AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21669, 13 June 1932, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

OCTAGON THEATRE Two pictures of unusual merit, “ Touchdown ” and “ His Woman,” comprise the double bill that forms the current attraction at the Octagon Theatre. “ Touchdown ” is a football picture, featuring Richard Aden, Peggy Shannon, Jack Oalde, and J. Farrell MacDonald. The story concerns college football. Aden is seen as Dan Curtis, a coach, whose motto is “ win at any price,” and picture is replete with thrillls, drama, and comedy. The other picture is “ His Woman,” in which Claudette Colbert and Garry Cooper have the leading roles. Cooper is seen as a sea captain who is forced to father a foundling child. He has his own ideas as to the proper way to bring up a baby, but he finds that his scheme needs some revision when love comes into his life. The box plans are at the theatre and the Bristol. STRAND THEATRE “ Cheaters at Play ” is the featured item on this week's programme at the Strand Theatre. With a fast-moving and engrossing story and the excellent performances of such players as Thomas Meighan, Charlotte Greenwood, William Bakewell, Barbara Weeks, and the others in the cast, “ Cheaters at Play ” should have a successful season. Meighan shares the leading honours with Miss Greenwood, while Miss Weeks and William Bakewell supply the romantic interest of the production. The story deals with the efforts of various international crooks to obtain a valuable emerald necklace. The jewels belong to a millionaire’s wife, who is trying to smuggle them into America. The emeralds are stolen on three different occasions, and each time an old friend, himself a former master thief, recovers them. He has numerous adventures in the process. An excellent supporting programme is also screened. The box plans are at the theatre and the Bristol. EMPIRE THEATRE Charles Murray and George Sydney, in another of their inimitable “Cohen and Kelly ” series, form the principal attraction on this week’s bill at the Empire Theatre, “ The Cohens and Kellys in Hollywood ” being the title of their latest film. From first to last the production is hilarious farce and clever burlesque, and the pair romp and laugh their way through the most diverting series of pranks and nonsensical situations in such a manner that it is impossible not to be genuinely amused at their antics. The tale is ludicrous in the extreme, but excellently told. An additional feature is the appearance (by arrangement with the J. C. Williamson Company) of Paula and Pauline, dancers and tight-rope acrobats, who provide thrilling and very acceptable entertainment. Mr Paul Cullen, at the organ, also contributes some pleasing items to the evening’s programme. The box plans are at the theatre and the Bristol. “ MAN OF MAYFAIR.” One of the most amusing scenes in Paramount’s “Man of Mayfair,” was recently filmed at the Paramount British Studios. In the scene Jack Buchanan is seen trying to persuade a swarm of recalcitrant bees to go back to their hives. Bees are everywhere, swarming over boughs of an oak tree and crawling in Jack Buchanan’s clothes. In spite of his persistent banging on pots and pails, the oldfashioned way of causing bees to do what they are told, the bees only become more angry and dangerous Further amusement is added to this very funny scene bv the unwelcome attention of the village idiot who follows every movement of Jack Buchanan with wide-open mouth and

goggled eyes. This scene will undoubtedly cause roars of merriment when '‘Man ot Mayfair ” reaches the Empire Theatre on Friday. REGENT THEATRE Tallullah Bankhead, in “The Cheat, is attracting good houses to the Regent Theatre. In a difficult role she gives an inipresssive performance, as does also Irving I’iehel. who is the villain of the story the remainder of the cast giving them excellent support. The picture deals with an exciting passage in the lives of Jeffrey Carlyle and his beautiful wife, Elsa, The young husband is devoted to his wife, who, in a reckless gambling venture, loses a large sum of money. Hardy Livingston. a wealthy member of a club which she frequents, pays her attentions which she resents, but her financial difficulties and her desire to hide them from her husband eventually place her in Livingston’s debt. The consequence is a situation which Becomes extremely exciting, leading up To a highly dramatic climax, in the supporting programme excellent films

are shown of the Grand National and the Oxford-Cambridge University boat race, and there are several bright comedy items. The box plans are at the Bristol and the theatre.

ST. JAMES THEATRE Although now in the second week of its showing, “ Delicious,” which has proved such a popular attraction at the St. James Theatre, continues to draw crowded houses. Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell have the leading roles, and this fact alone is sufficient guarantee of the quality of the picture. Dainty and winsome as ever, Janet Gaynor gives a performance of distinct merit, more especially as she is cast as a Scots lassie, a part entirely different to anything she has attempted previously. Charles Farrell, who supports the star, gives a meritorious character sketch as the wealthy young man who falls in love with the emigrant lass, and the inimitable El Brundel, as his valet,'is responsible for some clever light comedy. The story is well told, cleverly produced, and capably acted, and several tuneful musical numbers are introduced so logic,; ally that they become part of instead of merely incidental to the action. A strong supporting programme includes a diverting film of Sir Harry Lauder. The box plans are at the theatre, Jacobs’s, and the Bristol. “BEN HUR.” Complete in magnificent sound, the new version of “ Ben Hur,” will be presented at the St. James Theatre on Friday next. The novel, subtitled “A Tale of the Christ,” was one of the world’s most popular books; the stage spectacle toured the world for years. Now, in the greater art of the sound pictures are offered the famous sea fight and chariot race as thrilling out-of-doore events; the lovely romance of Judah, Prince of Hur, and Esther; and replicas of Old World masterpieces. often in colour. There is presented the beautiful procession of palms; , da Vinci’s “ The Last Supper,” a colour replica; the Pool of Siloam and the Vale of Hinnom; the Via Dolorosa; the miracle of Christ’s healing; the mob and Pontius Pilate; the terrific cataclysm that toppled towers and palaces at the death of the Saviour. The final scene with Roman soldiers casting lots for, the garments with women kneeling'at the cross is said to be the most reverent and beautiful ever staged. “ Ben Hur ” is presented with a magnificent east that includes such a star of the picture firmament as Ramon Noyarro, with Betty Bronson, May M'Avoy, Francis X. Bushman, Carmel Myers and 150,000 in support. KING EDWARD THEATRE “ Sporting Blood,” featuring Clark Gable and Madge Evans, is the featured attraction at the King Edward Theatre this week, but an additional film, “Everything’s Rosie,” is also being screened. “ Sporting Blood ” is one of the most unusual pictures ever shown, and is bound to cause considerable appreciative comment. There are many charming scenes in Radio Pictures’ production, “Everything’s Rosie,” starring Robert Woolsty. A beautiful garden is seen through a cottage window. To make it, located as it was in the interior of a sound stage, more than 160 potted and tubbed plants and trees, ferns, flowers, shrubs, even potted young fruit trees, were used. Thousands | of these are bought each year by the i studio.

Sark prison, in the Channel Islands, was lately used for the first time after having been empty for no loss than 30 years. Two men were sentenced to two days’ imprisonment. Two enormous logs of mahogany have been stored at the West India docks, London, recently. One, from Honduras, weighed over 11 tons, and the other, from West Africa, more than 101 tons.