AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23320, 12 October 1937, Page 17

AMUSEMENTS

REGENT THEATRE A real gala Hollywood premiere, complete with pressing throngs, searchlights, radio announcer, and celebrities, is one of the thrilling highlights of “A Star is Born,” the technicolour production starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March, which is at the Regent Theatre. As the title indicates, the picture portrays the rise of a little country girl to Hollywood stardom. In the picture the audience shares with Esther Blodgett, portrayed by Janet Gaynor, the heartaches and happiness, the gaiety and despair, that go into the ultimate crowning of a motion picture star. Such world-famous Hollywood landmarks as the Trocadero, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, the Brown Derby, and the Biltmore Bowl are shown in “A Star is Born ” in natural colour for the first time. “A Star is Born ” features Adolphe Menjou. May Robson, Andy Devine. Lionel Stander and others. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. “MOONLIGHT SONATA” “ Moonlight Sonata ” brings to the screen two world celebrities, Ignace Jan Paderewski and Marie Tempest. The film is to be screened at the Regent Theatre on Friday, Paderewski is famous as a pianist; but there has been just a doubt in the mind of some music lovers as to whether the filmed production could do justice to his genius. It is safe to say that their fears are groundless. But Paderewski’s playing is not the only treat in store for the audience, Marie Tempest’s acting is a feature of “Moonlight Sonata.” Then there is the story itself. Based on an episode—all too fleeting—in the life of the great pianist it unfolds itself as a charming romance. The foremost figures in the story are a young couple who become temporarily estranged through the intervention of a scheming adventurer, whom chance brings to the hospitable doors of the country house of Baroness Lindenborg (Marie Tempest). Photographically, “ Moonlight Sonata ” is said to be perfect, and in all the other essentials, too, of successful production there is nothing lacking. But its presentation of Paderewski’s playing will make the picture live longest in the memory of the audience. Plans are now on view at the D.I.C. and theatre, phone 12-513. ST. JAMES THEATRE “Under Cover of Night" is the title of the St. James Theatre’s present attraction, and it tells a thrilling story of a series of mysterious murders at a college. Edmund Lowe, who fills the leading role, is cast as a university graduate who returns to the college to solve the killings. An unusual departure in the story is the way in which the murderer is revealed to the audience from the outset, and theatre-goers are thus able to follow with interest the working of the sleuth’s brain to unravel the mystery. The excellent cast includes Florence Rice, Dean Jagger, Henry Daniell, and Nat Pendleton. The supporting programme is highly entertaining. The box plans are at the theatre, the D.1.C., and at Jacobs’s. “A FAMILY AFFAIR” Telling in dramatic fashion an exciting and unusual story of life in a small American town. “A Family Affair, which will be the next change at the St. James Theatre, is a film after the type of the famous “Ah. Wilderness.’ Famous star of stage and screen veteran Lionel Barrymore is ideally cast as a judge who gives what his townspeople imagine to be a selfish opinion in a court case. When a comKof engineers start talking about essing the waters of the river for a big new project, Barrymore realises that they may be “given an inch," and they would soon divert all power from the valley, and, having no power, the mills and other plants would be useless. The project organisers threaten the judge and members of his family, but he refuses to revert his decision, and eventually the community sees his point, and give him once again their confidence. Supporting Barrymore is an all-star cast with such players as Eric Linden, Cecilia Parker, Mickey Rooney, Charley Grapewin, Spring Byington, Julie Haydon, and Sara Haden. OCTAGON THEATRE Action, international Intrigue and romance keep “ The Girl From Ccotland Yard,” one of the two attractions at the Octagon Theatre, moving at a swift pace. The picture has plenty of thrills, some excellent corned'’’ and a flavouring of music. The story presents Karen Morley in the title role as an agent who uses her beauty and wit to trap the inventor of a death ray who threatens to destroy England’s air force with his invention. Miss Morley is assisted in tracking down the inventor by Robert Baldwin, an American newspaper man who gets involved in the intrigue when he falls in love with the beautiful secret agent. The second feature, “The Crime Nobody Saw,” is an unusual mystery story with a comic twist. Lew Ayres, Ruth Coleman, Eugene Pallette and Benny Baker are in the leading roles. The story is solved by three authors who are in quest of a plot for a play. A man is killed in their apartment, they trick all the suspects into coming to the apartment, find the guilty person, and have a first-class plot for the play. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. “KING OF GAMBLERS” Akim Tamiroff, as Steve Kalkas, ruthless underworld ruler, in the Paramount production, “ King of Gamblers, which will head the double-feature bill at the Octagon Theatre on Friday, maintains his control over the crooked slot machine racket in a large city by murdering his opponents and bombing stores which refuse to accept his machines. He is in love with Dixie, a night club entertainer, but she does not return his affection. She becomes interested in Jim Adams (Lloyd Nolan), a newspaper man, who is assigned to

expose the slot machine racket. Neither knows that Kalkas is the power behind the racket. Believing Adams to be in love with another girl, Dixie accepts Kalkas’s lavish attentions When Dixie’s friend is murdered by Kalkas’s orders because she knew too much about his organisation, Dixie asks Adams to help her solve the mystery, and accidentally they stumble upon a clue. In an exciting climax Kalkas tries to murder Adams, who scores the most sensational scoop of the year. The second feature is “ The Case of the Stuttering Bishop,” with Donald Woods and Ann Dvorak in the leading roles. STRAND THEATRE The Strand Theatre’s first attraction, “Mr Cinderella,” is a pleasing comedy with a more than average quota. of laughs. Jack Haley has the leading role, and he is ably assisted by Betty Furness, Raymond Walburn, and Arthur Treacher. The associate feature is a dramatic exposure of the American “ parole racket,” entitled “Freedom for Sale.” In the leading roles are Leona Maricle, as a girl reporter, and Paul Kelly, as a secret police agent. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. EMPIRE THEATRE There is no one just like Grade Fields, and she is at her best in the Empire Theatre’s current attraction, “The Show Goes On.” Her beautiful voice, ever-ready, gay humour, and her unusual personality combine to make the film an outstanding one. The story resembles that of her own life, and is full of interest. The supporting programme is attractively varied. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. “THE ROAD BACK” “ The Road Back,” the screen version of Eric Maria Remarque’s sensational novel, which will be seen on Friday at the Empire Theatre, unlike most films, has something to say. It strikes home closely, in these days of riots, of rearmament, of hate and defiance and open disorder. Mr Remarque, in his novel, told of another such turbulent day, of the weeks following close upon the armistice. While the rest of the world rejoiced, back in November of 1918, German soldiers and German citizens were trying hard to readjust themselves to a bitter peace. They did try. Some of these soldiers had been schoolboys not so long ago. They tried to go back to their books and the quiet discipline routine of the classroom. Their parents tried to greet them cheerfully, to understand their abrupt moodiness and lack of boyishness. Their sweethearts tried to find them the same laughing lads who had marched away so gaily. Things were not the same. One by one they found it out. The drama, centred on a group rather than one or two individuals, has been skilfully adapted, with Slim Summerville, Louise Fazenda, and Etienne Girardot supplying plenty of straight comedy in an effort to lighten the atmosphere. The theme is, as it must be, poignantly tragic, a tale of lost youth, destroyed hopes, and even deadened ambitions. GRAND THEATRE The Grand Theatre’s main attraction, " Student Doctors Cannot Take Money, Is an exciting drama, in which Joel M’Crea takes the part of Kildare, a student doctor, who becomes involved with the underworld of an American city, by operating on a powerful and well-known gambler. In his work in the slums Kildare has become interested in Barbara Stanwyck, who, for harbouring a murderer, had been sentenced to prison. On her release her child has been kidnapped, and circumstances point to a gangster named Innes as being responsible for the crime. The film concerns the conflict in Kildare s mind as to whether he should act according to his duty or his desire. The second film is “ Park Avenue Logger,” starring George O’Brien. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg’s. “SEA DEVILS” As a means to prevent Seaman Preston Foster from marrying his daughter, Chief Bo’sun’s Mate Victor M’Laglen, of the United States Coastguard, has the sailor court martialled in RKO Radio's drama of romance and adventure, “Sea Devils,” which will head the new programme at the Grand Theatre to-morrow. The daughter is Ida Lupino, and Donald Woods proves to be a formidable rival to his shipmate, Foster, for M’Laglen’s daughter s affections. Realising that Foster is a happy-go-lucky sailor, like himself, M’Laglen makes no bones about opposing Foster’s suit for Miss Lupino, and the enmity between the pair flares into physical combat several Embellishing the romance are several scenes showing the hazardous duties of the Coastguard, including, rescuing imperilled lives from sinking Vessels at sea. Supporting the pnncipal players in important roles are Gordon Jones, Helen Flint, Pierre Watkm. Murray Alper, and Billy Gilbert. Featuring three of Hollywood s most Popular comedians— Guy Kibbee, Una Merkel, and Lynn Overman—in a rollicking screen play bubbling over entertainment and humour, RHO Radio present “ Don t Tell the Wife as the second film. STATE THEATRE The State Theatre’s current attraction. “Michael Strogoff,” starring Anton Walbrook, is an adventure picture offering a wealth of excitement, a tender romance, some of the m ° st , s P < i c j tacular scenes ever photographed, ana entertainment which should find tavour with all. “ Michael Strogoff concerns itself with the perilous journey of its hero across Siberia and through hostile Tartar patrols Jo reach a besieged Russian army at Irkutsk, with the Czar’s orders for the campaign. A beautiful woman spy is on his trail, a Russian girl befriends him; .he is trapped, battles river pirates, is captured and tortured by the Tartars, but with the aid of the loyal girl attains his mission and a thrilling revenge over the Tartar leader. The box plans are at the theatre and Beggs. “ HIS LORDSHIP ’’ George Arliss in “ His Lordship,” a Gaumont-British production directea by Herbert Mason, will be seen at the State Theatre next Friday. Rene Ray and Romilly Lunge head the supporting cast. The story deals with the efforts of two Englishmen, who were mixed up in an affair in the Near Last, to prevent the brother of one of them, Lord Duncaster, British Foreign Secretary. from plunging Britain into war with the Eastern Power. Set m London, with scenes of the Near East, the story develops round the differences in the totally dissimilar brothers and the romance of the youthful adventurer with Duncaster’s secretary. Richard, the ne’er-do-well brother, impersonates Duncaster and brings about a successful climax. Howard, the younger man. gets his girl and Duncaster is honoured by the nation. Several characters in the film assume the garb of Near Eastern sheiks, notably Allan Jeayes. The picture is said to be a worthwhile one and certain to win more Arliss fans. It is. perhaps, his best since Disraeli.” MAYFAIR THEATRE Variety is the keynote of the Mayfair Theatre’s current programme, for there is entertainment to suit all tastes in the films, “Garden of Allah and “Aren’t Men Beasts? ” Filmed in technicolour, the former picture features Marlene Dietrich and Charles Boyer in a story of a couple who fled to the Algerian desert to begin life anew and are swept into a beautiful romance. The associate feature, “Aren’t Men Boasts? ” is a gay comedy featuring the British favourite, Robertson Hare. The box plans are at the theatre sweet shop and the D.I.C. “THE DEVIL DOLL” “The Devil Doll,” the Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer thriller, opening to-morrow at the Mayfair Theatre, is a spectacular demonstration of the limitless range of the modern screen. The production stars Lionel Barrymore, with 1 a notable cast of supporting players.

Among them are Maureen O Sullivan, last seen with Barrymore in ‘The Voice of Bugle Ann ,r ; Frank Lawton, Robert Greig, Grace Ford, Lucy Beaumont, Arthur Hohl, Fred Warren, and other accomplished players. The story tells of a scientist, gone mad in his efforts to discover a means of shrinking the atom. He conceives the theory that if all living creatures .might be reduced to one-sixth of their natural size the world food supply would be adequate for all. His fantastic dream brings into existence a weird laboratory where animals and human beings are reduced according to his formula. But, in the process, their brains are destroyed, leaving them treacherous morons. The supporting feature is Columbia's action thriller “Air Hawks, featuring Ralph Bellamy and supported by the famous aviator Wiley Post.