is a good supporting programme.

KING EDWARD THEATRE. _Thc change of programme made at the Iviug Edward Theatre on Saturday introduced to the notice of patrons a Universall all-talking production entitled “Tonight at Twelve.” The picture has been very ably directed, and several well-known screen artists fill the more important roles. Amongst them are Madge ■ Bellamy, Kobert Ellis, Margaret Livingstone, Vera Keynolds and Borman Trevor, There IS .i, ln L^ e a girl from Texas, wno has_ a wonderful capacity for putting wrong right, under extremely difficult conditions. There are also a tea merchant from Calcutta, a high school girl from bait Lake City, a boy from ' Brooklyn, and a college girl from New York. There is . an immense amount of beguiling intrigue, deception, and honesty, and the interest is . sustained throughout. Miss Bellamy ib the sweetheart of George Lewis and the plot revolves about their romance. In the course of the story the giri learns that husbands and wives are not always all they are supposed to be. A jealous wife finds a note reading “ Tonigbt at twelve,” written by her husband which she regards as an assignation with some woman. She accuses one of three married women of being the person for whom the note is intended. The situation becomes involved and Miss Bellamy and Lewis get an insight into many matters that they never dreamed of. The supporting pictures consist of a comedy gazette, and talking and singing features. STRAND THEATRE. ' “The Furies” is the latest attraction at the Strand Theatre, and is a rather remarkable production. It is weird and mysterious in character, and no one can fail to be interested in watching the lilot unfold. There is a John Sands, a wealthy man, whose love affairs are the common talk of New York. The result of his philanderings is that he is constantly in trouble with hia wife, who cares very little for him—that is the key that opens the door to the whole story. A dinner is given by Harvey Smith in honour of Sands’ wife, and at that dinner things materialise. When the guests are about to sit down to dinner, Sands's son rushes in with the news that his father has been murdered. Bedlow tries indirectly ,to accuse M'Donald, Mrs Sands’s lover, of the murder. Sands’s wife tells the district attorney the truth about her relations with M'Donald, The woman feels that in the mind of her son she is being tried for complicity in the murder of her husband. She realises that the only way she can clear herself in the eyes of her son is to ask Bedlow (the lawyer) to take over the case and Drove that M'Donald is innocent. At first Bedlow is. deaf to the woman’s entreaties, but consents. to take the ease when he learns that she no longer lo ves M'Donald. There follows a strange scene in which the woman finds herself alone “with Bedlow. He then confesses that he’ has long loved her. and admits that he murdered her husband. Then there is a suicide, 'but the dramatist has evidently understood his business, and all comes out quite well at the end. The pictures supporting " The Furies ” consist of an ex-, cellent assortment of short ■ films, conspicuous amongst them being “Sunshine Sands,” a New Zealand Government publicity J display. OCTAGON THEATRE. A real mystery, brilliantly presented, is to be seen at the Octagon Theatre in “ Temple Tower,” and all-talking Fox' .movietone melodrama.' In “Temple Tower” “Bulldog" Drummond is introduced fighting to save the woman with whom he has fallen in love. The girl is seen inside the tower, prisoner of a criminal and a half-mad jewel. thief, with the intrepid Drummond outside, baffled by the spiked walls and barred windows. Neither Drummond nor the girl knows if the other is still alive or not. And behind them both lurks the sinister figure of the masked strangler, with murder in his heart. That well-known screen actor, Henry B. Walthall, gives one of his best performances as Blackton, the man who has “ double-crossed " the other members of the gang. The comedy work is capably supplied by Drummond’s friend in the character of Peter Darrell. Kenneth Mac Kenna enchances his reputation already established in many notable screen productions, _ and Marceline Day has the chief feminine role as the mysterious heroine: • The supporting pictures include a Fox Movietone News, an amusing comedy, “So This is Marriage,” screen snapshots, and a horoscope series regarding “ People Born in May.” .

SKATING. . . f■ . • REGAL RINK. - After several months, the attendances at the Regal Skating Rink are still very satisfactory, and form a convincing indication of the popularity of this sport in Dunedin. The floor has stood up well to the wear, and the high-class skates provided give every satisfaction to patrons. When added to this the members of the staff do all in their power to render courteous and efficient service to those who spend an hour or so on the rollers, it is hot to be wondered at that the rink has maintained its favour with the public. j - KING’S RINK. The King’s Skating Rink,, which is so centrally situated in Dowling street, bids fair to become one of Dunedin’s most popular amusement places. The artistic decorations and excellent appointments add greatly to the pleasure of patrons, and careful attention is-given by the staff to all skaters, whether experienced or mere novices. .For the latter special classes are held, and it will not be the fault of the management if they do not speedily become proficient. The floor is fast and in good order. A ladies’ quartermile race on Saturday night was won by Miss Dean. MOULIN ROUGE. . The Moulin Rouge Skating Rink is tne rendezvous of the majority of the skating enthusiasts of the hill suburbs. There is an excellent floor, and every attention is given by the staff to make for' the complete enjoyment of the patrons. Various competitions are arranged to.provide .variety to the entertainment, and there is nothing lacking which could possibly enhance the enjoyment of an evenings skating. MINIATURE GOLF. The most up-to-date form of miniature golf—the out-door game—has become extremely popular at the Putt Putt Links in King street. These links are daily the scene of many a hanHouEht and scientific game between those who have acquired proficiency in the art of piloting the ball round deceiving corners and tricky hazards. . There is a certain fas-, cination about the pastime, and when the links have the added attraction of being out in the open air it would he strange indeed'' if they did not receive liberal patronage. The Putt Putt golf links in King street should during the long evenings of the_ next month or two he a centre of entertainment for a large number of enthusiastic golfers.