AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21359, 12 June 1931, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS

EMPIRE THEATRE The sparkling dialogue, full-blooded hilarity, irresistible situations, and extraordinarily clever character studies of “ Those Three French Girls ’’ will be deservedly popular with motion picture audiences during the week commencing to-day. The film was privately screened at the Empire Theatre yesterday morning, and proved a gem of comedy and nonsense, with Reginald Denny back to his old form in the rollicking, ludicrous farce which suits his peculiar style so well. It is impossible not to laugh when this comedy idol laughs. His infectious gaiety will not be denied, and it will be the general opinion of audiences who enjoy “ Those Three French Girls ” at the Empire Theatre during the next few days that Denny has never appeared to better advantage than in the role of Larry, the irresponsible Lothario wandering through France on pleasure bent. The fact that the story is the work of so popular a comedy writer as P. G. Wodehouse should add to the attraction this delightful piece of nonsense will have for Dunedin audiences. The whole tale is typically Wodp house. The characters are unmistakably the creations of Wodehouse, and the manner in which the fresh, wholesome tale is unfolded is after the manner of his best novel style. The fascinating and piquant Fifi Dorsay has the leading role, and proves to be more than a mere attractive foil for the comedy work ot Reginald Denny. She is an artist herself of no mean order, and, working iri double harness with the hertf of silent screen comedy, she acquits herself in a manner that will make her. audiences anxious to see more of her. The supporting cast is a good one, including such favourites as Cliff Edwards, Yola D avrtL Sandra Ravel, George Grossmith, Edwafd Brophy, arid Peter Gawthorne. ihofee Three French Girls ” is remarkable for the variety of characters it contains, ihe features are by no means only the two principals, as is so often the case. Every member of the cast has something entertaining to do or say, and the effect is excellent.

STRAND THEATRE il ib claimed that " Hunting Tigers in India,” now showing at the Strand Theatre, is the finest film of big game bunting to he shown in Dunediu. Elephants, tigers, rhinos, move through the jungle —their native haunts —pursued by an army of men mounted on more than 100 elephants. Excitement reigns as the elephants close in on tigers, which are shot even while they spring for the head of their disturbers. Villagers wait patiently for their share of the spoils, while always overhead, hovering or perched in the trees, vultures cry for the remnants. But this is not all. No incident is allowed to pass without being clearly explained in correctly-spoken English (something of a rarity nowadays) by Commander D. N.- Dayott. Nor is the picture wholly confined to the jungle. Life in the cities of India, the peculiar customs, the torture of religious rites—all oome within the view of the lecturer.' So clear is the picture, so vividly are the incidents described, that the audience is actually on the scene of the kill or in the midst of India’s teeming millions. “ Men on Call,” besides being a fine romance, shows very clearly the dan--gerous life pursued by coastguards. Popular Edmund Lowe is the hero, supported by Mae Clarke, Warren Hymer, William Harrigan, and Sharon Lynn, a combination that makes for a picture full of action. The sea scenes are exceptionally fine, and the talkie and sound effects are excellent. A highly interesting Fox Newsreel is included on the programme, and the box plans are at the Bristol.

REGENT THEATRE V Miss Ruth ' Chatterton, the celebrated actress of the stage and screen, plays,a dual /ole in her newest starring picture. “ The Right to Love,” which will be commenced at the Regent Theatre to-day. As a matter of fact, she really plays three separate and distinct parts, for in this stirring dramatisation of the wellknown Susan Glaspell novel, “Brook Evans,” Miss Chatterton is seen as Naomi Kellogg as a young girl, Naomi Kellogg years later as the wife of Caleb Evans, and finally Brook Evans, daughter of Naomi.' In these widely-contrasted roles Miss Chatterton rises to lofty heights, imparting, to' her characterisations the warmth and understanding which have always made her portrayals so magnificently alive and vital. “The Right to Love” reveals three women, each of a different generation and a different point of view, in a desperate effort to find true love and happiness. The first, Naomi Kellogg, a lovely, imaginative, courageous girl, overcomes insurmountable barriers to find love, only to lose it when sudden and terrifying death takes away'from her the man she loves. Her life frustrated, Naomi allows herself to be married to Caleb Evans, a man she does not love. Naomi lives only for her baby girl, Brook, who grows up to believe that the stern, straight-laced Caleb is her father. But when Naomi sees that Caleb is attempting to break up Brook’s first romance Naomi, summoning all her strength and courage, tells Brook the truth, and reveals to her that Caleb is not her father. Brook, stunned by this startling information, impetuously gives all her love to the man who, with all his faults, has been 'good and kind to her. To Caleb, Brook believes that she owes a debt she can never repay. And when Naomi, in one last vain and futile effort to save Brook from a suppressed and dull life, attempts to further Brook’s elopement with the boy she loves, Brook turns, and, instead of eloping, joins a group of missionaries going to China. She never even says good-bye to her mother. _ From this point on the picture’s action is concerned with Brook’s life in China, her meeting with a suave foreigner (Paul Lukas), and the fierce conflict within herself in her efforts to find love and happiness, the natural heritage of every woman. With compelling intensity and dramatic interest, “The Right to Love” is swept to a powerful and convincing climax tne equal of which has seldom been seen on, the talking screen. - To\Richard Wallace, the director, much credit must be given for the imaginative treatment accorded “The Right to Love.” His building of atmosphere and situation is one ot tne many high lights of the picture. Supporting the star are Paul Lukas. Oscar Apfel, David Manners, and Irving Pichel. all of whom are splendidly cast Ine Right to Love ” will introduce to. Dunedin the new Western Electric noiseless recording process. The Right to Love is one of the only two pictures at present recorded in this manner.

OCTAGON THEATRE It is claimed- that D. W. Griffith, who startled the film world 15 years ago with his stupendous spectacle, The Birth of a Nation,” has achieved greater success in “ \braham Lincoln,” which will be shown at the Octagon Theatre to-day. In writing the life of Lincoln iov the screen, Stephen Vincent Benet stripped the man of the myth and fiction surrounding him, and drew him as he really was, a kindly, ioke-loving, and sometimes crude, country lawyer, who achieved the highest rank in the United States by virtue of his clarity of vision and great political genius. Benet, with his knack for romantic expression, and Griffith, whose forte is romantic interpretation, collaborated in the development of what historians assert ie the greatest love story ever told—the love of Lincoln for Ann Rutledge. It will be remembered that Lincoln carried the picture of this sweet country girl in his heart 30 years after she died. At the time of his greatest political trial he Wbuld sometimes lose himself in the dun past when Ann Rutledge was a young girl, budding into early maturity, and he courted her by the banks of the San* eamon. The genius of Benet and Urimth were blended happily in evolving the most important scenes for this artistic and entertaining life of America’s greatest hero. Every actor and actress appearing in the picture—and there are 112 of them in important roles—are faithful reproductions in character, temperament, and resemblance of the persons they portray. Thus we see Mary Todd with . her pepperytongue and constant nagging, literally talking Lincoln into the White House; Herndon, Lincoln’s junior law partner, who refused a Cabinet apopintment because the dignity of that office might interfere with his getting drunk; Booth, the assassin, the egoist who thought Lincoln’s murder would make him a famous man. Walter Huston is seen as Lincoln, Kay Ham-

mond as Mary Todd Lincoln, Una Merkel as Ann Rutledge, lan Keith as John Wilkes Booth, Jason Robards as Herndon, Hobart Bosworth as General Robert B. Lee, Frank Campeau as General Phil. Sheridan, and Lucille La Verne.

PRINCESS THEATRE "Never have they been so fuijhy! ” That is the unanimous verdict of the critics who have reviewed the latest film of the “Cohens and Kellys" series, entitled, “ The Cohens and Kellys in Africa.” In this production the IrishJewish combination that George Sidney and Charlie Murray have made a screen institution, positively excels itself. The pair of humorists have, as usual, \ era Gordon and Kate Price as their respective wives, and there' are a number of other well-known players in the cast. The partners are this time in business as piano makers, but their sales fall off seriously owing to the fact that the keys of their instruments are celluloid instead of ivory. They are told a wonderful story by a self-advertiser, of ivory to be picked up for nothing in the depths of the African jungle. This find of theirs organises an expedition for them to the Dark Continent, and the partners set oiit ; with their wives to collect the ivory for the piano keys. As is to be expected, they meet with a variety of weird and wonderful adventures, falling in with dancing girls, lions, mad elephants, cannibals, baboons, \as well as other perils and attractions. They are captured by man-eating savages, but manage to escape by dressing iri lions’ skins and frightening their way to freedom, only to fall foul of a powerful sheik, who has captured their wives, and is holding them for ransom. The whole story of their perpetual tangle makes absurd but thoroughly uproarious entertainment. A special programme of. short features has been chosen for screening with this comedy, principal among them being a Slim Summerville farce, "00, La La!” in which the thinnest comedian on the screen presents himself in another hilarious prank. There ‘is also a very interesting Universal talking reporter news ■ reel and an Oswald the Rabbit cartoon. The box plans are at the Bristol.

ROXY THEATRE Double-feature programmes have become increasingly popular at the Roxy Theatre, where two gay pictures are included on the new bill that commences to-day. The first is “ The Hot Heiress,” a sparkling comedy, starring Ben Lyon, Thelma Todd (the beauty of the Charley Chase comedies), and Qua Munson, the new and popular comedienne. In a thoroughly original manner, "The Hot .Heiress ” tells of the amusing- romance of Juliette Hunter, who lias more money than she knows what to do with, and Hap Harrigan, a riveter who works on new buildings. When this pair mdeavour to conduct a love affair along conventional lines the parents of the heiress take a hand, and then the fun begins. Innumerable comedy sequences follow in quick succession, and the result is thoroughly delicious .amusement throughout. The second offering is “ The Widow from Chicago,” starring Edward 6. Robinson, the famous character 'actor (who was last seen as the flash Chinaman in “East is West”), Neil Hamilton, and Alice White. ThrilU and comedy are freely mingled in this story, which provides a contrast to the other feature qn the programme, while the two pictures, _ taken together, l make one of the best bills that the Roxy Theatre has had for a long time. An ASsop’s Fable Cartoon is included in the programme. The box plans are at the Bristol.

KING EDWARD THEATRE “The Mighty” is the title of the picture which heads the current bill at the King Edward Theatre. George Bancroft ■who made a name for himself in The Wolf of Wall Street” some time ago, Is the central figure ,in the story, which tells of a Chicago gang leader who returns from the war to be asked by the city authorities to take charge of an organised attempt to clear the city of gang warfare and the wholesale killing connected with it. It is sufficient to say that he accepts the job and passes through some extremely thrilling experiences before his work is completed. Bancroft is the possessor or the necessary broad and dominating personality for such a role, and he greatly enhances his fame by the manner in wmen he plays his part in “The Mighty. There is also a good supporting programme comprising several pictures of different types.

SKATING

KING’S RINK. Roller skating is in full swing at the King’s Rink in Dowling street, where scores of enthusiasts derive a great deal of pleasure from the sport. Every convenience is provided for patrons, and bo; ginners can always be assured of courte ous and sympathetic assistance from professional instructors. Another attraction is the weekly novelty night. Wednesday evening’s prize-winners were:—Tyre Race, Mr A. Mitchell; Potato Race, Miss Barton; Lucky Spot, Mr Mitchell and Miss Evans; Couples’ Cigarette Race, Mr Montgomery and Miss Yardley. V '