EMPIRE THEATRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22326, 28 July 1934, Page 21

EMPIRE THEATRE

Containing some of the most lavish and spectacular scenes shown in Dunedin, as well as embodying a fast-moving story, replete with humour and seasoned with an acceptable dash of romance, “ Footlight Parade,” which is now showing at the Empire Theatre, provides entertainment of a particularly enjoyable type. Although it has many of the characteristics of a revue, “ Footlight Parade ” is much more than a mere variety show, for it contains two appealing romances, while the genera! theme is by no means sketchy and is en-

livened by bright and sparkling dialogue which serves to give an added zest to the production as a whole. The principal role is taken by James Cagney, who gives a convincing portrayal of the part of the man who provides the original ideas for a firm of vaudeville and revue producers. In between headaches he works at tremendous speed, and the impression of high pressure is admirably sustained by tlie rapidity with which he delivers his lines, all of which suggest a remorseless race against time, in order that his firm shall be first in the field with the latest ideas. In his few spare moments, which are usually snatched when a show has been definitely launched on, the road to ultimate production, lie wrestles with entanglements with various women who are particularly difficult to discourage. In the revue side of the entertainment the leading man is Dick Powell, who has, in addition to an engaging personality, a most pleasing tenor voice, which is hoard to excellent advantage in such melodious and catchy numbers as “ Sitting on a. Backyard hence, “ Honeymoon Hotel,” and By. a Waterfall,” in which he is associated with Ruby Keeler, a charming young actress who assumes one of the leading feminine parts. The other prominent feminine role is taken by Joan Blondell, who gives an eminently satisfying and appealing portrayal of the part of Cagney’s secretary who, for love of him, puts forward her best endeavours to disentangle.him from the clutches of the women who seek to blackmail him. Guy Kibbee appears as the dishonest promoter whose “bookkeeping mistakes result in the firm’s failure to show profits on its ventures, wjth the that Cagney receives nothing for his work, and associated with Ruth Donnelly and Hugh Herbert he provides much of the humour of the production. The three final scenes in the production are magnificent, more especially the waterfall scene, in- which some of the most amazingly intricate and beautiful sets ever seen on the screen provide a magnificent background for some wonderful ensemble work by a large number of extremely attractive young women. The under-water photography showing the movements of the diving girls in their spectacular and cleverly arranged figureformations is one of the high lights of the entertainment. There is a varied and attractive programme of supporting short subjects. The box plans ai’e at the theatre and the-D.I.C. STRAND THEATRE “The Last Round Up,” which was shown for the first time at the Strand Theatre yesterday, is a “Western in the best tradition of its type. It is based on " The Border Legionone of the best of the novels with which Zanc Grey won his fame. Through the excitement and dash of-the action there is a strong under-, current of sadness, a deeper emotion winch one does not look to find in films of this type, and it is most appropriately voiced in'the singing of the melancholy cowboy song from which it takes its name. “ ihe Last Round Up,” one of the most popular of. recent songs, is sung in, this him m an effective setting, which succeeds in fully revealing its meaning. In a crowded barroom . an ageing cowpuncher commences to sing the song, and the noise of the gamblers is silenced while its sentiment rouses unaccustomed thoughts in the players. The song is well sung, and the direction and characterisation ot the whole scene is very. skilful. The story is of the outlaw bands that roved the West in the early days of settlement, preying upon the cattle ranches and upon the gold coaches. Monte Blue, an actor who won popularity in this, type of him well back in the days of the silent screen, appears as the leader of an outlaw band which terrorises the country. The story opens with a raid on a email township in which his plan has been discovered and the raidera are ambushed. After a thrilling gunfight, Monte Blue and several of his closest associates, including Fred Kohler and “Fuzzy” Knight, escape. They remove to another part of the country, where they are joined by a cowboy who is down on his luck, Randolph Scott. Wlien a woman, Barbara Adams, comes on the scene trouble commences, and the story works up to an exciting climax with another fruitless raid on a mining community in which the gang, is almost wiped out. Beaten again, the outlaw leader performs the most generous act of his career, inspired bv the nobler side of his love for the girl. The film can hardly fail to win appreciative audiences throughout its season. There is an unusually interesting supporting programme, including- a very entertaining “Film Souvenir” _apd a Charlie Chaplin comedy. It is very doubtful if, the audiences of years ago ever derived so much entertainment from these films as do the audiences of to-day. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. KING EDWARD THEATRE A typically English comedy dealing with the consternation following the discovery of a duke working as a footman is offered at the King Edward Theatre in “ His Grace Gives Notice,” which will be screened to-day. In this comedy-drama George, the footman, in the employ of Lord Rannock, perplexes the “kitchen” because he seems to lack tlie humility becoming to a gentleman’s servant. In fact he so far forgets his position as to hang up a photograph of the Hon. Barbara Rannock, his employer’s daughter.

Arthur Margetson plays the role of George, Duke of Marlow, with au admirable restraint and bis characterisation rings true both as a footman and later as the Duke of Marlow. S. Victor Stanley, ViGla Keats, Dick Francis, and 0. B. Clarancc all add admirable support. The other picture is “Penthouse,” with Warner Baxter, Myrna Loy, and other well-known players in the cast. GREEN ISLAND PICTURES Robert Montgomery heads the cast of “Hell Below,” which will be screened at the Green Island Pictures and featured roles are played by Walter Huston, Madge Evans. Jimmy Durante, Eugene Pallettc, and Robert Young, with the supporting cast including Edwin Styles, John Lee Mahin, David Newell, Sterling Holloway, and Charles Irwin. Many of the exterior scenes of “ Hell Below ” were made on location at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii. Members of the cast, Director Jack Conway, and a large technical corps spent more than a month at Pearl Harbour photographing atmospheric and action scenes. Critics concede “Hell Below” to be the most thrilling marine drama yet to reach the screen, striking effects having been achieved by the use of new developments in under-sea photography, notably a novel camera. The picture is replete with engrossing action from start to finish, the camera depicting the plight-of a submarine at the bottom of the sea with its engines dead and its crew apparently doomed, the battles between the undersea craft and four destroyers who attempt; to destroy the, submarine with depth bombs, and the final-hair-raising episode in which the submarine laden with dynamite rams a fortress and thus blocks up the enemy sea base. There will be an adequate supporting programme.