AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22957, 12 August 1936, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS

GRAND THEATRE When Richard Dix, the superengineer of “ The Tunnel," the new Gaumont-British picture to be commenced at the Grand Theatre this afternoon, arrived in London he regretted that a transatlantic tunnel was not already in existence. He had done a record crossing of the Atlantic in the Normandie, the brand-new giant which still holds the coveted “blue ribbon.” “And I know all about it* he confessed. “ I’m a rotten sailor, and even if the voyage took only four days I suffered. What a pity our tunnel is not built to-day! ” he sighe . He said he regarded “The Tunnel” as the greatest story in which he had been concerned since “ Cimarron.” It is, he said, a magnificent story based on a tremendously visionary ideal. Associated with Dix is a large cast, including Leslie Banks, Madge Evans, Helen Vinson, Aubrey Smith, George Arliss and Walter Huston. The box plans are at the theatre and at Begg's. EMPIRE THEATRE It is a tribute to “ The Story of Louis Pasteur,” which is the principal feature on the current bill at the Empire Theatre, that while it is one of the most significant, it is, at the same time, one of the most simple. There are many reasons why the _ film is a satisfying one. It deals with a subject that is of concern and interest to everyone, the prevention of disease, and the story of Pasteur’s success after a long term of rebuff and difficulty has such a significance that it is followed with keen interest throughout. The film, of course, is made of the stuff that affects the emotions most—the rise of a quiet and humble worker to dramatic success over the broken prejudices of all his fellows. There are few things that give a greater sense of triumph than to see suffering and even death prevented by human knowledge, especially when the hopes and fears and ultimate gratitude of those who benefit are shown as skilfully and movingly as they are here. The cast, which is a remarkably fine one, is headed by Paul Muni, who has played several totally different types of roles in other films with recognised success. As Pasteur he is given even another chance to show his versatility, and he does his work with an ability which seems to be more marked then ever. Josephine Hutchinson plays the. part of his wife, an older one than those she usually plays. A strong supporting programme is shown. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. “A NIGHT AT THE OPERA ” Those merry madcaps, the Marx Brothers—Groucho, Chico, and Harpo —spent two years in preparation for the filming of their latest comedy, “A Night At the Opera,” which will be opened on Friday at the Empire Theatre, For the first time the Marxes really have a story and a first-class romance with two brilliant singers, Kitty Carlisle and Allan Jones, singing grand opera that is as thrilling as the comedy is funny. The action romps along at a sprightly pace as Groucho, Chico, and Harpo go into the grand opera business i Italy, dash across the Atlantic, and stage an opera in New York that has the city on its ear. It is opera such as has never been seen before, as the Marxes become matchmakers to further the romance of two unknown opera singers. Original comedy, sparkling dialogue, delightful opera, and, of course, the Marx Brothers, vie in the funniest, most delightful funfeast that has come to the screen for some time. Supporting the Marxes, in addition to Jones and Miss Carlisle, who are perfectly cast as the young lovers, are Walter King, who also has a fine singing role, Siegfried Rumann, Margaret Dumont, Edward Keane, and Robert Emmet O’Connor. STRAND THEATRE A threat by an unknown criminal to ruin the broadcasts of every American radio station unless the broadcasting companies hand over large sums of money is the intriguing and novel plot of “You May Be Next,” which heads the current programme at the Strand Theatre. The story is an intensely dramatic one, and the excellent work of the principal players does much to enhance its value. Douglass Dumbrille appears as the man who, working secretly, threatens to reduce the whole broadcasting network to an unintelligible bedlam unless his terms are obeyed When the Government transmitting stations are also threatened the G-men go into action to prevent the disorganisation of the radio compass stations. Lloyd Nolan, as a ycung radio engineer who has been dismissed by the leading broadcasting company, is suspected of the crime when he mysteriously disappears, but he is actually held a prisoner by the real culprit in order to throw the pursuers off the trail. An exciting climax brings a novel and imaginative plot to a successful conclusion. There is a good supporting programme. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C.

DOUBLE-FEATURE PROGRAMME Margaret Lindsay, who has the leading role in Warner Brothers’ picture “Personal Maid’s Secret,” which will be commenced at the Strand Theatre on Friday, has screamed loudly and efficiently in many screen portrayals. None of them could compare, however, with some screams she has made while out of character. Wearing a bulky polo coat and dark glasses, she was making the rounds of the amusement piers with her sister. In a spirit of bravado, the two girls decided to go on the roller coaster. She lost all pretence of bravery as soon as it made its first terrific dive, and she loosed some particularly piercing screams. As the wan actress later tottered out, two youths who sat in front turned round and stopped her. One of them said, “ Lady, with a yell like that, you ought to get into the movies!” Miss Lindsay has the role of an ambitious wife in this picture. In the same programme will be seen “ Moonstone, a picture which features David Manners and Phyllis Barry. STATE THEATRE One of the most outstanding musical films of recent months, “ Metropolitan,” starring the famous American baritone Lawrence Tibbell, is still attracting large audiences to the State Theatre While the music is the principal attraction, “ Metropolitan ” is also a gay and spirited satire on the social exclusiveness of American opera management. The story is' both original and convincing The authors present Tibbett as a gifted baritone who is shackled to minor roles in crowd scenes because the directors will not give him his chance. An eccentric prima donna decides to form a rival company and she assembles Tibbett and other musicians whom the New York Metropolitan Opera management has ignored. In its discussions of the troupe’s financial problems “Metropolitan” becomes an ironic and humorous commentary on the obstacles which confront presentday stage producers. The excellent supporting cast includes Virginia Bruce, Alice Brady and Luis Alberm. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg’s. “THE COUNTRY DOCTOR” The recipe for a grand hour and ahalf’s screen entertainment, as 20th Century-Fox has prepared it for “The Country Doctor,” which comes to the State Theatre on Friday, is one part Dionne Quintuplets, one part Hollywood stars, and a stirring, humaninterest story that blends all the elements of drama, comedy, pathos and romance. Introducing the most famous babies in the world in their first real acting roles, “The Country Doctor” is a warmly sympathetic story of a physician who combats disease and soothes pain for the inhabitants of a Canadian outpost. Jean Hcrsholt, beloved character star, heads the sterling supporting cast of “The Country Doctor," which features June Lang and debonair Michael Whalen in the romantic loads.

REGENT THEATRE Although now in the second week of its Dunedin season, “ Modern Times,” which features the inimitable comedian Charlie Chaplin, continues to attract crowded houses to the Regent Theatre, There is no doubt that this is one of the finest films Chaplin has ever made, and that for all its old fashioned silent devices, its almost un necessary captions and awkward story tricks, it has dignity, feeling and power. It is a comedy of poverty, the comedy Chaplin has always played It is also very funny, for the superpantomimist has not lost his touch Also, he has become a slightly different type of funny man—one that he has always wanted to bo and has, in “ Modern Times,” finally created. Playing opposite the comedian is the elfish Paulette Goddard (his fiancee) who is ideally cast as a gamin of the waterfront. Then there is Chaplins old partner, Hank Mann, who played with him in many of the silent films. Preceding “Modern Times” is a most entertaining supporting bill, including gazettes, a Mickey Mouse cartoon, and a new “March of Time," tolling m graphic manner of events past and present in America and China. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. “THOROUGHBRED” “Thoroughbred,” the first of Australia’s “world standard” productions to be released in New .Zealand, will be commenced at the Regent Theatre on Friday. Miss Twelvetrees’s stay in Australia, of necessity, had to be a short one. She had contracts to fulfil in Hollywood, but the distinction of being the first big international star to visit Australia to head the cast in the Commonwealth’s first big bid for recognition on the international market was irresistible. Helen Twelvetrees proved during the making of “Thoroughbred” that she had grit and determination, and Cinesound were delighted with the sterling per-

formance she gave as the heroine of the sun-splashed, thrill-teeming romance of the real Australia. Horses and the .thrill of the race have a fascination, and as “the sport of kings" is also the sport of practically every Australian and New Zealander, too, “ Thoroughbred ” should make a popular appeal to picture-goers. The story centres round the purchase of a horse from New Zealand, and, although he looked anything but “ a winner ' on his arrival in Australia, he turned out to be something of a Phar Lap and a Peter Pan rolled into one. A strong and well-known cast enact the leading roles in support of Helen Twelvetrees, and include Frank Leighton, John Longden, Elaine Hamill, Nellie Barnes. Les Warton. and John Darcy. ST. JAMES THEATRE The outstanding feature of " Dangerous,” the current attraction at the St James Theatre, is the brilliant performance of Miss Bette Davis in the leading role. It stands so far above the normal run of portrayals that it gained for her the American award for the best performance of the year. It is a role which demands dramatic ability of the highest order, and those who see the picture will admit that Miss Davis meets every requirement. She tells the story of a beautiful and fascinating actress who is overwhelmned by her egotism and selfishness, and in the opening stages she is seen as a frowsy drunkard fallen from the highest pedestal of her art. She seems to live her part whether the situation is joyful or tragic. Supporting her is Franchot Tone, whose performance is not far behind that of the principal in merit. He is seen as a young society man torn between I the fascination of the actress and love for a charming girl to whom he is engaged. Others who have important parts are Margaret Sullavan and Allison Skipworth. The box plans are at the theatre. Jacobs's, M’Cracken and Walls's, and the D.I.C.

“CRIME AND PUNISHMENT” A tale of great love and of human emotions, giving great acting scope for the leading players, “ Crime and Punishment,” which will be commenced at the St. James Theatre on Friday has been justifiably called a masterpiece by overseas critics, Feodor Dostoievsky’s story deals with the causes and effects of a crime committed by a university student who believes he can commit the perfect murder. He is ragged and starving, and his sister is about to marry an obnoxious Government official for his money. These forces combine to make him a criminal. He murders a wretched hag of a pawnbroker and robs her And then the brilliant battle of vjits between the nominal and a police inspector takes place Frills are entirely absent—it is stark drama, but possessing a power seldom seen. This is due to the inspired acting of the principals, Edward Arnold, as the police inspector, and Peter Lorre is excellent as the criminal. A great deal of the film is devoted to a battle of wits between these two, the murderer ever dogged and contemptuous, the policeman suspicious, but friendly. The leading feminine role is taken by Marian Marsh, who appears as Sonya, a poor and shabby young woman who befriends the criminal. Others in the cast include Tala Birell, Robert Allen Elisabeth Risdon, Douglas Dumbrille, Gene Lockhart, and Mrs Patrick Campbell. OCTAGON THEATRE The programme at the Octagon Theatre is headed by “The Guv’nor," a British film in which George Arliss gives another of his brilliant dramatic performances. In this picture, however, he has been entrusted with a role that is entirely different from those in which he has previously been so successful, and his task is to present the story of a decrepit old tramp who has been persuaded to impersonate a financier. There is an abundance of

humour in the story, and it is delightfully presented by Arliss, whose work is equally effective in the pathetic passages that also occur. The plot is as ingenious as it is amusin o The other picture is “Things Are Looking Up,” a breezy comedy in which Cecily Courtneidge cleverly fills a dual role. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg’s. MAYFAIR THEATRE Stars, romance, music, gaiety, laughter, and drama all mingle in a new blond of screen entertainment in “Escapade,” a romance of Vienna, to be commenced to-day at the Mayfair Theatre. It is a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture, which stars William Powell and introduces Luise Rainer, Vienna stage star, to New Zealand audiences as his leading lady Frank Morgan plays the jealous doctor, and blonde Virginia Bruce his flirtatious wife who gets Powell into a multiplicity of comical complications Mady Christians, European star, is his jealous sweetheart, and Reginald Owen plays the absent-minded musician lover. The story deals with a debonair and lionised artist, played by Powell, who falls in love, through complications over a painting of another man’s wife, with the demure companion of a countess. With a jealous doctor, a former sweetheart, and a flirtatious wife on his hands, he tries to balance the whole structure while progressing on a rocky road of true love. Through flirtation he paints an unconventional picture of the doctor’s wife. Through mistake it goes to the publisher. He hunts a model to pass for the original as an alibi, falls in love with her, and a jealous former sweetheart interferes. In the same programme Laurel and Hardy will be seen in one of their comedies. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C,