AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21989, 26 June 1933, Page 9

AMUSEMENTS

GRAND THEATRE An atmosphere of light-hearted fantasy pervades “The Love Contract,” which is at present being shown at the Grand Theatre. With joyous disregard for the dramatic probabilities and possibilities it hurls a man and a maid through a whole series of adventures, turns a young woman of wealth into'a female chauffeur, and a young man of even greater wealth into the most inefficient of employers and the actual chauffeur into a champion malingerer. There is an infectious atmophere of unreality about the whole piece. The story may be preceding along the conventional lines of comedy when suddenly it, is interrupted by the arrival of a small regiment of men and women in flannels and silks, complete with cocktail bars and sunshade tables to fling the cheeriest of parties on the postage stamp of a lawn reserved for the lady or a group of chauffeurs and taxi-drivers outside a theatre becomes something like a musical comedy chorus; or a troop of Girl Guides walking that a forest suddenly divest themselves of their uniforms and perform evolutions like ballet dancers. The young lady in the case, charmingly played by Winifred Shotter, loses all her money in a Stock Exchange crash, and in a flash accepts the position of c,hauffeur to the man whose manipulation of the market made her penniless. A contract extraordinary is drawn up for three months, the terms being in effect a bet that if the man breaks them he pays back his employee’s losses, and that if the chauffeur breaks them she must consent to marry him. Miss Shotter is as delightful as ever and is ably supported by Owen Naves, who gives a splendid characterisation. A third member of the cast who acquits himself with distinction is Gibb M'Laughlin, who gives a particularly enjoyable interpretation of the part of the chauffeur who can never succeed in mastering the intricacies of an internal combustion engine. The supporting programme is ’well up to the standard which has been set at this theatre. Two particularly interesting short features are those dealing with British moorland birds and curiosities of bird life. A series of views of Wales, accompanied by several charming Welsh songs, while life in the Australian Navy is depicted in the film, “Australia’s Jolly Jack Tars.” The box plans are at the theatre and Messrs Charles Begg and Co.’s. REGENT THEATRE Joan Crawford and Gary Cooper are associated in the principal roles in “Today We Live,” the current attraction at the Regent Theatre. This film is based on a powerful and unusual plot, and, although it is a war story, the War has been approached from an entirely new angle, and instead of stressing its horrors the author has shown the wonderful influence on the lives of the soldiers of the “ women behind the lines.” As Diana, an English society girl who hag joined • a British ambulance unit, Joan Crawford ig given every opportunity to display her flair for emotional acting, while ag the young aviator with whom Diana has fallen in love, and who, after having been reported killer, makes a dramatic return to the scene after Diana has given herself to another man, Gary Cooper is responsible for some very convincing acting. Some of> the scenes in the air, and with the speedy patrol craft round the coast of England, are intensely thrilling. Included in the supporting programme ig-the appearance of the Roland Sextet, a talented family of juvenile instrumentalists. The box plans are at the theatre and the Bristol. EMPIRE THEATRE Janet Gaynor, probably one of the most popular actresses on the talking screen to-day, has the leading feminine role in “ State Fair.” which is this week’s attraction at the Empire Theatre. On this occasion she is seen with a new partner in Lew Ayres, who is even more successful in combining with Miss Gaynor than was her old team mate, Charles Farrell. The story which forms the theme of the picture offers to Miss Gaynor the type of role in which she has always excelled, and in which she is more appealing and convincing than any other actress who has ever been associated with the production of motion pictures. As the daughter of a Middle Western farm family who goes to the state fair, and there falls in love with a young reporter whom she meets, she is perfectly cast, and Lew Ayres, as the reporter concerned, is entirely satisfactory. Apart from these two, splendid characterisations are _ contributed by Will Rogers and Sally Filers, and the story of the daily life of this average rural family should have a wide attraction. “ State Fair” is a film that should not be missed by those in search of theatre entertainment 1 that is not dependent for its appeal upon melodrama. but is content to portray the lives of ordinary people occupied with ohdinary interests. The supporting programme is of more than usual merit. The box plans are at the theatre and the Bristol. OCTAGON THEATRE An adaptation of a novel by Kathleen Norris forms the story for “ Second Hand Wife,” which is the first of the two pictures that are being shown at the Octagon Theatre this week. The leading roles are taken by Sally Filers, Ralph Bellamy and Helen Vinson, who contribute characterisations that are in keeping with the place which they occupy in the film world. The second feature is “ The Face in the Sky,” starring Spencer Tracy and Marian Nixon. Tracy is seen as a young signpainter who comes to Vermont, where he meets a farm girl, played by Marian Nixon, and a romance springs up between the two. The comedy, which is generously supplied, is provided by Stuart Erwiuf as the blundering painter’s assistant; The supporting cast is headed by Sara Padden and Sam Hardy. The box plans for the season are at the theatre and the Bristol. ST. JAMES THEATRE A picture which is bound to exercise a popular appeal is “ Diggers in Blighty,” which is the current attraction at the St. James Theatre. Pat Hanna presents a laughable characterisation as Chic Williams, a lanky Australian private, while other prominent parts are taken by Joe Valli and George Moon. As can be well imagined from the title, the picture is a succession of laughs from the opening scene, and the adventures of the three Australian soldiers who, as a reward for their services in the trenches, are given leave in England provides opportunity for some of the most amusing episodes that can be imagined. The fun becomes particularly fast and furious when the three go to stay at the house of an elderly spinster, where they succeed in getting themselves into some exceedingly awkward situations; The supporting programme includes a comedy entitled “ What a Night,” the principal character being taken by George Wallace. The box plans are at the theatre, Jacobs’s, and the Bristol.

STRAND THEATRE Delightfully farcical entertainment is provided by that inimitable comedy team, Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey, ( in “Peach o’ Reno,” the present attraction at the Strand Theatre. Reno, the home of divorce, ig the novel setting chosen for the production, and it is here that the pair are seen as the partners in a firm of lawyers whose divorce business is so thriving that special buses are required to bring their clients from the railway station. A uniformed crier, huge placards, and nattily-dressed female attendants are only a few of their methods of attracting business, and, to add to their income they have a wonderiul office which can be converted in a few minutes into a night club. With such material to work on the two irresponsible comedians are given every opportunity to exploit the particular brand of comedy that they have made peculiarly their own. Dorothy Lee is attractively petite in th& leading feminine role. There is an interesting supporting programme. The.box plans are at the theatre and the Bristol.. KING EDWARD THEATRE An excellent double-feature programme is at present being shown at the King Edward Theatre. In “Big Money,” the first picture, Robert Armstrong is responsible for another of his versatile and convincing characterisations, while he is ably supported by Miriam Segar, Margaret Livingstone, and Dorothy Christie. The second film is entitled “The Penalty of Fame,” an enthralling story, which is acted with distinction by Lew Ayres, Maureen O’Sullivan, Walter Catlett, Allan Dinehart, Nance O’Neill, and Henry Armetta.