ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 21220, 22 October 1930, Page 15

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAJESTIC MATINEE AND TO-NIGHT.

BEATRICE JOY IN “A MOST UNWORTHY LADY." • ‘

French pulchritude, daring and spice right from the Follies-Bergeres in Paris form a background for some of the most highly dramatic scenes of Beatrice Joy’s latest picture, “A Most Unworthy Eady,” coming to the Majestic Theatre to-day. The Parisian "It” comes in the form of a chorus of thirty beautiful French girls, real highkickers from the Follies-Bergeres, who are shown off not only by daring costumes but through the use of some remarkable camera angles. The scene represents the Muscovite Cafe of Paris, one of the many colourful locales used in First National’s lavish production of the sensational stage play by Townsend Martin. Other beautiful backgrounds, filled with the colour of modern society life, include New York City’s play places and • Palm Beach. Walter Pidgeon plays opposite Miss Joy in “A Most Unworthy Eady,” and Sidney Blackmer,, Montagu Love, Josephine Dunn, Robert Edeson, Donald Reed, Florence Oakley and Wilson Benge are importantly cast. The supporting featurettes include a Paramount Sound news-reel of infinite interest,, Miss Greed’s Flapperettes, Duffy and Gleason Miss Bobbie Folsom, and the Sunshine Boys. Plans are at the Bristol till noon, and at the Majestic Theatre thereafter, or ring 738. “WITH BYRD AT THE SOUTH POLE.” "With Byrd at . the South Pole” will be screened at the Majestic Theatre commencing Saturday next. Recently screened at Government House, Wellington, a distinction never previously accorded to a talking picture, it won the warm approval of his Excellency the Governor-General. Mr T. B. Strong, Director of Education, writes of it as “not only the most vivid representation we have ever seen of the conditions of life in the Polar regions, but it is Tull of human interest, is a truly wonderful drama of the Antarctic, and Commander Byrd's spoken tribute to the people of New Zealand is of special interest, and the generous terms in which he expresses his sentiments bear out the impression we formed of him when he was in New Zealand.” Box plans for the season are open at the Bristol. THE REGENT. “THE SKY HAWK”—FROM LLEWELLYN HUGHES’ STORY "CHAP NAMED BARDELL.” “The Sky Hawk,” which will be screened both matinee and night at the Regent to-day, is a fine picture in every way, a picture that a discerning public have been quick to recognize as an absolutely superior production. John Garrick and Helen Chandler, with- 1 Gilbert Emery in support, have the leads, all of them playing their parts with distinction and dignity. The picture is from Llewellyn Hughes’ story, “Chap Named Bardell,” and is an aviation story, taking place in the England during the earlywar years, with the Royal Flying Corps (as the R.A.F. then was) as a courageous and daring background. There are some magnificent aerial scenes, culminating in a fight over London between a raiding Zepplin and a plane, certainly the most enormously exciting thing the screen has yet done, with all the thrilling sounds of wars and raids. It is of interest to Invercargill audiences to learn that John Garrick, the leading player, was seen and heard here on the stage in 1928 in “Rose Marie.” He was then Reginald Dandy, and played the lead of Jim Kenyon. Gilbert Emery, as Major Nelson, has a perfect British voice, British poise and reticence, and there are others in the cast whose English diction is a treat to hear. Throughout its story “The Sky Hawk” is a love struggle between two men for the same girl, handled humanly, with adroit twists while the stirringly tempestuous life about them envelopes all three in many hazardous situations. Opening with an exciting smash-up of a plane when the pilot swerves to avoid killing a girl, the tempo of the production maintains a high, pitch throughout. Spectacular scenes of Lo.ndon streets and cafes during the hectic gaiety of war time and in the panic of a Zeppelin raid—scenes never before produced on such a tremendous scale — carry the story on to the dramatic suspense of the young flyer’s unexpected departure for France. Compelled by circumstanes, the aviator breaks the rules for a final meeting with his sweetheart, crashes his plane on returning and finds he is paralyzed. The poignant appeal of his renunciation when he compels the girl to break off the engagement, his painful efforts to rebuild an old condemned plane, the girl’s frantic race to intercept him on learning of his intentions, the heartrending scene between them as the boy takes off to battle the menacing Zeppelin, the thrilling duel above amid bursting shells and searchlight beams, the gripping climax and surprising ending—these make “The Sky Hawk” truly one of the most unusual pictures ever filmed. Enacted by a hand picked cast, written, directed and staged by experts, the production is creating a sensation wherever it has been shown. The Invercargill season is strictly limited to three days so all who wish to see such an entertaining production should make early arrangements. Plans are at the Bristol until noon to-day and later at the theatre.