AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21649, 20 May 1932, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS

REGENT THEATRE Clive Brook, Kay Francis, and Miriam Hopkins, the pert, vivacious heroine of “ The Smiling Lieutenant ” and “Dr Jeykell and Mr Hyde,” play the leading roles in “24 Hours,” which will be shown at the Regent Theatre to-day. “24 Honrs ” show's how several people, ■within two 12-hour turns of the clock, suddenly find themselves embroiled in a_ dangerous situation, which threatens their lives. From the moment these people arcintroduced at a fashionable dinner party, to that tense moment, 24 hours later, when one of the men finds himself unjustly accused of his paramour’s murder—with only his estranged wife willing to believe him innocent —“ 24 Hours ” creates maintains suspense with compelling effect.' There will also be an entertaining programme of short subjects, including £ picture of the Sydney Cup, showing the Dunedin horse, Admiral Drake, apparently winning by a narrow margin. STRAND THEATRE The escapades and drolleries of Booth Tarkington’s famous comedy, “ Business and Pleasure,” which will open this afternoon at the Strand Theatre, are said to supply really excellent entertainment. The hero, Tinker, is a bluff, hale, and hearty man, whose wealth was selfmade, and who wqs of the kind, a sneering fellow passenger declared, that gave a bad impression abroad of America. He is the cause, nevertheless, of endless Jun on the voyage from the moment he is discovered teasing his wife and daughter and everybody else about seasickness, during a terrific storm, til! the time he descends the gangway. In the meantime he falls under the influence of the vamp, divulges his secret, and enjoys himself greatly save for the times his wife finds him out. The players include Will Rogers, Jetta Goudal, Dorothy Petersen, and Joel M'Crea. OCTAGON THEATRE ■ ■» The programme to be screened for the first time at the Octagon Theatre to-day includes “ Compromised ” and “ The Road to Reno.” Rose Hobart is given a complex role in “Compromised” as the maid.-of-all-work of doubtful ancestry, who marries the rich star boarder there—and later suffers the scorn of hia snobbish father—and the sophisticated divorcee—who tides to win him from her and their small son, Sandyi Ben Lyon gives a sturdy performance as the hero, and. Claude Gillingwater 1 with his usual finish portrays the crusty old millionaire. Juliette Compton is effective as the worldly rival of Ann. Other -parts are excellently played by Bert Roach; Emma Dunn, Florence Britton, Adele Watson, Louise Mackintosh, Virginia Sale, and Edgar Norton. In the other feature the collective result of all the colourful, exciting, humorous and at times gravely dramatic action of the play is to bring forward an argument against divorce. Against it, at least, as a remedy for the plight of the central characters in the play—Lilyan Tashman, Irving Pichel, and Charles (Buddy) Rogers. Sheets Gallagher also has a prominent part. EMPIRE THEATRE “ The Age For Love,” Howard Hughe’s’ latest United Artists’ film play, with a' distinguished cast headed by Billie Dove, will be commenced to-day at the Empire Theatre. Famed for hia superior pictures, Hughes has produced “The Age For Love’’ with his customary flair for the lavish and spectacular, and has chosen a bold, modern theme. After nearly a year of exacting research and study, he selected for Miss Dove’s .returning vehicle to the screen the daring and popular novel of Ernest Pascal, and engaged the author himself to prepare the film treatment. Robert E. Sherwood, the noted motion picture critic and playwright,, was obtained to write the dialogue. And Frank Lloyd, selected in 1p29 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as the outstanding director in this industry, was signed to direct it. The young and spectacular producer then rounded up one of the most.brilliant and expensive casts ever assembled for a picture, including, besides Miss Dove, Edward Everett Horton, Lois Wilson, Mary Duncan, Adrian Morris, Betty Ross Clark: and Charles Starrett, a new leading man. An excellent programme of short subjects has been selected to accompany the mam picture, and Paul Cullen has selected as his- organ solos: Overture, melodies from “New Moon,” entr’acte “A Few Moments With the Classics,” and as his song inter-, lude his own composition. Come to Dunedin.” - ST. JAMES THEATRE . , Two outstanding characters of .the screen—one a veteran, the other filmdon’s latest child “ disoovery ’’—are teamed l in “ The . Champ,” Metro-Goldwyn-Maher’s vivid drama of sporting life below the Mexican border,, which will start this afternoon at St. James Theatre. Wallace Beery and Jackie Cooper share honours in the new picture, which King Vidor directed. Thrills, comedy, and heart throbs mingle in the drama, and much authentic detail was actually filmed in Agua Caliente and Mexican border- locales. Beery plays a broken-down prizefighter, rearing his small son amid the surroundings of the border, while attempting to “ come back.”The love of the two is great. Finally, the boy’s mother, who has married a rich man, seeks tq take the boy that he may have better advantaged. Despite .his great love for the child, the old prizefighter resolves to make the sacrifice. But the child runsaway from his mother and returns to him. The “Champ” then makes his great resolve and stages tan! attempted “come back” for money to send the child toschool. Other parts are taken by Irene Rich, who appears as the boy’s mother, Roscoe Ates, the “stuttering comedian,” Edward Brophy, and Hale Hamilton. There will be a full supporting programme. The box plans are at the Bristol. KING EDWARD THEATRE The 'first of the two pictures on the current programme at'the . King : Edward Theatre, “ The Costello Case, features Tom Moore, who takes a large part in the solution of a baffling murder mystery. The story is of a type which is always popular, and the picture is well produced, and attractively presented. The other film is “ Sea Legs,” a Jack Oakie comedy. Oakie is seen in this film as a sailor who is shanghaied into a foreign navy as a substitute for a lazy millionaire, and £ives his audience plenty of laughs. Ilian Roth is at her best, as the captain’s daughter, and the other members of the cast also acquit themselves with credit.