AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22267, 21 May 1934, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

EMPIRE THEATRE "Duck Soup," the latest film of revelry by the four Marx Brothers, is being "offered to delighted audiences at the Empire Theatre this week. The cold implacability of those who do not like Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo will warm a little, melt, and dribble away in chuckles. The brothers disorganise Ruritania, collectively and individually. Groucho is head man, but he cannot steal much from the other three. ■ Chico is tried as a spy, with Groucho is defending counsel. Harpo does a delightful burlesque of Paul Revere's famous ride; and Chico and Harpo, both disguised as Groucho in a nightshirt, flit about the royal palace. There is not much story, but one is not required when the brothers have the floor. If there is time to let the eye stray from the principals it will be found that " Duck Soup " is the bestmade of the five films in which they have starred. A supporting programme of greater interest than usual is offered in the first half of the entertainment, and Miss Iris Mason has a new set of musical numbers which she presents in her usual charming manner at the Christie, organ. The- box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. " GOLD DIGGERS OF 1933." Judging by reports there is no lack of entertainment in "Gold Diggers of 1933," which is scheduled to commence its Dunedin season at the Empire Theatre on Friday next. It is the story of lite back-stage in a big Broadway theatre, its people and the various trials and tribulations which are associated- with the producing of a big musical extravaganza. In. addition to mammoth stage scenes, tuneful musical numbers, and hilarious comedy, there is a story of pulsing heart interest. Chief among the breathtaking spectacles is perhaps the "Shadow Waltz," the song and dance number in which there are 54 girls who play illuminated violins. The girls are seen in a gigantic ensemble, the lights being arranged to ! take the shape of the fiddle and how, so that the music can be heard and the instruments seen playing the air after the figures of the play"' 6 are blacked out, giving a startling effect. This is presented in a setting which includes a mammoth circular, winding 'staircase, and the effect is both novel and startling. Other musical ensembles include " We're In the Money, a lavishly-dressed scene made to represent stacks of silver coins. "Remember M.V Forgotten Man" is an unusual number in which there is a haunting refrain, the theme of which is the neglect of the re; turned soldier. "Petting In the Park, the fast-moving fox-trot, is presented m a series of seasonable ballets introducing some clever comedy and novel etteets. The production carries an all-star cast which includes Warren William, Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell, Guy Kibbee, Aline MacMahon, 2sed bparks, and Ginger Rogers. Two hundred beautiful chorus girls are a part of the elaborate sets. The brilliant new dance and song conceptions were createdl-M* staced bv the famous musical comedy Profucer Busby Berkley, and Warner Bros, are the producers. STATE THEATRE The current offering at the State Theatre is a screen version of Ben Travers's most enjoyable farce, A Cuckoo iii the Nest," m which Ralph Lynn, Tom Walls, and Robertson Hare have the most important parts. \™ alcoholic meanderings. ot Tom Walls, The cheerful inanities of Ralph Lynn, the indignant puffings of Mary Brough as.a 'completely occupied" landlady, and the sonorous burblings of Robertson Hare as the Rev. Sloley-Jones, a country, parson of the type so much in favour with caricaturists, are memories one carries away wrapped up in laughter. Walls breass away from his conventional roles to portray a tipsy old man who is dominated bv his wife (Grace Edwin) most of the time. He drinks steadily throughout the film, and the spirits of the audience go up in proportion as other spirits go down his capacious throat. Lynn is much the same as usual, and just as funny, as an idiotic young husband innocently enmeshed with another.woman, and trying to explain his innocence to a bewildered wife and an uncompromising mother-in-law. Yvonne Arnaud, she of the delicious French accent, is the charming cause ot all the pother—the cuckoo in Lvnu 9 nest —while Mary Brough is again the picture of outraged respectability. She is Mrs Grundy personified when she learns tnat her inn has been made the scene of a highly involved matrimonial tangle. Her protests against . "such goings-on are almost as funny as Lynn's struggles to sleep under the washstand when the cuckoo takes possession of the nest. And then a word for Robertson Hare—baldpated and unctuous as the country parson whose solemn warning, "Have a care, have a care! " sounds,a rich diapason m the whole recital of mirth. Finally, there are the."local yokels" of Maiden-Blotton. Ben Travers is well known for his pictures of quaint rustic types, and has never drawn better than in "A Cuckoo in the Nest." There is a strong supporting programme. The box plans arc at the theatre and Begg's. GRAND THEATRE j Light-hearted frivolity is the mainspring of "My Weakness," which is the leading feature on the current bill at the Grand Theatre. With Cupid, in . a top hat, keeping up a running fire of comment as the plot unfolds, Lilian Harvey and Lew Ayres carry the theme through a series of thoroughly amusing incidents. Cupid is first on the scene, mopping his brow and complaining bitterly of overwork. Then he proceeds to relate the story of one of his most difficult jobs, and thus it unfolds on the screen. A rich manufacturer and his nephew quarrel over the question of •women, and the uncle threatens to cut off the young man's income. In the course of the argument the nephew declares that he could take the least attractive girl in the city, even one of the girls who swept out the office, dress her up. and marry her off to a wealthy man. Hearing this, the girl that is at the moment dusting the office, challenges him to make good his boast with her. She is certainly difficult material, and her blunders lead to some hiehly-diverting incidents. The nephew, however, calls in the aid of all his lady friends, and under their instructions his protegee succeeds in captivating the manufacturer's unimpressionable son. More than that, she brings the old man himself to his knees, and sets up a rivalry between the two. Then the nephew begins to realise that his experiment is hayine a boomerang effect, and that he himself is considerably interested in the yonne lady, and he has to use his wits quickly to untangle the complicated plot he has evolved. Among the supporting items is another of the series showing the adventures of the newsreel cameraman in his pursuit of interestinn' and exciting pictures. This issue, "The Conquest of the Air." is a remarkable series of pictorial records of notable aeroplane crashes that have occurred in recent years. In the same programme .ire a cartoon and a Fox Movietone newsreel of interesting current events. Ihe box plans are at the theatre and Messrs Chas. Beget and Co.'s. N REGENT THEATRE "Only Yesterday," which forms the chief attraction at the Regent Theatre, tells one of the most striking stories that American studios have yet placed upon the screen, and for the main role has been chosen a new player, Margaret Sullavan, who seems to be destined to become one of the screen's most popular actresses. Her performance in this picture at times reaches the highest pitch of excellence, and altogether she makes a remarkably impressive entry into the sphere of screen entertainment. The role is one which demands versatility as well as beauty and charm, but Miss Sullavan has all those attributes in good measure. The theme deals with the overwhelming love of a young girl for an army officer, who, when the war was over, completely forgot that the eirl ever existed and that he had a son. On the other hand, the girl makes the child her one interest in life, and

the tragedy of her life is overcome by the happiness which she enjoys through hi* existence. Another of the principals in a very strong cast is John Boles, who is cast in the role of the officer. In the opening passages of the film he is seen as a man who is broken by the knowledge that he is rained. He is preparing to end it all when he finds a bulky letter in an unknown hand on his desk, and when he commences to read it a forgotten passage in his life is revealed to him. It is this which forms the theme of the picture. Boles gives an entirely satisfactory performance in a difficult role. Billie Burke gives an excellent performance in the part of a worldly woman who has a flair for the most exquisite clothes, and another plaver who fills an important part is Benita Hume. Reginald Denny also introduces some welcome touches of comedv into the production. Throughout the filming of an intensely moving story, however. Miss Sullavan is always the outstanding figure, and. by virtue of her personality and ability, she makes .the audience live her part with her. An interesting programme of short subjects is shown. The box plans are at the theatre and the Bristol. OCTAGON THEATRE Among screen players none has a wider circle of admirers than Marie Dressier, who has the leading role in " Emma,'' which is one of the two pictures comprising the excellent entertainment that is being presented at the Octagon Theatre. In this picture she gives one of her finest portrayals, an intensely moving study ot a woman whose kindness to a family does not weigh with its members when she has to face a tragic situation. It is a moving study marked by restraint and a tine appreciation of the extent to winch emotional expression may be carried. Denied motherhood herself, she lavishes upon the children of the family in which she is employed a wealth of care and affection. Until they become men and women their welfare is her only concern, but by a strange chance the time eventually arrives when she is called upon to face a charge of-manslaughter. When the situation arises, however, those for whom she has given so much turn against her. The story is well constructed, and it works up to a climax of the most moving type. Miss Dressier is always the dominating figure, and though, by reason of her lifelike performance, she takes most of the honours, such players as Jean Hersholt, Richard Cromwell, and Myrna Loy must be given due credit for their excellent performances. In " Once to Every Woman," the other feature, Fay W'ray is the principal player, and she gives an outstanding portrayal. It, is a story which leaves the beaten track, and care and expense have not been spared in the producer's effort to obtain an atmosphere of realism. It is the story of a nurse who is in love with one of the doctors iii the hospital in which she is employed. In due course, however, she finds that he well deserves the title of the " hospital Romeo," and she also discovers that she is deeply fond of another doctor, played by Ralph Bellamy. This situation is developed on the most interesting lines, the story as a whole providing excellent entertainment. The box plans are at the theatre, Bcgg's, and M'Crackcn and Walls's. ST. JAMES THEATRE . The inimitable George Gee is seen at his breeziest and best in "Strike It Rich, the hilarious farce which occupies pride of place on this week's bill at the St. James Theatre. Gee, in the principal role, has a part that might have been made specially for him, and in it he is given ample opportunity for exploiting the whimsical foolery which he knows so well how to exploit. The story centres round a somewhat wan and vaccillating young man, who, because he has been told bv a phrenologist that he is a Napoleon of finance, immediately commences to live up to the character. All manner of weird schemes undertaken by him prove successful by mere reason of their very boldness, and after impersonating an Eastern potentate and narrowly escaping the clutches of the law he eventually reaches the top of the financial ladder, and weds the girl of his heart. This, in brief, 18 the plot around which the producers have constructed the picture, but it gives but little idea of the brilliance of the acting. Gee is everything, and he dances and laughs his way through the action in a manner that is a sheer delight to witness. He laughs and chuckles, and uses his amazingly mobile face to give point to even the most trite remark. Ills dancing is a thing to wonder at, and some of his eccentric numbers arc presented with a verve and spontaneity that give the impression that far from being a part of the picture, they are introduced just at the dancer's own sweet will. Miss Gina Malo. a vivacious little actress, plays opposite the star, and while, perhaps, she does not altogether shine in the presentation of her. part, she has a personality that carries her through and instantly makes her a prime favourite with her audience. Others rn the cast are Wilson Lawton, Ethel Warwick, _Betfr Astell. Daw Burnaby, and Ernest Sefton. An unusually varied programme of short subjects is shown in support of the main picture The box plans are at Jacobs s, MCrackon and Walls's, the theatre, and the D.I.C. ■ . STRAND THEATRE The chief attraction at the Strand Theatre this week is " Bureau of Missing Persons," It deals with a highly interesting aspect of the work of the metropolitan police of a large city like Iscw York A special staff of trained men is shown in action in the endless search tor the large numbers of people who are continually being listed as missing. Lewis Stone has the leading role and appears as the head of the bureau. Pat O'Brien has another interesting role which he handles very effectively. He appears as Butch Saunders, a detective of the third degree tvpe who finds himself transferred from the exciting and adventurous activities ot the " hold-up squad " to what he terms the "kindergarten." Bette Davis and Glenda Farrell provide the female interest m the film. A feature of the supporting programme is a' diverting Fatty Arbuckle comedy entitled " Close Relations. Newsreels and other short subjects complete a very entertaining programme, the box plans for which are at the theatre and at the D.I.C. . KING EDWARD THEATRE The double-feature programme at King Edward Theatre at the present time includes "Men Must Fight," m which is featured Diana Wynyard. Others in the - cast are Lewis Stone and Phillips Holmes, ■ both of whom give vigorously life-like i characterisations of strongly contrasting j roles. "Arizona to Broadway' is the second feature, and in this entertaining production the main feminine role is taken by Joan Bennett, who is ably supported bv James Dunne and Herbert Mundin. The two films' comprise a highly enjoyable and well-balanced programme.