AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22164, 18 January 1934, Page 12

AMUSEMENTS

GRAND THEATRE ‘ ! The delightful comedy-romance, “ Sleeping Car,” which has proved so popular during the past week, will have its final screening at the Grand Theatre this evening, when theatre-goers who have not already seen this outstanding picture should , not miss their last opportunity of doing so. It is an admirably-directed production, coming well up to the high standards which have been attained by films made in the British studios. Both Madeleine Carroll, ad the young lady of fashion and social standing, and Ivor Novcllo, the adventurous sleeping car attendant, who are in the "leading roles, give performances ot merit. The work of the young English actress, which should always be most palatable to Dunedin tastes, is characteiised by great charm, a fine comedy sense, and ’ a most sympathetic interpretation. There is a note of pleasing originality in Novello’s delineation of the part of the attendant; indeed, he is in himself one of the attractions of the production, and sets a new Standard in comedy performance. While the wealthy young widow is travelling on the Bucharest-Paris express, she attracts ,the attention of the sloeprng car attendant, who, despite the gulf that separates them socially, and the far-from-conventional way in which they have .met, decides to pursue her after the journey is over. Many amusing complications ensue before a happy climax is inched in the most unexpected manner. This light, mantic plot affords the actors ample opportunity of providing the audience with en tertainment of a very enjoyable .nature. The supporting programme eludes further interesting instalments ot the i ox Movietone News and an uproarious Gau-mont-British farce, The Bailiffs. Ih box plans are at the theatre and at Messis Charles Begg and Co. s.

« SOLDIERS OF THE KING.” “Soldiers of the King,” which will be shown at the Grand Theatre to-morrow, is the first of the new Gaumont-Butish Gainsborough musical productions foi 1934. Cicely Courtneidge gets opportunities for cotnedy in this film that make Bw” loot lit« ~ trajedj. Edward Everett Horton also adds to tne hilarity with his dry whimsicality, in this picture Cicely Courtpeidge is seen as the leader of a theatrical troupe, and on the occasion of a special gala matinee, when the adagio dancer fails to turn up, she “doubles’: in her place. thrown hither and thither at the will of the men in the “act,” she is almost-tied in knots as they swing her round their bodies and up in the air. As an adagio dancer slie was a terrible failure, but as a burlesque actress she reaches the pinnacle pr fame. The adagio sequence,'undoubtedly the outstanding highlight of a pictuie that is intensely funny from beginning to end, is said to be one of the most supoi b comedy acts the screen lias ever known, and it alone makes “Soldiers of tlie King” well worthy of patronage. Excellent supports, in keeping with the standard set by the feature, will also be screened. “Soldiers of the King,’ .which is approved by the censor for universal exhibition, should prove delightful fare for picturegoers of all ages.

ST. JAMES THEATRE “ Summer Lightning,” a diverting sdeen version of one of P. G. Wodehonse s popular farces, is proving an unusual attraction at the St. James Theatre at the present time. The story is an excellent one and lends itself admirably to the purposes of the sound screen. It is full ot the most amusing complications and the leading characters move from one misadventure to another in the most abandoned fashion. The producers could not have chosen better players for the leading roles as thev combine to present an exceptionally attractive version of Wodehonse s story. This is not surprising seeing that the male lead is taken by Ralph Lynn, that past master of. farce who brings his extraordinary facility of wit and im-

provisation to bear on one of the most interesting roles he has yet attempted. Playing opposite him is Winifred Shotter, scarcely less competent an exponent of farcical comedy than Lynn. Between them they present the delightful fare. The supporting programme is a good one and the box plans will be found at the theatre, at the D.1.C., at Jacobs’s, and at M'Cracken and Walls’s. REGENT THEATRE The principal attraction at the Regent Theatre to-day is “When Ladies Meet,” which is a remarkable film in many ways. As a stage play, “ When Ladies Meet ” was an abnormal success, but to be adapted to the screen it had to be set to faster tempo, but it loses nothing on that account, in fact it has the' advantage, of swinging along at an even tenor midst setting not possible on any theatrical stage. It is a picture which overflows with interesting situations and delightfully witty humour. The stars are Robert Montgomery and Ann Harding, while also in the cast are Myrna Loy and Frank Morgan. The last-named as a romantic publisher and a husband who is frequently straying from the marital path is excellent. Ann Harding plays the part of a wife attracted to the philandering husband, and Robert Montgomery is a young newspaper reporter who becomes entwined in a love romance which leads to the most unexpected situations. “ When Ladies Meet” provides delightful entertainment, its story being most unusual. Rarely has such a strong programme of supports appeared. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. “THE MASQUERADER.” What is clainied to be one of the most intriguing stories ever translated to stage or screen is told in “ The Masquerader,” which will begin a season at the Regent Theatre to-morrow. Two of the most talented qjid popular stars of the day fill the leading roles in the famous tale of John Chilcote, M.P., and the man who stepped into his political shoes and the love of his wife. They are Ronald Colman and Elissa Landi, and Colman’s perforniance has been acclaimed by many critics as the finest lie hag ever given. Impersonation of one man by another as the basis of a story has never been more skilfully handled than in “ The Masquerader,” and the new film promises to eclipse in popularity the stage version made famous by Guy Bates Post. Political turmoil, riot, and threat of revolution, and financial and Government crisis taken from to-day’s headlines are the storm-clouds that drive one man from his position at the helm of State and the love of his wife to drugs and debauchery. Pride of family, patriotism, and love of adventure and fight summon his unknown young cousin, his exact double, to the res.ue; but while the latter is able to carry off successfully his position in Par. liament there are extremely difficult complications in his relationship to the woman who is supposed to bo his wife and to the woman who is supposed to be his mistress. EMPIRE THEATRE Now showing at the Empire Theatre- is “ Hold Your Man,” in which Clark Gable and Jean Harlow have the principal roles. There is an atmosphere of stark, though not necessarily harrowing, realism about tlie film, and the characters in it could hardly be classed as “the best people.” But the realism is lightened by flashes of both broad and subtle humour; and the story also goes to prove the adage about there being good in even the worst of us. The dialogue is particularly effective, not exactly polished—one would hardly expect Oxford English from such characters —but amusing and very much to the point. On tlie whole, the direction is good, lapsing only once or twice into undue sentimentality. Jean Harlow sings for the first time on the screen. The story is an entertaining one and is well told, and there can be little cause for complaint against tlie quality of the acting. The supporting programme also offers entertainment of a high standard. The box plans arc at tlie theatre and the D.I.C.

“MAMA LOVES PAPA.” Mary Boland and Charlie Buggies, who have been featured together in numerous pictures, are co-starred in Paramount’s “Mania Loves Papa,” a comedy written especially for them, which opens to-morrow at the Empire Theatre. They are cast as a middle-aged couple who live outside a big city and travel to town each day, Ruggles, to tease fellow officeworkers, with his puns, Miss Boland to absorb ideas of “culture” at popular lectures. After one of these lectures, Miss Boland decides her husband must dress in formal clothes on every possible occasion. The next day he goes to work in cutaway and bowler. His employer, seeing the clothes, immediately concludes there is a death in the family, and gives him a day off. Charlie wanders into the park, where he is mistaken for a city official, and forced to participate in a dedicatory exercise. The city’s political “ boss,” dissatisfied with the park commissioner, decides that Charlie would do as well as anyone else, and appoints him to the job. A series of hilarious events follow. In addition to Miss Boland and Haggles, the cast inoludeS'SJJlyan Tashman, Walter Catlett, and George Barbier in important roles. STRAND THEATRE “ Flying Devils.” the current attraction at the Strand Theatre, suggests by ‘its title something aerial aud exciting, and audiences this week have not been disappointed in this respect. The film is full of thrills and has been built round a story of unusual interest. The cast interprets the tale well ’and the result is highly entertaining fare. The principal players are Ralph Bellamy and Arlinc Judge, and both do themselves every credit in their very interesting roles. The scenes include many thrilling shots in the air, with some outstanding parachute performances as well as a tremendous head-on collision which provides the climax of the film. The supporting programme of short subjects is a good one, and the box plans for the season will be found at the theatre find at the D.I.C. “THE GIRL IN 419.” “The Girl in 419,” a romantic drama featuring James Dunn and Gloria Stuart, will be the next attraction at the Strand Theatre. The setting of this production is the police emergency division of a bigcity hospital. The cast, in addition to Dunn and Miss Stuart, includes David Manners, Jack La Rue, Shirley Grey, Johnny Hines, and William Harrigan. The discovery of the murder of a gangster, and the simultaneous discovery of a dying girl in the street miles’away, opens up the story. The girl is rushed to the hospital, where the doctor in charge, intrigued by her beauty, spends days in an effort to save her, and finally succeeds. When papers announce she is recovering an armed gangster invades tlie hospital and attempts to kill her. He succeeds only in wounding another doctor, and in getting killed himself. It is this doctor, for eur prevented from carrying out his ambition to become a surgeon because of the nature of his wound, who ultimately takes matters into his own hands, ami leaves his superior and the patient to carry on the romance that has developed between ..them.

. OCTAGON THEATRE Henry Kendall has the leading role in “The Man • Outside,” the main feature of the double-bill of fare, which will be screened for the last time at the Octagon Theatre this evening. He is ably supported by an excellent cast, which includes John Turnbull, Cyril Raymond, Louis Haywood, and Gillian Lind. The story is a mystery one, which takes so many curious twists and turns that the audience is kept constantly guessing as to what the outcome will be. It is not until the final scenes that the interesting plot is unravelled. The supporting picture is “ Son of the Border,” a gripping tale of outdoor life full of incident and action, which finally reaches an entirely unexpected climax amid very exciting scenes. The box plans are at the theatre and at the D.I.C. “ STRANGE EVIDENCE.” Robert Milton, the famous stage producer and director and maker of such notable films as “ Devotion,” “ Outward Bound,” and “ Charming Sinners,” directed “ Strange Evidence,” which will be presented at the Octagon Theatre to-mor-row. An unusually strong cast appears in the film, which has an original and intriguing plot. The famous West End actor, Frank Vosper, plays a leading role, and Leslie Banks, who achieved such a triumph in “ The Hounds of Zaroff,” Carol Goodlier, James Anderson, Norah Baring, Frances Ross Campbell, George Curzon, and Diana Napier, are also in the picture. Edmund Lowe'is seen as the confidence man in his new picture, “ I Love that Man,” which will be the second , picture on the programme. Nancy Carroll is, the woman whose refusal to take “no ” for an answer makes a most appealing love story in this, the latest Charles R. Rogers production for Paramount which was directed by Harry Joe Brown, and which also features Robert Armstrong, Lew Cody, Warren Hymer, and Dorothy Burgess. Nancy Carroll plays the most exciting role of her career as the woman who adores this prodigal black sheep. Knowing how unreliable he is, she still trails along as his partner in crime through a swiftly-paced story of laughs and love. KING EDWARD THEATRE “ The Kid from Spain,” the colourful extravaganza which served to re-introduce Eddie Cantor to Dunedin audiences when it was first shown here some months ago is enjoying a return seasou at the King Edward Theatre at the present time. It contains many delightful musical numbers gorgeously staged dance scenas; and in addition is distinguished from the usual run of song and dance productions by a cleverly interwoven plot. Cantor is, of course, the life and soul of the production, but he is supported by a large and talented cast, as well as some of the finest ballets that have yet found their way into films. Those who did not see this great comedy film on its first showing in Dunedin should not miss the opportunity which its present restricted season affords.