ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 20794, 7 June 1929, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

VAUDEVILLE AND PICTURES

MAJESTIC.

LAST NIGHT OF SAM STERN AND SADIE PEPPER ON THE STAGE, ALSO “THE PHYSICIAN” AND WHO IS THE MAN?”

To-night will see the last appearance of those versatile performers, Sam Stern and Sadie Pepper at the Majestic Theatre, where, for the last five nights, they have proved so successful. Sam’s inimitable manner of singing songs that arc his own product, and nearly all about love-making Italians, has endeared him to those Invercargillites that have been fortunate enough to hear them, while the dainty and sweetly dressed Miss Sadie Pepper has become very popular too. At least England hue a film actor who can more than compare with any of the greatest dramatic actors in foreign films in the person of Miles Manlier. Mr. Mander first made his screen success in- the British film version of Frederick Lonsdale’s play, “The Fake.” However, the new British Dominions’ film, “The Physician,’ which is being screened at the Majestic Theatre for the last time to-night, will mark the debut of Miles Mander on the screen in this town. In this film version of Henry Arthur Jones’ well-known play, Mander has the role of the temperance reformer, who is in his weaker moments a secret drinker. In offering Miles Mander this role, George Jacoby, the famous producer, has given him the opportunity of his lifetime, and this clever actor has more than fulfilled expectations. “Who is the Man,” also finishing at this theatre to-night, is the story of a man’s willing sacrifice as the price of a frail woman’s soul. It is a story of unrequited love, a drama of modern marriage where business is apt to dull the. edge of romance. The players in this English production, directed by Walter. Summers, are Isobcl ELsom, Lewis Dayton and Langhorne Burton.

THE REGENT. THE SKYSCRAPER AND MAURICE GUTTRIDGE. To-night’s programme at the Regent should be one. of outstanding merit. “The Skyscraper” has long been heralded as one of the films of the year. It is an unusual combination of hilarious comedy and tense drama. William Boyd, who will be remembered for his fine portrayals in “The Volga Boatman,” “Power” and other features is cast in the leading role of Blondy, a steelworker, who saves a chorus girl from being crushed by a steel girder and falls in love with her. He promises that when her company goes on tour she will wear his ring which he is to give her at the station. In the meantime he meets with an accident and is maimed and will not press his suit with the girl who docs not know of the accident, but believes that, he was only flirting with her. Swede, Blondy’s pal, sees that Blondy is not trying to recover just because he doesn’t want the girl to marry a cripple and sets to to make him jealous by always talking about being out with his girl. This brings about a feast of comedy situations, and a surprise ending that should satisfy all. Alan Hale portrays the part of Swede and Sue Carol the girl. All lovers of good music will be delighted to hear that the management has decided to bring Maurice Guttridge to conduct their already fine orchestra. Mr Guttridge has earned the reputation of being the. finest musical director in the southern hemisphere and it. is certain that Invercargill in common with the other New Zealand centres will not be slow to show its appreciation. An excellent supporting programme has been chosen including a screamingly funny Our Gang Comedy, “Election Day,” some interesting scenes of London’s Theatreland, a special Pathe Review on the latest methods of keeping beautiful, A Regent Review of World Events and a New Zealand Scenic. The Box Plan is now open at the Bristol.

CIVIC PICTURES. LAST NIGHT OF EMIL JANNINGS IN “THE WAV OF ALL FLESH” AND ADOLPHE MENJOU IN “MARQUIS PREFERRED.” “The Way of all Flesh” starring Emil Jannings, one of the truly “great” pictures, is showing at the Civic for the last time to-night. Jannings has given us no better portrait than this of a prosperous, sleek, satisfied, happy and very tender-hearted father, and it is because of this good-heart-edness, which he carries into his work of a bank cashier, that we are doubly shocked and saddened by the completeness and awful desolation of his downfall. It hits one like the loss and defalcation of a friend. From the moment August Schilling wakes up in the morning and rolls out of bed to put his happy brood of children through their daily dozen —their “turnverein” — wash and feed them and, with his wife, see. them off to school, to the day when ruin stares him in the face, and, still later, he passes into the snow-storm, we have life presented to us, both the life of the fam-

iliar daily detail, home and business, and that stranger more terrible life of primal instincts of deceit, of base betrayal and savage violence—life shown by a master entrepreneur. The direction of this picture was an artistic triumph. Donald Keith takes the part of August Schilling, Jr., as a successful violinist with great charm, having succeeded Philip de Lacy, who represented him in childhood with his usual boyish grace. Phyllis Haver encores her success as Countess de Launay in “Brigadier Gerard” in the part of an entirely worthless but seductive young vamp, the stumbling-block in the path of Schilling, senior. The balance of the cast is equally satisfactory. In Adolphe Menjou’s “Marquis Preferred,” we have Menjou in one of his man-of-the-world roles, playing the chief character in a French farce with a distinctly new twist. He gets away with it, and is responsible for some fine acting. The cast is faultless. Menjou is a Marquis and he and his chateau are weighed heavy with debt. There is a meeting of the creditors, and he puts them off by stating that he is about to marry into a wealth}' family. This is only a fabrication, and like all fabrications is, in course of time, revealed. Then complications come thick and fast, and the audience has an enjoyable time. Plans for to-night are at the Bristol.

SIR. HARRY' LAUDER

WITH HIS NEW COMPANY.

As Ihe time draws near for the, appearance in Invercargill at the Municipal Theatre on Monday' and Tuesday next of Sir Harry Lauder and hi.s new company of international artists there is great expectancy of what fare will be offered by this distinguished entertainer and intending patrons will be pleased to note that Sir Harry will present an entirely new budget of songs, sketches and stories his latest song successes were preesnted during his last season in London just prior to hrs departure for New Zealand and the London Press commented on the fact that Sir Harry is even a greater favourite than ever with the London theatregoer as exemplified by his wonderful nightly receptions and that he was averaging over the hour on the stage at every performance. Included in Sir Harry’s new song numbers are “When I Meet Mackay,” “I’ve just got off the Chain,” and “Flower o’ the Heather,” the first-nam-ed being song character sketches full of quaint humour and the latter a love song with a touch of pathos and a haunting melody. A selected few of the old favourites will find a place on his programme for his audiences ever demand their inclusion even now the management is in receipt of special request numbers. Whatever Mr E. J. Carroll presents to the public must be the best and the supporting company is no exception for injjnite care has been taken in choosing the artists and acts which include “Tiki” Carpenter, the surprise packet, direct from a highly successful London season; Rupert Hazel and Elsie Day, the harnionylarity duo; the Fredo Bros, comedy acrobatic violinists from the Orpheum Circuit, America; Don .Julian a cartoonist and lightning sketch artist who makes the besl of the English he knows, direct from the Continental variety theatres. Haydn Beek is musical conductor and the orchestra has been specially selected for this tour. Only two performances can be given in Invercargill and the box plans open at the Bristol this morning when intending patrons are recommended to make their reservations.