AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22070, 28 September 1933, Page 16

AMUSEMENTS

GRAND THEATRE “ The Roar of the Dragon,” which has enjoyed a successful run at the Grand Theatre during the past week, will conclude its Dunedin season to-day. The picture is based on an exciting story of the days when banditry was rife in Manchuria, and lawless robber bauds practically ruled the country. A daring bandit chief, Yoronsky, makes an attack on a party of American tourists, partly for the sake of the ransom he can obtain from them and partly because of the fact that a girl whom he has held in his power is under the protection of the party. With characteristic daring he goes to the length of attacking the hotel in which the tourists are staying, and the building is forthwith barricaded in preparation for a siege. It is only when an American officer, influenced by the girl, takes a hand that the party is relieved, and from this stage events move to a romantic and satisfactory conclusion. The famous Danish actress, Gwili Andre, in the leading role, gives a portrayal that stamps her as one of the outstanding dramatic actresses of the day, and Richard Dix, Edward Everett Horton, and Arline Judge also have important parte. A varied programme of short subjects supports the main picture. The box plans are at the theatre and at Messrs Chas. Begg and Co.’s. ST. JAMES THEATRE One of the most amusing comedies that have been seen in Dunedin for some time is “Up for the Cup,” which heads the current programme at the St. James Theatre. The leading role is taken by Sydney Howard, who has become a firm favourite with Dunedin audiences, and he gives one of his best performances to date as the mill hand who comes up to W embley to see the final of the football competition. The _ adventures in which he becomes embroiled, first with a pickpocket and then with a man who steals his girl, are of the most ludicrous nature, and cannot fail to be enjoyed. The supporting picture is “The Chinese Puzzle,” an intriguing mystery story starring Leon M. Lion, which keeps the audience in suspense until the final scene. There is also a film showing various scenes in London. The box plans are at the theatre, the D.1.C., and Jacobs’s, “THE KING’S CUP.” “ The King’s Cup.” which will be shown at the St. James Theatre to-morrow, is a picture dealing with the aerial race for the King’s Cup. The aviation sequences form the background for a delicious romance which concerns the ambition of a young flying instructor to win the famous King’s Cup, piloting an aeroplane with a propeller of his own invention. An accident causes him to lose his nerve, and he is transferred from his position to that of ground engineer and forbidden to pilot a plane. His fiancee is determined that his invention shall receive the merit deserved, and persuades a mutual friend to enter his plane for the race,_ with herself as pilot if she is successful in obtaining her certificate. How she attains her objective in the face of strong opposition by a rejected suitor, a motor car accident, and other obstacles forms an intense story leading up tc the actual race. Sir Alan Cobham, the famous aviator and a former holder of the trophy, has written and directed the story, a fact which carries a guarantee of its complete authenticity. “ The King’s Cup ” will be preceded by a bright comedy drama, “ Captivation,” featuring Betty Stockfield, the Australian girl, who. was seen in “ City of Song.” OCTAGON THEATRE The leading picture on the doublefeature programme at the Octagon Theatre this week is "The Blind Spot, in which Percy Marmont is entrusted with the leading role, that of an international crook, a character which he portrays in excellent style. The second film is “His Lordship,” in which Jerry verno is starred. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. “HELLO, EVERYBODY." Kate Smith, America’s queen of the air, makes her starring debut on the screen in Paramount’s Hello, Everybody! which opens at the Octagon Theatre tomorrow. In the story Miss Smith takes the role of a farm girl who struggles desperately to defeat the plans of a waterpower company trying to gain possession of land that belongs to her. In the fbm Miss Smith introduces four new hit numbers, written by the song team of Sam Coslow and Arthur Johnston. Randolph Scott and Sally Blane head the cast supporting Miss Smith. The other feature on the programme is “ From Hell to Heaven,” which concerns itself with the hopes and aspirations of 11 people of diversified backgrounds and circumstances who attend a Derby,-each hoping to win fortune through it. REGENT THEATRE To-day will provide the final opportunity of witnessing “ The Secret of Madame Blanche,” which has been the principal attraction at the Regent Theatre during the past week. Ably interpreted by a strong cast, the story deals with the vicissitudes of an actress, whose unfortunate marriage to a young English aristocrat brings her nothing but trouble, and ends in her being compelled to sacrifice herself to save her son from the gallows. Irene Dunne is the principal player, and she receives capable support from a strong cast. The supporting programme is a good one. The box plans are at the theatre and at the D.I.C. “A LADY’S PROFESSION.” The audience that will not laugh heartily at the Paramount comedy, “ A Lady’s Profession,” does not exist. This film, which commences at the Regent Theatre to-morrow, is one of the cleverest, wittiest, and altogether most amusing productions that Paramount has ever made. The names which head the cast, Roland Young and Alison Skipworth, should be sufficient guarantee alone of a generous supply of merriment. The film revolves round a couple of penniless English aristocrats, who possess more ancestors than money, and resolve to go to America to balance matters. In America, so they understand, there is more money than ancestors: so they see the chance of a business deal. It does not turn out a profitable investment, however. His principal difficulty is not with the law, but with the bootleggers who supply him with stocks. Roland Young is even funnier in this new picture than he was in “Wedding Rehearsal’’—which, after all, is saying a good deal —and Alison Skipworth i B reminiscent of Marie Dressier. And the tail of the cast is almost as good as the head. “ CAVALCADE.” Of all the problems attending the filming of Noel Coward’s Drury Lane success, “ Cavalcade,” the most formidable was that of clearing the film rights in all the songs and musical numbers, which form so essential a part of the background to the story. No fewer than 50 separate tunes will be heard in the film, and these offer the greatest diversity ever presented in one show. The original music which Noel Coward wrote for the play was acquired without difficulty, and the following old numbers have also been recorded for the “ Cavalcade ” film, coming shortly to the Regent Theatre: “ Good-bye, Dolly Grey,” “ Tipperary, “ Madelon.” “Has Anyone Seen a German Band.” “ Oh, You Beautiful Doll,’ “Soldiers of the Queen,” “When Johnny Comes Marching Home,” “Take Me Back to Yorkshire,” “ I Do Want to be Beside the Seaside.” “We’re the Girls of the C.T.V.,” “ We Don’t Want to Lose You,” “Yankee Doodle,” “On Sunday I Walk Out with a Soldier,” “ Mary, How She Loved the Military,” “ Auld Lang Syne,” “The Girl 1 left Behind Me,” and “ Sweet and Low.” EMPIRE THEATRE The large attendances at the Empire Theatre this week are ample proof of the popularity with theatre-goers of “What! No Beer? ” in which those two comedians, Buster Keaton and Jimmy Durante, have the leading roles. This picture is generally amusing from start to finish and anyone in search of good, wholesome humour should not fail to see it. There is also a good supporting bill, and Mr Knight Barnett offers an entertaining programme at the organ. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C.

“ RASPUTIN AND THE EMPRESS.” Unprecedented spectacle, a dramatic plot which reflects world history, and the most notable theatrical family in the world lend glamour to “ Rasputin and the Empress,” Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s film, telling the story of the fall of the-Roman-offs and bringing together for the first time on the screen John, Ethel, and Lionel Barrymore. This great talkie begins at the Empire Theatre to-morrow. Rasputin, the Mad Monk, is played by Lionel Barrymore, the ill-fated Tsarina by Ethel, and Prince Chegodieff by John. The Tsar is played by Ralph Morgan. Diana Wynyard, London _ stage actress and star of “ Cavalcade,” makes her American talkie debut in the part of the Princess Natasha, whose romantic affair with John Barrymore runs as an undercurrent throughout the entire picture. Tad Alexander is seen as the Tsarevitch, and prominent roles are filled by C. Henry Gordon and Edward Arnold, The story tells of the strange monk, Rasputin, who, by curing the little Tsarevitch of a deadly ailment, makes the superstitious Tsar and. Tsarina his slaves, rules Russia through them, meddles with politics, and finally plunges Russia into the World War. The spectacular court audience, with hundreds of brilliantly-garbed attendants. the great cathedral scene, and the huge review of the Russian troops' are among the spectacles, believed to be the most impressive since the advent of the talkies. STRAND THEATRE “ Silver Dollar,” which has been the principal attraction at the Strand Theatre during the past week, will have its final screening to-day. The story concerns the rise to affluence and subsequent ruin of a |ilver-miner, who after attaining to the lieutenant-governorship of the State, becomes mixed up in a scandal that is the primary cause of his downfall. Edward G. Robinson is the leading player, and the supporting cast includes Bebe Daniels, Jobyna Howland, and Russell Simpson. The supporting programme is a strong one. The box plans are at the theatre and at the D.I.C. “ UNDER THE TONTO RIM.” “ Under the Tonto Rim,” the latest Zane Grey action romance, will be the next attraction at the Strand Theatre. The large cast is headed by Fred Kohler, Raymond Hatton. Verna Hillie, and Stuart Erwin. The screen play is the story of a cowboy who cannot do anything right. Finally convinced that he cannot make the grade, he follows the advice of two wily cronies, and invests a little money he has inherited in a pigraising enterprise. But the work disgusts him; he longs for the plains. His cronies, sensing something wrong, and convinced that he needs a woman to look after him, inveigle him to a border-town saloon, and there, unknown to him, spread the report that he is a notorious desperado. The picture reaches a breathless climax as he faces, on the one hand, the posse which has set out to capture him for abducting a girl, and, on the other, the band of cattle rasiers who originally had been responsible for his plight. KING EDWARD THEATRE The two inimitable fun-makers, George Sidney and Charlie Murray, are seen at their brightest and best in “The Cohens and Kellys in Trouble,” which is now being screened at _ the King Edward Theatre. This hilarious comedy gives the two comedians every opportunity of exploiting the particular brand of humour for which they are famous, and with the one a sea captain and the other a business man, who become involved in a rum-run-ning expedition, there is not a dull moment from beginning to end. To those who enjoy wholesome comedy cleverly acted, the King Edward Theatre’s latest offering can be heartily recommended. There is a good supporting programme.