AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23202, 28 May 1937, Page 13

AMUSEMENTS

OCTAGON THEATRE This week the programme at the Octagon Theatre will be headed by an entirely new type of film entitled "The King's People." Commencing with the accession of Queen Victoria to the throne, the picture deals with incidents during her reign, and goes on through the accession of King Edward VII and the aceessic of King George V, until the period of 1914 is reached with the outbreak of war, and actual war scenes are shown in all their stirring realism. From this point the depression and its terrible effects throughout Great Britain are brought before the audience until the film comes to that ceremony which aroused the enthusiasm of the whole nation, the silver jubilee of King George. His death and the accession and subsequent abdication of Edward VIII occupy the next part of the film. The picture continues up to the Coronation of George VI, and various well-known personalities, such as G. B. Shaw, John Drinkwater, and Lady Astor are introduced. The supuorting film is entitled "Once a Doctor," and features Jean Muir and Donald Woods. Here is a picture that graphically portrays the vindication of a conscientious, but misjudged young doctor. It lays bare the innermost thoughts of a man torn between personal hate and his duty as a doctor. It is a story teeming with dramatic incidents and unselfish love, leading to a climax heralded as one of the most thrilling spectacles of the year. The box plans are at the theatre and Beggs. GRAND THEATRE Continuing a successful second week at the Grand Theatre, the Jane Withers film, "Holy Terror," is now associated with a screen adaptation of Harold Bell Wright's novel, "The Re-creation of Brian Kent." The programme offers an unusually generous amount of entertainment —a fact which has been quickly recognised by the theatregoing public, as is shown by the large daily attendances. Jane Withers, the juvenile madcap of the films, is seen as the favourite at a cafe widely patronised by sailors. Romance and intrigue are cleverly woven into a story which contains some thrilling moments, but which also gives Jane full opportunity to display her talents. Excitement, tense drama, and a tender romance distinguish "Wild Brian Kent," the second feature. This picture gives Ralph Bellamy and Mae Clark, who fill the leading roles, their first out-door characterisations, and both gain additional laurels. Branded "yellow" by the girl he loves, Kent takes the role of a man-about-town turned cowboy. He is forced to resign from a polo team, and comes off a very bad second in an encounter with the members of a gambling school. A girl ranch-owner, Betty Prentice, rescues him after he has been knocked unconscious, and he sets out to help her retain her property. His activities in this direction bring him into sharp conflict with a gang of unscrupulous crooks. To make matters much worse, the girl believes that he is a member of the gang, and orders him off the ranch. There are many spectacular sequences and thrilling episodes that lead up to the climax oi an unusually entertaining film. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg's. EMPIRE THEATRE Few recent films have aroused as much interest as "Three Smart Girls," which will commence the second week of its season at the Empire Theatre to-day. This interest can be attributable largely to the appearance in the picture of Deanna Durbin, who reveals herself as a vocalist of extraordinary qualifications in view of her tender years. Although " Three Smart Girls " is the first production in which Miss Durbin has played, she is responsible for such a magnificent performance that it is obvious that she has won lasting popularity. Her singing is superb, and when it is remembered that she was only 13 years of age when the picture was produced, her performance is the more remarkable. In addition to her singing, her acting is equally convincing, giving promise of even greater successes in the future. Moreover, she has the advantage of a story that is both amusing and convincing. The supporting cast is composed of well-known and talented players, prominent among whom is Charles Winninger, who gives an entertaining portrayal as a retired banker with more money than discretion. Other amusing roles are filled by Alice Brady. Binnie Barnes, and Mischa Auer. There is a good supporting programme. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. STRAND THEATRE John Wayne now comes to the screen in what is for him an entirely different kind of story. He plays the part of a boatswain in the United States Coastguard in Universal's "The Sea Spoilers," which arrives at the Strand Theatre to-day. As Bo'sun Bob Randall, in temporary command of the Government cutter Niobe, Wayne is on the trail of a gang of rascally seal poachers, who have also kidnapped his sweetheart. Wrecks and storms, secret wireless messages, conflicts in the seal pirate leader's dungeon, all enter into the proceedings Before Bob gets his man and his girl, amid bursting shells from the coastguard fleet. "I'll Love You Always," a Columbia romance, will be the associate feature. Nancy Carroll and George Murphy are co-featured. Miss Carroll is cast as a young actress who gives up her career to marry Murphy, a graduate engineer. Their brave fight to achieve happiness is the theme of the film. Box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. STATE THEATRE Replete with laughter, romance, and drama, "Dimples," Shirley Temple's latest picture, will commence the second week of its season at the State Theatre to-day. This production tells the story of a lovable little street minstrel and her incorrigible but ir-. resistibly amusing guardian, played by Frank Morgan. The story opens with Shirley leading a groun of young street minstrels through songs and dances. As they conclude their performance Morgan pushes through the crowd and starts off the " contributions," a method which he pnd Shirley have found profitable in their efforts to gain a livelihood. Unfortunately. Morgan has a distinct yearning after other people's belongings, and his fingers fasten on anything of value with which they come in contact. His frailties eventually lead him into trouble, but his little ward's sunny smile av.d irresistible pleas invariably save him. The intrusion of a third and extremely wealthy party into the somewhat irregular life of guardian and ward, and an invitation to the child to exchange her precarious mode of living for one that will give her everything that money can buy, brings a curious set of complications into the story, but eventually everything is settled! satisfactorily. Associated with the principal players are Robert Kent, Astrid Allwyn, Delma Byron. Hel-n Westley. and Berton Churchill. There is an entertaining nrogramme of short subjects. The box plans are at the theatre and at Begg's. REGENT THEATRE Although captivating. vivacious Miriam Hopkins has played many fine parts on the screen it is extremely doubtful if this talented star has ever acted better than she does in " Men Are Not Gods," which commences at the Regent Theatre 'o-day. In the difficult role of Ann Williams, secretary to a famous London theatrical critic. Miss Hopkins is at one moment a great comedienne, while the next she is a queen of tragedy. The trouble starts when the blonde secretary meets the wife of a Shakespearian actor a few minutes before, the Daily Post goes to press. Miss Hopkins is about to give the criticism of " Othello," written, by Skeates, to the printer,

when "Othello's" wife comes to the office in tears and wants to know if the review is favourable. She pleads with the secretary to keep the bad notice about her husband-actor out of the paper, and Ann Williams promises to see what she can do. What she does gets her the sack the next morning, because she alters the copy and makes the actor the greatest Othello London has ever seen instead of the worst. Thinking the criticism comes from the famous Skeates. all London flocks to see "Othello." The latter; gaining confidence from the criticism, acts his part magnificent 1 v from then on and becomes all the rage. What happens to Ann when she meets Othello in the flesh and falls madly in love with him would only sooil an excellent story if divulged. The production is English, and the film is a credit to its producer. Alexander Korda. Sebastian Shaw takes the part of Othello, and acquits himself admirably. The supporting cast is excellent. The shorts are most entertaining, especially Walt. Disney's "Silly Symphony" technicolour cartoon, "The Three Mousketeers." Box plans are at the D.I.C. and the theatre

ST. JAMES THEATRE

Sparkling comedy, combined with a gay romance, is the basis of the popular " Widow from Monte Carlo," which opens at the St. James Theatre this afternoon. This rollicking comedydrama, besides its laughter and love affairs, carries plenty of exciting action, although this is more or less tinged with clever humour. The characters are as varied as they are interesting. In the leading role's are a playboy major (Warren William) and a widowed duchess (Delores Del Rio), whose flirtatiously-inclined habits are hampered by her English "in-laws." Then there are also her very proper fiance (Colin Clive), an American crook, who is a fugitive from justice, and a marmalade king and his wife. Based on the popular lan Hay-A. E. W. Mason comedy, the picture concerns the adventures and love affairs of a South American beauty, whose search for diversion after the death of her husband duke quite shocks her highly proper British " in-laws." A gay and debonair major who meets the duchess in a gambling palace at Monte Carlo is largely responsible for the series of exciting and romantic adventures the two pursue together Monte Carlo is their first rendezvous, but later the scene shifts to Margate. Here the unscrupulous American crook enters the picture, but he aids the couple in defeating tin objects of the marmalade king's wife. Happiness eventually finds them, and the picture closes on the humorous note that is maintained throughout. The role of the duchess is perfectly portrayed by the exotic Delores Del Rio, while Warren William revels in the role of the major. Colin Clive is well cast as the discarded diplomat fiance. Others in the cast include Herbert Mundin, Warren Hymer. Ely Melyon. E. E. Clive, and Mary Forbes. An entertaining programme of short, features will also be presented. Box plans for the season are at the D.I.C. Jacobs's. and the theatre. MAYFAIR THEATRE Splendid singing, in "New Moon," and swift, thrilling action, in " Three Men on the Trail," are the characteristics of the current features at the Mayfair Theatre. In " New Moon " both Lawrence Tibbett and Miss Moore give flawless performances, exclusive of their brilliant singing. Adolphe Menjou is excellent as the suave but sinister superior officer, and Roland Young is amusing as the whimsical count. Once again the thrills of Clarence E. Mullord's "Bar 20" stories are brought to the screen in "Three on the Trail," and featuring William Boyd as Hopalong Cassidy and Jimmy Ellison as Johnnie Nelson. The picture, a real Western thriller, gives a vivid portrayal of the days when rust-

! ling and shooting were the order of the day. The acting by all is excellent, and the romantic interest is sup- : plied by the ranch' schoolmistress, a role enacted by Muriel Evans. The : main plot centres around a saloon keeper, who, with the assistance of a crooked sheriff, indulges in cattle rustling. How Hopalong Cassidy and Johnnie Nelson. put an end to these practices is well shown in an exciting picture. The box plans are at the D.I.C. "THE GREAT ZIEGFELD " A pageant of beauty, in which hundreds of . the famous " Follies " girls dance through the floodlight in endless variety of scenic and musical settings, gives the background for "The Great Ziegfeld," whicj) './111 be the next change at the Mayfair Theatre. The story of the man Ziegfeld and his rise to the peak of showmanship is worked into the glittering background. William Powell plays the principal part to perfection, that of the generous personality whose object in life is to create things beautiful. In the present attraction the motion picture takes up the torch where Ziegfeld laid it down, and produces an extravaganza with elements of all Ziegfeld's former triumphs. Ziegfeld loves all beautiful women, and all love him. Then comes Anna Held, the French star of his first great show, and, as his wife, sh». sways between the height., of happiness and the extreme of disappointment. Her tragic role is taken by Luise Rainer, and the charm she gives the character, and her delightful songs, leave a lasting impression. Myrna Loy comes in as Billy Burke, Ziegfeld's second wife, whose love and understanding of his charming, extravagant nature are with him through all his triumphs and disappointments. Ziegfeld makes money only to lose it, and in the end uies penniless.