AMUSEMENTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18589, 27 December 1934, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

REGENT THEATRE

DICK POWELL AND GINGER ROGERS IN * ‘TWENTY MILLION SWEETHEARTS”

“Twenty Million Sweethearts,” a romance of the radio, continues its successful run at the Regent Theatre. The production is a distinct innovation in him entertainment, giving a behind-the-scenes picture of radio entertainers and their task of pleasing the public. While the picture combines drama, comedy and romance in a well-defined plot, it is interspersed with catchy songs and other music, which give it color as well as adding to the liveliness of the entertainment. There is a strong cast of players of widely diversified talents, with Pat O’Brien in the, leading role, a semi-comic part in which ho plays'a fast talking though somewhat blundering talent scout for a radio company, who boosts others to fame while lie himself is left out in the cold. The picture introduces a new romantic team in Dick Powell and “dinger” Rogers, radio sweethearts who sing for the public and make love privately. The Four Mills Brothers’ voices are; heard in catchy music, while Ted Fio Rito and his band play the accompaniment to one of Powell’s tuneful lays, as well as individual music. The film is full of music and popular songs, including “How Am I Doin’,” “Fair and Warmer,” “I’ll String Along With You,” and “The Man on the Flying Trapeze,” which are successfully presented by Dick Powell and the radio performers mentioned. The Imx plans are open for Richard Tauber’s first musical production entirely in English, “Blossom Time,” which commences a. four-day season at the Regent, at/, the, midnight, matinee at 10.30-o’clock on Now Year’s Eve. OPERA HOUSE JESSIE MATTHEWS IN “MAN FROM TORONTO,” AND “EBB TIDE” Two long features are now being screened at; the Opera Mouse. Jessie Matthews, the star of “Midshipmaid” and “Evergreen,” is .seen in another delightful role in “The Man from Toronto. It is wholesome English comedy of a type which cannot fail to please. The situation is simple. An English girl who does not live comfortably on £SOO a year has the promise, by will, of a quarter of a million, if she nyill marry ono Fergus Wimbiwh, the man from Toronto, whom she has never seen. He, of course, imagines that the proffered bride is a middle-aged hag, but he decides 'to satisfy his own eyes. What she expects to sec is as had. So the film turns into a game of hide and seek. The girl, however, is cleverer-, for, posing as a maid, she wins Fergus by guile. Most of the talc is told in an English village. Fred Kerr (who died recently) easily runs off with the honors of the cast. His study of Mr GBunston, an irasc,iblo lawyer, is a model of character acting. Jessie Matthews, however, is not completely overshadowed in her role of the bright young woman of the play- The film has an English quality which one would never find outside England. “Ebb Tide,” the second feature, is a vital drama of life in the London docks, and each member of the cast gives an outstanding interpretation. “Ebb Tide” is a British pr-o.duction, the main roles being played by Dorothy Bouchier, Joan Barry, and'. George Barraud. 4 KINO’S THEATRE “GREAT EXPECTATIONS” Almost a year of research and preparation was made necessary in fho production of ‘‘Great Expectations, one of Universal’s ace attractions for 193 j, which is proving most popular at.' the King’s Theatre. Faithful replicas ot the scenes add sets in the- story were obtained at gieat cost, and much trouble, inasmuch as many- valuable pieces of furniture and bric-a-brac of almost )G0 years ago can no longer bp found, the scene in the churchyard at the opening of the story is very realistic. Thi.S/Set is a faithful reproduction of an old Kentish churchyard not. far from the river actually mentioned in the story. The kitchen of Mrs. Joe Gargery, the blacksmith’s \yifc, is another excellent reproduction of the. typo of kitchen then in vogue among the particular class of people to. which she belonged. Again, the marshes whore the groat tight between the two convicts takes place.were especially built to represent as nearly as possible those, soggy, treacherous and weird places which hug the hanks of the River Thames in Northern Kent. Miss Mavisham’ dark house, the decayed wedding cake covered with cobwebs, and the unhappy woman herself in her wedding gown, so vividly described in the hook, have been reproduced in the film. Til the room where the wedding breakfast had remained for venrs, much care has been taken for detail and even beetles, spiders and /mice were bought to, enhance the reality. Fiji’s chambers in the Temple are an exact reproduction of the top floor of ,the later famous London apartment. building. The lamp on his table is a faithful copy of the one used by Charles Dickens at the reading given by him before intimate friends, among whom were Blanchard, Gerrald, Stanfield, and others. The silver used on this set is authentic Georgian jsilver, and the china, English spode. The glass decanters t.nd pony goblets, are of the famous old Waterford variety, 'Principal roles in the cast arc taken by Phillips Holmes, Jane Wyatt, Florence Reed, Alan Hale, George Breakston, Francis L. Sullivan, Rafaela Oltiano, and Valerie Hobson. MAJESTIC THEATRE OF BULLDOG DRUMMOND” AND “HOUND OF ' THE BASKERVILLES” What's in a name? Enough to draw a full house of thrill-seekers to lho Majestic Theatre last evening, when “The Return of Bulldog Drummond” opened a season. “Sapper’s” stories of Captain Drummond, enemy of public enemies, and his crowd of lounge lizard colleagues have been so universally read that, this picture, based on )'The Black Gang,” has an appeal which is a compliment to the author. Tho film is so full of action that it ends far too soon. In the screening the story gains in excitement, omitting irrelevant details. The resurrection of the villainous Carl Peterson as an international armaments plotter starts the old crowd on their toes again, and their hair-raising escapades as they set about things for the rescue of Drummond’s kidnapped wife and the downfall of Peterson are intensely realistic. Every character plays a part with a deal of enthusiasm and every ounce of dash. Ralph Richardson is an apt lead as Drummond. Francis L. Sullivan gives a Peterson much fatter and darker-haired than was

expected, under the alias of the Rev. Theophilus Longmore. A liberal Idem! of till rnor is provided by Claude. All is ter as the monoeled Algv. a part be took in the first, Drummond film. Tlio.se three all played capablv and invostro the production with a real significance. The second feature is “The Hound ot the Raskervilles.” This is one of Conan Doyle’s most popular stories and the. •screen adaptation is even mol’e thrilling than the book. Heather Angel and John Stuart head the cast of this outstanding mystery play.