AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22100, 2 November 1933, Page 16

AMUSEMENTS

GRAND THEATRE Entertainment of unsual and intriguing character is presented in “ Prestige, which heads the current programme at the Grand Theatre. In the featured role Ann Harding makes a welcome reappearance on the screen, and finds in her part many opportunities for the display of her special talents. She appears as the fiance of a young French captain who, almost on the eve of his marriage, is despatched to Indo-China to take charge of a penal colony in one of the most unhealthy and dangerous sections of the Indo-Chinese territory. To take his wife was out of the question, so he left her behind, but when his successful administratoin is rewarded by indefinite continuance in charge he bdgins to submit to the insidious effects of the climate. His fiance joins him at the colony, and the manner in which she not only saves him from forgetting that, he is an officer and a white man, but also -consolidates her position, makes a very interesting tale. Adolphe Menjou takes a prominent part in the production, and gives another of his suave and polished performances, while the role of the young officer is capably handled by Melvyn Douglas. The supporting programme of short subjects is a good one, and includes a diverting comedy, in which the featured artist is James Gleason, as '"'ell as an “ Our Gang ” farce. The box plans are at the theatre and Messrs Charles Begg and Co.’s. “THIS SPORTING AGE.” General John J. Pershing may be the finest commander the Army has ever had, but he’s a “ bogey man ” to Captain E. H. Calvert, who plays the important role of a cavalry officer in command of the post where Jack Holt is stationed in his latest Columbia picture “This Sporting Age,” which will be screened to-morrow at the Grand Theatre. Pershing is a bogey to Calvert because the two are so completely identical in appearance that the latter has to pass up many important character roles that are offered him, because an audience would think of him as Pershing and not as E. H. Calvert, actor. The resemblance between the two, who in the army became close personal friends, is so perfect that an informal photograph taken of Pershing and Calvert, each wearing the other’s uniform, mystified even the officers of Pershing’s own staff. Once when Lewis Stone, who is Calvert’s closest friend in Hollywood, saw Calvert as Pershing in “ Behind the Front,” Stone was firmly convinced that he was not Calvert at all, but Pei-shing in a stock shot from a newsreel. The cast includes Evalyn Knapp, Ruth Weston, Hardie Albright, Walter Byron, J. Far-*' rell MacDonald, Shirley Palmer, and Nora Lane. J. K. M'Guiness wrote the story, and A. F. Erickson and Andrew Bennison directed. EMPIRE THEATRE To-day will provide the final opportunity of witnessing “ Hell Below,” the powerful and thrilling story of submarine warfare which has proved a popular draw at the Empire Theatre during the past week. A feature of the film is the remarkable realism with which the various scenes have been staged, and interwoven with dramatic episodes ashore are stirring battles at sea, in which the audience is shown inconsiderable detail many exciting adventures incident to life on a submarine. As the commander of an American undersea boat fighting in the Adriatic, Walter Houston is cast in a role that suits him admirably, and very little less impressive is the portrayal of his second-in-command given by Robert Montgomery. Madge Evans is responsible for a delicate touch of romance, and some acceptable light comedy is introduced by Jimmy Durante and Eugene Pallette. An entertaining supporting programme includes a New Zealand news reel and an amusing cartoon. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. “RAIN.” Joan Crawford essays a new type of role in “ Rain,” which will commence a season at the Empire Theatre to-morrow. Joan Crawford had come to he known as the exponent of the modern girl. But here she is portraying a character of another generation, a young woman of questionable morals, and she does it as if she had been doing this sort of portrayal from the first. “Rain,” of course, has had the advantage of production by Lewis Milestone, that surprising directorproducer who gave us “ All Quiet on the Western Front.” and other masterpieces. The brimetone-smeliing missionary is portrayed by Walter Huston, one of the best character actors upon stage and screen, and William Gargan, last season’s Broadway stage sensation, has the role of the young marine sergeant. Every least member of the company, even down to the native extras, appears to have caught the fervour with which Producer Milestone has permeated his story. The photography, which was done on the island of Catalina, off the coast of California, is said to be some of the best seen for many a day. 'STRAND THEATRE “ Best of Enemies,” a delightful comedy, is the present attraction at the Strand Theatre. The story tells of the affection which grows up between two young people whose fathers are bitter enemies. The feud _had arisen, between the two older men because of the action of one of them in fosiering the cause of prohibition with the result that the other, who was the owner of a beer-garden, was forced out of business when universal prohibition was introduced. In disgust the proprietor of the beer-garden returns to Germany, and it is there some years afterwards that his daughter meets and falls in love with the son of hie old enemy, who has come to study music. At first things run fairly smoothly, but the arrival of the. young man’s father precipitates a crisis, in which there is a great fund of humour. There is an entertaining supporting programme. The box plans are at the theatre and tne D.I.C. “ DIPLOMANIACS.” It is not often that the studios are fortunate enough to co-ordinate catchy musical with a well-sustained but nonsensical plot in such an entertaining way as in “ Diplomaniacs,” which will start to-morrow at the Strand Theatre. This new feature has the irresistible appeal of broad burlesque, opening on an Indian reservation, where those popular comedians, Bert Wheeler and Robert Wooisey, are commissioned to represent the Indians at the Peace Conference in Geneva. Marjorie White and Phyllis Barry act the “ vamps ” with just the proper amount of nonsense. Twentyfour Hollywood beauties selected and trained by Larry Ceballo, celebrated dance impresario, appear in five delightful ensembles. One of these is a great pot-pourri of comedy and beauty and rhythm.

ST. JAMES THEATRE “Yes, Mr Brown,” which has enjoyed a successful fortnight’s run at the St. James Theatre, will conclude its Dunedin season to-day. The plot centres round the visit of the proprietor of a huge American firm to one of his Continental-branches. His manager makes elaborate preparations for his reception, only to find that the chief executive is a totally different kind of man to what he had imagined. Jack Buchanan, in the leading roie, is a host in himself, and his efficient handling of his part does much to ensure the success of the production. The box plans are at the theatre, Jacobs’s, the D.1.C., and M'Cvackcn and Walls’s. “UP FOB THE DERBY.” Sydney Howard in his brief picture career line been cast in many varied roles, but at last, as he himself agrees, lie is in each a part as he has always wished to portray—that of a Derby syinner—in the new British and Dominions film coming to-morrow to the St. James Theatre, titled “Up for the Derby.” The performance that is rendered by the master comedian in this production is said to exceed any of liis previous vehicles. Sydney Howard has a naturally funny face, which wears a naturally funny expression, and although one of the jolliest funsters off stage, he has mastered the art of making his audience helpless with laughter, yet the while retaining that unsmiling profile which lends truth to the adage that “ his face is certainly his fortune.” Supporting him in this comedy are Frank Harvey, famous for the appearances he made on the Australian stage, Mark Daly, and beautiful Dorothy Bartlam.

OCTAGON THEATRE To-day is the last opportunity which patrons of the Octagon Theatre will have of seeing the double-feature programme which has been shown there during the past week. The first film, which is entitled “False Faces,” tells of a brilliant plastic surgeon who devotes his skill to restoring the beauty of women who have passed their best. Unfortunately he becomes involved in a series of intrigues with his patients, and the climax of the picture is an interesting one. The second feature, “ Rackety Rax,” in , which the leading role is taken by Victor M'Laglen, is a comedy in which the producers have succeeded in hitting off, Abe idosyncracies of that portion of Amencan society which is associated with the underworld gangs of the larger cities. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. “THE WARRIOR’S HUSBAND.” “Wise-cracking” mythological characters strut across the screen in “The Warrior’s Husband,” which will be shown at the Octagon Theatre to-morrow. Ernest Truex is seen as the diminutive male who is dominated by a race of brutish Amazons. There is no watery courtship here, no romancing of the modern type; for if a group of six-foot women, led by Elissa Landi, Marjorie Ratnbeau, and Helene Madison choose to raid a man’s habitat, they descend upon him for the love of it —and nothing else. REGENT THEATRE Two leading British players in Claude Hulbert and Renee Houston have the principal roles in “ Their Night Out,” which is at present being shown at the Regent Theatre, where it is in the final stages of its Dunedin season. The picture is a comedy of the first order, and tells of the adventures of a young Scottish woman who is determined to see'something of the night life of London. _ She is taken in charge by a young married man, who, as a result of the somewhat compromising situations in which he is involved, incurs the suspicion of his family, a suspicion which is increased by his extraordinary subsequent behaviour. The audience is kept in the best of humours by this comedy of errors, which makes “ Their Night Out ” one of the most enjoyable farces seen at the Regent Theatre for some time. The supporting programme is-a good one. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. “KISS ME AGAIN.” The next attraction at the Regent Theatre will be “Kiss Me Again,” the screen version of Victor Herbert’s famous romance “ Mile. Modiste,” The name of the piece has been changed, without doubt on account of the world-wide popularity of the song “ Kiss Me Again," which, when\ the piece was first performed, was sung by Fritzi Scueff. Bernice Claire plays the part of the flirtatious Fifij and sings the haunting song “Kiss Me Again.” Though the original story is adhered to, the costumes have been brought up to date, many of the most tuneful and amusing scenes taking place in the fashion palace of Mme. Cecils in Paris. The picture is filmed entirely in technicolour. While settings, story, and casting are of the first order, it is, after all, the melodies of Victor' Herbert that make “Kiss Me Again ” a thing of beauty. KING EDWARD THEATRE An excellent double-feature programme is at present being shown at the King Edward Theatre. The first film is “The Face at the Window,” in which Claude Hulbert: heads an imposing cast. The story tells of the efforts of Paul de Gros, a famous detective, to discover a gang of killers responsible for the murder of several bank nightwatchm en. After one such murder all the suspicion falls on Lucian Cortier, between whom and the bank manager’s daughter there is an apparently hopeless love affair, but the story is carried on to a surprising and dramatic climax, which provides an excellent conclusion to an absorbing tale! The second film is “ Come On, Danger,” an exciting Western film starring the popular Tom Keene.