AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22136, 14 December 1933, Page 16

AMUSEMENTS

GRAND THEATRE After completing a most successful season of three weeks, “ The Good Companions ” will be screened for the last time at the Grand Theatre to-night. The film lb still attracting large crowds, and those few who have not yet seen it should not' fail to take this final opportunity of doing so. Without doubt it is one of the outstanding pictures of the year. Mr Priestley’s widely react and popular novel has been admirably translated to the screen, and the result is a film of conspicuous quality and unfailing interest which is a credit to the English studios which produced it. The picture maintains a hign standard throughout and does not depend for its appeal on any of its particular features or episodes, though they are all good. In,the principal role, Miss Jessie Matthews registers what is without question her most remarkable performance on the sound screen. Her Susie I)ean is a study full of life, vitality, and charm. Miss Mattheys has an extraordinary comedy .sente for one so young as well as a keen appreciation of the requirements of her part. An actress of real ability, (dm has rhythm' with a grace and charm which cannot but appeal. Her rendering of the vocal numbex-g is one of the delights of the film. The part of Jess Oakroyd, the sober Midlands carpenter who is suddenly flung into the excitement and variety of a life on the road with a theatrical company, is very well played, by Edmund Gwenn. Gwenn is a stage actor with a remarkable record of successes to his credit. He has made another triumph in " The Good Companions.” Mary Glynn and John Gielgud also handle their parts with distinction. Amorig the very attractive musical numbers are “ Let M'e Give My Happiness to You,” “Lucky for Me,” and “ Three Wishes.” The adventures of the Dinky Doos as they travelled over the length and breadth of England cannot fail to entertain an audience of the most varied tastes. There are many pictures with certain features of merit,"but “ The Good Companions ” is outstanding for its balance and completeness as a production of high class. It is an achievement in The history of the talking‘screen. There is a good supporting programme. The box plans are at the theatre and at Begg’s.

“BAROUD.” Owing to hold-ovfer seasons at both the Amalgamated Theatres, Ltd., houses m Wanganui and Hastings, where it is at present screening, “ Sleeping Car,” originally scheduled to commence its Dunedin season next Friday at the Grand Theatre, will not he available this week, and in its place the management is substituting an even better programme. The first ( picture is “Baroud,” starring Rex' Ingram (the producer), Rosita Garcia, Arabella Fields, Dennis Hoey (of "The Good Companions” ' fame)," Andrew Engelman, and Pierre Batcheff. ,It is said to be one of the most spectacular and outstanding productions of recent years, and ranks as one of the finest achievements of the Gaumont-Bntish studios, which have already given the world “The Good Companions,” “Tell Me To-night,” and “ Sunshine Susie,” and many other notable screen successes. “Baroud” is a colourful and. romantic story of the love of a European man for an Arab girl, and is so exquisitely and tenderly woven around its central figures as to transcend all race, creed, and convention, and demonstrates a remark-, able “ Damion ” ship between two men who sweep aside all barriers of faith and colour. The second and supporting l feature stars Henry ' Kendall, and is entitled “ Stickpins.” Certainly the name does not sound very apppealing, but the picture is claimed to 1 be an excellent one, and will not fail to satisfy Dunedin audiences.

EMPIRE THEATRE In “ Made On Broadway,” which is being screened at the _ Empire Theatre, Robert Montgomery gives another fine performance. Though the story is of a light and entertaining variety, it has some dramatic passages in which Montgomery acquits himself as a versatile and convincing actor. Also in the cast is Madge Evans, who fills her role w/th great charm and understanding. Montgomery’s part is that of a publicity man who has strong political influence. _ His wife becomes dissatisfied, and' divorces him, the young man then becoming involved with a waitress who has theatrical ambitions. After he hag placed her at tbe highest pinnacle of this profession he finds that she is not all that he expected her to be. After the first disappointment, however, he finds happiness where he least expected it. The excellent supports include a Charlie Chase comedy and a picture showing the Melbourne Cup race. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. “ ADORABLE.” Heralded as one of the most entertaining motion pictures made for a long time, “ Adorable,” the new Fox production, starring Janet Gaynor and Henri Gar at, will open to-morrow at the Empire Theatre. It is the first American film to claim the talents of the famous international star, and the fact that he is costarred with Miss Gaynor promises something unusual in screen entertainment. The story of the film is said to give America’s most popular actress her best opportunities. It calls for extreme capabilities in acting, singing, and the dance. In her quest for the handsome soldier of the guard, Miss Gaynor reveals talents hitherto not credited to her. The supporting cast is headed by C. Aubrey Smith, veteran character actor, and Herbert Mundin, one of the - leading comedians of the screen. Others in the large cast are Blanche Friderici, Stuart Holmes, Albert Conti, Ferdinand Schumann-Heink, Esther Muir, Hans van Twardowski. Peter Duray, Barbara Leonard, Sterling Holloway, and Joe Gaits, An important feature of “ Adorable ” is the musical background and accompaniment. The music, is by Werner Richard Heymann, with additional songs and lyrics by Richard A. Whiting and George Marion, jun.

ST. JAMES THEATRE George Gee, who will be remembered for some fine performances on the Dunedin stage, has the leading role in “ Cleaning Up,” a fine British comedy which will be screened for the last time at the St. James Theatre to-night. He receives excellent support from Betty Astell and a fine cast. Gee has the part of Tony, a young man whose titled father wishes to force him ino a wealthy marriage. Tony, however, desires to assert’ his independence, and as a result secures a position as a seller of vacuum cleaners. His adventures when he sets out to make his first sales provide delightful comedy. Tony fin.ds himself in some awkward situations, but in thei end wealth and happiness in love both come his way. There is an interesting supporting picture. The box plans are at the theatre, Jacobs’s, M'Cracken and Walls’s, and the D.I.C. “THAT’S MY WIFE.” What happens when the proprietor of a beauty parlour sets up in business as a divorce lawyer forms the basis of the plot of “ That’s My Wife,” a British farce coming to-morrow to the St. James Theatre. The beauty specialist’s only knowledge of law is to “look foxy and charge six and eightpence,” but he devises a very cunning plan to rid his wealthy Lancashire uncle (who has made thousands in the manufacture of dickeys) of the attentions of_ an irate husbapd, whose wife and the dickey merchant have been enjoying themselves together. Owing to the intervention of the husband’s detectives, however, the whole scheme goes astray, and the story culminates in a farcical mix-up and a wild chase through •the rooms of the specious beauty parlour. The popular Claude Allister surpasses all his previous performances in the part of the beauty expert, turned lawyer, and he is ably supported by Betty Astell and a big cast. REGENT THEATRE “ The Working Man,” which has proved a popular attraction at the Regent Theatre during the past week, will have its final screening to-day. George Arliss, always a master of characterisation, is seen in the production iu a role that demonstrates his amazing versatility to an extraordinary degree, and as an elderly shoe magnate with a genius for financial intrigue, he gives a convincing and powerful portrayal that bears comparison with

anything he has ever done. How foj the sake of the woman he once loved, he puts a rival’s business on its feet once more, and incidentally paves the way for a romance, makes a very human and enter-tainingly-told story. An unusually varied and entertaining supporting programme is shown. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C.

“INTERNATIONAL HOUSE.” Few pictures of recent production can be said to rival the musical comedy, “ International House,” coming to-morrow to the Regent Theatre, for laughter-provok-ing situations and wit. Wildly improbable happenings are cleverly welded into an amusing kaleidoscope of action, and the audience is kept in simmering laughter throughout. The story is centred in the mythical Chinese city of “ Wu-Hu,” where business representatives are gathered to bid for a new invention which is capable of visualising and hearing events which are happening all over the world. Stuart Erwin, as the American representative, has a disconcerting tendency to become ill, and as a result the hotel ia quarantined. And then ths fun really starts. Peggy Hopkins Joyce brings her attractive vamping powers to play on W. C. Fields, who is a perpetually inebriated professor and aviator, reputed to ' be worth 1,000,000 dollars. Fields is at his best, and possesses an inexhaustible supply of “wise cracks,” which he passes off with a nonchalent airiness. Burns and 4Jlen, Rudy Vallee, Col. Stoopnagle, and Budd are also included in the cast.

STRAND THEATRE , Romance and mystery are interestingly blended in “Arizona to Broadway,” a pleasing comedy, which will have its final screening to-night at the Strand Theatre. It is a typical fast-moving American story with plenty of exciting adventures and abundance of humour. From 1 a small Arizona town-the action changes to New York and the back-stage scenes of a Broadway theatre. James Dunn gives an entertaining performance as a confidence man who finally finds himself in his own trap. Charming Joan Bennett plays opposite him. Sally Eilers and Herbert Mundin are also among the 'cast. There is a supporting-programme of an entertaining nature. The box plans are at the theatre apd at the D.I.C. • . \., “strictly Personal.” Said to be the first story ,of its type to reach the screen, “ Strictly Personal,” a drama of the " get-acquainted ” clubs met with in the world’s large cities, will be the new attraction at the Strand Theatre to-morrow. Dorothy Jordan, Eddie Quillan, and Marjorie Rambeau play the featured parts. The action' of “ Strictly Personal ” , centres around a couple who run such an enterprise—an .escaped convict, who has had his face remodelled by a plastic surgeon and his ■ career remodelled by his own desire to gostraight, and his-wife. These two, aided by a young woman who is their ward, conduct an orderly club. When a “confidence ’’hian ” recognises the proprietor, however, and forces his iyay into a partnership by threatening to expose him, the character of the place changes radically. It soon becomes a rendezvous for persons of varied types of amorous dispositions. OCTAGON THEATRE

To-day will provide the final opportunity of witnessing “ The Medicine Man ” and “ Called Back,” which during the past week have comprised the double bill at the Octagon Theatre. "Called Back,” which is a bright; and. hilarious comedy, has the inimitable Claude Allister.in the leading role, and with him, in the support, ing parts, Viola Campton, Jean Stuart, and Pat Paterson! Widely different in type, but nevertheless, providing first Class entertainment, is 7 ‘ Called Back,” which is a dramatic and gripping feature founded on Hugh Conway’s novel of the same name. Dorothy Boyd, a talented young English actress, and Lester Matthews are the principal players. The box plans are at the theatre and the DJ.C. ' ■ KING EDWARD THEATRE The present attraction at the King Edward Theatre is "Grand Hotel,” which is adapted from the novel of the same name by Vicki Baum. The story centres round a great Berlin hotel, where there are assembled people from numerous walks of life who represent the fashion of the nation—members of the aristocracy, great artists, financial magnates, and pleasure-seekers from every part of Germany. - The film gives a kaleidoscopic picture of the lives of some of these people and treats _of the drama and tragedy enacted daily b&hind the doors of such an establishment. There; is a strong cast of well-known stars, Greta Garbo, John and Lionel Barrymore, Wallace Beery, Joan Crawford, and Lewis Stone being, at the head. TECHNICAL COLLEGE CONCERT The concert, which was presented by the Musical and Dramatic Club of the King Edward Technical College, in the Burt Hall on Tuesday night, was repeated last night before a large audience which showed warm appreciation of the efforts of the'performers. The musical portion of the programme consisted of works composed or arranged by Mr T. Vernon Griffiths, conductor of the orchestra, and a dance and three short plays completed the entertainment, in which a large number of the pupils of the school took part. • ■ i