STRAND THEATRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22212, 15 March 1934, Page 6

STRAND THEATRE

" Lawyer Man" is the featured item on the present programme, at the Strand Theatre, and to date it has. proved-very popular. It is an exciting and -well-told story, and the players give an excellent version of it. William Powell has the leading role, and brings the part of the rising young lawyer,.buffeted by powerful underground forces, a conviction and a realism that are ' highly creditable. He has a distinct flair for the melodramatic, and his flambuoyant style is one that finds ready acceptance with a large body of filmgoers. He carries the main burden of the entertainment in' this film, and carries it very effectively. In the leading feminine role he has the support, of Joan Blondell,- a pert and very capable type of screen player who suits the role admirably. There is no lack of excitement and action in the film, and even the supporting roles are all exceptionally well handled. The supporting programme of selected short subjects is a good one, covering a wide range of interesting topics. The box plans for the season will be found at the theatre and at the D.I.C. " HER BODYGUARD." Edmund Lowe and Wynne Gibson play the leading roles in "Her Bodyguard,' a romantic comedy which commences tomorrow at the Strand Theatre. Edward Arnold. Johnny Hines. Marjorie White, Alan Dinehart, and Fuzzy Knight the supporting cast. "Her Bodyguard ' is the amusing story of the love affair between a beautiful stage star and the private detective assigned by a jealous "sugar-daddy" to guard her from rivals. How the girl and the bodyguard outwit everyone else and find happiness together provides a highly funny tale. Miss Gibson is cast as the star. Dinehart, playing the role of her producer, is a gentleman with intentions. Arnold, cast as a milionaire, is another elderly fellow with approximately the same idea. Arnold hires the bodyguard, ostensibly to protect the star's jewels, but actually to see that Dinehart does nob make any progress with her. Wynne is incensed when Lowe, the detective, first appears on the scene, but soon she sees the humour of the situation. Lowe is so capable a bodyguard that even the man who hired him cannot get anywhere near the star. It's not long, before they are in love, and from that time on things move alone at an hilorious pace. "Where Have I Heard That Melody." is introduced during the action of Her Bodyguard.'' OCTAGON THEATRE Anne Grey, the beautiful English actress, has the leading role in " One Precious Year," which heads the doublefeature programme at present being screened at the Octagon Theatre. She is seen as the wife of a Foreign Office official, who is told by Harley street specialists that she has only a year to live, and, determined to make the most of what remains of her life, accepts the attentions of a colleague of her husband, when the latter is too absorbed in his career to take a proper interest in her. Complications soon occur, and after these have been solved the picture reaches a satisfactory climax. Owen Nares and Basil Rathbone head the male section of the cast. The other picture is "The Billion Dollar Scandal/' which is also an attractive film. There is shown in addition a further episode of the serial " Clancy of the Mounted." The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. ST. JAMES THEATRE Pat Hanna, the well-known originator of the famous " Diggers' Revue " of postwar years, is again seen and heard on the screen in a bright and entertaining Australian comedy entitled " Waltzing Matilda," which is at present being , shown at the St. James Theatre. The Australian pastoral districts, the stately gum trees, and broad expanse of rolling downs form an exquisite photographic background to the story which, although it has a charming romance running through it, is devoted primarily to the antics and general fun and nonsense provided by Hanna and his almost equally well-known aide, Joe Valli. Pat Hanna and his friend, Norman French, take refuge from the law on a large sheep station, the owner of which is unaware of their identity, and here Hanna and Valli renew acquaintanceships, with the most hilarious results. French falls in love with the owner's daughter, but complications arise as the result of the discovery that he and Hanna are fugitives from justice. An unexpected twist to the story discloses that the two friends are innocent, and all ends happily. There is an excellent supporting programme. The box plans are at the theatre, Jacobs's, M Cracken and Walls's, and the D.I.C.

" LOVE'S OLD SWEET SONG." "Love's Old Sweet Song" will be shown at the St. James Theatre to-morrow. Not only is the story an excellent one, but

I the acting is said to be superb. The case ' of the little boy who play s the part of Mary's child is remarkable. He is no silly, affected " screen child," but a typical boy with endearing, mischievous ways that must exercise the strongest appeal even to the most blase of screen critics. Again, one could well afford to see this production for the sake of the scenery alone. Rural England is faithfully depicted down to the smallest detail, and anyone exiled from England and seeing " Love's Old Sweet Song'" would find it redolent of all that was dear to him. Mention must be made, too, of the splendid photography, Which addg^that extra "something" to a feature which must be ranked with the greatest screen plays of the day. One little scene is introduced which is positively a cameo in miniature. The location is a bar parlour, and all the villagers, including Jimmy, Mary's schoolboy sweetheart, arc gathered round the wireless listening to Mary singing. All the village types are there, and one can hardly realise that this is not real life. Surely the old gaffer with the twinkle in his eye will beckon a member of the audience over to have a " handle " ? But the story goes on. Mary, a great vocalist, who lias been given a chance to make a stage career by an adorer, Paul, meets Paul's brother Eric (Ronald Ward), a fascinating rascal, and eventually marries him. From then on the story develops fresh complications at every turn, action being swift and varied, though all is still marked by that admirable restraint of which British directors alone .seem capable. To translate into more words the pulsating action which follows would be to rob the story of much of its value. REGENT THEATRE Marlene Dietrich's remarkable reputation for dramatic performance ia not likely to suffer as a result of her latest production. " The Song of Songs," which is the feature of the current programme at the Regent Theatre. The film itself i« an outstanding one apart from the players, the story it tells being one of vivid colour and strength. Marlene Dietrich has the lion's share of the work to do, and she does it most impressively. She takes the part of a young girl from the country who goes to Berlin after the death of her parents, nnd suddenly finds herself plunged into the most amazing series of hanpenings which culminate in a delightfully romantic and extremely effective climax. The pa-'t she plays calls for the exercise of all the dramatic nnd emotional talent of which she is capable, but she never falters in the characterisation and registers one of her most arrestingly successful performances to date. In the principal male role is Brian Aherne, a player of more than ordinary capabilities who combines real talent with a most attractive personality. As the sculptor who gives the country girl her first lesson

in the essentials of life and finally wins her back after all sorts of complications and misunderstandings, he is responsible for soiffie very fine work. The feature of the supporting programme is the _ manikin parade, comprising a striking display of the latest styles in frocks, gowns, and fur coats. The box plans are at the theatre and at the D.I.C. ' ■ EMPIRE THEATRE An unusual drama of family life, featuring Helen Hayes, Robert Montgomery, and Louise Closser Hale, entitled "Another Language," will conclude its season at the Empire Theatre this evening. Robert Montgomery plays the part of the somewhat dull husband who is peri. fectly contented with life, while Heien i Hayes takes the role of the young wife, I with whom he originally eloped, and who 1 sees, through his complete subjection to j the will of his family, their inevitable estrangement unless his ideas on life can be changed. Louise Closser Hale is seen as the mother who subordinates the individuality of her sons and exerts oyer them a. domineering influence for her own purposes. After a runaway marriage the two young people return to New York and .join the husband's family, but the influence of its many members over her husband is so strong that the wife finds only unhappiness in the family circle. She makes strenuous endeavours to save her husband from himself, but complications arise when the young man'g grownup nephew falls madly in love with her. There is an entertaining supporting programme,- and Miss Iris Mason provides several attractive musical interludes at the Christie organ. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. " INVISIBLE MAN." Of all the characters in the realms of fantasy who have left a definite mark in the annals of the screen, " The Invisible Man" is without precedent. The film is the screen version of one of the novels of H. G. Wells, and will be shown at the Empire Theatre for the first time on Friday. This well-known and popular writer is a master in the art of fantasia, and " The Invisible Man" undoubtedly does much to enhance his reputation as such. A carefully-selected cast of talented players given the film its dramatic value, while the direction was given to. • James Whale, who earned his excellent reputation in the direction of such successful films as "Journey's End," " Waterloo Bridge," and " Frankenstein.". Just as the dark is a compelling fear because of the unknown which may lurk in its gloom so is the scientist Jack Griffin, of H. G. Wells's story, who can blend his bodily substance into the air, and wait, and plan, and then execute his wishes at his will. The theme of the picture is based on the discovery of a young chemist of how the human body may be

made invisible. The story opens with, the disappearance o£ Jack Griffin, the assist* ant of a doctor of chemistry, while, coin-r ciding with his disappearance, is the arrival of a mysterious man at a country village. This mysterious person assaults an innkeeper, and when help is called the stranger defies anyone to molest him by peeling off his garments and revealing emptiness—each garment appears to come from no bodily substance. So " The Invisible Man " is introduced ,to the audience for the first time. From then to the conclusion of the picture, this mysterious being creates a reign -of terror. He picks on an associate to give him his human representation, but kills him later for treachery. The police are completely baffled by their. invisible adversary, and the account of the exploits to capture the menace" forms an unparalleled story _of fascination .and excitement. • The principal part is taken by Claude Rains, whose performance marks him as an actor ot distinct ability, while the subsidaiy roles are capably portrayed •by Gloria Stuart arid William Harrigan. .. '. 9 KING. EDWARD THEATRE An unusual film is at present being shown at the King Edward Theatre in "The Doomed Battalion," which portrays a little-known phase of the Great War. The scene is laid in the Dolomite Alps of Austria, where thrilling battles between Austrian and Italian mountain, troops decided important issues in the great struggle. The leading role is hi the capable hands of Tala Birrell, who is sceu as the wife of an Austrian mountain guide who is faced with the problem of harbouring a man sent to destroy "her husband's company. From this situation the film works up to. a climax that is as sensational as it is unexpected. Other featured members of the cast are Luis ; Trenker, Victor Varconi, and Henry ■ Armetta- A highly entertaining supporting programme is also shown.