AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22205, 7 March 1934, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS

GRAND THEATRE j Although it is now well into its* second week there is no diminution of-the popularity of "This Week of Grace," which is still attracting crowded houses, to -the Grand Theatre. It is an exceedingly light-hearted film, full of the most, acceptable kind of humour, and.it is doubtful if anyone could have taken the. leading role better than Gracie Fields, who doe*- so; with the greatest credit to herself and to those who were responsible for her! selection. Not only is there'a captivating,story which holds the attention, from start to*, finish, but there are also interpolated throughout the production a generous number of. songs, some■ of which are "Myi Lucky Day,- "Happy Endings," "Heaven Will Protect an Honest Girl," "Mary: Rose," arid "When Cupid Calk." Miss. Fields has a voice of unusually wide-range,, and this ia heard'at its bestin these num. ? bers. The story concerns the struggles of a poor working girl who has lived all her life in the slums to adapt herself to : a sphere of life far removed: from that, to j which she has been accustomed. Gracie Fields is admirably suited to the interpre- | tation of this role, and gives a delightful characterisation as the aomewhat uncouth i factory girl who. later becomes sure of her- I self in any company: Her. family has been living in the slums', but one day Gracie accidentally meets the Duchess', of Swinford; At that time the duchess is heartily disgusted with Clive, the heir to'the title,!j and his mother, who have allowed a fine old castle in their charge to go to- ruin, and • as a grim jest the duchess places Gracie in charge of the estate. Olive has always been a somewhat,reckless young man, but things,soon change, when Gracie takes the reins. The castle and estate are run like clockwork, th'e tenants become more; contented, .and a,.notice«b!e change • for. the better..: occurs Yin Olive's' behaviour.'' There is. later .a rntißunder-. standing' between Clive and ; Gracie, -and * the duchess sends the family, back to the '• slums 'and puts Clive to, work.' The supporting cast includes Frank Pettingell, Douglas Wakefield, and Henrys Baird. £tuj addition there'is, an unusually good Programme of short subjects," including' two travelogues"," a newsreel, .'andya;Grantlapd ■ Ricesportlight. The box plans*are atithe; theatre "and at Messrs Charles "Begg; and! Co:'s.. v - : : y ' ■:<:

;. REGENT'-JHEAtRE J .;

This week's principal, feature"'at theRegent Theatre, f Heads We Go,*' ia ani example of the-;English, at 'it*. best arid brightest. - The- 'action is brisk \ all the ,way through, and apar't from 'ita interest as a comedy, the, English voices a. refreshing cbntpast with \ American, accent and slang. Constance Cummings, one of the fbremostactresses of the screen, plays the; principal arid vis well supported by Frank Lawton, Giis M'Naughton, and Claude,.Hulbert. The story centres round a manriequin, Betty Smith, who. fall? ■in ]oye ■ with| Toby ■'. Tyrell, whom she rimaginesj to-.-. be' ; ',,s•■ wealthy young man "about .town. .Hear-ij ing, that: . he' la 'going: to Deauyilkl.ehe. foflbwb him, only to .find 1 that he m\*'; steward' bh the Channel-atearaer. _ ,In; D#auville- she-., finds-, herself Unwillingly impersonating a famous screen star, -.and she) arid ;her?guest. are lionised by society • people on. ,a palatial yacht,v-which ahe ; discovers to be the property of-Toby:;The arrival of .the -real 'actresses ;pumicity manager;, who vis. anxions to nave :her ; ar-., rested, creotee;• complicationa/ and seviV; ral highlyrentertainlrig misunderstandipas arise. The tables? ate turned, however, and the real actress and her manaszer are arrested. 'After more' and 'a 'hurried flight by Wy, .tiff tangled.ekein is" unravelled and'J^ttysl suspicions of Toby's are; nnaiiy allayed. Included in the supports'is a highly educative arid amusing -picture on contract the first of a series fea-; turirig Ely CulbertsOu, the exponent of the game. . There ' an efltertainiug picture called ; 'K- 1K .%5 English;" as" well:as * new reek; .J he. box plans are at. the theatre -and i the D.I.C.' .rr*??, ■.••■■.■;■•.• ■•'•:-,5" ; '-yvCt "■ ;

ST. JAMES THEATRE J

-Some excellent .pictures have- lately been issued from the Radio studios, and not the least of these is " His>Grac«:G;veß which is ; now attracting attendances' at; the Sti * Jataeav Iheatre. In this bright and unusual; story of kitchens- and. coronets„ the u»folqin#?oi, thtf plot is\ in .particularly; capabttkjmiw*. the'cast being headed by Arthur WW& eon and Viola Keats. ; The featured tt»<J preductibnf is bright,.' Afootman - unexpectedly *«!$&:. that he'has'uucceeded to a he immediatelygive* notice toimtb£ lowly position; He hears later f that the gm he is in love <with is about .--to":elopewith a' man of '■ somewhat,.unsavoury, -xepam tioh, and,' to ;■ save.'. the situatjon,. ne secures a position as •>valet to,, his, rival; The story, reaches -its climax two men come to: blows." Mar^tepiMiag|g formanee as.-'the footman, is piece of character; acting; vEeatt. makes "Bcharming heroine,- and : an.artistic rendering,, of ,the ;daugW#, of '"the- house \whd ,a«vances of a .footman,-and :agam)»t!itha wishes of:her family becomes engaged m> a man- about- town with-a ;cheqiie«"«id career and : other -impediments ;to -"a -'-sue- : cewful union. -'S; Victor Stanly, ?M, (the: duke's valet, provides .the;-bulk .of < tile comic ielief, and 'does it m . such * rer : freshing imanner. tbat.bis performance will long be remembered by those who. really appreciate good: comedy.: Diet Francis. Edgar Norfolk," Laurence /fiannay, and ■ Barry LiVesay are the'principal of the,supporting cast,, Of the-short* pictures ' the principal one is,' .The --Pawnshop," a Charlie Chaplm'film.vwhich has been improved by the addition of suitable music. There are, also two excellent "cart toons. The 1 box plans areyattbe:theatre, the P.i;C:, M'Cracken andjT/faHsy.'and Jacobs-si; ' ,'..;•'../--; :'■;-!• ..:-

-/^«WAI/fzlNa : .$? -Full ;of Australian colloquialisms-and, sturdy, humour, < Matilda,*- in which Pat Hanna seizes the numerous' opportunities to : r.aise roars- of, .laughteft will commence its Dunedw; season-at'.the St. James. Theatre ;on Friday; , Cpmicaji dialogue, ridiculous sisuatibnsi ; and' an) essentially funny' plot that JfaralMj with a, pretty romance, are combined in a story; that is told amid settings of; unusual beauty.'■■'•;Most of the action takes placemen an Australian sheep station'.«■?•.' large as Belgium" but by'the ingenious use of the radio the audience w. conveyed to urban and coastal -localities; so that ah interesting variety, of; scenes. is, presented: Pat Hanna and his friend Joe Valli -are inhabitants of a,' .Melbourne boarding house, who, the morning aJter "visiting a brewery," ~ and getting .into,, a scuffle with a stranger, -read ! in ■,:*?. newspaper that ai constable has* ously injured in a street fight,; detectives expect to make a prpmpfc ar*?St.. They take alarm when a solemn> man arrives to interview them, and leaye.hjm, bound up in their room while they wave, t with visions of-a .hanging,-on the to! a sheep station where the overseer,, a wartime friend arid a Scot; almost as Scotch as Harry Lauder, can give them, a job. Arrived at the statjon; they are given jobs as boundary riders, but they do'not know that their lady acquaintance has interceded on their behalf. In fact, she has let them believe that she does not even live at the station, although she is really the daughter of the owner... The friendship of the girl and Pat-1 friend ripens into love amid the beautiful surroundings of the station, but all does not go quite smoothly. After their' engagement and in fear of immediate drrest for murder Joe makes a clean hreasfo of the affair to bis fiancee, who ' thereupon, spurns him. However, the same night the two old are informed that it was another man of the same name that; was wanted by the police for assaulting;,a' constable, and that they themselves really wanted so that their action in knocking down the man -theV constable was trying t 6 arrest could be recognised. The man they bound up they find was really trying to tell Joe that he,; had been left £10,000; . . ; "v ,i; T

": '..'_"■ ~-.'\ "':-..''■■ - ' ,) S An entertaining ..'.doublfi?featai*:_pri»-, p-amrae ,is -at present bjeing the. Octagon Theatre. . " The Man Who' Dared." the. first- attraction...tells an irt-; pressive story of a man who rose front, a miner-to be' Mayor of Chicago, ■ ,an*«r throws into relief-many- of the- major problems which have beset America: dtfrK ing the past, half century. ; Jan, .Novak' arrives in America with his' family-■»£-, 1871; and'finds the ! Country; in a -troubled-and kwtoa-itite.. '^J#.'i»tiiM'.

is killed in- s mine arcident, a»d' tke W sets out to try and remedy the evils with • which the country' is beset, eventually "winning his> way to 'be chief executiveof the city, of Chicago. Preston Foster, in the leading role, is responsible for a convincing performance, and is admirably supported.by Zita Johann. The other production is "Broadway Bad," featuring Joan Blondell, In this story, which combines the music, dancing, and gaiety of Broadway, with an intenselydramatic theme;. Mi*B * Blondell is "seen as a .Broadway actress. ' ; ,Tony Lenders, who, after a sensational divorce from Bob North,* of one of the leading families of Broadway, capitalises thai publicity .she has received in order that she may lavish her devotion on her baby boy, who is born'.uriknbwn. to .■<her' f orme_r husband. The story works up'to a dramatic climax, in which a mother's'love is triumphant. The box plans are at the theatre and the pj.c.' j j -y':.:■,'■'"■ :;■':'-;■:,-;:• T ; .

■* -'" The "Mystery, bf4be #«*..' Museuiny''' <whichv is-- being screened .:*$ the Empire Theatre this week, is a picture; that njaat be; regarded as'--ooe- of the i-mbst success>ful mystery thrillers that, bay*ever been seen in Dunedin. Unlike many films that rely on the v macabre; for their; appeal* ■:-< the acting i« not overdone, while the in-' j traduction of. technicolour into the photography adds considerably to the attractiveness of the whole production. Deal* I ing with the activities of a' strange irionp- ■ maniac and the mysterious disappearance I ;'pf corpses ; as well, as .living' people, the 'picture never lacks incident, and. from [beginning to; ; end the atmosphere ;,»%* , ror is wejl sustained until the, climax i* reached—a climax that can leave nothing to. he .desired top those who -.enjoy an occasional expursion into the realms of tha gruesome. The story opens\wlith>thf diistructiqn by fire ,b£"a Wax museumfiwneo byVtwb Kussjans, one.ioti'wjboni ■has.ae* fire to, the building in order to; collect the insurance,; The/other, partner,,in his efforts'-'to save' Creations, is' seT?ere'lyi,burned. ■-.Mi', gbesito |?«w Yorkj and there hei opens'another' wjlMft and.~appea» to. thes»up«y at cripple. , About'; this Qim&'; : judge disappears, and corpses are also Bpiri);ed> away 'by^night'from •A newspaper Vbma'ft ihvp«tigati».tb«jJß* tery, and' piece' by,..Piece unwjdf; »• \rhole'story.. Iftonel .'^twiU vtysMm »*• of ; the Russian,'sculptor,.s«d- ; W 1 supported t b>; FayWifty,v Gms*i)fitrs 11, arid others. -■ v^esupj^rtiM'psetF*^ e »It.of, a' higS ing musical programme i* contributed bf . 'Miss Iris Mason at\sh» The box plsni are at th¥tteab* : »»a4l»f D.I.C. , .. t ■ h-. -. * ANOTHER LANGUAGE." : " : -' Helen iSayes and" R'boer ; are the stars jn^'Another: new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer ifeature; wlffcn '.wilr^startv-bn;^^ Theatre. The film,adai|tedfr«m'rthe.ajßn« sational *dr»na; ; 'of family : "3if*hby Roaf Franken,: shows Miss iand: Montgomery a» a pair of. fifed ,"•"> the honeymoon is over when the husband a , ineffectual relatives talie r charmr of tn«r domestic affairs. , BdW*rd B. ~'\ Griffith directed thevpsciure from the play v that 'ran *for over, s year - w :; |irbßiw»^^br||g*:r: v ;' ing to the screen k-swiftly paced,' brilliant story that sparkles -wita.t'tense-'-'iiJt^reiit l frora.jstart'-to.' finish./nificent. in her role,, and. MofltgiajferyV performance leaves-nothing, to be desired." ft>cluded,.}ri.the'cast-afe the late Louise Hale, Tfavcrs, -■• Margar'eV Hamilton,' Willard Robertson, Irene Xtottellr<Min«T;Wasßan, , Hal Dawsbh;' and" Maidel. Turner,.. The picture hss a' dramatic climax .when; the" young (riephcw faHs,, in loive,with v his "»eir avjnf. Her : husbandVneglartbiringa about this daring situation, which eventuallyembroils the ifamily. * j STRAND THEATRE The-screen a 4f potion .of' JHtataJifa Norm's well-known- novel,": ! -ipt Gold,": i*; the ourrenfr Strand .Theatre.; The one; * large' and is headed•:b'^iSa^y^EUe^ti;*^*ia i VlfC9; - 'm: and Norman Foster., !nje>,.Sripclpal lisrure in the story is Jeanie Eateries, an entaent- yjiiung business •panages a 1 successful employment agency. She is introduced to a rising young, engineer, Barnes Ritchie, and,'sfter' «; short. ae> I fan^in,vlovejf.'anly;:: when the youngniaV'introdnesj| to, : his uncle, a millionaire, arid a\cotolrm*d ; philaridereri-> to pay attentions to the.girl, who succumbs [:to the extentlof- : 'aceepting^an"r«^n«ye ;; . :•■ ' present frbinVWm^>iThbSfbugbJs-p^ he has, lost J«w»s affections, and immediately rushes off and j: iriarries»ner>' younger - sister^■-• : .M«*nit' rer pentorher ?t. is too late, and marries ths roilTlooaire ancle '•,fop* ; thb -security'Wni^'bi*»wa|tl^'offtßl,- : . Complications ensue,'.■-however - ;', but *«*• tnally a aatisf There is an er-tertaining supportißf programine.V'The taeitta o ,-and the DJ.C. .. **■'«?«' \ -;t r ■■'■■ ,^J%toß^MA^.^ : ■ K ;.'.:■ ■ I William Powell, who has so, which ladies faint into.his. srms at hie veriest wljispej, which opens - at. the-Strand, Theatre on Friday. Not ,that he has ceased, to be : masterrul^^b?ut; , - ! uisr maroet^'^-^f^ 1 ■■ to swaying ■rent^fea«urJß, 6 iWhile.* every "tl^i9i".«e:- , »ni^tt• , :" : with'the ladies t he th*-*w^fs| *£ : The- ''youiwAiaw'jrer, .'he-I pbmM&SJmg*.-. penchaht'?for' the. ladies.. bu| cracking secretary tells'himj a part £«s*!by thbplpperyniore'abontv.ra'w: than jladies.'' ;E%jtu|llf : he .decides SMt&is >lbnd4,t3*li this highly humoroug end romantic pro-. thrills: include, Helen-.Vinsrin,;^;-A»MjW|B*';;-kinsj Alan David Dodd, and Sheila Ter*y: .'; y(K HNG U IHEATW has-been filmed on what '^B|;;4e^lJp4*W f : the 'most-' Edgar. Wallace.T.Aud}*hites "will•be' ■ myi'tified ■by>the,. ; na.t'sralb>sß ( ■■ ape.---HQWmg^invhis i ':ha|w'.*'« ; : .- l terror-stricken girl. Konj rtishee through the-- ■etreeta.i'wrecking*' ipb«ojr,-\ ; oarsw.ejad 1 - bseakinfe - l venture -:drajna'"the jfilri^,-mv.e^s«#ni\^* B '- - inn'ovation in -the. short is '"So This Ja *»'«KQ-«ad!Oi musical .lowing 'iw'th ;'*'King Kbrig,"■ arid!Uijitr ! bducini!:';to 'the-.acra*n PhifcHarrisPthe -A rsdiojentertsiner: from Eos ■ Ungates' GroveV' i»d *■ formerly of ■ a Tdelbouxhe orchestra. '