AMUSEMENTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18597, 7 January 1935, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

OPERA HOUSE

*‘ ON THE AIR” AND “ BRTEF MOMENT ’ ’ The double feature programme, wliieli on account of the variety of the entertainment pleased a large audience on Saturday night, will be. screened again to-night and to-morrow, in “On the Air, - ’ which heads the double hill, practically every radio star <d note in Britain is featured. The audience is first shown Roy Fox and his hand playing popular musical hits, and in turn are presented Clapham and Dwver, the famous comedians ; Teddy Browne, in xylophone, saxophone and drum items; Scott and Whaley, in clover back chat, patter and pianoforte ; Bradley's Rhythm Girls; Wilson, Kcppell and Betty, who give a number of clever Egyptian dances; Reginald Cordell, in a character song, “I I’lnek My Guitar'’ : Dave Burnaby, who sings “Down in the Valley Under the Trees' 1 ; Max Wall, who gives an exceedingly clever exhibition of tap dancing : Mario Retro, a hanjoist; Man y Champion, m an old-time turn, “Any Old Iron?’’; aerobatic feats by T.arrie Devine; and vocal numbers by Eve Bock. Betty Astell and Anona Winn. The second feature is “Brief Moment,*’ featuring Carole Lombard and (dene Raymond.

MAJESTIC THEATRE

“DEATH ON THE DIAMOND” & “WHAT PRICE INNOCENCE”

Crowded audiences greeted the splendid double feature programme which commenced on .Saturday. Comedy, a detective mystery, and gripping drama mingle with the excitement of the baseball Held in “Death on the Diamond,’’ the first, attraction on the doublefeature bill. The story, featuring Robert Young. Madge Evans, and Nat Pendleton, deals with mysterious crimes in a, baseball team during elimination matches. Gamblers have bet heavily against the St. Louis team, and when mysterious murders occur in the team suspicion falls on more than M people. The action is blended with hilarious comedy, and thrills of actual baseball contests, and it is not until the final fade-out that the mystery is solved. “What Brice Innocence?” is the pertinent title of the second feature. It is a story of youth—the present day, lastliving, supposedly wjse, sophisticated youth, plunging at life without really understanding it’s problems and responsibilities. The'star's, are Jean Barker, Willard Mack, and Minna Goinb'el. The seventh chapter of “Perils of Pauline” also will be screened.

REGENT THEATRE

“THOSE WERE THE DAYS”: REFRESHING MUSICAL FARCE

Crowded sessions and hearty laughter were the order of the day on Saturday at the Regent. “Those Were the Days” proved so refreshing that it met with all-round approval. All the best of the song "hits’' of an almost forgotten ago, with comical incidents by the score, make entertainment of the very first order. The acting is excellent, the settings perfect, and the scenes of yesterday that are recalled make the onlooker realise just how much the world Is changing its customs without changing its love for good, clean comedy. The story is farcical, but none the less enjoyable. There is only one drawback, the laughter drowns some of the dialogue, but all are equal offenders in that direction. The principal players are Will Hay, Marguerite Allen, Claude Allister, and Jimmy Godden. The featurettes are all in happy vein, and include “Beauty and the Bus,” a ToddKelly comedy; “Gentlemen of Polish,” a newsreel; a cartoon, and newsreels.

Ivan Perrin, the Now Zealand pianist, was given an enthusiastic reception cn Saturday night, and had to respond to three encores; even then the, large audience was loth to let him leave the stage. Opening his programme with Kowaldski’s “March Hongroiso,” which was brilliantly played, ho then presented several modern selections. ITis encore numbers were all request items, “Little Dutch Mill/’ “Tell Me To-night,” “The Old Spinning Wheel,” and “The Shadow Waltz.”

KING’S THEATRE

COMEDY & ROMANCE: “OLSEN’S BIG MOMENT’’ AND “JIMMY AND SALLY”

King’s Theatre’s special doublefeature programme of comedy and romance, presenting several of the most popular stars of the American screen, drew a capacity house on Saturday night, and the general excellence of tho programme was appreciated to the full. Comedy of the most delightful kind was ottered in “Olsen’s Big Moment,” in which Ivl Brendel provides one long laugh, it is rare that a motion picture presents pure comedy in all its elements, yet “Olsen’s Big Moment,” a Fox Film, is just such a picture. The story concerns itself’ with a 'diligent janitor who is catapulted into a romance between an inebriate and a beautiful young girl .who is in love with somebody else. He is taken from his simple dusting and sweeping into an atmosphere’ of fireworks that involves a run-in with desperate gangsters, the police, and an irate mother-in-law. El Brendel is here given a story that sets off in hold relief all of that comedian’s inimitable humor. Fox Film lias seen fit to complement their choice of star and story with the engagement of Walter Catlett ns the chief support of l.lieir Scandinavian comic. Together they are a perfect team for hilarious proceedings. “Jimmy and Sally,” a comedyromance with music, is thoroughly suited to James Dunn’s style, and Claire Trevor also portrays an interesting characterisation. Jimmy, cast as a high pressure press agent, by his lack of money and extravagant tastes,, causes the postponement of his marriage with Sally, whom he neglects in a way that causes several of the, misunderstandings that are common amongst young lovers. In starting over again on a conquest of a career and his sweetheart he encounters many difficulties. How he, accomplishes both liis objects brings the film to a stirring conclusion. When .Tames Dunn sings “It’s the Irish In. Me.” one realises that he reveals another talent heretofore hidden from screen audiences. There is a splendid programme of supports.