AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22607, 26 June 1935, Page 14

AMUSEMENTS

GRAND THEATRE Commencing its season at the Grand Theatre to-day t the Twickenham production, "D'ye Ken John Peel?" should provide entertainment of a high standard. Inspired by the well-known ballad of the same title/ Charles Cullum's famous story is an ideal subject for screen adaptation. A rollicking story with delightful romantic interest, and possessing several rousing choruses and songs, gives this production all the factors that should combine to make entertainment of universal appeal. It is enacted amidst a magnificent English setting, with authentic scenes of hunting by celebrated packs of the Homeland. A particularly strong cast of players has been gathered together,' and it is headed by stars wno to-day are both well known and popular. John Garrick, who recently made a great hit in "Lily of Killarney," is. seen as Major Peel, while Stanley Holloway (.the unforgettable Father O'Flynn) fulfils the role of Private Samuel Small, Major Peel's batman. It is in this role that he has the opportunity of giving his wehknown monologue, "Sam, Pick Up iny Musket." The romantic angle is supplied by the charming feminine lead of the Aldwycli Theatre farces, Winifred Shott.er, who achieves a personal triumph in her portrayal of Lucy Mefrall, the daughter of a county gentleman, while John Stuart will please his vast number of admirers as the venturesome Captain Moonlight. " D'ye Ken John Peel? A Soldiers' Toast." " The Twenty-third Regiment." " Vivandiere," "The Wine is I'lowing Strong," "Drink to Me Only,' GoU den Slumber," and Nature's Lullaby are among the songs that will be presented. The box plans arc at the theatre and Begg's. \ EMPIRE THEATRE " Menace," which is the present attraction at the Empire Theatre, is built upon the old and ever-attractive crime mystery type of plot. Paul Cavanagh and Gertrude ' Michael have the star roles, those of a resident of British East Africa and his pretty visitor. The lady persuades an engineer superintending the construction of a dam to leave his post for a few hours and visit them for bridge. While lie is away a storm bursts, and the dam, in the absence of the engineer to order the sluices open, is burst. He commits suicide. An insane brother of the dead man accuses the remainder of the bridge four of responsibility for the tragedy, and vows vengeauce, slowly approaching unseen on the unhappy three until one night one of his numerous letters, pinned to the table with a dagger, announces his arrival at the_ house in California where they are staying. There most of the exciting events arising from the unseen madman's pursuit of his prey take place. Murder is done, and there are many narrow escapes before the curtain is rung down. The mystery is well maintained until the final scene and the film owes this as much to the high standard of the acting as to the efforts of the author. The supporting roles are more than capably filled with Halliwcll Hobbes in a prominent place. The short films, which precede the main feature, are all excellent entertainment. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. "THE WHITE COCKATOO." It looks easy when you see them on the screen, those animals-which display almost human intelligence, but the time, patience and energy spent in getting them to do specified things would drive the ordinary man mad. There is a great deal of science to it," says J. H. Kerr, Hollywood animal farm owner, who has devoted 15 years to motion picture work, "but more important is the intuitive sense of the trainer in knowing the potentialities of the animal with which he is dealing." Kerr, whose last assignment was. the drilling of a sulphur-crested Australian cockatoo in the Warner Bros.'s production, " The White Cockatoo," which will come to the Empire Theatre on Friday, declares that most trainers demand too much of their charges in a short period of time. "On the stage," says Mr Kerr, " the animal knows just what is expected of it and delivers it. He knows his work is over the minute the routine is finished. He is kept away from strangers and the action is always the same. In motion pictures, every act is different. Also, the animal is bewildered by the proximity of persons and lights and cameras. Naturally it is constantly nervous and upset." In "The White Cockatoo," it was Kerr's job to train the cockatoo to take peanuts from his master's pocket. He succeeded, but it took many days to do it. "The White Cockatoo" is an exciting mystery drama with rapid action that holds the suspense up to a startling climax. It is laid in and around a ghostly hotel on the windswept coast of France, where murder after murder is committed to the complete bafflement of the police. Jean Muir and Ricardo Cortez have the leading roles, while others in the cast include Gordon Wcstcott. John Eldredge, Ruth Donnelly, Walter Kingsford, Minna Gombell, Armand de Bordes, Noel Francis and Addison Richards. Alan Crosland directed the picture, from the screen play by Ben Markson and Lillie Hayward, based on the novel by Mignon G. Eberhart. REGENT THEATRE Intelligent casting and the exercise of the greatest care in the general production of the film have made " The Old Curiosity Shop," which is now being screened at the Regent Theatre, one of the best of the pictures that have been adapted from the stories of the famous novelist. The hand of an able producer is everywhere apparent, and the characters are seen as one has imagined them with the help of those artists who have been the most prominent Dickens illustrators. There is, moreover, the suggestion of eccentricity in their actions. The faithfulness of the story to the original, although one important deviation has been made, is one of the highest qualifications of the film, in which Hay Petrie, as the scoundrelly Quilp, is the dominating player. As the scheming bully his portrayal is one which is worthy of the work from which his inspiration was derived. Elaine Benson, as little Nell, also srives a highly successful performance, and able support is provided by Ben Webster, as the grandfather, and a number of others, all of whose parts have definite importance. In general the difficulties presented by the task of reproducing such a story at a time so far removed from that in which it was written have been skilfully overcome, and an absorbing entertainment is the result. A supporting programme which presents a variety of interesting short subjects is also shown. The box plans arc at the theatre and the D.I.C. " THE PRIVATE LIFE OF DON JUAN." "The Private Life of Don Juan,"which will open on Friday at the Regent Theatre, was produced in London by Alexander Korda for London Films, which gave two of the outstanding triumphs of screen history, "The Private Life of Henry VIII" and " Catherine the Great," and it is said that " Don Juan" is the most pretentious offering of these producers. Lavishly mounted and produced with infinite care, the film is reported to be a feast of beauty and colour, and every foot is full of entertainment. Don Juan, the matchless lover, loses his name and reputation when a young gallant who has been successfully impersonating him is killed by a jealous husband. Enormously amused at the idea that all feminine Spain has gone into mourning for him. Don Juan enjoys the experience of attending his own funeral, and then takes advantage of this opportunity to go into retirement incognito and eat and sleep to his heart's content, with no thought of his looks or his figure. However, when he attempts to use his old wiles on a pretty barmaid, and she demands a pair of earrings, he quickly calls in his masseur and trains down to his old weight. But still ho cannot succeed with the ladies, who laugh at the very idea of his being Don Juan. Returning to Seville, tho scene of his earlier conquests, ho approaches Pepilla, a beautiful dancer, whose fame depends on tjie fact that he had loyod her. but even she fails to recognise, him and turns from him to a younger mull. Utterly disillusioned. he_ admits defeat and returns to his wife. Some of England's most famous and most beautiful actresses are featured in this film.

! ST. JAMES THEATRE

"The Firebird," which is the current attraction at the Grand Theatre, is a film that i s well worth seeing both for the singularity of its content and the excellence of its presentation by a cast which is headed by Verree Teasdale, Ricardo Cortez, Lionel Atwill. and Anita Louise. The story deals with the putburst of the dammed-up love emotions of a young girl whose life haa been a series of repressions. Gripped in the spell of Stravinsky's haunting and seductive melody, "The Firebird, she is impelled against her will to throw herself into the arms of a popular and magnetic actor, with whom she carries on a clandestine romance which ends with the mysterious murder of her lover. Verree Teasdale, as the wife of an Austrian diplomat, is called upon to give a highly emotional portrayal of a woman who "confesses to a love intrigue and killing to save her daughter's reputation, and she rises to the dramatic role with an artistry that is commendable both for its strength and its absence of over-acting. The polished villain is portrayed by Ricardo Cortez, than whom there are few more seductive and handsome screen rogues. He gives a characteristic, strong, and easy performance. Included in a good supporting programme is a film showing,the corouation of the present King and Queen. The box plans for the season will be found at the theatre, the D.1.C., M'Cracken and Walls's, and at Jacobs'e. "EVELYN PRENTICE." Myrna Loy and William Powell are costarred in " Evelyn Prentice," the longawaited comedy-mystery drama, which will come to the St. James Theatre on Friday. It is reported that this new picture has all the qualities that contributed to the phenomenal success of "The Thin Man" —fast-moving action, delightful comedy, witty dialogue, superb acting, and wellsustained mystery. Powell ha« abandoned the role of detective, adopted in "The Thin Man," and becomes a clever counsel-lor-at-law in " Evelyn Prentice." Myrna Loy is again seen as his wife, while Una Merkel gives a delightful performance as her guest. Always a clever comedienne, Una Merkel rises to new heights in this film. Also deserving of mention is the diminutive actress, Cora Sue Collins, appearing as the baby daughter of Mr and Mrs Prentice. The story deals with the domestic life of Prentice, whose practice keeps him continually away from his wife and home. On the eve of a second honeymoon to Europe, the lawyer's wife becomes enmeshed in a scandalous murder case. The ensuing scenes, in which Powell has the dual task of trying to save both his wife and his client from conviction, are probably the finest and most dramatic seen for many a dav. STATE THEATRE Loretta Young and .lohn Bole? are featured in the leading roles of " The White Parade," which is the current attraction at the State Theatre. The picture has been built round the life of nurses in a great hospital—a theme which is new to the talking screen, and which is, therefore, all the more welcome. The producei's have handled the story well, and the atmosphere of the hospital is convincingly caught, with the result that the picture assumes the interest of a slice of actual life translated to the screen. John Boles gives a capable rendering of the part of the wealthy young man, with whoni a nurse in her training falls in love, only to make the decision that love must be put behind her for the sake of the career of service which she has mapped out for herself. Loretta Young is responsible for one of the finest performances of her career as the young nurse, and Doris Wilson is also well cast in the role of an instructor to the nurses. The programme of short subjects is well varied. The box plans will be found at the theatre and at Begg's. " THE FIRST WORLD WAR." "The First World War," the enthralI ling screen production created by Fox I Film from the secret archives of all the great nations, which will come to the State Theatre on Friday, has as its source and inspiration the volume of the same title edited by Laurence Stallings. Topping non-fiction best-sellers over a period of months, this book received perhaps the most noteworthy "press" that has ever been accorded a modern literary work. It received heartfelt and enthusiastic tribute, not merely from book reviewers alone, but from leaders, in every field of contemporary life. Here, it is said, is the first authentic and uncensored screen record of the great conflict —and more than that. The very sources of the World War are said to be pictured in the film, for many motion picture records of events leading up to the conflict are here given to the public for the first time. Intimate glimpses of Europe's' royalty in the years before the war, of their conferences, their alignments, their secret plans, have been entrusted to Fox Film for use in this picture. Besides these, there are sensational and hitherto unscreened pictures of the important battles of the war-—both on land and sea —and a great variety of glimpses of life behind the fronts. The human element is not overlooked, and interspersed with the battle scenes are sequences of the activities of the prominent men in the various arenas, homely snaps of the men resting and marching, and pathetic photographs of the human wreckage. The story concludes with the mingling of the combatants after the gigning of the Armistice. Also shown, on the programme will be " The Perfect Floor." a British mystery drama. OCTAGON THEATRE " One Hour Late," the principal film on the double-feature programme at present being shown at the Octagon Theatre, is an attractive comedy in which music, romance, and humour are deftly blended. Helen Twelvetrees, Joe Morrison, and Conrad Nagel play the leading roles, and are supported by a large and, competent cast. Miss Twelvetrees is seen as a petite and charming typiste named Betty, who is being continually pestered by Eddy Baker, a clerk in the same business, to marry him. She actually has a great regard for 1 the impetuous Eddy, but his methods are somewhat impulsive, and she prefers to wait a while. In the meantime her employer begins to take an unusual amount of interest in her, much to Eddy's chagrin, and, to show his contempt for Betty's tactics, he offers to marry another typiste in the office. His schemes go wrong, however, for he is discharged, and an attempt to make capital out of his ability to sing turns out unsuccessfully. However, just as Betty is about to accept the invitation of her employer to visit his country house, she and Eddy, with a number of others, are trapped in a broken-down lift 200 feet from the ground. Eddy succeeds in freeing the lift, singing all the time to keep his nerve steady. Inside the lift is the president of a radio broadcasting company, and Eddy gets his contract and wins Betty's love at one and the same time. The second picture, " The Strange Conspiracy," is a gripping drama in which the author has endeavoured to expose the interests which seek to foster war. The box plans are at the theatre, M'Cracken and Walls's, and Begg's. UNUSUAL ENTERTAINMENT. At the Octagon Theatre on Friday next will be shown an unusual film, " Crime Without Passion," in conjunction with an entertaining story, " One Sunday Afternoon." The storv of " Crime Without Passion " deals with an attempted murder, but instead of the usual sensational acting associated with such a happening the entire cast acts with emotional restraint. In fact, several of the players rehearsed their dialogues in whispers and raised their voices slightly only when the actual filming commenced. The reason for this is given in that it is not necessary to stress unduly intense emotions, and the restraint is said to be very effective. In important roles in this production will be seen Claude Rains, Margo and Whitney Bourne. With Gary Cooper, Fay Wray and Neil Hamilton in the leading roles the supporting feature, " One Sunday Afternoon," is a fascinatingly sweet story of love and romance interspersed with humour and song. STRAND THEATRE A comedy, in which W. C. Fields is the principal player, and an exciting Western Picture, based on a Zane Grey novel, form the attractive programme at the Strand Theatre. "It's a Gift" gives to Fields (lie opportunity to indulge in some of the best work in his highly successful career, for he is cast as a •shiftless, henpecked gj-ocer who suddenly becomes the possessor of great wealth, investing it in a ranch in California. A series of highly amusing adventures culminates in a battle

of wits between Fields and a gang of shady characters. The other picture is "Home on the Range," in which the principal player* are Randolph Scott, Evelyn Brent, and Jackie Coogan. It haa been adapted from the novel u The Code of the West." The box plans are at the theatre and the DJ.C. VARIED ENTERTAINMENT. A merger of mirth and mystery played by a cast headed by some of the most popular favourites of screen and stage i 3 presented in the Warner Bros. First National production, "What Happened to Harkness," which willl commence at the Strand Theatre on Friday. The picture is a hilarious skit on the popular sleuth-and-murder story and the fun is said to be as riotous as the pace is hectic. It is safe to say that the surprise climax will leave patrons breathless. In the supporting picture, "Fog Over Frisco," starring Bette Davi9 and Donald Woods, there is thrill upon thrill, including a mysterious disappearance "of a wealthy society girl, a kidnapping, two murders and a suicide, a gun battle in which the master mind of a band of international bond swindlers is killed, a stirring chase and a hand-to-hand battle on the wharves of San ■ Francisco Bay. The suspense is carried through increasingly-high-pitched scenes to the very end. MAYFAIR THEATRE Commencing at the Mayfair Theatre today, " Hide Out" deals with a happy-go-lucky racketeer, who, believing he has everything one could wish for in life—money, without working for it, romance and pleasure—cornea to his senses after he has been driven from New York by the police, only to find a real love and happiness in a rural environment. The picture is said to be crammed with all the glamour of city life, and the purity i and simple existence of a rural" community. As " Lucky " Wilson, Robert Montgomery has a role that suits him perfectly. Reluctantly he is compelled to find a country hide-out to escape arrest and to recover from a bullet wound, but he soon becomes entranced with the country when he meets O'Sullivan. cast in the role of a farmer's daughter. Mickey Rooncy, the 12 years old boy actor, and said to be one of the film colony's most talented child actors, plays the role of the young farm lad, Willie Miller, whose antics add considerable humour to the picture. The box plans will be found at the theatre and the D.I.C.