AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22063, 20 September 1933, Page 14

AMUSEMENTS

GRAND THEATRE “ 'What Price Hollywood,” an intriguing stoi’y of life behiud the scenes in a large American film colony, is at present being shown at the Grand Theatre, the leading role is taken by Constance Bennett, who gives an appealing portrayal of the part of a waitress, who, through perseverance and determination, eventually wins her way to stardom in motion pictures. She marries a millionaire who, although he entertains for her a genuine admiration and affection, cannot take kindly to her continuance of her proteseion, considering that it demands too much of her time. The failure of the pair to see eye to eye on this point eventually results in a separation, and the husband, leaves, declaring that he will never see her again. In the meantime the director, who has given the actress her start up the ladder of fame, loses his position through an over-fondness for alcohol, and becomes socially ostracised, his only friend being the erstwhile waitress who makes strenuous endeavours to redeem him. Her efforts are fruitless, however, and after she has bailed him out of prison, where lie had been cast as the result of drunkenness, he shoots himself and she becomes involved in a scandal which spreads throughout the whole film colony. As a result she is forced to leave her employment and travel to France, where she goes into temporary retirement. There she again meets her husband and a reconciliation is effected. Supporting Miss Bennett, Neil Hamilton, who takes the part of the husband, gives a convincing and vigorous performance, while Gregory Ratoff is responsible for a fine character sketch as the film director. There is .an entertaining programme of supporting films. The box plans are at the theatre and Messrs Charles Begg and Co.’s. “THE ROAR OF THE DRAGON.” Richard Dis will be seen at the Grand Theatre next Friday in “Roar of the ■Dragon,” a stirring spectacle of the Far East, reflecting a vivid panorama of the hazardous frontier with its stately parade of adventure-seekers. Appearing with Dix is Gwili Andre, famous Danish beauty from Copenhagen, who makes her. screen debut in the film. Miss Andre is seen as a Russian noblewoman, one of the pathetic patricians who have haunted the frontier towns of Northern. China since the Red Revolution. A striking insight into the Manchurian situation is presented in “Roar of the Dragon.” Unfolding a tale of the experiences of a group ot Occidental refugees in a small town, the picture is said to be as graphic as a newsreel in its details of the present chaotic condition in China. Dix depicts an American captain whose river boat is attacked near the village of Yoo Lu, necessitating port anchorage for repairs. Here he meets the Russian refugee, portrayed by Miss Andre, and assumes leadership of the boat’s passengers and the town s inhabitants to combat the banditry ot a frontier marauder who has been annoying them. The love story, between Dix and the exotic newcomer, augmented by an appealing romance between Arline Judge and Edward Everett Horton, who shares the comedy in the picture with Zasu Pitts, is set against a background of war-torn China aimed for the ultimate in a new variety of action thrills interspersed with tense drama. Others in the cast include Dudley Digges, C. Henry Gordon, William Orlamond. and Tasha Muri, Japanese dancer. ST. JAMES THEATRE Featuring Ida Lupino and Harry Tate in the leading roles, “ Her First Affair, which heads this week’s programme at the St. James Theatre, is a bright and sparkling comedy built around a somewhat unusual, but entirely logical plot. The story centres around a young £irl who, infiuenced by the works of a very modern writer, determines to scorn convention and break away altogether from her home life. She accidentally becomes a guest at the author’s house, and . immediately conceives a violent infatuation for_ him. Imagining that he is equally fond ot her, she approaches his wife with a proposition that she should forego all right to her husband’s affections, but this suggestion does not suit the wife, at all, and she, with the girl’s fiance brings forward. a counter scheme, which results in the girl discovering that the author is being in love with her, while her fiance is carrying on a flirtation with the author’s wife. From this stage events move to a lively and surprising climax. The first half of the programme is occupied by a thrilling mystery drama, A Night in Montmartre,” in which Austin Trevor,, Heather Angel, and Kay Hammond are the principal players. The plot centres around the arrest, on a charge of murder, of a young painter, and his struggle against a chain of eircumstanstial evidence before he is acquitted, and the real criminal is brought to justice. The story is cleverly constructed, and it is not until the final scene that the mystery is solved. The box plans are at the theatre, at Jacobs’s, and at the D.I.L. “ UP FOR THE CUP.” Of special interest to football enthusiasts of Dunedin is the news that they will be able to see the world-famous English Cup final at the St. James Theatre next Friday, when British Dominions Films, Ltd., present their latest all-talking triumph, ' Up for the Cup. starring Sydney Howard. The football scenes in “ Up for the Cup were filmed actually at the classic football match, of the year. One sees the participating teams at so close a range that, indeed, one has a better view of the game and players than those many thousands of enthusiasts, some of whom travelled hundreds of miles. This is only one of the numerous highlights of the production, which will probably be acknowledged by patrons of the St. James as being one of the most entertaining films of the year. Sydney Howard (playing an entirely fresn type of role) is said to be more humorous than ever, and he makes further claims to pre-eminence in the comedy field.. Joan Wyndham, Stanley Kirk, Sain Liyesey, Marie Wright, and Moore Marriott will support the star. OCTAGON THEATRE “Zoo in Budapest” is the first of the two films now captivating audiences at the Octagon Theatre. It features Loretta Young, Gene Raymond, O. P. Reggie, and others, and tells a delightful romance of youth and enthusiasm. .1 he second film is “A Taxi to Paradise.” in which the featured players are Billie Barnes, Garry Marsh, and Jane Carr. Ibis is a clever and carefully thought out .sophisticated comedy of a most attractive kind, and with the first film it makes up an evening’s entertainment which is unusual for its balance- and variety. The box plans for the season will be found at the tlicatrc and at the D.T.C. “THE BLIND SPOT.” Specially written to suit the personality and talents of Percy Marmont, Hie Blind Spot,” which will be screened at the Octagon Theatre on Friday, is a story dealing with the machinations of a crook who operates on an international scale. Although his activities are well known to the police, they have never been able to connect him with any particular . jewel robbery. Devoid of morals, both criminal and domestic, he nevertheless is unswerving in his love for his only daughter, and this loyalty to the only thing in life he holds sacred proves eventual y his undoing. The background of The Blind Spot” changes rapidly and the pace ot the story maintains an even tempo ol action throughout. EMPIRE THEATRE “ The Crime of the Century,” one of the most fascinatingly absorbing mystery films seen in Dunedin, is proving more than usually popular at the Empire Theatre this week. It is an uncommon type of thriller which issues a novel challenge to its audience. For a brief minute a succession of clues are (lashed on. the scieen, each one pointing to the participation ot one or other of the characters in the drama, and. even after that the piodueer defies hie audience to anticipate him. The cast of the film is an excellent one, including Jean Hersholt, Wynne Clare, Stuart Erwin, and Frances Dee.. In addition there is a good supporting programme and Mr Knight Barnett provides come excellent musical interludes. a he box plans are at the theatre and at the D.i.c. “WHAT! NO BEER?” Two comedians—one who cannot laugh and the other who cannot cry—will be

seen, in Buster Keaton and Jimmy Durante, who combine their comedy talents on the screen again in “What! No Beer? ” which heads the programme at the Empire Theatre on Friday. Alternating between excitement and hilarious comedy, the picture centres around the running of a brewery. Buster is a taxidermist, and “ Schnozzle,” the town barber, but by accident they are involved in the operation of a wholesale brewery. As if being caught in the toils of ignorance of beer making were not enough, they are also caught between the fire of two beer-running gangs who seek to control the output of their brewery. The picture is treated entirely in a humorous mood, but with plenty of excitement thrown in. Phyllis Barry, the popular Australian actress, has the leading feminine role. In the supporting cast are Rosco Ates, John Miljan, Henry Armetta, Edward Brophy, Charles Dunbar, and Charles Giblyn. STRAND THEATRE The principal attraction on the current programme at the Strand Theatre is “ The Cabin in the Cotton,” in which the leading role is tiken by Richard Barthelmess. The theme of the picture is concerned with the struggle of the cotton growers in the Southern States of America, who are usually in financial straights as the result of the policy adopted by their landlords. The audience is shown the difficulties which beset a young man. the son of a poor cotton grower, who is practically adopted by a wealthy mill owner, and who is faced with the problem of whether he is to place the interests of his benefactor or those of his relatives in the foreground. An attractive love story is interwoven in the main series of events, and interesting interpretations are given by Bette Davis, Dorothy Jordan, and Henry Walthall. The supporting programme is well varied. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. “ SILVER DOLLAR.” Some of the most romantic characters in the history of the gold rush days of the early American West, characters as dazzling as those of-the most engaging fiction, are emblazoned in the screen play “ Silver Dollar,” ■which commences on Friday at the Strand Theatre. This attraction is based on the novel by David Karsner, which delves into the life storieg of the pioneers and adventurers who swarmed into the mining _ camps of Colorado during the richest silver strike in the history of the world. The central figure is that of Yates Martin, who struggled through days of starvation as a prospector to rise to fame as the richest of the millionaires after he struck “ pay dirt.” Edward G. Robinson plays the part of this Silver King, who slapped a “ dry ” President on the back and asked him to have a drink, ruled a State Legislature in a bar room to the popping of champagne corks, embarrassed General Grant by making such a disturbance in his own opera house that the prima donna left in a huff, and scandalised a nation with his divorce and remarriage. The supporting cast include Jobyna Howland, as Poker Annie, De Witt Jennings; Robert Warwick, Russell Simpson, Harry Holman, and Charles Middleton. REGENT THEATRE Katharine Hepburn, the youngest star who has forced her way to the front oi the moving picture world by the sheer merit of her acting, has the leading role in “ Christopher Strong,” which is at present being shown at the Regent Theatre. She has , been given the role of Lady Cynthia, a famous airwoman who imagines that she has left love out of her life, only to find that she has become madly infatuated with Sir Christopher Strong, a man who hitherto has been noted in London social life for his marital fidelity. The pair realise that they are not fitted by temperament to indulge 'in an ordinary intrigue, and after a senes of complications, in which the man finds that he is the greater sufferer, the death of Lady Cynthia provides a way out of the .impasse which has been reached. Colin Clive has been cast in the part of Sir Christopher Strong, and other iniportant roles are played by Billie Burke, Ralph Forbes, and Helen Chandler. An interesting supporting programme is also shown. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. “THE SECRET OF MADAME BLANCHE.” As poignant and touching a drama as has reached the kinema in some time is “ The Secret of Madame Blanche,” which comes to the Regent on Friday next, with Irene Dunne giving a strong emotional portrayal. Stirringly enacted, intelligently directed, and produced with the customary proficiency of the_ Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer studios, this picture holds one’s interest from the very opening sequences in a theatrical atmosphere in which Miss Dunne sings and dances to the final climax in a French courtroom. Lionel Atwill is cast as the embittered father, and the part of the titled Englishman is played by Phillips Holmes. An admirable supporting cast includes Una Merkel, Douglas Walton,_ C. Henry Gordon, Jean Parker, and Mitchell Lewis. KING EDWARD THEATRE. Those who failed to see "Sunshine Susie ” when it was shown for an extended season some months ago and also many of those who did see it, will welcome the return of this exceptional film at the King Edward Theatre to-night. Renate Muller, undoubtedly one of the first rank of screen personages of to-day, has the title role, and she is supported by Owen Nares, who has the reputation of never having appeared in a disappointing picture, and Jack Hulbert, who has also gained an enviable reputation for his work in this and other pictures. “ Sunshine Susie ” is definitely of the musical comedy type. It abounds in catchy, happy, tuneful songs, gorgeous ballets, and' witty dialogue. Staged on a lavish scale, the production has happiness and entertainment in every foot of film, and is one of the few screen plavs that can be recommended as suitable for all tastes. The supporting programme is said to be in keeping with the excellence of the main feature.