AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22065, 22 September 1933, Page 9

AMUSEMENTS

GRAND THEATRE In Paris, you find them at the smart bars, at the races, or at. the opera —these expatriated Russians. But there are others of them to whom life has become a weary burden —who have not even the fire of hatred left against the rabble whose revolt made them honieless. They are those White Russians, men and women, who have become a part of that halfworld, just removed from the very dregs of life itself, in China. “ Thousands of beautiful, once regal expatriates are congregated in the border towns in Manchuria,” according to General Lodijenski, formerly a division commander in the Czar’s army and now prominent in Hollywood. “ Embittered, demoralised, bereft of even the inherent pride which once marked the real Russian aristocrat, these refugees have become the special prey of the lower caste Chinese in many of the frontier towns,” he reports. ‘‘The fate of many wdiite women, homeless, penniless, and broken in body and spirit is the most pitiable spectacle of the Far East.” It is such an outcast that Gwili Andre plays in “Roar of the Dragon,” a dramatic story of war-torn Manchuria, which will be screened at the Grand Theatre to-day. Sucked into the vortex of the Chinese slums, the girl throws herself upon the chivalry of an American river-boat captain, played by Richard Dix, in her flight from the anarchy of the province. The love that springs up between the two when they are besieged by bandits is said to be one of the most compelling romances ever to reach the screen. Wesley Ruggles directed the large cast, which includes Zasu Pitts, Edward Everett Horton, Arline Judge, and, Dudley Digges. Brandishing swords, _ fingering ancient pistols, a baud of ravishing Mongols_ ride out of the night into a terror-stricken town in Manchuria. Flaring torches light a scene of panic. Chinese natives scurry to shelter. A small group of whites hastily stockade a deserted mandarin palace and prepare to defend themselves Old men and women join a troop of children, dragging domestic animals and cherished possessions to refuge in a missionary home. The bandits, led by a vicious halfcaste, seek as their prize a beautiful ■woman, a Russian emigre, who has taken shelter with the other whites in the stockade, where a rough, cynical American river-boat captain has assumed leadership. This is one of the stirring episodes in a film full of adventure. The other picture will be “The Engineer’s Daughter,” in which several old favourites will be seen. The box plana are at the theatre and at Begg’s.

ST. JAMES THEATRE

One of the largest casts ever assembled to make one film is contained in “Up for the Cup,” the British Dominions’ picture which will be screened at the St. James Theatre to-day. Headed by Sydney Howard, the cast contains some noted stage and screen celebrities of England and on the Continent. Joan Wyndham, in whose hands the feminine interest of the production has been left, is a stage star of note, and while this is her first appearance on the screen she is said to render a characterisation that could not be bettered by a film star of years’ standing. Marie Wright, who will be well remembered for her more than brilliant interpretation of the dear old grandmother in “Tilly of Bloomsbury,’’ makes her second screen appearance as a typical Yorkshire mother, whose whole being is wrapped up in the local weaving mills. Stanley Kirk, former English stage star, is a great foil to the inimitable Howard. Although he had invented a weaving loom upon which his future appeared to him to depend, John Willie Enthwistle was even as deeply interested in the fate of the cup. As a true Yorkshireraan, he was a football enthusiast, and for weeks had looked forward to going to Wembley with Mary Murgatroyd, whom he had resolved to marry. Both were hands in a Yeadon weaving mill, and quite naturally John Willie first offered the loom to his employers. They were not deeply interested, and he wheeled his invention to a rival firm, who at once saw the possibilities of the new loom. On the great day John Willie and Mary travelled to London by a night train, the stalwart lover being custodian of their joint funds, railway tickets, and admission vouchers. The mill hand was no match for the sharpers he met in town and long before the time of the match had been robbed of his wallet, money, tickets, and vouchers. Faced by aperient situation, Mary sought the aid of Cyril Hardcastle, son of the mill owner, who had also come up for the match. The young fellow had long desired the girl, and haying taken her to the niatch, afterwards invited her to dine privately with him. This leads up to a situation with almost unlimited possibilities of which the producer has taken every advantage. There will be a good supporting programme. The box plans are at the theatre, the D.1.C., and Jacobs’s.

STRAND THEATRE

Edward G. Robinson, star of “ Silver Dollar,” which opens at the Strand Theatre to-day, is said-to have the most dazzling role of his career in a character that parallels that of Haw Tabor, Colorado's sensational silver king in the days of the gold rush and silver strikes. He is said to have achieved his greatest dramatic triumph in his portrayal of this historically important although somewhat bizarre personage, whose spectacular riso from poverty to a multi-millionaire was the talk of the nations, and whose love romance was a scandal of Denver and Washington society. An unusually strong east includes Bebe Daniels, Aline MacMahon, Jobyna Howland, Robert Warwick, and Russell Simpson. The box plans are at the theatre and the DJ.C.

OCTAGON THEATRE

The background of “The Blind Spot, which will be screened at the Octagon Theatre to-day, changes_ rapidly, and the pace of the story maintains an even tempo of action throughout, The scones shift from a jeweller’s shop in Amsterdam to a cabin on a passenger plane; thence by way of Croydon aerodrome, Lincoln s Inn, the Inner Temple, the vaults of a bank, as well ns many domestic interiors. These are, of course, only a few of the many scenic backgrounds of the picture, which has also many thrilling' sequences, such as a bank hold-up and robbery and a motor smash. “The Blind Spot’’ is a British picture with a cast of well-known British players and which has definite entertainment appeal for every British audience. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C.

REGENT THEATRE

Irene Dunne, who is recognised as one of the screen’s finest dramatic actresses, makes her latest appearance on the screen in “The Secret of Madame Blanche, which will he shown at the Regent Theatre to-day. The picture is said to encompass the life of a woman over a period of 30 years, giving Miss Dunne a role comparable to that played by Helen Hayes in “The Sin of Madelon Claudct.’ The story starts with Miss Lunne as a young chorus girl and progresses through her love affair and marriage with a titled Englishman to the tragic results of his suicide. Lionel Atwill, noted English stage star, has the strong role of the embittered father-in-law, and the part of the son is played by Phillips Holmes. The cast also includes Douglas Walton,

the young English actor, and several other favourites. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C.

EMPIRE THEATRE

Buster Keaton and Jimmy Durante become comical beer manufacturers in their new comedy “What! No Beer?” which will be seen to-day at the Empire Theatre. Keaton and Durante take over n brewery in which they make beer for the masses. In the course of their operations they get caught in a war between rival beer-running gangs who seek control of their output. The story,' therefore, weaves its way between comedy and. excitement. The romantic interest is provided when Buster falls in love with the sweetheart of one of the gang leaders. The feminine lead is taken by Phyllis Barry, talented and popular young English actress. Other important roles are played by Rosco Ates, brew-master of the Keaton-Durante brewery; John Miljan and Edward Brophy, rival beer racketeers; Henry Arraetta, Charles Dunbar, and Charles Giblyn. The box plana are at the theatre and the D.I.C.

KING EDWARD THEATRE

“Sunshine Susie," w-hich proved such a popular attraction when first shown in Dunedin, is now enjoying a successful repeat season at the King Edward Theatre. The brilliant young star Renate Muller is seen in the title role, and as the little typist, who falls in love with her employer and eventually marries him, she is responsible for a character sketch that stamps her as an actress of more than ordinary merit. Owen Nnres has the principal male part, and Jack Hulbert shoulders the bulk of the comedy work in his own inimitable fashion. Abounding in bright dialogue and catchy melodies, “ Sunshine Susie ” provides delightful entertainment, and not the least attractive of its features is the manner in which the producers have carried out the staging. An interesting supporting programme is screened.