AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22256, 8 May 1934, Page 14

AMUSEMENTS

EMPIRE THEATRE Warner Baxter and Myrna Loy are at the head of the cast in “Penthouse,” i which is the current attraction at the Empire Theatre. A story of “ racketeering,” the principal characters are of the class that lives by the desire of New York for night life of the most sparkling variety. An eminently respectable lawyer, Jackson Durant, skilfully brings about the \ last-minute acquittal of Tony Gazzoti, a j leading racketeer. In gaining the grati- ; tude of Tony and his gang, he loses social j prestige, and with it his fiancee, who turns rather abruptly to his best friend, Tom Siddall. During a scene at a party given by Jim Crelliman, a man of doubtful associations, Siddall is involved in a j scene in which Mimi Montaigne is mur- j dered and finds himself apparently in a hopeless plight. From this point the | story moves swiftly. Durant, in spite of . warnings, insists on taking up the case, and finds a charming ally in Gertie Wasted. In an effort to 'reconstruct the crime in the block of apartments in which both his new friend and Crelliman live, j he puts himself ip a tight corner, and barely escapes with his life. Returning later with a full escort of detectives, he manages.to extract a confession from the rather unsavoury murderer, Murtoeh, at the same moment that Crelliman is setting the stage for the ■murder of Gertie Waxted in another part of the building. The situation is saved by the skilful gun work of Tony, who, in completely destroying the rival gang, meets a racketeer's end. . A happy climax comes with the escape of Gertie and Durant to Europe. The supports are of a high standard, and Miss Iris Mason provides delightful musical interludes at the organ. The box plans arc at the D.I.C. and the theatre. “ VOLTAIRE.” j The picture “ Voltaire,” which will be the attraction at the Empire on Friday, and in which George Arliss is starred, is based on a single dramatic incident in the life of the great French poet, philosopher, and firebrand whose inflammatory writings helped to precipitate the j French Revolution. In this the actor j and the producing company followed the | pattern established first in the stage and screen play " Disraeli,” which also centred about one event in the career of the British statesman. The life' of a really great man offers almost too much material for the dramatist. Louis N. Parker, who wrote “ Disraeli ” originally at the request of Arliss, almost gave it all up as a bad job because of a superabundance of material available. . Profiting from that experience, Arliss insisted | that “ Voltaire ” should he modelled along 'similar lines, and confined to the dramatisation of one incident. The one best adapted for the screen’s use was the Galas case, the injustice of which caused Voltaire to interest himself in it for almost eight years. For screen purposes the time was shortened, and the locale was changed to suit the dramatist’s purposes, but fundamentally the picture is based upon an actual incident in Voltaire’s hectic career as agitator and reformer, The Galas case was the execution of a rich merchant on a trumped-up charge and the confiscation of his property. Through the influence of King Louis XV’s mistress, Mme. Pompadour, Voltaire succeeded in saving the life of Calas’s daughter. Doris Kenyon has the vole of Madame Pompadour and Margaret Lindsey that of Calas’s daughter. Others in the cast include Theodore Newton, Reginald Owen, and Alan Mowbray. OCTAGON THEATRE One of the most interesting and thrilling pictures that have been shown in Dunedin during recent months is “Above the Clouds,” which is at present being screened at, the Octagon Theatre. In this exciting film the audience is enabled to see the manner in which the newsreel cameramen work, and while there is never any lack of action, time is found for a charming romance, which has been carefully woven into the story. Robert Armstrong has the role of “ Scoop Adame, a cameraman who can always be relied upon to get the beet news first, and be has as his assistant Richard Cromwell, as Dick Robinson, while the leading female role is in the hands pt Dorothy Wilson. At the opening of the picture “ Scoop ” is covering an aviation display from the ground, but Dick, in order to prove himself worthy of the position of a regular cameraman, perches himself perilously on the wing of one of the planes. “ Scoop.” however, gets all the credit, but Dick is not to be denied,' and manages to secure an exclusive picture at a big boxing fixture from which all cameras have .been torbidden. Later ho comes to bis friends aid when the latter becomes too drunli to attend the naval manoeuvres he is supposed to be covering, and the young man, stepping into the breach, manages to secure a fine “shot of an accident in which a submarine is rammed by a cruiser. Even yet all is not well, but Dick eventually achieves his ambition when he gets a particularly good picture in connection with the trial night or dirigible, and everything ends happily. The supporting programme, which includes a Mickey Mouse cartoon, is an unusually entertaining one Ibe bos plans are at the theatre aud the D.l.u “LADY FOR A DAY.” “ Lady for a Day,’’ coming to the Octagon Theatre on Friday, has heralded by all who have seen it as one pt the best “talkies” made. Story, adaptation, cast, and direction were all of the hnest quality; extra efforts were put forwaid bv all bauds, and the result is said amply to justify the pride The producers are taking in the finished product. Lady for a Day ” appeared in the Cosmopolitan Magazine a few months, ago under the title of “ Madam La Gimp. It was written by Damon Runyon,.who has been called the “0. Henry of 1933 ” because of bis humorous and dramatic talos of Bi a 1 way night life and its ‘ dames and guys. There are plenty of both in this pmtmc, although it revolves mainly, about Apple Annie,” a haggard, old iruit vendor, who j s transformed into a lady for a day. Frank Capra, one of the .star directors in the industry, worked with, one of the finest casts assembled lor a picture. The grand old veteran of stage and scieen. May Robson, plays “Apple Annie, and as a result of her excellent portrayal of this colourful character has achieved stardom Warren William, the handsome and popular star of many a recent picture, | p| a vs “ Dave, the dude.” a Typical Runlon character—a gambler, who is likeable and picturesque. Others in the cast ale Guv Kibbee. Glenda harrell Jean Parkei . Barry Norton, Walter Connolly, Ned Sparks, and Hobart Boswovth. REGENT THEATRE Based on a daring and provocative theme, which is bandied with great deftness, “Design For Living, a Paramount version of Noel Cowards play, forms tic principal attraction on the current bill at the Regent Theatre. “ Design foi Living” is not a problem picture. It is comedy, based upon a serious and sophisticated subject. Gilda, played by Miriam Hopkins, after years of friendship "itlv a dour advertising agent, portrayed by Edward Everett Horton, meets two irrepressible bosom friends in Pans, George Curtis, an artist, and Tom Chambers, a , playwright, whose parts . are taken by Gary Cooper aud Frednc March. A triple friendship develops with a gentle- ' man’s agreement of what might be termed benevolent neutrality between the two men. Tom leaves George and Gilda in Paris while he attempts to place one o) ( l,is plays in London. The play is a success , and fame follows. In the hour ot his , triumph, he hears from Paris that the gentleman’s agreement has been broken, i ( George, too, becomes famous, aud has to | . leave" Paris to carry out some portrait I painting. On his return he finds Tom f and the fickle Gilda reunited. Gilda ulti. ] mately runs away, marries the advertising • director, and returns to America. She ' j finds her married life unhappy, and the story rapidly moves to a most unusual con- . elusion. Liibitsch’s direction is, as usual. ] flawless. The film is a delightfully smart. ] crisp piece of entertainment, very brightly , e xecuted, and possessing genuine artistic . quality. Miriam Hopkins, as Gilda, give- , a thoroughly enjoyable performance, and imbues her part with a levity quite in keeping with the high-spirited humour o) ; the piece. Fredric March interprets the j role of the playwright with an intelligent - understanding of the the • part, while Gary Cooper and Edward Everett Horton are also suitably cast. A strong supporting programme is shown. . The box plans arc at the theatre and the D.I.C. i

ST. JAMES THEATRE A happy blend of comedy and music, “Going Gay,” the latest British production, is attracting large audiences to the St. James Theatre. The leading female role in this bright film is Taken by the charming little German actres«, Magda Schneider, who will be remembered tor her work in " Tell Ale To-night,” in which she co-operated most effectively with Jan Kiepurn. She is none the less attractive in “Going Gay,” and receives excellent support from two British comedians, Arthur Riscoe and Naunton Wayne, of 1 whom the picture-going public will want [ to see more. The story concerns two young Englishmen who are Hying from ! London to Vienna with the . object ot I spending a holiday in the Austrian capital. They have not been long there before they meet a charming young Viennese girl, at whose home they lodge. After : a little while they both become very toncl 1 of her, and when they find that she can 1 sing and dance in a most engaging man- | net they decide that they must do someI thing for her. One, impressed more with l her voice, thinks that an. operatic career is the only thing for her, while the other, for whom her dancing holds more chaim, does his best to persuade her to take up musical comedy work. Greta, however, I is more inclined towards opera, and witn the aid of her friends she soon makes her debut in “The Daughter of the Regiment,” which provides the climax to the film. The gay, carefree atmosphere ot Vienna is admirably caught in .tins picture, with the result that it _ supplies entertainment of the most delightful kind from start to finish. Toere is also a good supporting programme. ihe box plans are at the theatre, Jacob l s, M'Cracken aud Walls’s, and the D.I.C. “ THIS IS THE LIFE.” No doubt ultra-purists would .be moved to turn up their noses at the robust humours of “This is the Life, the British Dominions production coming to the bt. James Theatre next week. But ordinal v i folk, who desire nothing more than, to indulge in a 90 minutes of sheer joyous enthusiasm as a relief from tile burden of everyday toil, should revel m the fun which it so surely provides. Go - don Barker joins forces with Binme Ha e as his partner. A s Mr and Mrs Albeit Tuttle, proprietors of a country teashop, i where the erratic trade is fast heading them on to the rocks of bankruptcy, they are left a large fortune, and immediately commence to step out into the realms ot polite society. Two Chicago gunmen associates of the late uncle and benefactoi arrive to muscle in on their cut ot the legacy. Albert’s : frantic endeavours to rid himself of these unw-elcome visitors lead him to employing the services of a broken-down pugilist to dance attend ance on him and bis social-climbing spouse 'at an ostentatious function, which 1 rapidly becomes transformed, into .a nightmare of apprehension. Inna ly,_the Tuttles’s fortune, is reclaimed, the gun men receive their conge, and the ™° “shorn lambs” return to. their teashop. which has been converted into aspacious void-house bv the artist sweetheait of their niece. Binnie Hale’s mimicry of an operatic diva is said to he splendid. GRAND THEATRE That inimitable pair, WhceJcr and Woolsey, have an excellent vehicle foi the ing large audiences to the Grand TlreatK, and present what must be one of then most efforts to d atebv a large cast, headed by Dorothy Lee, who has been seen in so many of their earlier productions, Thelma Todd, and Ruth Etting, as well as a clever trained ballet, which gives a delighttui performance of the “ Ruff Box ’’ dance, the two comedians pursue Their riotous course through The story m. a fashion, which creates extremely amusing entertainment. They are seen as salesmen of cosmetics and flavoured lipsticks, who drajy’ attention to themselves when they attract cus tom away from a demonstration arranged by Maiden America Beauty Products, Inc., a business ■which conducts a modern beauty parlour. The manageress of that concern becomes worried when her sales fall off, and endeavours To effect a merger with the opposition. This she has little difficulty in doing, and in a short time Wheeler and Woolsey are set up. as controllers of the beautifying establishment. Not only have they succeeded financially, but they have become involved in romance, one with Miss Frisby, the. manageress, and the other with her assistant, Daisy. All goes op merrily, until Arnaud Beauchamp, the proprietor of the salon, becomes aware of the position, and becomes extremely incensed, as he has more than a passing interest in Daisy himself. In order to rid himself of his unwelcome assistants he casts about for a scheme, and hits upon one when he discovers that they ha'e become the unwitting thieves of 10,000 dollars. He promptly informs two detectives who are covering .the case, and Wheeler and Woolsey are compelled to flee, but further complications arise when, in order to expedite their departure, they commandeer a racing motor car and tind themselves involved in a transcontinental race, which provides the maximum of thrills and humour. There is an pertaining supporting programme. The box plans are at the theatre and Messrs Charles Begg and Co.’s. STATE THEATRE Jack Hulhert. and Cicely Courtneidge are again associated in a fast-moving burlesque, their latest production being “hailing for You,” which is being shown at the State Theatre. They appear as a pair of rival journalists in search of a story about a missing heiress, and matters are complicated shortly after the commencement of the story by the fact that Jack falls in love with the heiress when she solves a noughts-and-crosses problem which has baffled his by no mclans super intelligence. Ho follows her from Switzerland to England, and when Cicely gets wind of the story Jack disguises himself as a porter, as a chimney sweep, and then finds himself in the haunted house at midnight when the ghost, impersonated bv Cicely, walks with terrifying effect. The climax of the plot takes the principals hack to the Swiss Alps again where the final scene shows Jack with his heiress and Cicely dashing off in search of another storv. Apart from the delightful comedy of the picture and .the group of catchy songs introduced into it, the. alpine scenery is one of the most arresting features of the production. Ski-ing, tobogganing and ice skating are brought in with splendid effect, and the long-limbed Hulhert provides a surprise by his agility on skates. The work, of the tvo pr.incipals is of o. type which must meet with instant approval. The situations are for the most part hectic, such ns on a crosschannel steamer, in the snow of Switzer-’ land, and in a country house where the ghost walks at full of moon. Tamara Desni, the other principal, is perfectly equipped for her task of appearing beautiful. which is practically the only demand'made” unon her, and as the woman for whom Hulhert “ falls ” so heavily she appears but seldom. There is an. excellent programme of supporting pictures. The box plans are at the theatre and at Messrs Charles Begg and Co.’s. STRAND THEATRE With George Brent in the leading role, “ From Headquarters,” an engrossing mysterv drama, beads this week’s programme at ‘the Strand Theatre. Margaret Lindsey. a popular young actress who has cdhie into prominence in recent years, .rjvt-6 a convincing performance in the opposite ro i e . She will be remembered for the part she played in “ Cavalcade. am 1 she also appeared m 1 mate l)e----tectne 62.” George Brent plays the part of a highlv-suecessful detective who employs the latest scientific methods in the solution of crime. The story concerns the murder of two people at police headquarters. The complications arising from misleading chics are most bafthug, and the manner in which they are finally solved gives a true insight into the methods used by. the modern police organisations. An unusual feature of the £>tory is the fact that romance plays a more important parr- than is general in such productions, arc! bow the young detective, whilst deter- ; mined to do his duty, makes every effort to rave the girl he loves from an a ciwation of murder, provides an entertaining and gripping narrative. Others in the cast are Eugene Pallette, Hugh Herbert. Dorothy Burgess, Theodore Newton, and Robert Barrat. An .unusually varied and interesting programme of short subjects is shown in support of the main picture. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. | “LOVE, HONOUR. AND OH. BABY!” Speed and tempo are the, most necessary things in directing a comedy, ac-

cording to Eddie Buzzell, former stage star and stage director, who has just completed “Love, Honour, and Ob, Baby!" the hilarious comedy of breach of promise suits, starring Slim Summerville and Zasu Pitts, coming on inday next to the Strand Theatre. Buzzell, known for his direction'of both comedy and dramas, as well as for his gift at “gagaing” or making jokes on the spur of the moment, has successfully worked these into this latest Surnmerville-ritts production. Critics who have seen toe picture claim that it is the fastest moving comedy in which the ever-popular comedy players have been seen. Buzzell during the taking of the piece revealed his ability to *ad Ub —that is, to insert funny lines and gestures into the picture on the spur of the moment —and this is said to heighten the humour. Summerville appears as a lawyer who has a whole gaol populated with his clients, and Zasu Pitts as a filing clerk who wants to save working girls from having to go to Rochester, a nearby town, with the local banker, a lecherous old vegetarian. The trial which results from her efforts and Summerville’s remarkable handling of the situation is said to be uproariously funny. KING EDWARD THEATRE In “The Stranger’s Return,” which is now being screened at the King Edward Theatre, Miriam Jordan and Lionel Barrymore provide entertainment of a standard infrequently seen on the screen,. The former has the title role —that of a sophisticated, hut charming, young person, who has been divorced from her husband in New York and who returns to the'home of her, fathers in the middle west. She finds there her grandfather and a number of relations by marriage. The latter see in her merely a source of danger, for they believe that the old man may leave his estate to her. In fact, that is what actually happens, but not before n number of interesting events have tra.nsnired. Stuart Erwin provides the delightful comedy which leavens the drama, and Franchot Tone is the romantic member of the cast. “Melody Cruise,” with Charles Energies and Phil Harris, forms the other half of the entertainment, Ruggles is at his best as a comedian in this picture, which is notable for the musical numbers it contains.