ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 20538, 14 July 1928, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

CIVIC PICTURES. “THE KELLYS AND COHENS IN PARIS” (J. FARRELL MACDONALD AND GEORGE SIDNEY). “THE WIZARD” (EDMUND LOWE). “BLAKE OF SCOTLAND YARD” AND MAY FAIR 1928. There is a laugh in every foot of the “Cohens and the Kellys in Paris,” a picture of the very popular Irish-Jewish type. The film will be shown at the Civic to-day and on its merits should draw crowded houses. It is a fact that other Cohen and Kelly pictures have been shown before, but this latest production must surely be rated as the funniest and most entertaining of them all. A feature of the film is the very witty titles and the refreshing variety of scenes and hilarious sequences which combine to make first-class comedy The success of any picture is dependent on the players, and in the “Cohens and the Kellys in Paris,” the cast is an unusually brilliant and talented one. George Sidney, who plays the part of Cohen, was never more entertaining. He is the most amusing character in the picture. With J. Farrell McDonald in the role of Kelly it is only natural to expect comedy of real merit. The ready flow of wit, the heated arguments and truces are screamingly funny. The story ranges from New York where the two are partners in business, to Paris where the two men and their wives go to prevent a wedding between Patrick Kelly and Cohen’s daughter. They embark on the same boat for gay Paree. Their adventures on board provide a riot of laughs. On arriving at Paris they find the young couple already married. Here a truce ie brought about to prevent Patrick’s model, Paulette, from breaking up the marriage. Cohen and Kelly visit a notorious night club to meet Paulette, but forget their mission. The sequences that follow result in a reconciliation between the two families providing a laughable climax. Kate Price and Vera Gordon are excellent in their parts of Mrs Kelly and Mrs Cohen respectively. Gertrude Astor plays opposite Charles Delanye and both give pleasing portrayals. The supporting feature an exceptionally good one, a Fox production entitled “The Wizard”—is a thrilling mystery drama. Edmund Lowe, who won fame as Sergeant Quirt in “What Price Glory,” is seen in the principal role, while Leila Hyams is cast in the leading feminine role, with a group of well-known screen players in support. “The Wizard,” directed by Richard Rosson, is based upon the stage play by Gaston Leroux, and develops some of the most gripping situations ever brought to the screen. The story tells of an eccentric scientist who humanizes an ape to do his bidding and to revenge him for fancied wrongs. Mystery, suspense, and a love interest, crowd every moment during the screening of the picture. Comedy is furnished by two negroes in the role of house servants. The part of the ape is played by George Kotsonaros. “Blake of Scotland Yard” is also on this bill and those who have not yet seen the excellent May Fair film will have another opportunity to-night. It would be advisable to book seats early at the Bristol.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. LON CHANEY IN “LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT,” ALSO LOUISE FAZENDA IN “FINGER PRINTS.” The motion picture has supplied the latest step in modern detective fiction by presenting that great master of characterization, Lon Chaney, in “London After Midnight,” a strange, fascinating story of crime-detec-tion. This picture, which was made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, will be presented at the Majestic Theatre to-night. The story of “London After Midnight” revolves around the supposed suicide of Roger Balfour, whose pretty daughter Lucille is then adopted by Balfour’s executor, Sir James Hamlin. Burke, a Scotland Yard man, investigates the case, but reports suicide. Five years later Burke gets a staggering, dramatic clue, and decides to re-open the case, employing hypnotism in elucidating the mysterious crime. The development of the story introduces “ghosts” and many weird denizens of worlds unknown and the tracking down of the criminal is eventually accomplished in the most dramatic, awe-inspiring circumstances. “A Comedy of Horrors,” So Lloyd Bacon, director of Warners’ “Finger Prints,” describes this Arthur Somers Roche comedy-melodrama-mystery-spook story released by Master Pictures, which also opens at this theatre today. Louise Fazenda that lady of laughter, is the star, and she creates one of the most droll characters of her rollicking repertory. In reality a secret agent, she fools all the crooks and cops and conspirators into believing that she is simply dumb Dora Traynor, maid of all work, in the house of horrors, which is the locale for the story. Crook jargon usually includes nicknames for all the people in its world, and in this particular “Finger Prints” is true to type. Warner Richmond is known as “Annie Laurie” Norton; George Nichols is “Sweeney”; Martha Mattox plays the part of “Mother” Malone; Franklin Pangborn is “The Bandoline Kid”; William Dumarest, “Cuffs” Egan; Robert Perry, “Hard-boiled” Ryan; Ed. Kennedy, “0.K.” McDuff; Jerry Miley, “Chicago Ed.” and Doc. Stone ‘Cabbage Head” McCarthy. Featured in the cast are Helene Costello and John T. Murray POPULAR PICTURES. LOIS MORAN IN “THE WHIRLWIND OF YOUTH” AND “SEA HORSES” WITH JACK HOLT AND FLORENCE VIDOR. A very attractive programme has been selected for this evening and contains all the ingredients required to make high-class and enjoyable entertainment. In “The Whirlwind of Youth” we have a story of sheltered love, told in delightful fashion—a story of youth finding itself and of the maelstrom of emotions that come into a young life—and the result. Much of the story is laid in Paris and the hectic studio life is shown in many colourful sequences. A .pleasing galaxy of young players, headed by Lois Moran, enact “The Whirlwind of Youth” and she has a strong supporting cast. In “Sea Horses” the leading roles are played by Jack Holt and Florence Vidor, two of the most popular artists on the screen. It is a romantic melodrama of love and adventure on sea and land. Splendid supports help to make this one of the best programmes shown here. Seats may be booked at the Bristol or theatre phone 931 after 6 o’clock each evening. MISS DAISY HALL. The announcement that Miss Daisy Hall, the young New Zealand coloratura soprano, is to give a recital at the Municipal Theatre on Monday next, July 16, will no doubt create’ great interest amongst local musiclovers. Miss Hall has been studying singing in Italy for over two years, and is now a finished artist of the Bel Canto School. Furthermore, success has come her way as she will leave shortly to appear at La Scala Opera House, Milan, which is generally recognized to observe the highest standards of Italian opera. The great Maestro Manlio Bavagnoli, under whom Miss Hall studied in Milan, says that the prima donna is the only pure coloratura soprano that New Zealand has produced, and is gifted with a “bella voce” with excellent interpretative qualities, which reflected the great Madame Patti in her young days. Good judges in Wellington who have already had the privilege of hearing her in the capital city, go so far as to say she is better than either Toti dal Monte or Galli Curci. This is high praise indeed, and a delightful treat should be in store for Invercargill musiclovers, who will no doubt give the talented young lady a warm welcome. The programme for Monday evening is large and varied and patrons are assured of not one dull moment, it being one big thrill from beginning to the end. This was evidenced at the recital recently given at Wellington,

when at the conclusion of the performance admirers from all parts of the auditorium flocked to the stage and dressing rooms. Amongst the -numbers to be given are three bird songs, namely, “The Brilliant Bird” (David), “Theme and Variations” (Poach), “Lo, Hear the Gentle Lark” (Bishop) ; all three star items themselves, with their beautiful flute cadenzas, where the flute and voice cannot be separated. So pure and delicate the golden-throated coloratura blends with her accompaniments that she is rightly named “one of a mighty trio,” namely, Galli-Curci, Tettrazini and Daisy Hall, two from Europe, orie an English girl, and above all a New Zealander. Box plan is now open at the Bristol. WILLIAM HEUGHAN. WORLD-FAMOUS SONG INTERPRETER. There must be many who were unable to hear Heughan on the occasion of his last visit to Invercargill, and many who, having heard him, will welcome the news that he is now engaged on a second tour of New Zealand, in the course of which he will appear in the Municipal Theatre on Monday, the 30th, and Tuesday, the 31st inst. It is indeed seldom that any artist, and even more so, a British artist, meets with the universal acclaim that has been accorded Heughan throughout the cities of the world, giving him an international reputation such as only the greatest have achieved. London, New York, Chicago, Montreal, Toronto, Sydney, Melbourne, Calcutta, Johannesburg, to name but a few beyond New Zealand, have all acclaimed him. For his is a great voice—a voice that has thrilled audiences the world over. But not in his voice alone lies his greatness. He is actor, singer and raconteur, all in one. He has made a fusion of the arts, dramatic, lyric and humorous, and brings to the recital platform much of the realism of the stage. In the words of the Daily Sketch, London: “He is as good as an opera.” Therein lies his greatness, and thereby he has earned the distinction of being acclaimed the greatest actor-singer on the concert platform of the present day. Of one of his recent recital appearances in Orchestra Hall, Detroit, the critic of the Detroit Times wrote: “Detroit music lovers listened to the superb voice of Heughan marvelling the while at his mimetic and dramatic powers. For Heughan is rightly termed one of the world’s few geniuses of song. He possesses that rare and remarkable gift of illusion and mastery of song delivery tha,t adds perfection to an otherwise perfect voice. His songs ranged through all the moods of comedy, romance and tragedy, and in them all he seemed equally at home.” With him as assisting artists are: Maud Bell, the renowned English ’cellist—an artist who has scored recital successes in London, Paris, Berlin, Copenhagen, and throughout the capital cities of Europe—and Gladys Sayer, the well known pianiste from the Brussels Conservatoire, whom many will remember as being associated with Heughan on his last tour. The tour on which he is now engaged is under the auspices of the “Overseas League” (London) of which his Majesty the King is patron. Box plans open at the Bristol Piano Co. on Wednesday, 25th inst.