AMUSEMENTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19455, 14 October 1937, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

REGENT THEATRE “PAGLIACUI”—TAUBER The last performance of the famous opera, “Pagliaeci,” takes place tonight. After viewing this production one is astounded at the versatility of Stefli Duna, whose characterisation of Nedda is excellent. Arthur Hargetson’s beautiful voice is splendid, and Tauber never appeared to greater advantage. “Pagliaeci” is a credit to its producers, and should ire seen by all lovers of good music. —“Love on the Run” Comedy— Every theatre-goer should enjoy “Love on the Run,” the gay comedy romance which opens to-morrow at the Regent Theatre. Following upon their successes in “Forsaking All Others" and “Libelled Lady,” Joan Crawford, Clark Gable and Franchol Tone score a further triumph in this, their latest film. The three principals again appear together in gay and romantic mood, and the picture moves swiftly along from one laughter-provoking situation to another. It is said to be one riot, of comedy, sparkling with clever dialogue and fast-moving action. Miss Crawford and Gable are splendid in the light story and both Tone and Reginald Owen, who is cast, as a suave spy, are responsible for fine performances. W. S. Van Dyke, who directed the film, lias come to be known in Hollywood as “the. num who never makes a failure," and “Love on the Run” is said to be one; of bis best. Gable and Tone are a couple of “go-getting" reporters, each keen to beat the other in their ceaseless search for news. Clark Gable meets Miss Crawford, who plays the rote of a wealthy heiress, and while getting her “story” exclusively, befriends her. They escape in an aeroplane belonging to Owen, and in it find an important map. Tone always seems to be near the pair, however, and the two newspaper men scheme for the attentions of the heiress. The romance is given a novel twist at the end. Included in an excellent supporting programme will be a Pete Smith speciality which is of particular interest to all dog lovers, entitled “Wanted a Master”; a M-G-M musical comedy in Technicolour entitled “Hollywood Party,” and British and Foreign News. The season Is limited and the booking office is busy with week-end reserves.

MAJESTIC THEATRE TO-MORllOW: GEORGE FORMBY IN “FEATHER YOUR NEST" AND “CALIFORNIA STRAIGHT AHEAD" The story of “Feather Your Nest,” A.T.P.'s latest production, starring George Forrnby, which is being screened to-morrow at the Majestic Theatre, tells of the comedian’s mirthful blunders and hilarious adventures as a junior employee in a gramophone factory. George manages lo drop and smash the uncopied master record of a world-famed singer. This tragic mishap precludes all hope of the “rise" George and his pretty fellow employee (Polly Ward) had expected to enable them to pay the instalments on a hire-purchase “semidetached." How George, aided and abetted by Polly, after a multitude of mirth-evoking adventures, finally feathers “the nest”provides the basis of this laughter-laden story, which is delightfully punctuated with three catchy comical songs. The song.

“Loanin’ on a Lamp-post," lias a pleasant swing and a catchy tune, and is the forerunner to two other equally pleasing numbers, “Feather Your Nest,” and “I'm as Happy as a Sandboy," which George renders during the film. Among tin* riotously staged slaps' irk comedy sequences is a Turkish hath episode, when George is mistaken for a boxer anxious to reduce his weight, and after a riotous bout of kneading and pummelling he emerges several pounds lighter, his clothes hanging on him like a scarecrow, and feeling akin to a piece of very limp celery. The associate feature is a thrilling action drama, “California Straight Ahead,” starring John Wynne and Louise Latimer. "Tiie Great O’Malley" and “Two Hearts in Harmony" conclude a very popular season to-night.

KING’S THEATRE “WAKE UP AND LIVE”: TOMORROW A sparkling musical production entitled “Wake Up and Live,” is the next attraction to be offered to patrons of the King’s Theatre, and it will commence a season to-morrow. Made by the well-known 20th Century-Fox Company, responsible for many of the brightest musical films of recent years, “Wake Up and Live” maintains the high standard set by “On the Avenue," “Sing, Baby, Sing" and “One in a Million," all of which were received with enthusiasm in Gisborne. Many popular players take leading parts in the new film, among whom fire Alice Faye, Walter Winchell, Ben Bernie, and the numerous comedians whose task it is to lend variety lithe action of the picture. Much oi the humour in "Wake Up and Live" comes from the rivalry between two radio-programme organisers, played by Walter Winched and Ben Bernie. whose repartee is marked by fin acidity and a wit that should appeal to any audience. Jack Harley takes the part of a timid vaudeville performer, who, despite his good voice, gets "microphone fright” when given his opportunity to sing over the radio, and faints. He later obtains employment as guide at Radio Centre, and, one night, steps in front of a microphone in a deserted room and begins to sing. Unknown to him, however, the microphone is connected with the transmission, and next day a flood of enthusiastic letters arrives at the broadcasting station, full of praise for the unknown singer. lie is immediately named "the Phantom Troubadour," but no one fit Radio Centre knows who he is, not even the singer himself. The mystery is intensified when each of the rivals puts forward his own candidate for the position of “Phantom Troubadour,” but neither finds much favour with the public. Finally, the identity of the singer is discovered by his fiancee, but, before he can take advantage of his popularity he is kidnapped. The closing scenes in the film are most amusing, describing the pursuit of the* kidnappers. "There Goes My Girl," a line murder mystery starring Gene Raymond and Ann Sotherri, concludes to-night.