AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22809, 19 February 1936, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

GRAND THEATRE Since the innovation of talking pictures several silent successes have been revived in talkie form, but it is doubtful if there is one that has remained so vividly in theatregoers' minds as the romantic mueical comedy " Squibs." The fame and popularity England's foremost comedienne, Betty Balfour, achieved in this delightful play is still fresh to-day as when she first electrified London. Now this success of the old silent days has been revived in talkie form, and will commence a Dunedin season at the Grand Theatre to-day. For this well-known, happy-go-lucky story a most distinguished east of players has been gathered together, being headed by such favourites as Betty Balfour, Stanley Holloway and Gordon Harker. Brim-full of tuneful songs and music and possessing an unlimited supply of _ laugh-provoking sequences, the production presents a realistic story of a London flower girl's romance. A perfect London atmosphere has been reproduced against backgrounds of Co'vent Garden, Piccadilly and Doncaster. Cast in a flippant, bantering role of the type which won him fame, James Dunn is said to score another success in "Welcome Home," the supporting film. Arline Judge and Rosina Lawrence play opposite 1 ! to Dunn, and Raymond Walburn, William Frawley and Charles Sellon also are in the cast. With the rural American town of Elmdale as its picturesque setting, the film tells the story of a high school reunion being held in the secret hope of luring back to the district an old millionaire with a great deal of money to invest. The box'plans are at the theatre and Begg's. EMPIRE THEATRE Sparkling dialogue, a general air of high spirits, and the presence of famous names in the cast make "No More Ladies," which is now being shown at the Empire Theatre, undoubtedly a film to be seen. The story of a woman's wit fighting for her happiness provides one of the most amusing dramatic situations that any author has ever committed to paper. The management of a husband has provided material for writers for untold years, but never before has a wife thought up the unusual course of giving a party for her husband's ex-girl friends, as in this version of a play by a famous author. The course of that party and the aftermath make "No More Ladies" one of the films that will be long remembered. Joan Crawford, with a new appearance, has a role different from anything she has played before, and her admirers will agree that she handles it admirably. Robert Montgomery's part is reminiscent of the attractive and impudent roles which brought him to stardom. Franchot Tone is as good as ever. Edna May Oliver is a delight as Aunt Fanny, and Charlie Ruggles has one of those wellmeaning, fussy parts which he can carry as no one else can. Reginald Denny, Gail Patrick, Vivienne Osborne, and Arthur Treacher are among the others. There is an entertaining supporting programme. The box plans are at • the theatre and the D.I.C. " THE RAVEN." Suggested by Edgar Allen Poe's immortal classic, "The Raven," which will be screened at the Empire Theatre on Friday, boasts the combined master mystery talents of Boris Karloff (Frankenstein) and Bela Lugosi (Dracula). These two are co-starred in a story adapted to the screen by David Boehm and featuring in the supporting cast Irene Ware, Lester Matthews, Samuel Hinds, Inez Courtney and many others. The plot concerns the mental flights of a famous surgeon who is a Poe addict and who, like the great poet, is of a morbid, brooding turn of mind. "The Raven" always fascinated him, to the extent of having a stuffed replica of this bird standing beside him on his deck. The shadow of this, bird of ill-omen predominates the theme of the story, which actually begins when its principal character, a notorious criminal hiding from the police, comes to the doctor to have his face changed. Promising to perform this difficult operation, the mad doctor betrays his patient and holds him in his grip until he does his bidding in a diabolic plan he has conceived. Into their lives comes a beautiful girl, over whom the raving doctor casts a spell, while her father and sweetheart attempt to save her. STRAND THEATRE Exciting historical drama and sophisticated modern comedy are the characteristics of the two films which comprise the current programme at the Strand Theatre. Each of the films, "Colonel Blood" and "Uncertain Lady," arc first-class examples of their kind, and when presented together they form an entertainment of an outstanding nature. " Colonel Blood " i 9 based on the almost unbelievable doings of an Irish adventurer in the time of Charles IT. The penniless scamp arrives in London completely unknown, but before long he was a close, confidant of the King. The celebrated attempt to steal the Crown jewels—one of the romances of history—is depicted in the film. Frank Cellier admirably portrays the part of the swashbuckling colonel. Other historical people in the production are Lady Castlemaine and the diarist, Pepys. The theme of "Uncertain Lady" is the astounding offer of a calculating wife to give her husband to another woman if she can be provided with another husband as good. The players include Edward Everett Horton, Paul Cavanagh, and Renee Gadd. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C.

DOUBLE-FEATURE PROGRAMME. "Atlantic Adventure," a new Columbia drama of villainy on the high seae, opens at the Strand Theatre on Friday and features such popular players as Nancy Carroll. Lloyd Nolan, and Harry Langdon. The story deals with an e#reporter

who, because his fiancee has jilted him, stows away on a ship, only to find his friend, a photographer, and his fiancee also aboard as stowaways. When a duo of ,lewel thieves, gangsters, and an escaping murderer turn up in quick succession, the reporter gets into one dangerous scrape after another in an effort to break up the crime machine and get back his job and find his lovely fiancee. Most of the action takes place aboard the " Gigantic," which is said to be patterned after the new " Normandie." The second film, " Half a Sinner," has Berton Churchill, Broadway stage and screen star, Joel M'Crea and Sallie Blane in the principal roles. Thoroughly wholesome, laughable, dramatic, it is said to be one of the most delightful films to be shown for some time. It is based on the play, "Alias the Deacon," by John B. Hymer and Leroy Clemens. The story records the activities of a sanctimonious rascal who poses as a deacon and who is a card-sharp, as well as two young lovers who' have known him before but who know it would be fatal to their happiness to have such a fact become public. There is an exciting wrestling match, a robbery in which Joel is threatened and thrown in gaol j and apparently deserted by his girl, a widow who places too much faith in a pair of Jacks, and through it all saunters the saintly appearing churchman with his kindly, double-meaning, philosophy. In the end, though a crook, the deacon solves everyone's troubles in the most surprising fashion. STATE THEATRE The wonder child, Shirley Temple, shows another side of her amazing character in " Curly Tops," the romantic comedy-drama which opens at the State Theatre to-day. This delightful child, besides further demonstrating the fact that she is an accomplished actress, sings two songs, " When I Grow Up .- and "Animal Crackers In My Soup." Dancing and also imitating, she soon captures and holds the interest of the audience, and in every scene is delightful. John Boles, as the kindly bachelor who adopts Shirley and her older sister (Rochelle Hudson) from an orphanage, is human and believable. John Boles's two songs are "It's All So New To Me" and "Curly Top." Rochelle Hudson contributes "The Simple Things In Life." From every point of view this film is said to be delightful entertainment. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg's. REGENT THEATRE " The Dark Angel," an intensely moving and sincere picture, heads the current programme at the Regent Theatre. The story tells of the hesitation of a warblinded man to saddle his helplessness on the girl he loves; his pretence of death; and his eventual reunion with the girl. The plot is not new and depends for its success entirely on how far the players make their parts live* and how far they succeed in enlisting the sympathy of the audience. It is acted with such naturalness that it becomes one of the most moving of recent screen plays. Skill and genius have been devoted to establishing charming and suitable atmosphere for the story and to making the character,, veritably real. Though made in Hollywood, the production has a fidelity to British settings and sentiment that is completely satisfying. Acting honours are shared by three famous players, Merle Oberon, Fredric March, and Herbert Marshall. In "The Dark Angel" Miss Oberon has an animation which adds greatly to her charm. Fredric March give a a fine study of the afflicted war hero, while Herbert Marshall fills a difficult role with assured restraint. The story has been brilliantly handled by Sidney Franklin, whose inspired direction always prevents the film from descending into maudlin sentimentality. The photography is excellent and the scenes of the English countryside are reproduced with real beauty. An entertaining supporting programme includes "Mickey's Garden," a Walt Disney cartoon in colour which is a gem of its kind. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. "THE LAST OUTPOST." Described as a successor, rather than a sequel, to "The Lives of a Bengal Lancer," the Paramount production "The Last Outpost," which will begin at the Regent Theatre on Friday, is a story of British military valour, romance, and sacrifice set in the wilds of Kurdistan and the deserts of North Africa during the Great War. To the minda-of most people, the words " Great War" refer only to the conflict on the Western Front, and they forget that the struggle was fought out in many obscure corners, of the earth with a heroism and determination easily the equal of that shown on Flanders fields. One has only to remember the work of Lawrence of Arabia to realise the truth of this statement; and it is round a character strikingly similar to Lawrence that the story of "The Last Outpost" centres. This character is John Stevenson (played by Claude Rains), a British Intelligence Officer assigned to a most dangerous task in Kurdistan, where the enemy was planning to strike the heart of the Empire —lndia.- There he saves the life of another British officer (Gary Grant), captured by the Turks. Romance is introduced by Gertrude Michael, wife of Stevenson, but in love with the man whose life he has saved. Amid scenes of savage warfare the strange romantic problem is finally solved. ST. JAMES THEATRE Entertainment 'of a high standard is provided in "Jane Eyre," the screen version of Charlotte Bronte's famous novel, which heads the current programme 1 at the St. James Theatre. To thousands of booklovers Jane Eyre is a well-known and symbolical figure, and the characterisation given by Virginia Bruce in the title role does not detract from the mental picture formed of one of the world's immortal heroines. "Jane Eyre" is to a great extent an autobiography of the novelist's own life. Entrusted at an early age to the far-from-lovin# care of a hateful aunt and, later, to an orphanage,

the writer has been able, from personal experience, to give the tale the appeal which can only come from contact with real life. The story is beautifully presented. The members of the cast have been chosen with regard for the requirements of their parts. Colin Clive plays opposite Miss Bruce in the role .pi Rochester and gives a fins performance, while the supporting roles are all well handled. The story is too well known to require retelling, and it is sufficient to say that it has been interpreted with sympathy. The supporting programme includes an interesting review of the marvellous work which has been done in th* control of the prickly pear pest. The box plans are at the D.1.C., M'Cracken and Walls's, Jacobs's, and the theatre.

"DR SOCRATES." -Paul Muni will be seen at the St. James Theatre on,_Friday in his latest starring picture, "Dr Socrates." His role is said to be one of the most dramatic of his brilliant career. The picture, which combines thrilling adventure, and a glowing romance, is based on the best selling novel by W* R. Burnett, author of " Little Caesar." The plot centres about Muni portraying a country doctor, once a great surgeon of the city, who had lost his nerve through the death on the operating table of his fiancee. A shattered, nervous wreck, ironically named Dr Socrates by a blustering, small town competing physician, he has little success until a band of bank bandits terroise the neighbourhood. Kidnapped by the bandits and taken to their hide-out to dress the wounds of those shot in battles with police, recognises the place, and is instrumental in leading to their capture by placing Government agents on their trail. Ann Dvorak plays opposite Muni as a little hitch-hiking girl the bandits have captured, and with whom Muni falls in love. Barton Mac Lane is the ruthless head of the bandit gang, while others in the cast include Robert Barratt, Jonn Eldrige, Hobart Cavanagh, Helen Lowell, Mayo Methot, Henry O'Neill, and Grace Stafford. OCTAGON THEATRE The current double-feature programme at the Octagon Theatre is proving to be one of the most attractive screened at this theatre for some time, large audiences giving each of the films a warm reception at each showing. This is not to be wondered at, for it is seldom that two features such as "Evergreen," starring the delightful singer and dancer, Jessie Matthews, and a melodrama of the calibre of "The Phantom Light," are seen together. In "Evergreen" Jessie Matthews makes one of her most attractive screen apparances. She is given a number of songs, both old and new, to sing, and there are also several unusual dance numbers. She plays the part of a daughter of an ex-stage favourite, and she uses her mother's name in her endeavour to win fame. The deception amounts to almost fraudulent proportions, but in an amusing trial she is triumphantly acquitted. Betty Balfour, Barry Mackay, and Sonnie Hale are also in the cast. Gordon Harker and Binnie Hale are the leading players in " The Phantom Light," a story of wrecking activities in a lighthouse on the Welsh coast. The atmosphere is well handled and the story is a thrilling one. The box plans are at the theatre, M'Cracken and Walls s, and Begg's. MAYFAIR THEATRE There is nothing sad about the particular divorce transactions which form the background of the lavish musical extravaganza "The Gay Divorcee,' which will commence its third local season at the Mayfair Theatre to-day.. Dance, music, song, and mood are in keeping with divorce a la American. The story concerns Guy Holden (Fred Astaire) and his friend. Egbert Fitzgerald (Edward E. Horton), who return to London after a gay time in Paris. Holden meets Mimi (Ginger Rogers) in unusual circumstances, and falls in love with her. Although he searches London, he is unable to find her, but, unknown to him, Fitzgerald accepts his first case in arranging a divorce for Mimi. At a seaside hotel Mimi mistakes Holden for the professional corespondent, and from then onwards the story whirls to its climax. The box plan 8 are at the D.I.C.