ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 20940, 25 November 1929, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE MAJESTIC. VILMA BANKY IN ‘THIS IS HEAVEN.” Vilma Banky makes a triumph out of her experiment with the role of a modern girl in ‘This Is Heaven,” her newest starring picture which opened at the Majestic on Saturday night. Blonde and beautiful as ever in her waitress’s costume, appealing as ever in her love scenes with James Hall, and showing an unpredictable aptitude for comedy in the light situations of the earlier part of the picture, she has proved to her public that Samuel Goldwyn did wisely when he decided to give her a role in which she could be just a beautiful girl with an appealing voice.. “This Is Heaven” gives her the part of a little immigrant Cinderella who arrives at Ellis Island and is immediately swallowed up in the seething mass of New Yorkers trying to earn a living. She goes to work as a waitress in a whitetiled restaurant, meets her dream hero under the impression that he is a chauffeur and does not discover that he is really a blue-blooded millionaire until his reticence on the subject has almost ruined their happiness. The brownstone house in which she lives with her uncle and cousin, the ride to work on the subway, the hot cake griddle iff the window of the restaurant, are all part and parcel of real life. The reality of the picture’s atmosphere from beginning to end is helped greatly by the excellent character work of Fritzi Ridgeway and Lucien Littlefield as the hard-boiled cousin and the ineffective uncle. James Hall’s talents as a leading man need no advertising, but Miss Banky’s beauty seems to inspire him into being particularly pleasing. The talking and singing featurettes include “The English Singers” in beautiful folk songs of England and an interesting two-reel sketch entitled “Solomon’s Children.” This programme will be continued for two more nights. THE REGENT. “SHOW BOAT.” HUMAN NATURE PORTRAYED. Human nature has not changed in the last 40 or 50 years in any appreciable extent, if one is to judge by the portrayal of the period shown in Universal Films talking and singing production “Show Boat.” A large percentage of picture fans look to the screen to picture all that is ideal in life, and when they are shown a faithful delineation of life they are dissatisfied, but the more thoughtful, who know that ideals are rarely possible, and who find pleasure in studying life as it was, will find keen interest and great pleasure in a session of ‘The Show Boat.” The true mission of the motion picture is to teach and that is what “The Show Boat” does for it shows the folly of being ruled by human passions and it is left for the intelligent fan to profit by it. The show boat itself is a picturesque relic of other days, when floating theatres travelled up and down the wide Mississippi and entertained the villagers along the banks. The beauty of the river is used with effect and the loud call of the steam organ and the show boat’s band are well reproduced. Otis Harlan, as the genial Captain Andy Hawks is married to a hard business like woman (Emily Fitzroy) and is the proud father of Magnolia (Jane La Verne), whose ruling passion is the stage: The leading lady, Julie (Alma Rubens), is dismissed by Mrs Hawks for sympathizing with Magnolia’s childish desires. The years roll on and Magnolia (Laura La Plante) becomes the leading lady, but the unfortunate Captain has trouble in keeping a leading man, for his wife dismisses them if they make the love scenes with Magnolia too realistic. Then a gentleman gambler, Gayford Ravenal (Joseph Schildkraut) appears upon the scene and proves too many for Mrs Hawks, for he elopes with Magnolia. They return to their acting on the show boat and Kim (Jane La Verne) is born. The Captain is drowned in a storm and Magnolia later sells her interest to her mother. She goes to Chicago with Gay and he gambles their money away. Magnolia places Kim in a convent and goes back to the stage and Gay vanishes into the world. Mrs Hawks asks Magnolia to return to her but she refuses and says that she will wait for Gay to return. Magnolia has a successful career and Kim grows up and marries and then Mrs Hawks dies. Magnolia returns to the show boat and Gay returns to her there. About 25 per cent, of the picture carries subtitles and the balance is enriched with talking and singing, both being very well reproduced. The picture is unusually long for a talking picture, but the atmosphere is excellent throughout. The presentation is natural and the whole picture is one that cannot fail to draw packed houses during the remaining two nights of the season. The only support is a New Zealand publicity film, which should help to make the local aviation club popular, for it shows ■ some very beautiful scenes from above the I .clouds.

CIVIC PJCTURES. MUNICIPAL THEATRE. “THE VIKING” (100 per cent. Technicolor Picture), PAULINE STARK; "LOVE AND THE DEVIL,” MILTON SILLS. The all-coloured picture, “The Viking,” held the audience spellbound at the Civic on Saturday. It is glorious L It is a notable attempt on the part of the producer to give us something different, and in that desire he succeeds admirably, as the novelty of the setting, historical accuracy of the action, and the fact that the entire picture has been filmed in technicolour all add to the sum total of his success. Pauline Stark was never more perfectly cast as in the role of a haughty and proud Viking maid. Donald Crisp is like a mighty Viking come to life in his bearing and muscular development. As romantic lead, Leroy Mason is in his element, and is able to register well without actually having to act a great deal in the true sense of the word. “The Viking” throbs with a vigour of the lusty life of the days it depicts in its unfoldment, while the exciting and adventurous tone of the whole production stirs the pulses. The second feature, “Love and the Devil,” is a splendid drama. Milton Sills lends a dignity and conviction to his work which stamps him as the able all-round actor we know him to be. And with Maria Corda doing some real acting, this pair invest what would have otherwise been a lifeless plot with a certain amount of interest. A famous British explorer, while on a trip to Venice, falls in love with a famous opera star—the rage of that city. She is taken back to the dismal climate of old England, which quickly begins to pall on her, and at her request, they return to sunny Venice. Interwoven throughout are the .jealousies and passions of the age old "eternal triangle,” between husband, wife and the man who starred opposite her in the opera.Many misunderstandings arise between the two former, until the latter party confesses the complete truth of a certain situation, which puts the lovers on the road to happiness again. This programme can be thoroughly recommended and no one should miss it.

WIRTHS’ NEW CIRCUS. AMAZING ATTRACTIONS. / •' With the engagement of the Three Arconas, a trio of balancers without parallel or even rivals in the world to-day, Wirth Bros, have put the coping-stone, as it were, on their enterprizing catering for the amuse-ment-loving public of Australia, as will be freely acknowledged when the vast organization, controlled by the two mdn more widely known in every corner of Australasia than any politicians or other public identities visits. Invercargill on'Tuesday and Wednesday, November 26 and 27, two nights only, matinee Wednesday. Location on Eastern Reserve. Of the wonderful Arcona Trio the star, is Betty Arcona, most aptly styled “the most fearless woman in the world.” A Melbourne pressman, who has > seen many astonishing performances sat

aghast at her feats and afterwards said significantly, “Game 1 She’s gamer than Ned I Kelly.” At the cost of £5,000, Wirth Bros, have bought the greatest performing pure white polar and brown bear act in the world, positively seen at every performance. The Lias Troupe of six Risley acrobats who created a furore when they opened with the circus in Sydney recently after having come direct from London Olympia where they were among the brightest of many bright stars. The astonishing feats of strength by Claudia Alba, the world’s famous athlete; the four Palomars, wonderful acrobatic Risley act; Grand Indian Spectacular Pageant; huge herd of elephants, and Indian Nautch Dancers; the Rearkoskies, Russian Equestrienes; the Hying Le Mars—the greatest torupe of double and triple and swishing somersault flyers the world has ever seen, while the dainty Madamoiselle Madeline sends a thrill down every spine during her “Dance of the Thousand Feathers” in the cage with the performing lions. These huge denizens of the wilds appear to be as much fascinated by the terpsichorean fantasy as are the audience. Mr P. Wirth, Jun., trained horses and ponies. Then there are the Santey Duo, Miss Eileen May, the only lady elephant trainer in the Southern Hemisphere, Miss Gladys and Miss Doris, Miss Madeline—in a delightful equestrian and trained horse acts, and Mutt and Jeff and the typist in the funniest trampoline act ever seen, not to mention quite an army of clowns and more conventional circus acts. Wirth Bros, miniature circus of dogs, monkeys, ponies, birds, for the ladies and children. Tho-.zoo including two black panthers and two baby leopards, 6 polar and 5 brown bears, with all its rarities, will be open from 4 to 5 p.m. when the animals will be fed. The circus will play at the Bluff to-night.