AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21362, 16 June 1931, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS

OCTAGON THEATRE It is seldom that there comes to the Dunedin screen a picture which has more to commend it than mere entertainment value, but it can be said of “Abraham Lincoln,” which is the main feature at the Octagon Theatre thij week, that this is the case. Even regarded from the point of view of pure entertainment, “Abraham Lincoln ” is an outstanding picture, but its principal interest lies i*i the fact that it is a valuable historical record of a period in America s vnnals when that country was passing through a most critical stage. Simple *nd unaffected was the great statesman about whom the story is told, and the picture is the same. D. W. Griffiths, who is probably the greatest of all American producers, was responsible for the work of making the picture, and his efforts have met with well-deserved success. Walter Huston has the title role. Huston will be remembered for his masterly por- , trayal of the central figure in ‘ Gentlemen of the Press,” which was screened in Dunedin some time ago. He has no small task to perform in “Abraham Lincoln,” but he makes no mistake, and the result of his work stamps him as one of the foremost of present-day actors. There is also an entertaining supporting programme. The box plans are at the theatre and the Bristol. PRINCESS THEATRE Once again George Sidney and Charlie Murray are to be seen in a Cohen and Kelly picture at the Princess Theatre this week, the scene of their adventures this time being the Dark Continent. This traditional name for the huge area ot land known as Africa makes it appear that it is a doleful land, but such is not the case when the Cohens and Kellys pay it a visit', for they bring their own tun with them, and they are not the least bit niggardly about sharing it with Princess Theatre audiences. Vera Gordon and Kate Price, as the respective wives of . Cohen and Kelly, do their, full share towards making the picture the success that it is. From one source, of danger to another, the principals in the story struggle through the tropical jungles. Chased by elephants, attacked by gorillas and taken prisoner by Arab sheiks, they keep the ball of fun rolling merrily all the time, and ,the audience has little opportunity of gaining breath after one burst of laughter before being plunged into another by the antics of these inimitable comedians. The dialogue is, of a nature well known to all those who have seen previous Cohen, and Kelly pictures, but it is, if anything,' somewhat more amusing than ever. There is also on the programme a Slim Summerville comedy, entitled “ 00, La La,” a Universal news reel, and an entertaining cartoon. The box plans are at the theatre, Halle fruit shop, and the Bristol. , “COMPROMISING DAPHNE.” Simmering with mirth - provoking laughter that. never ceases from the beginning of the film to the last fade-out, “ Compromising Daphne,” which will be the feature of the new programme at the Princess Theatre on Friday of this week, is one of the most delightfully striking British films that has yet been seen in Dunedin. It is light comedy which signally succeeds in exciting continuous - many intriguing and irresistible situations, s and a handful of the most refreshingly * English characters. Diverting light en--3 tertainmeht of such a popular pattern , cannot fail to please; ,and all who enjoy British humour presented by British, players in a British manner should not ; ; miss the opportunity of seeing it in “ Compromising Baphne.” It is a converted stage play, and an exceptionally good one » at that, and the film is produced with ' speed, and bubbles with youthful high t spirits. The cast .of “Compromising ' Daphne,” which was produced for British f International. Pictures at Elstree, includes Jean Colin as Daphne, Charles Hickman 'as the hero, and Phyllis Konstam ae * Sadie.’’ These three are the central s coffiedy characters. “ Compromising Daphne ” is the story of a young man ' who, for farcical financial reasons, is supJ * posed to compromise a young lady called Daphne before marrying her, but by some mistake he compromises her friend Sadie, with amazing and amusing consequences; The ingredients of boisterous farce have been well and skilfully handled in this film, and the result is real entertainment, \ A young man, two girls, two fathers, and twins—these are the foundations of one of the most joyously nonsensical burlesques 3. that the stage ever produced. In motion picture form it is no less amusing. “ Comh. promising Daphne,” which will be screened U for the first time at the matinee on c\ Friday afternoon, should prove one of ■i the most popular films of the coming f week. EMPIRE THEATRE V I ' - .-I ■ -Reginald Denny, the favourite comeI. diari, brings a typical Wodehouse character to - life in "Those Three French Girls.” 1 which is now being screened at the Emt, pire Theatre. He is aided in the fun- * making by Fifi Dorsay, one of the most 2 charming little actresses of the talking •= 'screen, Yola D'Avril, Sandra Ravelj George Grossmith, Cliff Edwards (“ Uke- ? lele Ike”), and Edward Brophy. The 1 story follows the somewhat phantasmagorical adventures of the three. French girls, a thoroughly irresponsible nephew > of the Earl of Ippleton, and two Americans. They all meet in gaol, get out again, sleep in a barn, after motoring madly through a storm at night, and end up at the Earl’s chateau, where the fun reaches its zenith' and the love story, without which the tale would undoubtedly be in- . complete, is brought to the nuptial stage. £ The work of all the principals is worthy of ~, the highest praise. Denpy, ever in his ? element in a high-speed picture, improves r on the best he has ever done before, and i. he is ably supported by Grossmith, who is completely at home in the role of the English earl. Miss Dorsay is always the c most' charming of people, but, in this latest picture, she is superb and no one can blame the hero for falling in love with t so engaging a lady! The supporting pror gramme is a strong one. Mr Harvey’s 1 organ items are “Light Cavalry” and "One More Waltz.” The box plans are at the theatre and the Bristol. “A CONNECTICUT YANKEE ” Will Rogers is said to make a determined bid for the Motion Picture ’ Academy of Arts and Sciences award for 1 the best performance of . the year in Mark Twain’s “A Connecticut Yankee,” a Fox production, which will have its initial showing at the Empire Theatre on Friday. It is, perhaps, the beet thing ' Rogers has ever done. The combination of Will Rogers and Mark Twain is a ' “ natural ” from an entertainment standpoint. Twain’s humour is the sort that appeals to everyone, and Rogers certainly is one of the best men equipped /to interpret the master humorists’s great story. As “ Sir Boss,” Rogers imbues the character with a quality of sincerity and plausibility. Many of the funniest lines "are recognisable as Rogers’s own, and are claimed to embellish Mark Twain’s original to a point that Twain certainly would have roared with laughter himself had he lived to see this version of his satire. Rogers, of course, dominates the production, but the subsidiary roles also are excellently handled. Maureen O'Sullivan never has been more attractive than in her role of “Alisande,” and Frank Albertson, as “ Clarence.” adds a new mark to his record of achievement on the .' talking screen. Myrna Loy is satisfactorily mean and vampish by turns as “Queen Morgan Le Fay,” the wicked sister of “King Arthur.” while William Farnum, famous star of the silent picture days, essaying a come-back after a long absence from the screen, comes all the way back as King Arthur in “A Connecticut Yankee.” Brandon Hurst is excellent as “Merlin,” while Mitchell Harris, is satisfactorily villainous in the role of “ Sagramor.”

{ STRAND THEATRE I The two featured films at present being shown at the Strand Theatre are “ Hunting Tigers in India,” a magnificent film of big game hunting in Nepal, and Men on Call/’ a romatice drama featuring Edmund Lowe and Mae Clarke, The first film is the record of an expedition headed by Commander D. N. Daycott on behalf of the Museum of Natural History in New

York. The photography of the various scenes is really wonderful, and the camera man is not daunted even when an infuriated tiger rushes the elephants, inflicting wounds on their trunks, and, in one case, on the tail. Nor is the picture confined wholly to the jungle. Elephants are seen at work shifting logs, and then some intimate glimpses of life among India’s 330,000,000 are shown. It is a most realistic film, and the looker-on completely forgets the theatre atmosphere, and lives in India for the nonce. “ Men on Call ’* deal with the old theme of a love affair, followed by a misunderstanding and long years of -.estrangement. “ Chuck ” Long, the locomotive driver, who loves and scorns Helen Gordon, smashes his train up in a moment of absent-mindedness, and, after bitter dpys of starvation, finds a friend in need who persuades him to join the coastguards—end it is on the sea coast that the rest of the action takes place. The box plans are at the Bristol. “BILLY THE KID.” A great cast will be seen in “ Billy the Kid,” the thrilling Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer special attraction, that will commence at the Strand Theatre on Friday next. Produced by the renowned director, King Vidor, it stars Wallace Beery, Johnny Mack Brown, Kay Johnson, and Karl Dane, and tells the story of a famous outlaw, who knew no fear, and who laughed at death- Thrills and humour are freely mingled in this outstanding romance, which was filmed against the inspiring background of the Grand Canyon. REGENT THEATRE “The Right to Love,” with Ruth Chatterton in the leading role, is the principal attraction at the Regent Theatre this week. “ The Right to Love ” has been recorded by the Western Electric Company’s new system, all trace of mechanical sound being completely eliminated, with the result that every word comes out clearly and all extraneous sounds have been damped out. The picture, which is an adaptation of Susan Glaspell’s novel, •“ Brook Evans,” contains a perfectly balanced cast, and its value is further enhanced by the excellent photography. In every scene detail is brought out with a distinctness that is amazing, and figures, landscapes, and buildings stand out with a stereoscopic effect. Moreover, by an extraordinary feat of duplex photography, Ruth Chatterton is seen as a mother talking to herself (ag her daughter), and this, besides demonstrating the star’s wonderful versatility, shows that such photography can be successfully carried out without giving the slightest appearance of faking. One can pay Ruth Chatterton no greater compliment than to say that her triple role of the girl, the mother, and the. daughter is by far the finest piece of screen work she has ever done. Another fine character sketch is that'of Caleb Evans, which is played by Irving Piehel. As the dour, uncompromising puritanical stepfather, Piehel gives a most convincing rendering of the part, without at any time displaying any tendency to over-act. Eric, the daughter’s lover, is played by Paul Lukas, who is, next to the star, the outstanding player in the picture. The box plans are at the theatre and the Bristol. “ THE PLAYBOY OF PARIS.” Three women complicate the love situation for Maurice Chevalier in that star’s screamingly funny comedy romance, “ Playboy of Paris,” in which the joyous lothario will be seen at the Regent Theatre on Friday. Now the man who “ Brought a New Kind of Love ” to New Zealand has troubles of his own with a bevy, of Parisiennes. Maurice, gay, debonaire, and dauntless, is cast as a millionaire waiter. All day he waits on the rich people of Paris, longing to take his place with them in the glamorous life of the world's fashion centre. At night, transformed, he joins the throng of merry-makers in the brilliant cafes, and, with is bewitching singing, his melting love making, becomes a'favourite with all the women. His chief difficulty is in keeping his identity as a waiter secret, for he is under an iron-bound contract to continue waiting on tables for 20 years. The pretty Frances Dee, the lucky Hollywood extra girl, who soared to movie heights, when chosen to play with Chevalier. enters the contest for his heart, turns the tables on a blonde pursuer, and an ambitious gold-digger, and snatches Maurice from his mountain of dreams. “ Playboy of Paris ” is an entrancing love story, built for laughs. The comedy is held at a constant high point by the antics of the genial Eugene Pallette, whose rotund comedy provides a succession of roars, and by Stuart Erwin, -he dumb Axel of “ Sweetie.” The women, in addition to Miss Dee, are Dorothy Christy and Cecil Cunningham. Ludwig Berger’s sly sense of humour went into “Playboy of Paris” to make it Chevalier’s best, better than “Innocents of Paris,” “ The Love Parade,’) or “ The Big Pond.” The happy star sings three new song hits—" My Ideal,” “ It’s a Great Life if You Don’t Weaken,” and “In the Heart of Old Paree.” Those who remember Chevalier singing “ Louise,” “ Sweeping the Clouds Away, and “You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me” won’t miss hearing him croon “My Ideal.” A definite date is now announced for the eagerly-awaited Charlie Chaplin film, “ City Lights.” This will commence at the Regent Theatre with a gala midnight matinee on Thursday, June 25, at 11.15. The preferential box plan is now open at the theatre and at the Bristol. _ ROXY THEATRE “ The Hot Heiress,” a- sparkling comedy featuring Ben Lyon, Thelma Todd, and One Munson, and “The Widow from Chicago,” form the principal attractions at the Roxy Theatre this week. “The Hot Heiress ” tells of the amusing romance of Juliette Hunter and Hap Harrigan, a riveter who works on buildings under construction. The girl has more money than she knows what to do with, and when the pair endeavour to conduct a romance along conventional lines the parents of the heiress become interested. It is then that the real fun begins. Innumerable comedy sequences follow in quick succession, and the result is thoroughly good amusement throughout. “The Widqw from Chicago,” featuring 'Edward G. Robinson, Neil Hamilton, and Alice White, is a story of mystery, fun, .-and adventure. An amusing cartoon completes a very entertaining programme. KING EDWARD THEATRE “ Good News,” which constitutes the current attraction at the King Edward Theatre, has Stanley Smith and Lola Lane in the leading roles. The story deals with the romance between Tom Marlowe, the football captain, and Patricia, Bringbam, the college bell. Toni bad proposed many times and even written a note asking Patricia to marry him, and she has been preserving that note for future use. Urged on by Patricia, her cousin Constance is persuaded to coach Tom in astronomy in order that he may take his examination before the big football match, and as a result a fresh romance springs up between Tom and Constance, to Patricia’s discomfiture. How Tom finally wins the girl of his heart makes an interesting and entertaining story. A good supporting programme is also shown. CONCERT AT HIGHCLIFF A very successful concert was held at Highcliff last Wednesday evening to raise funds to defray the cost of improvements to the hall —namely, the widening of the ball and the erection of a ladies’ room. The chairman (Mr D. J. Robertson) explained that for a long time the idea of improving the hall had been fostered, and now that it was an accomplished fact the residents would reap the full benefit of the results of their efforts. Mr John Leech was responsible for the following very fine programme:—Orchestral items. Chas. Begg and Co.’s Orchestra; songs—Mesdames Dnrracott, Aitchison. Kemvard. Laing. and Wilson, and Messrs Chisholm and Duncan; duets— Misses Kenward and Wilson; elocutionary items. Miss Nell Warren; musical monologues, Mr Sinclair. Miss Crooks was the pianist. At the conclusion votes of thanks were accorded to Mr Leech and the performers, and after supper a short dance was held.