AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22198, 27 February 1934, Page 16

AMUSEMENTS

GRAND THEATRE t ■■ ■.. Theatre-goers in Dunedin were not slow to realise that in " This Week of Grace,"' which is at present being screened at the Grand Theatre, there was entertainment of the most attractive nature, for the theatre has been full every night of the season to date. "This Week of Grace is musical comedy of the better type, and by reason of the high musical standard which the picture attains it would not require to rely to a great extent upon the theme of its story to carry it along. The picture, however, has the added advantage of a plot of substance. The intensely amusing and arresting personality of Gracie Fields permeates the film throughout. With, her alertness to every humour and her wholehearted, spontaneous acting, she has given the picture high artistic merit. Possessed, as she is, of a very charming voice, Miss Fields sings her way through the picture in the most happy and tuneful fashion, with the result that from the first moment she breaks into song she holds the attention of the. audience until- the final scenes. There are no fewer than six song numbers. They are—" My Lucky Day," " Happy Ending.' "Heaven Will Protect an Honest Girl," "Mary Rose," "When Cupid Calls," and "Melody at Dawn." The reproduction of these and of the dialogue throughout the film leaves nothing to be- desired, while the beautiful scenic effects introduced play an important part in the success of the production. Miss Fields has the support of a large and competent cast. Frank Pettingell is particularly pleasing, while Douglas Wake-' field, who gives a very humorous interpretation of the faithful helper, Joe; is a player whom Dunedin audiences will want to see more of. Henry Kendall, who has recently achieved prominence in pictures which have been screened in Dunedin, makes out of a not very important role something, that impresses and pleases. The theme on which the plot of " This Week of Grace" is based concerns the. struggles of a poor working girl, who has been raised to unexpected wealth, to take her, place in a stratum of society to which she is totally unaccustomed. Not only is Miss Fields seen in her characteristic Lancashire-mill-lass role, but she also blossoms out /into society. The Duchess of Swinford, on a plane of - life far removed from that of Gracie and her family, has been heartily disgusted with the heir to the title, Clive, and his mother, who between them have allowed a fine old castle in their charge to go to ruins. One day she accidentally meets Gracie, whose family have been living in the slums, and she is impressed: by the girl. When, as a grim jest, the old aristocrat decides to put Gracie in charge of the estate, things take on a different aspect at the castle, and the fun commences in earnest. Not ouly< does the lordling, Clive, take a turn for the better, but the tenants are also soon much more contented and in less than a year the estate and the castle are running like clockwork. Later a misunderstanding occurs between Gracie and Clive. _ The Duchess, their fairy godmother, again in r tervenes and sends Grscie and her family back to the slums and puts Clive to work. There is l a supporting programme of outstanding merit. The box plans, are at the theatre' and at Messrs Charles Begg and Co.'s, EMPIRE THEATRE ' V An intensely human story which provides entertainment of a particularly attractive character, js embodied in " Tugboat Annie," the current attraction at the Empire Theatre. The featured players in this production are those universal favourites, Marie Dressier and Wallace Beery, whose fine characterisations iri "Miff and Bill" are still remembered by theatre patrons. In . their latest vehicle they recapture the atmosphere which was such a prominent feature of their earlier triumph. They are seen as the owners of a tugboat on Puget Sound, and although Terry, played by Wallace Beery, is nominally the master, his wife > Annie (>Marie Dressier) is in fact the commander of the little ship. An unquenchable thirst is one of Terry's dominating characteristics and Annie is forced to adopt innumerable expedients to prevent him from indulging in frequent overdoses of liquor, but it is his continual drunkenness that is responsible for much of the humour and a large portion of the pathos of the story. They have a son Alec, whose ambition is to become,-...a master mariner, and when he is eventually appointed to the command of a large passenger liner the joy and pride of hie parents are boundless. On his return from his first trip the pair go to meet him in their tug Narcissus, but by the time the boats meet Terry has discovered some liquor and is,in his usual state of helpless inebriacy. Finally, when trying to pick up a case" of liquor which he has seen floating in the water Terry wrecks the tug and it has,to be sold, although •Terry and Annie are placed in charge of her # when her new owners use- her for towing 'garbage lighters. While on one of these trips Terry distinguishes himself by a feat of daring and skill in' a storm and the picture comes to a happy conclusion. There is an excellent supporting programme, while Miss Iris Mason provides a delightful musical interlude at the Christie organ. The box plans are at the theatre and th-'D.I.C. "THE MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM." . One of the strangest and most exciting thrillers, "The Mystery of the Wax Museum," will open at the Empire Theatre on Friday! with Lionel Atwill, Glenda Farrell. Frank M'Hugh, and Fay Wray heading a cast of sterling players. The story, taken from the play by Charles S. Belden, deals with a series of mysterious disappearances of both living persons and human bodies and the appearance of a terrifying monster. The plot centres about a wax museum which has on display exceptionally life-like figures . ot personages of history and notorious criminals. Important roles are enacted by Allen Vincent, Gavin Gordon. Edwin Maxwell. Holmes Herbert, Arthur Edmund Care we, Thomas E. Jackson, and Monica Bannister. The picture is photographed entirely in techmcolour with unusual lighting effects used to heighten-the' fascinating mystery that dominates the production. The direction has been handled by Michael Curfiz, who i« accepted as a past master in directing mystery thrillers. In addition to its excitement and suspense there is a romantic love angle with humour supplied by smart, witty dialogue. REGENT THEATRE " In the past two or three years there has been a great, rise to popularity-or pictures dealing with aviation, but, although some fine films on this theme have been seen, it is certain that none has been §o exciting, or so gripping as "Central Airport," which is being shown at the Regent Theatre this week. Replete w#h incident from start to finish, the picture at no time lacks action, while its climax, must surely be one of the most thrilling that has ever been seen on the screen. A disabled passenger hydroplane is adrift on the storm swept Caribbean, buffeted by savage gales, and rocking under the incessant pouuding of the waves, while a lone pilot beside his anxious charges, grimly sending UP rocket after rocket in an appeal for assist-. a nee. Finally, when it looks as though the last hope must be abandoned, there is heard above the roar of the storm the sound of an aeroplane engine, faint at first, but growing stronger each 'minute, and deliverance comes just in time. The leading role is in the hands of Richard Bartheliness, who has the assistance of an unusually distinguished cast, including Sally' Filers, Tim Brown, and James Murray. The supporting programme this week is also of a very high standard, and in this respect is well in keeping with the principal feature, rounding off a bill of move than usual merit. The box piano are at the theatre and the D.I.C. "HEADS WE GO." Laughter, romance, beautiful tfirhs, gorgeous gowns that will gladden all feminine hearts —every ingredient of popular entertainment is said to be.'found in the British production "Heads We Go." which will start on Friday at the Regent Theatre, following "Central Airport." The romantic story of " Heads We Go" is laced with gay comedy and advfinture, and stars Constance Oummingfl and Binnie Barnes as two manikins who- toss a coin to decide whether they will continue their monotonous existence or whether they will set out on the trail of adventure. The result is a bright

comedy romance, which moves faster than any ordinary picture. When the twq manikins toss the coin, "heads" wins, and they decide to "blue" Connies legacy of £3OO from an aunt in. Canada, and Binnie's fortune of £4 17s 4d on one glorious fling at fashionable Deauville. Constance, or Betty Smith, as she appears in the film, has a romantic reason for choosing Deauville—because that is where the hero has gone on a visit. At this pleasant resort of the idle rich she is mistaken for Dorothy Kay, a famous film star, and soon everybody „is at her feet. Millionaires send flowers, news- , paper men haunt her hotel, proposals come every day and twice on Sundays, until a gay yachting week-end exposes the deception and doubles the delight oi the audience with the exciting and romantic climax. The settings of " Heads We Go" are lavish in the extreme, the comedy is fiinny, and the whole, delightful production will please and entertain patrons. ST. JAMES THEATRE "Loyalties," which .occupies pride of place on the current bill at the St. James Theatre, is a screen version ot John Galsworthy's famous play of the same name, and is unquestionably one of the most dramatic and capably acted talking pictures that have ever been screened locally. The position of the Jew in society forms the basis of this gripping story, and so deftly have the author and the producer done their work that the picture forms a striking commentary on the feeling of racial prejudice which exists to s a greater or lesser degree in the minds of every person of Bxitish blood. Basil •.Rathbone, who plays the leading role, has the somewhat onerous task of interpreting the character of an ambitious yew, who, through sheer force of personality, has obtained -a prominent place in society. The story centres round the Jew's accusation of theft against a person.in his set, and the reaction of the man's friends, who, although they believe him guilty, still. take it amiss that he should have been accused by a Jew, is a powerful and convincing study in psychology. The Jew is begged to take no action, but he insists, and his insistence leads to a series ot incidents that result in a startling clenouement. As Ferdinand de Levis, the Jew, Rathbone gives a performance that stamps him a s , one of the outstanding, dramatic actors of the day, and his acting is characterised by a virility and sincerity that make his role dominate the whole of the film. In every Phase his work is convincing and -finished,'and ), perfectly does he.merge himself jnto is character that at - times »t is difficult to realise that he is acting. A strong cast supports the star, and every member ot. it shows a deep understanding of the requirements of his or her.part. The programme of short subjects includes a very fine film depicting the scenic beauties ot Milford Sound. The box plans are at the theatre, Jacobs's, M'Cracken and Walls's, and the D.LC. :..,' "HIS GRACE GIVES NOTICE." A typically English comedy dealing with the consternation following the discovery that a duke is working as a footman will be offered at the i St. James Theatre, where " His Grace Gives Notice" will be screened on Friday. In this picture the hero, George, is a footman, and not a good footman, for he will keep' forgetting that servants arc not ordinary mortals, and sometimes ■ forgets himself to the extent of displaying the feelings of an ordinary /human being. These little' lapses cause a ruffle in the serenity of the"kitchen," which is; nothing compared with the consternation caused by the Revelation that he is none other than the Duke of Marlow. No one is more put out than George himself, until he discovers that an affection he had for his employers daughter, whilst highly footman, becomes perfectly natural the next day as a duke. The many incidents of a humorous nature which would follow such a change in position have been exploited to the full in " His Grace, Gives Notice," and there is. a dramatic climax. Arthur Margetson plays the role Aof George, the ex-butler-duke, with an easy nonchalance which is -quite in keeping with the mien of a butler who is In reality a duke or alternatively of a duke who was once a butler. OCTAGON THEATRE; The principal picture oh the doublefeature programme at present being shown at the Octagon Theatre -is ft Big Mouev," which exposes the methods o\ amassing money that are adopted by\ certain business men in America. A very fine performance i s given by George Ji. Stone, who is seen in the rol e of an ambitious barber's assistant. He-wishes, above all else, to accumulate a greatsdeal of money, and begins by questionable methods to achieve his aim, soon launching schemes of considerable magnitude.., The success of his operations makes him the head of. a band of finapciers/ but when all appears to be going, well, at least so far as he is'concerned, his plans are upset by a woman, and he finds himself in gaol. Others in the cast are *ay Wray, Phillips Holmes, and Minna Gombell, all of whom play their parts well. 'The other picture on the programme is "The Past of Mary -Holmes," the screen .version of Rex Buach's book, "The Goose ■• Woman," .which tells of a famous singer who loses her voice when her son/is born. There follows an interesting penes of, events culminating in a highly 1 effective climax. 'The leading roles are in .the hands of Helen M'Kellaiv Skeets Gal-, lagher, Roscoe Ates, and Jean Afthur. The box plans' are at the theatre.and/ the D.LC. •/ . ■•' ,X: ,■;•'..■- * ,•' . STRAND THEATRE , The noted character actor Warner Oland has in his career -given many portrayals of Earl D<?rr Biggers's famous detective.fiction, Charlie Chan, but. those who witness his latest picture,..' Charlie Chan's Greatest Chance," which headsthis week's bill at the ' Strand .'-Theatre, must admit that he has never done anything, better. The shrewd, philosophencal Chinese investigator is on this occasion faced with a mystery, the unravelling of which baffles him at first, but eventually he secures a slight clue, from which, with his characteristic determination, he evolves the solution of the problem. It is a story that i s noteworthy in that it departs entirely from the usifal run of der tective stories, and instead of portraying Chan as" the orthodox detective of fiction, it shows him as a general easy-going philosopher, bringing to his task a vast fund of worldly wisdom. So often has the star portrayed the part of Chan that it now appears to have become second nature to him, and as a result his performance is a masterpiece of. character acting. Suavely and easily he- pursues his investigations and finally arrives at, a solution of the mystery that brings the action to a dramatic but satisfactory climax. Heather Angel and Roger Imhotf are the leading players in a strong supporting cast. The programme of short subjects includes a beautifully photographed film of the Island of Malta. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.LC. ' " WALLS OF GOLD." Sally Eilers, with Norman Foster cast in .i the leading male role opposite her, makes a welcome reappearance at, the Strand Theatre next Friday in " Walls of Gold," taken from Kathleen Norm's best selling novel of the same name. The action of the production moves from the smart " speakeasies " and their' flippant repartee to the calmer quiet of country beauty, and back again to luxurious Long Island homes and Europe's watering places. There is an accompanying social, whirl and free living that tangles the hearts of the principals. In "Walls of Gold" Kathleen Norris shifts her pen to the problem that has troubled so many of our modern maidens —whether -to accept love unquestioningly, or to take the matrimonial offer of the highest bidder. KING EDWARD THEATRE : ' One of the most appealing films that have been shown in Diinedin for some time is '" The White Sister," which is at present attracting large \iudience s to the King Edward Theatre. It is also notable in that it serves to introduce a new pair of screen lovers, Clark Gable and Helen Hayes, who act together in the most convincing manner. The story of the aristocratic Italian girl who falls in love with a soldier on the eve of her marriage to the man of her father's choice i s too well known to need but it may be stated that the picture follows the book faithfully and brings out the most dramatic passages with telling effect. Lewis Stone, Louise Closser Hale, and May Robso'n also fill prominent parts with credit. There is a good supporting programme.