AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22327, 30 July 1934, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS

STATE THEATRE A picture of an unusual type, but oPe tliat combines all the essentials of firstclass entertainment is “ Friday, the 13th,” which i't* at present being shown at the State Theatre. With an exceptionally large cast of British stars the film mores swiftly from start to finish, and as the action is switched rapidly from one scene to another the interest of the audience never flags. Although the cast is ready an •'all-star” one the performances that stand out above the others are those of Jessie -Matthews, who hag proved her worth in innumerable pictures, and Edmund Gweun, who has come to be just as popular as the result of his work in films that have been seen during the past few months. The story opens with a bus accident in London, and then the clock is turned back for a day in order flint the lives of those who were concerned in .the accident may be followed. One sees first of all the bus driver and conductor preparing to set about the day’s work, after which the scene changes successively to the home of a city business man, a chorus girl’s flat, a second-hand dealer’s shop, and a carriage in the tube train. The events of the day as they concern these various persons are shown in detail. The chorus girl and her lover quarrel), the police are hatching a plot to catch the second-hand dealer, the business man makes a bad stock market speculation, and the busmen prepare for a day at the races. All these complicated plots move along side by side, and finally they are merged into one as the persons concerned meet in the bus when it starts on its fateful journey. By this time, however, an interesting series of situations bag been evolved. Tragedy stalks alongside humour, two desperate men iu entirely different circumstances have become involved with each other, and a crook has fallen neatly into a trap laid for him by the police. Then the bus crashes through a shop window and solves everything. Others in the cast whose work is outstanding are Gordon Barker, Sonnie Hale, Frank Lawton, Muriel Aked, Ursula Jeans, and Robertson Hare. In addition to the principal film there is an exceptionally good supporting programme, m which isfeatured the third episode of Gaumont s life of the Prince of Wales. In this instalment the Prince is shown on his various tours in Canada, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and other countries, added interest being lent to the film by the fact that a spoken commentary is provided by hi s Royal Highness himself, who proves to have a fine turn for description. The box plans are at the theatre and Messrs Charles Begg and Co. s. REGENT THEATRE Admirers of the work and personality of Kay Francis should visit the Regent Theatre, for “ The House on 56th Street, the chief attraction on the new programme, is one of her best productions. The principal laurels of the film are undeniably hers. The story is the double drama of a mansion and of a woman.. The two themes are worked together. The story of the mansion and the changes of- its fortune over a period of 30 years, when it becomes a night club and a. gambling den, is made the setting of the story of a woman’s life. To this bouse Peggy of therFollies (Kay Francis) comes as a young bride. At the height of her happiness the bride, though innocent, is torn from her husband and sent to prison on a charge of murdering a former lover. Years later she returns again to the house, this time as the mistress of a gambling game. The years of the World War intervene, and the story comes to modern time, winding up in a spectacular manner. ■ The difficult task of portraying a character through a period of 30 years is admirably ; performed by Miss Francis, who succeeds in recapturing the widely differing atmospheres of the periods between 1903 and 1935. Gene Raymond plays his part attractively, as does Ricardo Cortez. John Halliday, Margaret Lindsay, William Boyd, and Frank M’Hugli appear in supporting roles. The variety of modes and fashion during the period of the story lends itself to some effective contracts, and there are many creations which, to the feminine eye, will constitute one of the main attractions of the film. At first sight the modes of the late Victorian and early Edwardian periods seem grotesque, bnt when worn in the proper atmosphere they reveal dignity and charm, 1 a fact of which Kay Francis fully avails herself. The supporting programme is a good one. including Jack Dean and. his band, a musical extravaganza, “Around the Clock,” a Cinesound News, a musical review, and another of the interesting “Strange As It Seems ” series. The box plans are at the Theatre and the D.I.C. GRAND THEATRE , A new star in the person of Rosemary Ames is featured in “ I Believed in Yon,”, which is the current attraction at the Grand Theatre. Miss Ames has a role that affords her great opportunities for character acting, and the manner in which' she succeeds in conveying to the audience a sense of the spiritual advance of the girj whom she is portraying stamps her as an actress of more than usual ability. She is seen as True Merrill, a romanticallyminded girl, who meets Jim Growl, one of those agitators with a burning enthusiasm for the cause which he has espoused. At first her attitude to him is one of curiosity tinged with pity, but as she listens to his plans for the down-trodden working men she becomes fired with an enthusiasm similar to his own. The feeling of pity gives place to one bordering on affection, and she agrees to join him in his campaign against the forces of capitalism. In the experiences which come to her in the time which follows, the girl is introduced to a type'of life to which she had hitherto been a complete stranger, but she manfully adapts herself to this new way of living with people whose code of life is completely different from hers. A crisis comes in the lives of those with whom her lot is cast when they are evicted for non-payment of rent, but a new character enters on the scene in the person of Michael Harrison, a wealthy young man whose first meeting with the girl is rather an unfortunate one. As a matter of fact she actually goes so far ns to strike him in the face, and she, along with those around her. are arrested. When her victim succeeds in having the girl released on probation, and then takes the bold chance of offering to provide for the whole party for a term of six months, the girl is forced to realise that she has come into contact with a new philosophy of life. Gradually it dawns upon her that her old associates were not inspired by an entirely selfless enthusiasm, and the change of attitude which follows is cleverly portrayed by Miss Ames. The programme of-sup-porting subjects is also a good one. The box plans are at tile theatre and at Messrs Charles Begg and Co.’s. OCTAGON THEATRE The absorbing story of "Sorrell- and Son,” played against a picturesque background of English countryside and English country life, is proving a genuine attraction at the Octagon Theatre', where it is now in its second week. Perhaps that is one of its greatest charms for. local audiences, its arid essential English atmosphere, settings, and sentiment. Most of the action takes place in' tile heart of the Ootswuld Hills in the little old village of Broadway, which lies buried in the Worcestershire of Charles the First, Cromwell, and Dickens. It is said that both Charles the First and Cromwell actually had lodging in the typical country inn which is used in this film to present Warwick Decping’s Pelican Hotel. The cast that has been chosen for the interpretation of the story is as suitable to the tales as are the settings. The principal performer is H. B. Warner, who appeared in the same role in the silent version of the film. - Sound has greatly improved his performance and, in fart, has transformed the whole film. Warner registers a very fine performance throughout, and certainly achieves the greatest success.of his career on the sound, films. Hugh Williams, as’ the “ eon ” of “ Sorrel! and Son,” does a lot of very effective and arresting work and providegi just the right complement to the out-,-stauding characterisation, of Sorrell. In. the principal feminine role is Winifred Shotler, as charming as ever, and exhibit*, ing a rare understanding of the special requirements of this decide/Uv attractive part. There is a good _ supporting proprogramme of short subjects covering an interestingly wide range of topical matters, and the box plans for the season will be found at the theatre, at the D.1.C., and at M'Crncken and Walls’s.

ST. JAMES THEATRE An unusually strong cast is seen in " Madame Spy,” an exciting story, which is being screened at the St. James Theatre. For the leading role an ideal choice has been made in Fay Wray, who achieves an excellent portrayal as a mysterious Russian spy who bag been baffling the Austrian secret intelligence department, and there are several others whose performances call for unstinted admiratioii. The picture, as a Whole, has been constructed with, remarkable realism, and, there are many stirring wartime scenes. The events which are related arise ft'om the hostilities on the Russo-German front in 1915, and deal chiefly with the battle of wits that goes on between the secret services of the Russians and the Austrians at an important stage in the fighting. The story opens in exciting fashion | with an aeroplane fight in which Captain Franck, an Austrian officef, is badly wounded. He is nursed by Maria, with whom he falls in love, and on their return to Vienna they are married. Franck is. then posted to the intelligence service, which is endeavouring to break up a Russian organisation that is obtaining valuable secrets. A series of extremely exciting events ends in the discovery that Maria is a Russian spy, but she escapes before the Austrians are able to make use of the information that they have obtained. This, however, is by no means the end of the story, for Maria has fallen in love with her husband by this time. When Franck himself is in ijs able to assist him. How all this happens makes entertainment of the most absorbing kind. Nils Asther, John MJI- - and Edward Arnold are three players who give fine performances. The snpportiny programme is one of special interest. The box plans are at the theatre, Jacobs's, M’Craeken and Walls’s, and the D.I.C. EMPIRE THEATRE Combined with some of the most lavish settings seen on the screen in Dunedin, “ Footlight Parade,” which is the present, attraction at the Empire Theatre presents a good story, plenty of humour, and a pretty romance. In the principal role, is James Cagney, who was an excellent choice for the part of the young man who works at top pressure in providing bright ideas for a firm of vaudeville and revue producers. Into this part he introduces a great deal of humour both by action and word, and be almost bewilders the audience with the speed at which he delivers his lines. In his spare moments he is engaged in repelling th® attentions of van* ous women as persistent as they are Attractive. Dick Powell makes a valuable contribution to the success of the film as leadirfg man on the revue side of the entertainment. The possessor of a, pleasing tenor voice, he presents Sitting on a Backyard Fence,” “ Honeymoon Hotel, and “By a Waterfall,” some ofthe delightful musical numbers that are heard at intervals during the screening. He is ably supported by Ruby Keeler, and Joan Blondell also has an important part. The best feature of the production is the combination of spectacular scenes that form its climax. Some amazingly beautiful effects are obtained, and there is some extremely clever under-water photography. Altogether the picture forms entertainment of the brightest type. There is a good supporting programme. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. STRAND THEATRE “The Last Round Up,” the new programhie at the Strand Theatre, is certain to attract all lovers of the thrilling outdoor Western drama, for it is one of the very best of its kind ever presented.on the talking screen. The story is adapted from Zane Grey’s novel. The, Border Legion,” and is a tale of the gold coach-; ing days in Arizona and of the outlaws of the border. Gold, horses, steers, ranches, guns, murderous men, and lynching townsmen, the ingredients of the long, line of Western dramas that afforded the. chief film entertainment for many years,, are all present in “The Last Round Up. Randolph Scott, as a cowboy who is forced, by circumstances to join the outlaws, gives one of the best performances of bis career, and Barbara Adams, as the girl whom he tries to rescue from the bands of two of the outlaws, Monte Blue and Fred Kohler, gives a very, pleasing performance. A thrilling, gun-fighting raid on a town opens the story, and another raid of the same type brings it to a surprising climax. The popular song, “ The Last Round Up,” is presented, in a very effective setting, and as a result should enjoy, increased popularity. There is a varied supporting programme. The box plans arc at the theatre and the D.I.C. KING EDWARD THEATRE There is an excellent double-feature programme at the King Edward Theatre at the present time, the principal attraction being the delightful English comedy entitled “His Grace Gives Notice.” The cast is a good one and the story on which the film is based a particularly inviting one. In the principal male role is the; English stage favourite, Arthur Margetson, who has the part of his Grace. S. Victor Stanley, Viola Keats, Dick Francis, aand 0. B. Clarence fill the other featured parts very effectively. The second attraction is of a very different character, but, in conjunction with the first film, it makes up a well-balanced entertainment. It is entitled “Penthouse,” and its cast includes several prime favourites. The chief male role is taken by Warner Baxter, and opposite him in the leading feminine role is Myrna Loy. Both players give very good performances. The story of “ Penthouse” is absorbingly interesting, and the various character studies which the film comprises are all excellently drawn.