AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21365, 19 June 1931, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS

4 STRAND THEATRE A director like King Vidor, who has been responsible for a majority of the biggest film successes of recent years, usually has his own way when it comes to selecting players for special attractions. This is evident in “ Billy the Kid," the outstanding Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer alltalking thriller, which commences at the Strand Theatre to-day. The east includes no less an array of stars than Wallace Beery, John Mack Brown, Kay Johnson, Karl Dane, Wyndham Standing, and Russell Simpson, with many other well-known performers. In this story of a great outlaw Wallace Beery excels himself m the role of “Garrett,” the burly, somewhat brutal, but over-humorous villain. As “ The Kid ” himself, the popular young leading man, John Mack Brown, found more pleasing than ever. Kay Francis, always charming, is the heroine, and an abundance of humour is infused into the plot by Karl .Dane, the droll comedian of a number of big successes. “Billy the Kid” was, in his day, the terror of the West, but he had time to do a little loving, to laugh a lot, and to make good companions in between his hair-raising escapades. The picture depicts his vivid career in rollicking style. At no time does the action lose any ot its grip. Wallace Beery, ever .„ a of strength to any picture, will delight his hosts of admirers in his new role. He has never been quite so brutally a “ he-man,” and yet, never quite to comical, and his portrayal of Garrett, it is claimed, will long be remembered. All the stars are especially well cast. The plot was filmed against the background of the Grand Canyon, and there are some wonderful outdoor shots, inspiring in their rugged grandeur. There will be a nil selection of supports, and the programme promises to be one of the most outstanding that the Strand Theatre has offered for some time. There will be a full sup porting programme, including another oi the highly popular Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer all-talking comedies, an interesting Metrotone News, and a cartoon Jim third episode of the thrilling serial. The Spell of the Circus.” will commence this afternoon, and will be .shown throughout the week at the matinees only, the box plans are at the Bristol.

“THE LIGHTNING EXPRESS." It is specially announced to-day, to all children who have been following the serial “ The Lighting Express, at the Roxy Theatre, that the remaining episodes will be shown at the Strand Theatie after the ordinary afternoon performances each Saturday, commencing to-morrow. Children are reminded to bring their concession cards with them. The conditions appertaining to this particular aspect ot “ The Lightning Express ” will remain the same at the Strand as they were at the Roxy.

REGENT THEATRE “ Plavboy of Poris ” will he commenced at the Regent Theatre to-day. A humbie waitr by day, a millionaire Lothario by night. Maurice Chevalier’s gay, laughing love-making occupies him 24 hours out ot every 24 in his newest starring Paramount picture. Chevalier’s sly and roguish lovemaking is seen at its best in this farcical French comedy with a plot full of fresh and funny situations. As a waiter, Chevalier turns work into play; ns a millionaire playboy, in the brilliant Frencn capital, he turns play into a not ot romance. Thice women are trying to capturc him for a soul mate, but Maurice wants to love them all, and let it go at that. A triple comedy treat has been prepared for patrons in “Playboy of Pans. In addition to the joyous singing star ot this fast and sparkling laugh and love romance, Eugene Pallette has an important fun-making role, and Stuart Erwin, the dumb Axol of “Sweetie,” is in the cast, tChevalier, Pallette, and Erwin are cast as a trio of restauranteurs 1 layboy of Paris.” Chevalier is a singing waiter with dreams of becoming a wealthy and heart-breaking man-about-town. Pallette is the rotund chef. Erwin is Pal-, lette's kitchen boy. They play for laughs in the kitchen until a surprise legacy sets Chevalier up in the world, although a 20-year contract holds him to his job na waiter. The comedy elements of “ Playboy of Paris” are almost as strong on the feminine side ns they are on the male. Dorothy Christy is cast ns an aspiring gold digger. Cecil Cunningham, famous comedienne, seen with Ruth Chatterton in “The Better Wife,” is Chevalier’s blonde pursuer. The story is a joyous, fun-loving farce, with pretty Frances Dee, the fortunate “ extra ” girl, playing opposite the star. Chevalier sings several songs, including “My Ideal,” “ It’s a Great Life,” “ In the Heart of Old Paree, each of which he put across with the same effective lilt with which he sang “ Louise,” “ Sweeping the Clouds Away," “My Love Parade,” and “ You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me,” “My Ideal ” has so far proved the most popular of the Chevalier trio. “Playboy of Paris” is a Ludwig Berger production. The man •who made “The Vagabond King" first achieved prominence in the comedy field before attaining dramatic pre-eminence with his productions with Emil Jannings and Pola Negri. He has made of “ Playboy of Paris ” a rollicking, lilting comedy, just suited to the remarkable talent of its bubbling star. It is interesting to note that at all matinee performances in future at the Regent the feature film will be screened in the first part of the programme.

CHARLIE CHAPLIN SEASON. Arrangements for the Chaplin season at the Regent Theatre are ns follow: “ City Lights ” will receive its premiere presentation in Dunedin at a gala midnight matinee on Thursday next. June 25. at 11.15 a.m. From that time it will be screened twice daily at 2.15 and 7.45 p.m. for one week only. On Saturday June 27, there will be a special morning session at 10.30 in addition to the usual performances. Preliminary box plans are now open at the Regent and at the Bristol, and the ordinary plans will be on view on Monday morning next. OCTAGON THEATRE It took an Englishman, celebrated as a writer of gay and whimsical stories aud plays, to write the finest mystery drama of the past 10 years. A. A. Milne, author of such plays as “ Mr Pirn Passes By,” and the famous children’s books such as “ Winnie the Pooh ” and “ Now We Are Six,” is also the writer of one of the most thrilling of modern murder mysteries. “The Perfect Alibi.” Proof that “The Perfect Alibi ” is a success is found in the fact that it played on the stage for two years during its stage engagement. Now it is here as a “ talkie,” coming tc the Octagon Theatre with a distinguished English cast and the direction of Basil Dean This new Radio Picture opens to-dav. Made in Engjand by Basil Dean for Radio Pictures, with an English cast, A. A Milne’s well-known drama comes out from start to finish a gem of direction in the building up of incidents mounting to one powerful and arresting scene at the close. Planned craftily, per formed with genius-like care, with no step uncovered, one of the most startling and chilling crimes succeeds. There seems to be no loophole for discovery Yet di-> covery takes place. There is never the perfect alibi. The ingoniousness of plot, the swift pace of action, and the build ing up of taut suspense make “ The Perfect Alibi ” one of the outstanding mvstery plays of the stage or screen. AI ( though the audience is always aware oi the identity of the murderers, even sees the crime committed, suspense is built to fever pitch by the extraordinary manipulation of plot which the author has provided for the discovery and arrest cf the criminals. How it. is done is tue big thing in “The Perfect Alibi. Not only is Milnes’s mystery a clever affair in dialogue and plot, but it is played expertlv by a fine cast Mr Dean has directed with shrewd understanding of the triek in making thrillers. He has taken his peonle through tile plot and made them h°lievahle in a melodrninatn s t o rv. The case Warwick Ward C Anbrev Smith. Hobart Loraine. Dornthv Bovd. and Frank Lawton known on both the American and English screens -Attention is drawn to the new scale of prices which is nnno'mced in the advertisement columns. The feature picture will in future he screened in the first half of the programme at matinees only

PRINCESS THEATRE To-day “ Compromising Daphne ” will be screened for the first time at the Princess Theatre. It is an all-British film, having been produced by British International Pictures at the Elstrec studios, and it represents one of the most effective challenges the British film industry has yet made to Hollywood. “ Compromising Daphne" combines in the 80 minutes' entertainment which it represents, all the ingredients of wholesome and enjoyable farce. It has been adapted from the famous West End comedy, “Valentine,” and.has in its principal roles such favourites of the English stage as Jean Colin, Phyllis Konstam, Margot Grahame, C. M. Hallard, and Charles Hickman. It simmers with mirth, and its light, frivolous, farcical comedy is sure to please all tastes. Charming glimpses of the English countryside help to make the atmosphere and setting of the picture essentially and peculiarly English. There is a daring story, with many spicy situations, and laughs come easily and evenly right through the screening. Phyllis Konstam is a type of actress that Dunedin audiences will enjoy to the full, and Jean Colin has a Hair for comedy that is not the possession of many players of her type. Charles Hickman will introduce a new and divertingly attractive type of motion picture comedy, and in doing so may be expected to do a great deal to popularise the type of humour which is distinguishing British farces from the products of the American studios at the present time. The story is excellently told. Daphne (Jean Colin) and George (Charles Hickman) are disappointed to hear that her father (C. M. Hallard) will not agree to their marriage in anything- under 12 mouths. Daphne, therefore, comes forward with the proposition that George shall compromise her by being found in her bedroom. Daphne’s friend, Sadie (Phyllis Konstam) arrives to stay unexpectedly, and. is put into Daphne’s room, thus becoming the unwitting victim of the plot. It is not difficult to imagine the amusing situations and complications that may be expected to follow such an occurrence. The author deals with his material in the most effective fashion, aud the players do quite as much for him as he does for them, inasmuch as they present his characters in the most agreeably lifelike fashion and make his story a good one. The borrowing of a baby and the introduction of twins into the general intrigue has an astonishing effect on the trend of the plot, but the etiquette of the pen bars the way to any further elucidation of a condition of affairs that will only be fully enjoyed when the audience can watch the plot slowly unfold itself and finally culminate in the romantic happy ending that is inseparable from such a tale. From beginning to end there is a pleasingly piquant flavour about “ Compromising Daphne ” which makes it excellent entertainment. It should not be missed during the coming week. EMPIRE THEATRE Such excellent humour and unbridled farce ns are the features of “ The Connecticut Yankee,” the sound film version of Mark Twain’s inimitable work, "A Yankee at the Court of King Arthur,” cannot fail to find ready acceptance among all classes of local audiences. This delightful and strikingly produced film will be the chief attraction at the Empire Theatre for the week commencing to-day, and, judging from the private screeing on Wednesday morning, it will*be one of the biggest draws of the week. 'All the subtle humour of Mark Twain has been retained in the screen production, and even with the modern interpolations and ludicrous anachronisms in which it abounds add a delicious flavour of absurdity to. the film that will delight all who see it. Had the producer searched Hollywood and its surroundings for ever and a day it is doubtful whether he could have found a more appropriate player to fill the central role than the irresistible and highly original Will Rogers, whose appearances in such films as “So This Is London,” “ They Had To See Paris,” and “Lightnin’,” were such as whet his public’s already keen appetite for more. Rogers has a technique all his own. He follows no orthodox histrionic lines, but by simply making the fullest use of the peculiar gifts of expression and characterisation he possesses he succeeds in drawing a portrait of engaging reality and perpetual delight. . As Hank Martin he surpasses all his other performances, and there will ba few who see his delineation of this striking role during the coming week who will dissent from the view that he has done nothing better. The original version of “A Yankee at the Court of King Arthur ” as presented to an admiring world by Mark Twain forma a very effective background for the strange occurrences and uproarious situations which the producer of “ The Connecticut Yankee” has crammed into bis picture by the score. The dialogue, as was only to be expected, is brilliant, witty, and piquant, and the recording has been carried out in the most competent fashion, with the result that every utterance ia easily distinguished. The settings are intriguing to a degree, and the whole atmosphere of the sixth century court at Camolot.has been cleverly and ingeniously contrived. Myrna Loy find Maureen Sullivan have the principal female parts, and acquit themselves with particular merit. “ The Connecticut Yankee ” is delightfully wholesome entertainment of the most popular pattern, and should certainly not be missed. KING EDWARD THEATRE

“ Dangerous Paradise,” a production replete with thrills, suspense and romantic adventure, heads the current bill of fare at the King Edward Theatre. The principal roles are taken by Richard Arlen, Nancy Carroll, Clarence H. Wilson, and Warner Gland. The story tells how Alma, fearing the attentions of Zangiacomo and Schomberg, hides on Heyst’s boat and is carried away to the island where the latter lives in retirement. Heyst grudgingly allows her to stay until a steamer can take her away. Zangiacomo and Schomberg fight over Alma, each thinking that the other has kidnapped her, and Zangiacomo is killed. Schomberg is found kneeling beside the body by three scoundrelly men, who, having him in their power, turn his house into a gambling den. Schomberg finally gets rid of them, however, by telling them that there is raw gold on Heyst’s island. From then onwards the action speeds up, and thrills crowd on one another. A diverting comedy, “ Clancy in Wall Street,” completes the programme. SKATING KING’S RINK. Scores of enthusiasts continue to derive a great deal of pleasure at the King’s Skating Rink in Dowling street. Patrons are provided with every convenience, and beginners can always be assured of assistance from competent instructors, who, with the attendants, do everything in their power to make a visit to the rink as pleasant as possible. The spacious '-oor, which has undergone a new scientific cleaning process, making it free from dust and germs, offers an excellent surface for skaters. Another attraction is the novelty evening every Wednesday. Last Wednesday’s prize winners were: Potato Race. Miss N. Dickson; Hurdle Race, Mr Foote; Quarter-mile Handicap (first heat). Miss E. Barton; Couples’ Race, Miss N. Dickson and Mr Maxwell; Lucky Spot, Miss Carney and Mr MLeod.