AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22743, 2 December 1935, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS

GRAND THEATRE The programme at the Grand Theatre • this week is a well-balanced one and comprises two pictures of more than usual interest. The first is “Passport to Fame,” which has in the leading role Edward G. Robinson, who is cast as a rather meek office clerk whose resemblance to a; notorious gangster leads him into all sorts of trouble. The criminal escapes' from prison and the clerk is mistaken for. him, being arrested. He is able to prove his identity when the gangster; roba a bank while his double is still in the hands of. the police, and the latter is. given a passport to establish who_ he really is.. Further complications arise when the criminal obtains possession of the passport and starts a fresh series of but eventually the position is cleared up. Jean Arthur has the chief feminine role. The second film is “ Heat Wave,” which deals with the adventures of a young seeds salesman in. South America.- It is an hilarious comedy full of the most delightfully humorous situations. Cyril Maude is well cast as the Governor of the town. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg’e. EMPIRE THEATRE Hailed as one of the brightest musical shows of the year, “ Dance Band,” whicn is the principal feature on the current bill at the Empire Theatre certainly justifies that description. With everything, that makes for good entertainment, the film has novelty and a touch of something different to make it outstanding. This English production has not relied to such a great extent on its stars, good as they are, but has drawn talent from the stags to put over delightfully new and entertaining acts, and it is this feature that predominately stamps “ Dance Band ” as a new departure in the world of musical films. Buddy Rogers, who starred in several of the early musical shows with a great deal of success, makes his return to the screen in this vehicle, and is. partnered by : charming June Clyde, who has deservedly won great popularity. Togetner they make a splendid romantic team. Ilia action never drags, and the film is turned out to a nicety. A quick succession 01 clever turns leaves the audience wondering what good thing will come next, and the finish of the film will le,jve them wanting more. Wherever ‘ Dance Band has been shown it has been acclaimed as a triumph for British studios, and is well worth seeing. It is heartily recommended. Outstanding on the supporting programme is “On the Ball, a film dealing with the All Blacks. They are seen in play, and a further touch of interest is added by views taken in the various towns from which come the members or trie team. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. ST. JAMES THEATRE There is an old saying aboyt a face being a fortune, and this saying _ waei never truer than it is in the case or Joe E. Brown, who gives one of the best performance of his career in “ Bright Lighte, a delightfully amusing comedy which heads the new programme at St. J ames Theatre. But this time it is not beauty of face that is the asset, for Brown is one of the most surprisingly ugly persons imaginable—his mouth is huge and his nosa is big—but in spite of this he has some queer attraction which he exploits skilfully. His face, however, is by no means his only fortune, for he is one of the most versatile comedians on the screen. He can dance, sing in his own peculiar way, and perform many acrobatic tricks, but, above all, he is gifted, with the power of always doing the wrong thing at the wrong time. In many actors of less ability, to fill the role Brown fills in “ Bright Lights,” a certain amount, of forced gaiety would be required, but Brown has a gift of seeming to enjoy thoroughly every moment he faces the camera. The plot gives him every opportunity to show his talent —at one minute he is fooling through a dancing act, the next he is twisting his face into the most extraordinary expressions—but all the time he acts with the same gift of- spontaneity which made Charlie Chaplin the idol of comedy lovers the world over. Although there is no doubt that Brown has made the film the success it is, he is by no means the only one worthy of mention, for he is supported by a cast including some particularly fine players. The supporting programme includes several interesting short features, and the box plans are at the theatre, the D.I.C, MUracken and. Walls’s, and Jacobs’s. REGENT THEATRE In "Look Up and Laugh,” her new picture, which heads this week’s programme at the Regent Theatre, Grade Fields is given every opportunity to display that genius for comedy which has won her such popularity with picturegoers. The story of the new film is written by the famous J. B, Priestley, and it provides wonderful openings for effortless comedy. Each is snapped up by the star and her supporting team, which includes ■ Gracie’s brother. Tommy Fields, and Douglas Wakefield, and Billy Nelson, of, English music hall fame. J. B. Priestley this time makes the scene of action of the film the rural haunts of Plumborough, and shows a bitter “battle” between the stallholders of the local market and a pompous shopkeeper, who seeks the demolition of the market. , The stallholders 1 cause is gallantly led by Gracie. who heads a deputation to the mayor, is prominent in the “ rowdy element ” at _ the opening of a new store by her rival, creates a state of seige by barricading the market against the forces of law and order, and finally flies to the Town Hall in a runaway aeroplane with the triumphant news that the market belongs to the people by right of royal charter, the end seeing everybody very happy with the former enemy installed as the new mayor, and a notability opening the brand new market. Gracie Fields readily turns her hand to every form of comedy entertainment, her sense of humour, ability for the dramatic, remarkable voice, and amazing facial expressions being all used to obtain every particle of comedy from the story. Her tireless performance is certain to delight her legion of admirers. There is a first-class supporting programme, and an added attraction on Saturday evening was the presentation of a very fine programme of music by an orchestra of 14 instrumentalists under the baton of M. De Rose. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. STATE THEATRE “ Brown on Resolution,” . screening under the title of "A Son of the Sea,’ < is the current attraction at the State Theatre. Filmed with the co-operation of the British Admiralty, the seagoing part of the picture is as exciting and realistic as anyone could wish. vivid scenes of two warships in action, with the resounding crash of the big guns while British sailors manfully do battle with a larger German cruiser, will rouse the spirit of the most surfeited theatregoer./ There are really two distinct stories in the film, the first of which tells of Elizabeth Brown’s four-day romance with a young naval officer. The picture then goes on to deal with her son Albert, who is stationed in a eeiniobsolete cruiser at the outbreak of the war. His ship is sunk by a German vessel, and he finds himself a prisoner on the victor. Knowing that another British cruiser is but a days sailing time behind the German, he swims ashore with a rifle when the latter anchors off Resolution Island, and picks off the enemy crew while they are trying to repair a hole in the ship’s side. From this point the picture reaches its real climax. In contrast to the gripping naval engagement is the simple and charming story of the love between Brown and his mother. The production is an unusual and refreshing one, which should make a strong appeal, if only for its patriotism and exciting action. John Mills, a young English actor, does remarkably well, in the title role, and his acts of heroism are not over-stressed so as to make them appear unreal. Betty Balfour gives a characteristic performance, and Barry Mackay succeeds in suggesting a conventional naval officer who is getting on in years. There is an excellent supporting programme of short subjects, and the box plans for the season will be found at tbc theatre and at Begg’s.

OCTAGON THEATRE “Air Hawks ” is the feature of the current programme at the Octagon Theatre. - It is a “thriller” of a very attractive type which has already proved popular. The leading roles are taken by Ralph Bellamy and Tala Birrell, with the famous Wiley Post making a last-minuto appearance in a “ walk-on ” part. 11m story . tells of the rivalry of two air lines to gain an important transcontinental mail contract. One utilises the highly-developed stratosphere plane that a record mav be set up for the crossing, while the other, fighting unscrupulously, calls on a death-ray machine to drive its rivals from the sky. Ralph Bellamy is cast as the owner of an aeroplane - line which is competing with another company for valuable mail contracts. The other line is desperate for the contracts, and it employs a mad scientist, who has invented the death-ray, to bring down Bellamy’s planes with the object of causing the Government and the public to lose confidence in the service. Tala Birell is seen as the girl who finds her mate in Bellamy'when he is fighting the powers against him. The famous aviator, Wiley Post, appears in the film as pilot of one of Bellamy’s planes. The supporting roles are adequately filled, and the technical, •work is at all times excellent." Some remarkable aerial photography lends the picture an added interest. An excellent supporting programme includes a diverting Harry Langdon comedy and other pleasing features. The box plans will be found at the theatre, at M'Cracken and Walls’s, and at Begg’s. STRAND THEATRE There is an excellent double feature bill at the Strand Theatre at the present time, “ The Glass Key ” being the chief attraction, and “People WilPTalk” the second. “ The Glass Key ” is an excellent presentation of a murder mystery. Based ou the story of Dashiell Hammett, the plot is well knit without being very ingenious; it is well acted by a cast of competent character actors, and it repi’oduces with an air of authenticity that no man’s land between politics and gangsterism which appears to be a distinctive American feature. George Raft takes first honours among the cast for a splendid characterisation of the right-hand man of one of New York’s behind-the-scenes political bosses. The latter is a benevolent despot who has the confidence of most of the voters of the city. Portly and cheerful, Edward Arnold plays this part with distinction. The romantic interest is supplied by Rosalind Keith, as the daughter of Arnold. “People Will Talk” stars the popular team of Charles Rugglee and Mary Boland. These two have played in a number of successful films, and in this picture they will make many new friends, particularly among those who like brilliant dialogue and comedy that ranges from satire to farce, maintaining all the time a brilliant standard. The name of the film is a very sound indication of its content. It is a story of the adventures of a mother and father who stage a quarrel for the good of their daughter and then, to their own amazement watch it develop through a long train of misunderstanding, unfortunate complications, and unexpected situations till they become the talk ot the little town of whose society they have been the leaders. With Ruggles and Boland are Leila Hyams, who plays very tactfully the part of the daughter, and Doan dagger, as the son-in-law. The box plans are at the D.I.C. and at the theatre. MAYFAIR THEATRE Clark Gable and Constance Bennett are featured in “After Office Hours.” which is now showing at the Mayfair Theatre. The title of the picture gives no indication of the bright and amusing entertainment that is provided in this story ot how a newspaper man in New York tracks down the murderer of a fashionable society lady. The picture is by no means a grim story of crime. It is rather a very happy skit on the bustling methods ot American journalism. Clark Gable is the reporter and Constance Bennett is a society gossip writer on the same newspaper. Together, and working mostly at cross purposes, they manage to prove that Gable’s suspicions concerning the identity of the murderer are perfectly correct. Stuart Erwin has a role which he fills splendidly as the not over intelligent but" immensely zealous photographer. Among his exploits are a successful attempt to enter the house of the murdered woman under the identity of the “ coroner’s assistant.” Laughs are never far absent in this story, and the audience is kept in the best ofJiumours throughout. The supporting picture is an "hilarious comedy entitled “You’re Telling Me.” The lead-ing-role is in the capable hands of W. C. Fields. The box plans are at the D.I.C.