AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22519, 13 March 1935, Page 14

AMUSEMENTS

GRAND THEATRE Comedy and funic, mimic and romance, will be nerved to-day at the Grand Theatre, when the two feature films. " There 0oe« Susie" and " The Alan I Want" will have their local premieres. "There Gooh Susie" stars Gene Gerrard, and FiiimoroUH Jlctiry Kendall takes the leading male role in "The Alan 1 Want." In both pictures the lovely Wendy Barrie has the principal female role. Jioth pictures provide ample opportunity for an almost unlimited number of lutlicroufi mistakes and misunderstandings to happen, and, of course, as part of the fun, they do. Necessity demands that they be unravelled, and the process in each case is highly entertaining. Into well-con-structed plots are woven clever passages of repartee—repartee that is fresh and bright, that is not dulled by hackneyed " gags." To the attractiveness of " There Goes Susie " are added the songs of Gene Gerrard, "There Goes Susie" i« the tale of a poor artist, Andre Cochet, and a wealthy eoap manufacturer's daughter, Madeline Sarteaux, and it shows how the manufacturer unknowingly uses his daughter's beauty to advertise his soap. Maybe it i« just the old story of the lovers temporarily parted through an unexpected turn in events, but it i 6 certainly a story very well retold. Wendy Barrie and. Gerrard make a charming pair, and they are assisted in their love-making and their quarrelling by Gus M'Naughton and Zelma O'Neill, comedians of long-standing repute, and Gibb M'Laughlin. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg's. REGENT THEATRE Combining an excellent plot, amusing characterisations, clean recording, an:l brilliant acting, " Girls Will be Boys," ■which is the main attraction on the current programme at the Regent Theatre, is as entertaining a picture as anyone could wish for. The appearance of a new film star in the person of the attractive Continental actress Dolly Haas is an additional attraction, and she is given plenty of opportunity to display her versatility to the full. She has a pleasing manner and a delightful personality, and her first picture should win her many admirers. Cyril Maude, who made such an impression in " Grumpy," is admirably cast as the Duke who, as the surviving member of an old family, desires to have a male heir to keep the line alive. His granddaughter, in an effort to convert him from a confirmed woman-hater, disguises herself as a boy and enters his home. The resulting situations are as hilarious as they are ingenious, for the young " man " is forced to drink, smoke, and fish in company with her relative's worldly friends. In her effort to keep her identity a secret she 'S compelled to adopt countless subterfuges, all full of comedy. The final denouement is_ satisfactory to all and makes a fitting climax to the film. There is a strong supporting programme. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. "THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO.-' In preparation for nearly a year before a single scene was filmed, the million dollar production, " The Count ot Monte Cristo," which will be screened at the Regent Theatre on Friday, is hailed as one of the few really big " specials" to come out of Hollywood since the advent of talking pictures, and a forceful answer to the public demand for entertainment of world-wide appeal for all ages and all tastes. This lavish filmisation of Alexandre Dumas's immortal classic is the most ambitious of the screen achievements to date of Reliance Pictures, the Harry M. Goets-Edward Small production organisation, which made " I Cover the Waterfront." Months of research by a staff of technical experts, unhurried scenario preparation by three writers—Phillip Dunne, Dan Totheroh, and Rowland V. Lee—and the year's biggest set-construction programme and wardrobe assembling preceded actual production. Search for the ideal personality to play the character of Edmond Dantes, familiar to countless readers ot the story in every civilised country, finally resulted in the choice of Robert Donat. Elissa Landi was the final choice for the role of Mercedes, Dantes' sweetheart. EMPIRE THEATRE James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, and Gloria Stuart have the featured roles in "Here Comes the Navy," which is the current attraction at the Empire Theatre. It was filmed for the most part on board the giant battleship U.S.S. Arizona, and when the American Pacific fleet engages in manoeuvres dramatic incidents of naval warfare are seen. Enlisting in the American Navy as a common rating, Chesty O'Connor (James Cagney) at once finds the stern discipline of the sea irksome to ■his free and easy mode of life. Matters are not improved when he finds his avowed enemy Biff Martin (Pat O'Brien) the chief petty-officer in charge of him. Chesty falls in love with Dorothy (Gloria Stuart) without knowing that she is Biff Martin's sister. His resentment against those in authority turns his shipmates against him, with the exception of Droopy (Frank M'Hugh), who sticks to his disgruntled friend through thick and thin. Droopy's droll humour and unconscious witticisms had the audience in fits of laughter again and again. At last Chesty proves his worth in a dramatic scene when the powder in the main gun turret of the Arizona ignites. The climax is all that could be desired, and there is an excellent programme of supporting pictures. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. "BELLE OF THE NINETIES." " I'm gonna be a bad girl with a good heart! " And with that tag on the characterisation that brings her to the screen in her third starring Paramount film, " Belle of' the Nineties," Mae West returns to the period which first skyrocketed her to fame—the gay nineties. The film, with Roger Pryor, John Mack Brown, and John Miljan as the " tall, dark, and handsomes," will be screened at the Empire Theatre on Friday. Mae West strides through an adventurous love-action story which has as its background two of the most colourful cities of that period, New Orleans and St. Louis. And above the rhythm to which Mae West sways comes the thud of fists. For fights that were fights and boxers that could "take it" come into her life to bring complications and love. Historical characters of the day move against the background for which Mae West is famous. With the Mississippi River coming in for ite share of local colour, Miss West's new screen offering dramatises the strident days when men gambled with hearts, paid off on aces, and fought for fun. She is cast as Ruby Carter, the centre of a whirlpool of action that brings her down the river from a St. Louis burlesque show to one of the most famous gaming houses in the south. Around Mae West resounds all the gaiety of song and music of that period. ST. JAMES THEATRE As the exceedingly beautiful, dangerous, and fearless heroine of " The Notorious Sophie Lang." which is this weeks attraction at the St. James Theatre, Gertrude Michael is cast in the title role as the exotic international crook who is fond of jewellery and men—especially i jewellery. The film is a fast-moving romance of a beautiful girl crook, who outwits the police of several countries, steals' the thunder from all her notorious rivals—and the hearts from her many admirers—and gets away with it. Paul Cavanaugh Leon Errc-11. Arthur Byron, and Alison Skipworth also are featured in (he cast. Her activities arouee the interest of Europe's famous jewel thief, Cavanaugh, and he intends to beat her at her own game—she cannot become the best in the profession. Still eluding the I detectives, Sophie learns they have peri mitted the European crook to go unnio- ' lestcd in New York, feeling she will 1 to into partnership with him. arid tlicrebv put herself in their hands. Hut her cleverness i« too much for them. She not onlv baffles the police, but she falls in love with the rival, and together they leave the country. j How they carry off a successful final coup ' and escape their pursuers brings the film I to a thrilling ending. There is a strong supporting programme. The box plans ! are at the theatre, the D.I.C, M'Cracken | and Walls's, and Jacobs's. ' "MALA THE MAGNIFICENT." i For enterprise the making of " Mala the Magnificent," which will be screened at the St. James Theatre on Friday, ! probably has not been equalled, and it ' is another outstanding example of the lengths to which producers will go in an

effort to satisfy the ever-growing faetidi- | oneness of picture theatre audiences. That their efforts on this occasion have been rewarded is obvious from the impression "Mala the Magnificent" has created wherever it has been shown, and if it is possible to go by the opinions expressed by tho.se who have seen the picture, there is reason to anticipate that the Dunedin season will be as equally successful as others have been. 'Mala the Magnificent" is a long film—it takes nearly two hours to screen —but never for a moment does the interest of the audience flag. The entire film was made in the Arctic, and the actors were recruited from among the Eskimos on the spot. Into the film have been worked some of the most exciting episodes imaginable. Among the most interesting are those dealing with the great Eskimo hunting parties which show the stampeding of a frightened herd of caribou and a great fight with an enormous whale. lhe story, which was written by Captain Peter Freuchen, who plays a email part in the film himself, is a thrilling one ot life and love among the natives of the far north, and its recording on the screen has been beautifully and faithfully done. With the exception of the white men playing the mounted police, and the captain and mate of a whaling vessel, all the actors in the picture are Eskimos, and the acting of Mala is 6aid to be a magnificent piece of work. STATE THEATRE Heading the cuurent bill at the State Theatre is " Bella Donna," a screen adaptation of Robert Hichens's book. The cast is headed by Mary Ellis, a famous j English stage actress, in the title role. Her performance brings to life the character of Bella Donna exactly as the author must have conceived it, a fascinating, dangerous woman. It is a difficult role, calling for the expression, almost simultaneously, of the emotions of love, hate, and fear, and this talented actress succeeds in inspiring the appropriate emotions in her audience. Acting honours are shared by Sir Cedric Hardwicke, as Dr Isaacson, a life-long friend of Nigel Armine, husband of Bella Donna. He portrays with great dramatic force, but with suitably fine restraint, the role of a distinguished physician, who brings his friend through a physical crisis and then, at the risk of antagonising that friend, stands by him in an evon greater mental crisis. The magnetic, sinister personality of Baroudi, the Egyptian, whose spell enslaves even the worldly Bella Donna, is admirably portrayed by Conrad Veidt, star of ' The Wandering Jew." There are several interesting pictures in support. The box plans are at the theatre and Beggs. "BROADWAY BILL." Followers of the sport of kings will find much to satisfy them in "Broadway Bill," one of the finest sporting pictures ever shown in Dunedin and a worthy successor to that famous production on thig theme, " Sporting Blood." _ " Broadway Bill," which will commence its season at the State Theatre on Friday, embodies something new in the way of horse racing stories, and the atmosphere of suspense and excitement is seldom absent after the story is well on its way. The principal roles are taken by Warner Baxter, who appears as Dan Brooks, racehorse enthusiast and rebel against the humdrum existence demanded of him by his family, Myrna Loy, as Alice, who sympathises with Dan in his endeavours to struggle out of the rut of domesticity which so irks him, Walter Connolly, as J. L. Hiegins, Dan's father-in-law, who violently opposes his wishes to enter the horseracing sport, Helen Vinsen, Clarence Muse, and Douglas Dumbrille. The title of the production is taken from the name of a racehorse owned by Dan Brooks, which he is confident will win him high honours on the track. However, he is comfortably established in hia > father-in-law's box manufacturing business, and his slightest suggestion that he should leave the security of the business and make his money at racing is met with the strongest disapproval by the other members of the family, with the exception of his young unmarried sister-in-law, Alice. Eventually, after a violent scene, Dan leaves the bosom, of his family and takes his horse Broadway Bill with him, but agrees to return if his venture is a failure. After a series of vicissitudes, caused by his lack of finances, Dan succeeds in entering his horse for a race, but the first attempt is a failure, for Broadway Bill plays up at the barrier and is badly left. His master imagines that he i s restive on account of the absence of his friend, a rooster rejoicing in the name of " Skeeter," and when Alice arrives from home with the bird the horse settles down in encouraging fashion. In the next race the horse is entered at 100 to 1, but as, the result of a joking bet of two dollars made by a millionaire, the price shortens to 10 to 1. This apparently plays into the hands of a gambler who is backing his own horse, for as the odds on Broadway Bill shorten those on his own fancy lengthen. Near the commencement of the race the horse is attached for a feed bill, and Dan is arrested for fighting, but the way is smoothed out by the gambler who, for his own ends, settles Dan's troubles for him. The race itself is one of the most exciting episodes of this type ever seen on the screen, and provides an excellent climax to an outstanding picture. An _ entertaining programme of short subjects will also be shown. , OCTAGON THEATRE Based on J. B. Priestley's famous novel, " The Good Companions,'' which is at present being screened at the Octagon Theatre, must be ranked as one of the most outstanding British pictures to be shown in Dunedin 'for many months. Dealing as it does with the fortunes and misfortunes of a group of touring players, the production is not only an entertaining account of their adventures, but also a brilliant psychological study. The way in which widely different people, each with his separate nature, are brought together and mingled into one company is a credit to the producers of the picture, and the leading roles have been allotted to such brilliant actors and actresses that the picture is almost as perfect as a picture can be. Jessie Matthews, as Susie Dean, Edmund Gwenn, as Jess Oakroyd, and John Gielgud, as Inigo Jollifant, are all responsible for delightful portrayals, while the numerous minor parte are filled in a capable manner by lesser-known players. There is a good programme of short subjects in support of the main picture. The box plans are at the theatre, M'Cracken and Walls's, and Begg's. STRAND THEATRE " Come On, Marines," and " The Witching Hour" are the two pictures which form the entertaining programme at the Strand Theatre this week. The first film is a rollicking comedy dealing with the adventures of a young petty officer of the marines, who, through an over-fond-ness for the company of the fair sex, is degraded and sent to the jungle fastnesses of the Philippines to give him the chance of rehabilitating himself. "While he is ; there, word is received of a wrecked party from a children's school, but the "youngsters" turn out to be grown-up women. From there the film works up to a riotous conclusion. " The Witching Hour" is a contrasting picture, and has as its theme the question whether a man is responsible for a crime if he commits it while under the influence of a hypnotist. It is a strange plot admirably handled, the eerie atmosphere being conveyed in a convincing manner. The outstanding cast includes Sir Guy Standing, John Halliday, Judith Allen, and Tom Brown. The box plans for the season will be found at the theatre and the D.I.C. "HAVANA WIDOWS." Joan Blonrlell and Lyle Talbot form a fine romantic comedy team in "Havana Widows." which will be screened at the Strand Theatre on Friday in conjunction with a drama, " Housewife." Miss Blondell plays a strictly comic role. This is the first time the two have played opposite each other in the leading roles. It is also one of the few times that Talbot has been oast to play a leading romantic vole, his lot usually being that of the villain. Miss Blondell, who plays a straight, comic, or romantic heroine with equal facility, in this picture is a combination of all three, as a gold-digging Broadway chorus girl in Havana on the hunt for millionaires. The screen play gives an unusual twist to the old badger same that takes it out of the serious class and into the realm of comedy. Other members of the east include Guy Kibbee, Allen Jenkins. Frank M'Hugh, and Ruth Donnelly. " Housewife "■ is a drama featuring George Brent, Bette Davis, and Ann Dvorak. To this picture Brent brings a new fire, a new dominance to

his characterisation. He has come into his own with a distinctly added vigour. Bette Davis gives a fine portrayal of a woman who takes what she wants in the way of love regardless of the homes and lives she wrecks. Miss Dvorak, in the title role, has the finest part she has had since her return to the screen, and she enacts it with all her eparkjing brilliance. John Halliday is excellent as the fourth party in the love tangle, being infatuated with the neglected %vife. While the story is powerfully dramatic, it is not without its lighter moments, comedy being supplied by Ruth Donnelly, Hobart Cavanaugh, and Leila Bennett. MAYFAIR THEATRE United Artists, which has had the foresight to ally itself with the English producers, brings further proof of its sound judgment in the film-making prowess of the men across the sea in the form of " Catherine the Great," which, like its triumphant predecessor, was produced.by Alexander Korda for London Films. This picture, which will be screened to-day at the Mayfair Theatre, is based on the life of the farnous Russian Empress from the day of her arrival at the Russian court, through her strange marriage to the half-mad 4 grand duke Peter, and on to her ascension to the throne. It introduces, in the title role, Elizabeth Bergner, the vivacious Viennese star, who is the most discussed dramatic actress on theEuropean stage and screen to-day. Opposite Miss Bergner, in the role of Peter, is Douglas Fairbanks, jun., while Gerald du Maurier, Irene Vanbrugh, and Flora Robson are also cast in leading roles. The supporting programme will include an interesting study of marine life, "With Williamson Beneath the Sea." and a Mickey Mouse cartoon. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C.