AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21627, 23 April 1932, Page 15

AMUSEMENTS

OCTAGON THEATRE The packed house that attended the opening of the third Uunedin season of “ Viennese Nights ” at the Octagon Theatre last night w-as indeed a tribute to the quality of this spectacular production. Musically, “Viennese Nights is richly endowed. The combined genius or such masters of musical comedy as Oscar Hammerstein and Sigmund Romberg has been concentrated on the creation ot a score that is pleasingly varied and winch possesses a remarkably appealing quality. Every ingredient of good entertainment has been included in the action, and its interpretation has been entrusted to players of proved ability and wide popularity. Vivienne Segal has a part of varied and generous opportunity, and she makes the most of it. She has a charming personality" to add to her irresistible talent, and her innate sense or the stage and of the theatre carries her through a by no means easy. part with the highest honours. Pride of place in the male section of the cast goes to Alexander Gray, who possesses a delightful tenor voice and an ability to combine with it a vigorously-lifelike portrayal of' a wide variety of roles. With Miss Segal indeed, he is “ Viennese Nights,” more especially as, like the heroine herself, he is burdened with that most difficult of all tasks on screen or stage —the presentation of a dual role. Jean Hersholt gives a dramatic turn to the opening stages, and Berf Roach and Louise Fazenda provide some acceptable light comedy. An .entertaining programme of supports is shown. The box plans are at the theatre and the Bristol.

ST. JAMES THEATRE To see Gene Gerrard at the St. James Theatre in “Out of the Blue” is one of the finest comedies that the English studios have yet sent out to< New Zealand. It is fast and furious humour of the most diverting type, never defeating its own object by too much boisterous vigour, but moving ,freely and easily through, the most remarkable series of comic situations and dilemmas to an entirely satisfactory and amusing close. “ Out of the Blue ” is a film that must not be missed during the coming week. It sparkles with clever wit and shrewd repartee, and tells a story that is refreshingly original in both content and execution. Gerrard carries the main burden of the evening’s entertainment, but he finds exceptionally good support from a cast which includes only English players. Among them are Jessie Mathews, who has the leading feminine role, Kay Hammond, Avorill Hayley, and that delightfully diverting character actor," Kenneth Kove. There are one or two very good musical numbers in “Out of the Blue,” which is adapted from the musical play, “Little Tommy Tucker,” the chief being the theme song, which bears the title of the film. The supporting programme includes a very fine Nature study, “The World in a Wineglass,” the usual interesting pictorial news and an Australian travelogue. The plans are at Jacobs’s, the Bristol, and the theatre. STRAND THEATRE' A programme of all-round excellence is at present being shown at the Strand Theatre, where “Heartbreak” opened a season yesterday before an enthusiastic audience. Charles Farrell and Madge Evans have the leading roles in this swittmoving story of war-time life, in which a freak of fate causes an American aviator who, before his country’s entry into the war, had been an attache at the American Embassy at Vienna, to kill the brother of an Austrian girl with whom he has fallen in love. Some thrilling scenes are shown of a duel between two aeroplanes and the subsequent crash of the loser, and not only the principals but every member of the cast presents a remarkably fine performance. On the supporting programme two very interesting Movietone films take the audience on journeys through Siam and China, and a variegated panorama is unfolded. The magnificent pageantry of the Siamese Court is shown in all its grandeur, and an intimate view is gained of the life and occupations of a very interesting people. It is in their most natural and attractive light also that the Chinese are presented, and one is able to see very clearly the manner of life of this unhappy nation. Bennie Rubin has the title role in a ludicrous comedy, “ Messenger Boy,” and the bill is rounded off by a Fox Movietone News and a Fox Australian News. The box plans are at the theatre and the Bristol.

' EMPIRE THEATRE

Lance Fairfax, who will be remembered by Dunedin theatre patrons as the principal in “ The Desert Song,” in which he created such a favourable impression, is now to be seen in his first talking pie-, ture, “ The Beggar Student,” which commenced its season at the Empire Theatre yesterday. This film is a light and airy production in which the story is merely a skeleton on which the song scenas are hung to give them some sort of backing, but the musical side of the picture more than compensates for the somewhat sketchy plot. Fairfax is heard in a number of tuneful ami, catchy songs, which he sings in excellent style, whilst his acting is also of a very high standard. He is ably supported by Miss Shirley Dale, who takes the principal feminine role, and is the possessor of an appealing soprano voice, to which, however, the recording occasionally does not give full justice. Some excellent comedy work is supplied by Jerry Verno, a diminutive comedian with a most whimsical face, whilst Frederick Lloyd, Margaret Haletan, and Jill Hands fill other prominent parts with di.4•tinction. The supporting programme is unusually generous, and includes a sound gazette, a striking photographic study of the interior of a great cavern in which Nature has wrought some strange works of art, another of the popular “Curiosity ” series, an amusing comedy entitled “ Soldiers of Misfortune,” and an hilarious animated cartoon. Mr Paul Cullen provides an excellent musical interlude, his principal selections at the organ being the overture “ Lustpiel,” “ Waltz Songs of Ancient and Modern Times,” and “La Paloma.” The-box plans are at the theatre and the Bristol.

“ DR JHKYLL AND MR HYDE.” Eight scenic sets, all adjoining, were constructed at the Hollywood Paramount studios, representing the famous old Soho District in London. These were used in the production of Paramount’s “Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,” featuring Fredric March. Miriam Hopkins, and Rose Hobart, which will commence its Dunedin season at the Empire Theatre next Friday. These scenic sets were elaborately constructed, even to the cobble stones paving the street, and appeared to be one street. No one scene shows tlie entire street, yet all, sets and the scenes enacted thereon portray with accuracy this historical section of London. REGENT THEATRE A British picture, unusual in type, with an exceptionally exciting plot, is being screened at the Regent Theatre. Said to be the first film of a new company, it represents an unexpected departure in British film production and is characterised by excellent acting. The principal players are Dennis Neilson-Tcrry and Betty Stockfield both of whom have scored distinct successes in earlier British pictures. Their performances in “77 Park Lane” should establish them as firm favourites. Neil son-Tcrry has the part of a young British nobleman who returns from a long stay abroad prepared, for the night at least, to “paint the town red.” During the introductory passages of the film, which contain some excellent comedy, he becomes for the moment a taxi-driver, and in this guise he makes the acquaintance of Mary Connor, who is endeavouring to save a young brother from trouble. lie is surprised when she asks him to drive her to his own home, which he is even more astonished to find is occupied by a party of gamblers. No sooner has he entered than he finds himself embroiled in a series of mysterious events which grip the attention of the audience, before which is unfolded one of the most exciting stories told on the Dunedin screen for some time. There is an excellent supporting programme, including a comedy in which Charles Murray is featured, and a Mickey Mouse cartoon. The box plans are at the Bristol and the theatre.

KING EDWARD THEATRE John Gilbert will be seen in the leading role of “The Phantom of Pans at the King Edward Theatre to-day. Gilbert ■ has the difficult task of . wearing three different make-ups and plajdng three different men in the course of the one story. First he is seen as the gay and jaunty Cheri-Bibi, with the small, black Gilbertian moustache and the clever magic-working hands and body. then he becomes, the bearded, crushed, and desperate prisoner, who uses .jus knowledge of magic to escape from the dungeons. And finally, he is the Marquis, grev-haired, worldly-wise, inscrutable. As his leading lady Gilbert has Leila Hj eras, the charming player-who was site him in “ Way For a Sailor and “ Gentleman’s Fate.” She is cast as the daughter of a proud and noble family who refuses to allow the harriers of class to interfere with the dictates of her heart. The other picture on the programme is “The Border Legion, whici is a Zane Grey tale of a turbulent outlaw band, with Richard Alien, Jack Holt, hero of many a thrilling Western, and Fay Wray in- the leading roles, in “ The Border Legion Zane Grey tells of the activities of a laiVless band wine terrorised the mining country during the 1870’s. It is a tale of lugh-spnited men, fortune-hunters, who. in the absence of any established law, resorted to e cmental laws. ' The historical facts of the gtory are authentic. ,

SKATING MURRAY'S RINK. The reopening of Murray’s Skating Rink will take place to-day. Patrons will find a transformed scene, as the arena and its surroundings have been given a more festive appearance than ever. No stone has been left unturned that will add to the enjoyment of those who skate. One. of the most attractive schemes is the hiding ot the roof by coloured streamers, and.these certainly give an artistic as ell as a gaj appearance to the large hall. A fine new selection of skates is on hand, and the floor is now in first-claps condition. Lfearners need feel no difhdehce in taking part as a staff ,of sympathetic assistants is in attendance, and it must be remembered that the novice of to-day is the champion of to-morrow. The sessions aie announced in the advertising columns ot this issue. . . -