AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22612, 2 July 1935, Page 16

AMUSEMENTS

REGENT THEATRE There will be many who will welcome the return of Douglas Fairbanks in a role of the type which won him fame in the days of the silent films, and such an entertainment is this week offered in “The Private Life of Don Juan,” which is being screened at the Regent Theatre. The production has the lavish settings and array of beautiful women which are looked for in a Fairbanks picture, and although there is less of the startling gymnastics which added thrills to “Robin Hood ” and his other films, there is etui enough climbing of wallls to let people know that it is still the inimitable “Doug” they are watching. Fairbanks has the role of Don Juan, Spain’s matchless lover, at whose very name women swoon and husbands rage. But years ot success begin to pall on him, and when a young impersonator is killed by a jealous husbaijd he does not reveal the imposture, but has the pleasure of attending his own funeral. After a few months of rest he begins to feel refreshed and thinks he will enter the old game again, but he gradually'finds that it was at his name and fame that the women succumbed to, and now that he is dead, as they believe, they do their best to keep alive his “ immortal memory” by enhancing his attributes. Don Juan’s attempt to win back his position gives rise to some amusing scdnes, and. eventually he finds happiness in the arras of the one woman who had persecuted him in former days. The supporting cast is an unusually strong one, including Benita Hume, Merle Oberon, Joan Gardner, Binnie Barnes, Owen Nares, Edmund Breon. and many others. The supporting programme includes a delightful Mickey Mouse cartoon and other interesting features. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. “ ENTER MADAME.” Comedy, romance, and superlative singing are blended in “ Enter Madame,” which will open at the Regent Theatre on Friday next. With the story of an opera star's life and love for its plot, “Enter Madame” takes advantage of its locale to introduce a number of scenes from three popular operas—not merely incidental scenes, but actual opera, which are said to be faithfully, beautifully, and effectively performed. The voices of Richard Bonelli, metropolitan opeta star, and Nina Koshetz, a famous soprano, will be heard, in these scenes in excerpts from “ La Tosea ” and “ II Trovatore,” and add immeasurably to the delight of the picture. In addition, there is a touch of drama which is, however, leavened by the diverting humour which surrounds the story. Directed by Elliott Nugent for Paramount Pictures, “ Enter Madame ” has everything that goes to make excellent entertainment. EMPIRE THEATRE There are all the elements of a firstclass mystery play in “ The White Cockatoo,” which is at present being screened at the Empire Theatre. Three murders in a hotel on the windswept coast of France embroil in their solution a young engineer guest. _ To his rooms one night comes a mysterious young lady with an .incredible tale of an attempted abduction, and the murders follow close on this unconventional incident. The young lady has come to the hotel to meet her brother, bearing the other half of a token that will identify her as heiress to a fortune. The brother holds the key to the girl’s claim, and a fake brother and a girl who is impersonating the real heiress soon make their presence evident. The engineer and the girl fall in love, but there are strange and mysterious happenings in moving lifts, and shootings before the couple attain their happiness. A white cockatoo that manifests dislike of certain persons plays an important part in tracking the murderer down, and the play is characterised by superb acting. Ricardo Cortez. Jean Muir, Ruth Donnelly, Minna Gpmbell, Walter Kingsford, John Eldridge, Pauline Garon, Gordon Westcott, and Addison Richards are prominent. Comedy is supplied by Ruth Donnelly as a school teacher. There is an excellent supporting programme. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. “DEVIL DOGS OF THE AIR.” James Cagney and Pat O’Brien, who scored a success in “ Here Comes the Navy,” have.the leading roles in “Devil Docs of the Air,” which Warner Bros, will present for the first time locally at the Empire Theatre on Friday. “ Devil Doga of the Air ” has more thrills than “Here Comes the Navy.” It presents dare-devil stunts by flying marines that beggar description. A dozen battleships participate in naval manoeuvres directed by the mighty U.S.S, Macon. Countless aeroplanes are seen in the picture, fearless flyers crash their planes in mid-air and leap in • parachutes from burning ships. The picture, however, which was produced with the active co-operation of the United States military authorities, is far more than a record of some of the most spectacular aerial and marine stunts ever filmed. It is a rollicking comedy through which runs > a clever romance. Cagney has never given a better performance than hie portrayal of a fresh youth who joins the marines /because he cannot keep out.of airships. He gets into the aviation corps through the kindness of a marine officer from his hometown, and rewards that officer by stealing his girl and generally keeping him in hot ivater. With Pat O’Brien playing the part of the marine officer it is inevitable that the scenes would resound with wisecracks, battles, breath-taking adventures, and pathos, in which both stars are past masters. Margaret Lindsay has the role of a.pretty waitress who is the darling of the Marine Corps. Frank MTlugh is an ambulance driver who constantly bemoans the fact that no one gets hurt. ST. JAMES THEATRE William Powell and Myrna Loy, f who scored an outstanding success in “The Thin Man,” again have the lending roles in “Evelyn Prentice,” which heads the ‘current programme at St. James Theatre. The story deals with the trial of a woman for murder, but by a. trick of fate her innocence cannot be proved unless another mystery, as deeply interesting, is cleared up. William Powell is the defending lawyer, Myrna Loy is his wife, and she believes herself guilty of a crime for which another -woman is on trial. Both Powell and Myrna Loy give wonderful performances in the roles allotted them, and Myrna Loy’s acting in the scenes where allegations o’f blackmail and murder are levelled are remarkably clever. Powell is the usual care-free lawyer until he addresses the jury on behalf of the accused, when he rises to great heights. Cora Sue Collins, as the baby daughter, gives a delightful performance, and Una Merkel provides excellent comedy relief. A strong supporting programme includes a Fitzpatrick travel-talk entitled “Holland in Tulip-time.” The box plans, fos the season will be found at the theatre, M'Craeken and Walls’s, the D.1.C., and Jacobs’s. GRAND THEATRE To-day is the last opportunity for patrons to witness the romantic musical film “ D’ye Ken John Peel? ” at the Grand Theatre. There is an excellent hunting scene in the film, it is true, but it is far from being wholly concerned with that sport. Its chief features are a highwayman, a card sharper, Major John Peel, a heroine, an innkeeper, and the adventures which befall them. Most of the work falls on John Garrick, as John Peel, and on John Stuart, the highwayman, or gentleman adventurer. Both have fine singing voices, and are given ample opportunity to use them. Mention must also be made of Major Peel’s batman, Sam. This is no other than Private Sam Small, who is here portrayed by his creator, Stanley Holloway. The familiar monologue. “Sam Pick Up Thy Musket” is given, and the facial contortions of the comedian add a new zest to the delightful number. The settings are charming in their beauty and in the completeness of their natural colour. There is a strong supporting programme. The box plans are at the theatre and at Begg s.

DOUBLE-FEATURE PROGRAMME. The film adaptation of Zane Grey’s thrilling novel, “West of the Pecos.” heads the programme to be shown for the first time at the Grand Theatre to-mor-row. Appearing in the principal role is Richard Dix. Other prominent parts ar e taken by Fred Kohler and Martha Sleeper. 'The story has to do with the perils of attacks by Indians and cattle

thieves, and the agonies of hunger end thirst are dramatised effectively. A fine combination of light-hearted humour and tuneful song numbers, “Lottery Lover,” will be the supporting film. .Relating the adventures of a party of sailors, who are stranded in Paris and become inwlved with a revue company, the story moves at a fast, pace, and is full of amusing incidents. Lew Ayres, who will be remembered for his performance with Janet Gaynor in “State Ifair” and " Servants’ Entrance," appears in the leading role. He receives sound support from a large cast of notable players, including Pat Patterson and Reginald Denny. OCTAGON ; THEATRE A double-feature programme of a specially attractive kind is beiijg screened at the Octagon Theatre, where the principal attraction is “ Crime Without Passion." A notable performance is given by Claude Rains, an English actor, who aroused intense interest by his work in “ The Invisible Man.” It is mainly through his efforts that the picture is given an entirely different appeal from that which is exercised by. the ordinary thriller or detective story, and the excitement and suspense are not diminished by reason of the fact that attention is drawn more to the mind of the criminal than to the machinery of the plot. Rains is cast as a. lawyer who plans the perfect crime, and he is ably assisted by the other members of the cast. The additiohah attraction is “ One Sunday Afternoon," a simple but entertaining story in which the principal roles are filled by Gary Cooper,_ Fay Wray, and Neil Hamilton. It ‘is tne story of a young dentist, who, while in the company of a friend, meets a beautiful girl, with whom he immediately tails in love. While his attractions are good looks, great strength, and a simple honestv, his friend is sauve, polished, ana prosperous. The remainder of the story tells of the rivalry between the two men, and it takes some interesting twists be* fore the happy conclusion is reached. Ine box plans are at the theatre and Begg s. V MAYFAIR THEATRE" Gary Cooper and Carole Lombard have the leading roles in “Now and Forever, the featured film at the Mayfair Theatre just now, in which the amazingly clever child star. Shirley Temple, also appears. It is an intriguing story that the him tells, and one that holds the attention of the audience from start to finish. Cooper is seen as something of. a ne’er-do-well, a sort, of adventurer who does his best to. hoodwink every man he meets, , and is prepared on occasions to go to desperateends to obtain money. He is madly in love with Miss Lombard, but his mode of living does not appeal to her. Then, on one occasion when he is in a particularly tight position, he consents to take a cash sum for the right to?his own child, whom he has never seen, but when he sees her he carries her away, and through the influence of the child the story comes to a happy ending. Others in the film are Sir Guy Standing, Charlotte Granville, and Henry Kolker. “MALA, THE MAGNIFICENT.” “Mala, the Magnificent,” which will be screened at the Mayfair Theatre tomorrow, was filmed amid the blizzardswept wastes of the sub-arctic regions of north-west Canada. It includes some magnificent scenic “shots,” but it is much more than a travel picture. The views of the nomadic Eskimo tribes and their life in primeval conditions are undoubtedly an education, but they form the background to a powerful drama revealing the tragic , results of endeavouring to force sons of Nature such as the Eskimo to confor.m to the standards of the white mam An Eskimo will share his wife (or wives) with another, but he will not condone betrayal, and it was because of the treatment of his wife by some “bad whites” that Mala, the greatest of the Eskimo hunters, became the prey of the North West Mounted Police. Those who enjoy exciting action should find their tastes liberally catered for in this film. . The hunting of a vast herd of caribou, which are chased into the water before being killed, and of walruses and whales, provide much thrilling actum. There are no great screen stars in the picture, but it is difficult to. imagine a more natural portrayal than is given by the Eskimos themselves. STATE THEATRE A programme of special excellence is offered at the State Theatre this week. The main feature is “ The First World War,” which was inspired by the sensational book of Laurence Stallings of the same title, one of the,feats of its day. Stallings, long known as one of Americas, outstanding authorities and commentators on the World War, has edited the film—in the same spirit and. with tlie same success that attended his authorship of the book. Here is the biggest story Fate ever wrote. Watching it unfold. one has the sense that its every scene is a Jiving newspaper headline; for every incident is a drama which helped to write world history. The editorial skill employed in the creation of this amazing film has made it one of the most potent pleas for peace ever presented. Attended by Laurence Stallings’s biting and ironic comments, its sequences picture the World War step by step from its inception—and before —to its conclusion. Significant scenes of conflict on sea, on land, and in the air are incorporated in “The First World War,” which reveals pictures of many monarchs and rulers, soldiers, and leaders of those days. Despite all this, it is essentially the .story of how the Great War affected the common man. It is a film for masses and intelligentsia alike. The supporting programme is excellent. The box plans are at the theatre and at Begg’s. STRAND THEATRE Riotous comedy with all the elements of good entertainment is to be found at the Strand Theatre this week in the feature picture,What Happened to Harkness.” The story deals in humorous fashion with the excitement caused in a small English village when the unpopular occupier of'a large house is found td.be missing, with all the indications pointing to murder. Many persons are suspected of the crime, and a great deal of hilarity ensues before the mystery of the man’s disappearance is solved. Robert Hale and James Finlayson have the leading roles, and make a thorough success of them. The other film is “Fog Over ’Frisco,” in which the featured parts are in the hands of Bette Davis 'and Donald Woods. There is adventure in plenty, and, in addition to dramatic suspense, there is also a welcome leavening of humour in jffiis story of the operations of a gang of crooks who operate on the waterfront and will stop at nothing to gain their ends. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C.