AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22268, 22 May 1934, Page 16

AMUSEMENTS

REGENT THEATRE Margaret Sullavan is the attraction at the Regent Theatre at the present time, the film in which she is starred being " Only Yesterday." This talented and personable young player was practically unknown to local picture theatre-goers until she appeared at the Regent Theatre this week, but she has already won a wide public, and it is certain that her next film, which, by the way, is on its way to Dunedin at the present time, will heighten still further the popularity she has won. " Only Yesterday "is an absorbingly interesting film abounding in what the screen advertisements describe as " heart-throbs." It is the moving and poignant tale of a woman who finds that after two years the father of her child does not recognise her. Too proud to make any direct endeavour to refresh his memory, she and the boy carry on alone, but when death is about to claim Jier she makes known to the father the existence of a son of whose birth he had been unaware. The disclosure is made at a critical time in the man's life, and the outcome of it comprises the attractive climax with which the film closes. The performance of Margaret Sullavan stands out supreme and gives distinction and vivid colour to the story, but the remainder of the cast also handle their respective parts well. Benita Hume and Billie Burke are admirably cast in strongly contrasting roles, and John Boles does very well in the part of the forgetful father. There is an excellent supporting programme of short subjects, and the box plans for the season will be fouud at the theatre and at the D.I.G. <• LOOKING FORWARD." The spirit of courage and enthusiasm finds dramatic expression in Lionel Barrymore's newest starring vehicle, "Looking Forward,"' which will commence on Friday next at the Regent Theatre. The picture, which deals with the lives of two business men, is unique in respect to its handling of two stories in one. The life of a millionaire department store owner whose wife deserts him when he*faces financial ruin, is counterbalanced with the story of the humble employee who likewise is baffled by his inability to meet his payments and keep his home together, but whose family prove their loyalty when he most needs it. The wide range of characters in " Looking Forward" provides an opportunity for a number of fine acting portrayals and an outstanding group of players are seen in support of Barrymore. These include Lewis Stone, Benita Hume, Elizabeth Allan, Phillips Holmes, Colin Clive, Alec B. Francis, Doris Lloyd, Halliwell Hobbes, Douglas Walton, Viva Tattcrsall, Lawrence Grant, George K. Arthur, Charles Irwin, and Billy Bcvan. Barrymore, who played the bookkeeper in " Grand Hotel," has another intensely human role in " Looking Forward," in which he again plays a bookkeeper, this time in the great London department store of which Lewis Stone is theowner. Miss Hume is seen as Stone's faithless second wife, Miss Allan plays his daughter, and Phillips Holmes is the sou. The story shows how the woman in the life of each man affects that man's destiny. The old bookkeeper's wife regenerates him when his world comes crashing about his ears; the millionaire's wife tears him down. In the stirring climax it is the old bookkeeper who proves himself a ,'figure of power and saves a tottering mercantile machine. "Looking Forward" is based on the stage play, " Service." and was directed by Clarence Brown. EMPIRE THEATRE The current attraction at the Empire Theatre at present is " Duck 'Soup," in which the four Marx brothers present a medley of foolery such as has never been put on the screen by any other players. There are those who do not like the Marx brothers, but'even these will have to admit that their buffoonery is clever. There is little enough about the story of "Duck Soup" to call it a plot, but the picture is more connected than any of its predecessors in that there is a definite thread of reason in the madness of the whole.' The four brothers are seen as officials of the State of Ruritania and their efforts seem to be directed at reducing the government to chaos. Groucho shows no signs of losing his ability to talk, and Harpo is the same Harpo as of yore. His specialty this time is using a large pair, of scissors to the detriment of whatever objects catch his eye. It is a matter for regret that he is not heard at his favourite instrument as the musical interludes ho has provided in previous pictures have always been enjoyable. There is a delightful supporting programme and Miss Iris Mason provides several excellent organ numbers. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.T.C. "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1953." All picture lovers who remember the record-breaking "Gold Diggers of Broadway" will have little doubt in pronouncing the "Gold Diggers of 1933," which will commence at the Empire Theatre on Friday, an even bigger and brighter show. The new venture in screen revues is described as sensationally spectacular in its many gorgeous settings for ballet and chorus. One of the extraordinary dance -ensembles consists of a ballet of 200 girls, in swirlir.g glass-like skirts, manoeuvring most ingenously on a circular switchback structure that curves gracefully from the stage to the "flies." There are also some exquisite silhouette effects. The story in brief is that of three very smart " gold-digging " show girls in search of a kindly-disposed " angel," who is prepared to back a show that will give them the opportunity of displaying their talent. The pursuit and capture of this individual make for many amusing and exciting adventures that arc extremely diverting. The cast includes Warren William, Ruby Keeler, Joan Blundell, Dick Powell, Aline M'Mahon, Guy Kibbee, Ginger Rogers, and Ned Sparks. STATE THEATRE It is possible that there is in talking pictures at the moment no more popular group of players than that known as the Aldwych Theatre group, who played so many brilliant comedies on the stage before .turning their talents to the screen, in which, under the direction of Tom Walls, himself one of the principal actors, they have achieved a still wider reputa-, tion. Bright and clever as is their work, it must be admitted that they have been fortunate in having as their playwright Ben Travers, who has provided them witli material of the very first order. In past years the combination has been responsible for such successes as "Rookery Noolc," "Plunder," and half a dozen others which have set a standard of their own. The latest offering of the group is "A Cuckoo in the Nest." which is now being shown at the State Theatre, and in which the leading roles are taken by Tom Walls. Ralph Lynn, and Robertson Hare, with Mary Brough and Yvonne Arnaud in important parts. All the trouble and all the fun in the story arise out of the inconsequence of Peter Wyckham (Ralph Lynn). He and his wife are going by rail into the country to spend a week-end with a friend. At the station Peter sees Marguerite Hickett (Yvonne Arnaud), whom he has not seen since his marriage. He is so delighted that he forgets all about his wife and the train, which goes without him. As Marguerite is bound for the same country house, the mere loss of a train does not upset him, and they decide to go down by car. Tn the awkward manner of wavward cars in farces, there is a breakdown at a village which hns only one small inn, and in that hostelry there is oulv one vacant room. At the inn Peter socks, in vain, to accommodate himself to the awkwardness of sleeping under the bedroom washstand and on the floor. Mo-ning brings suspicion, trouble, and mother-in-law with it. Tn .addition to flic nrincinnl r>ictu v c. them -is a \y<"ll- - nrogramme of short snhiects. The '■>ox pla"« are »t the theatre and at Messrs Charles Be<ror and Co.'s.

ST. JAMES THEATRE

Bright music and clever dancing are combined with scintillating comedy in " Strike it Rich," which forms the chief attraction at the St. James Theatre. George Gee, who is well known to Dunedin audiences through his appearance on the stage as well as in previous films, has the principal role and gives another outstanding performance. The picture deals with a spineless, downtrodden office rouseabout, who ;s the butt of all jokes and the scapegoat in many merry outrages, but he consults a phrenologist, and is in-

formed that he is the twin-brother of Napoleon, and that he is destined to rule men and sway kingdoms. Fortified with this knowledge, which becomes an obsession, he sallies forth into his world, which is his office job, and there are endless scenes of highly entertaining incidents as he adopts Napoleonic methods where he was formerly a drudge, assuming dictatorship of the entire business. Always the dominance of music and dancing get the better of him, however, and the sound of a band acts strangely on his temperament. Gina Malo takes the part of his fiancee, working in the same office, and they have many very clever dancing numbers with catchy vocal duets. The burlesque by George Gee of the national dances is one of the most outstanding and finished items of an excellently varied and cultured performance, and when he assumes the part of an Eastern prince the fun is irresistible. Varied supports are shown. The box plans are at the theatre, Jacobs's, M'Cracken and Walls's, and the D.I.C. " TROUBLE." Scenes of Gibraltar, Vigo, Casablanca, Lisbon, and other places of pictorial interest are included iu " Trouble," the latest Sydney Howard comedy, having been secured on a three weeks' location trip on the s.s. Orford by courtesy of the Orient Line, when a photographic record w r as also made of all the amusements of pleasure cruise life. The story is by Dudley Sturrock, and is a light-hearted confectiou wi itten round the exploits of a pair of jewel thieves on a pleasure cruise boat. Sydney Howard appears as Horace Hollebone, a ship's steward, whose fund of earnest endeavour is only equalled by his capacity for making mistakes—in most of which he is aided and abetted by his friend, Steward Nobby Clark. The fun begins when Hollebone turns sleuth and starts to track down the crooks by his own peculiarly eccentric methods—inspired by a reward and a sympathetic interest in a girl passenger who is falsely accused. The cruise is presented in all its details. The passengers are seen on the games' deck, in the gymnasium, at a concert, at a fancy dress ball, and at a gymkhana. Against such backgrounds the development of the plot and the unfolding of the laughable episodes take place. The cast supporting Sydney Howard is a distinguished one, including George Curzon, Muriel Aked, Wally Patch, Hope Davy, Dorothy Robinson, George Turner, and Betty Shale. "Trouble" starts at the St. James Theatre next Friday. GRAND THEATRE The producers of "My Weakness," which is at present being shown at the Grand Theatre, have made a departure iu production methods which is decidedly interesting. At a„time like the present, when the talking picture industry is in a state of flux, anything that breaks away from the routine, either in story presentation or handling of the cast, can be followed with the keenest of interest as %eing, perhaps, the forerunner of something new in the world of the talking picture. In "My Weakness" the very opening scenes strike an entirely different, novel note with the presentation on the screen of Cupid in person, though, it must be admitted, a somewhat unusual Cupid. The story is introduced by Cupid himself, who tells of the trouble he has experienced in piercing the heart of a particularly tough Romeo. In vain the gay archer launches arrow after arrow. Romeo has an armour of indifference that is- proof to the keenest of shafts, and it is only when Cupid is on the point of despair that bis marksmanship proves effective. The bulk of the film is devoted to telling the manner in which Romeo, iu the person of a very modern young American man, is brought to lay his heart at the feet of a girl whom lie had planned to marry off to someone else, merely as an answer to a challenge, success in which, would restore to him his threatened financial independence. The part of the young man is taken by Lew Ayres, and Lilian Harvey, who has come to American pictures from the Continent with a reputation which few overseas players bring to Hollywood, is seen as the girl. The story can scarcely be taken as a. romance; it is rather a romantic comedy, with the emphasis on the comedy. How the young American takes a girl from his uncle's office, grooms her to take her place in society, and;, is on the point of marrying her off to his uncle when he himself falls a victim to her charms, forms the basis of the plot. But the real attraction of the picture is the scope which it allows for the introduction of some really humorous situations, .and the audience is kept at the sallies of one or other of the players. The supporting roles are capably handled. . The programme of short pictures is in keeping with the stand-ard-which has for long been set by the management of the Grand Theatre. The box plans are at , the theatre and at Messrs Charles Begg and Co.'s. OCTAGON THEATRE In the leading role in " Emma,"' which is one of the two pictures that are being screened at the Octagon Theatre, is Marie Dressier, who gives one of the finest performances of her career iu the role of a woman whose kindness to a family is forgotten by* its members when she is in dire trouble. It is a role which gives her great scope for her ability to fill roles that demand a fine appreciation of dramatic values, and her study of the part is one that cannot fail to evoke general, admiration. She has the role of a woman who, denied motherhood herself, lavishes care and affection on the children of a family in which,she is employed. Until they grow up to manhood and womanhood their welfare is her only concern, but, after her work has been done, they bring a charge of manslaughter against her. The supporting players include Jean Hersholt, Richard Cromwell, and Myrna Loy. The other picture is " Once to Every Woman," in which Fay Wray is the principal player, Ralph Bellamy filling another important role. It is the story of a nurse who is in love with one of the doctors in the hospital in which she is employed.' She finds, however, that, while the doctor's affection for her is not as deep 'as he professed it to be, she herself is greatly attracted by another member of the staff. This situation is developed until an extremely interesting climax is reached. The story is one which breaks a great deal of new ground in moving picture production. The box plans are at the theatre, Begg's, and M'Cracken and Walls's. STRAND THEATRE The main item of the programme that is being screened at the Strand Theatre at present is entitled " The Bureau of Missing Persons," and the film deals with the highly interesting activities of the metropolitan police force of. a large city. There is in every such city a large list of people reported to be missing and a large staff of highly trained men is kept for the purpose of maintaining a search for these persons. Lewis Stone, one of the greatest favourites of the screen, has the role of chief of the bureau, and Pat O'Brien is seen as Saunders, who is a detective of the large, rough type, who is disgusted to find himself transferred from the department he likes to what he calls the " Idndergarten." Bette Davis, a particularly dainty little star, and Gleuda Farrell are the mainstays of the other side of the cast. An .excellent supj porting programme includes a "Fatty" Arbuckle comedy. The box plans are at , the theatre and the D.T.C. j "MAN OF THE FOREST." j Zane Grey's "Man of the Forest,"! twenty-ninth' of his novels to reach the screen, will be the next attraction at the | Strand Theatre, with Randolph Scott. Harry Carey, Noah Beery, Vcrna Millie. and Buster Crabbe in leading roles. Like other Zane Grey stories, "Man of the Forest" is an action-drama. Every moment is crowded with action, and there is plenty of hard riding ami gun play in it as well. The story centres around Scott, the man of the forest, who overhears a plot concocted by Beefy to cap- I lure Miss Hillie. She has been sent for I by Carey, her uncle, so that the latter can place his ranch in her name _and thus prevent Beery from acquiring it. Scott forestalls Beery's effort to kidnap the girl, and proceeds to do so himself, as a j matter of protecting her. When Beery and his gang descend on the scene a >;un ! battle results, in which Carey is killed. Scott is accused of the crime and thrown | into gaol. His pet mountain lion assists in getting him out, but Beery and his j gang follow. In the pursuit that ensures the picture reaches a thrilling climax. '

KING EDWARD THEATRE

There is an attractive double feature programme showing at the King Edward Theatre at the present time, the first film being "Men Must Fight," a good dramatic romance in which the principal part i s taken by Diana Wynyard, the gifted star who made her name in the film version of "Cavalcade." There is a good supporting cast in this film and the story has been very effectively translated to the screen. " Arizona to Broad, way" is the second attraction, and in this amusing and swiftly moving story the principal characters are presented by Joan Bennett and James Dunne, while a lot of. excellent comedy work is clone by that delightful little comedian, Herbert Mundin. The two films make up a well balanced evening's entertainment which should be generally enjoyed. GREEN ISLAND KINEMA Modern motion pictures are calling for big expenditure in an effort to make perfect entertainment. The first big air picture since " Hell's Angels " has been made by Howard Hughes, the young producer who made that epic of the screen, and again he has spent a good-sized fortune to make something worth while. It is " Sky_ Devils," and this time the producer's dollars have been handed out to make the public'laugh as well as thrill, for in these times a laugh seems to be the best tonic the motion picture producer can offer his patrons. Consequently he has turned out a comedy of the cloud's with a war background, but with the horrors of the conflict left out, and its humorous side brought to the fore. Spencer Tracy, Boyd, and George Cooper are the three musketeers.of the air this time, and Ann Dvorak is the girl. Many of the dare-devil pilots who put so many thrills into "Hell's Angels" are also in " Sky Devils," displaying new stunts and hair-raising manceuvres. A strong associate programme precedes the feature, fo.remost amonsr which is a Mickey Mouse cartoon. " Trader Mickey."