ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 21561, 26 November 1931, Page 11

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE REGENT.

BERT LYTELL PLAYS DUAL ROLE IN “BROTHERS.”

Nicely balanced direction and an excellent supporting cast share honours with Bert Lytell in making "Brothers” an interesting and exceptionally well made pici ture. Lytell handles a dual role which demands the portrayal of two opposite characters like the veteran he is, and some fine character performances by others of the cast also assist in making this an excellent evening’s entertainment. Orphaned twin brothers are adopted in infancy, one by a washerwoman, the other by a wealthy attorney. They grow to manhood with only the doctor who presided over the orphanage aware of their relationship, and following the careers of both as an interesting experiment in the relative powers of heredity and environment. Eddie Connolly, adopted by the washerwoman, and Bob Naughton, the adopted child of wealth, are both played by Lytell. Eddie grows up to become the piano player in the back room of Oily Joe’s. saloon. Bob is a brilliant attorney, heir to his foster parent’s practice, but addicted to drink. He is engaged to marry Norma Moore, daughter of the orphanage supervisor, but is also involved in an affair with the wife of a criminal whom he had defended. In an altercation over the woman Bob kills her husband in the latter’s room above Oily Joe’s. He is observed leaving the place by Oily Joe, who recognizes him, and by Lorenzo, another roomer at the place, who mistakes him for Eddie Connolly. Eddie is arrested and charged with the murder. At this juncture, Dr. Moore reveals Eddie’s identity to his brother, the real murderer, who consents to defend Eddie in court. Conviction appears certain after Lorenzo’s testimony, when Naughton upsets the witness’s indentification of Eddie by posing himself as the prisoner and is wrongly identified by the witness as the accused. Connolly is freed; but Oily Joe begins a systematic blackmailing of Naughton thereafter. The strain on both his finances and nerves brings him finally to the breaking point, assisted by drink. He is sent to a sanitarium secretly, and Dr. Moore prevails upon Connolly to take his brother’s place in the Naughton home, after revealing to him the relationship between the two. Connolly makes a better son to the Naughtons, and a better fiance to Norma than his brother, and when the latter dies in the sanitarium, the way is cleared for him to make both roles permanent ones. Which he does, with only a minor alteration in the latter one. He marries Norma. Numerous comedy touches do much to lighten the-s ory, Maurice Black, as Lorenzo, and Rita Carlyle, as Mag, the inebriate, and frequenter of Oily Joe’s, are particularly deserving of mention. Dorothy Sebastian, as Norma, is at all times a charming actress and likeable character. Frank McCormack as Oily Joe does a convincing bit of characterization. Lytell in both roles is everything the picture demands. The supporting featurettes are of a varied nature, both entertaining and instructive. “THE SMILING LIEUTENANT.” MAURICE CHEVALIER’S NEW BIG- HIT. THE REGENT SATURDAY. The gay, lilting songs which Maurice Chevalier sings in his new starring Paramount picture, “The Smiling Lieutenant,” are the work of the noted Viennese - composer, Oscar Straus. Especially commissioned by Paramount to write melodies for “The Smiling Lieutenant,” Oscar Straus has supplied Chevalier with some of the best songs he has yet sung from the screen. Audiences attending showings of “The Smiling Lieutenant” have found these melodies refreshing, intimate and somewhat different from the usual run of popular songs. And what is more important, they are particularly suited to Chevalier’s talent for making tunes well nigh irresistible. Supporting the excellent work of Chevalier in “The Smiling Lieutenant” are Claudette Colbert, Miriam Hopkins, Charlie Ruggles, George Barbier, Hugh O’Connell and Elizabeth Patterson. Ernst Lubitseh directed “The Smiling Lieutenant,” which opens at the Regent on Saturday. One of the critics has written the following: “Once more the combination of Maurice Chevalier and Ernst Lubitsch results in a fine piece of artistry, this one, ‘The Smiling Lieutenant,’ flawless in its manipulation and not far from perfect in performance —‘The Smiling Lieutenant’ is Chevalier as carefree and gay as ever, this time in a Vienna setting—Oscar Straus' music needs no commendation. Once more you hear his haunting and lovely waltzes as well as a beautiful accompanying score. Among the new numbers are tuneful jingles you will soon hear over your radio no doubt. —Chevalier was in perfect form, getting his effects over with the charm and humour that only he knows how to do.” THE MAJESTIC. “DADDY LONG LEGS.” EXTENDED SEASON. The extended season of “Daddy Long Legs” at the Majestic Theatre commenced a successful run last evening when another good house greeted the Bth screening in Invercargill of Fox’s super-special masterpiece. The picture is based on Jean Webster’s novel of the same name, and all who have read Judy’s letters to her “Daddy Long Legs,” as she calls her guardian, with the whimsicality of childhood, can scarcely be expected to be satisfied to let the opportunity pass to see Judy on the screen. Warner Baxter has the title role, and Janet Gaynor, always charming and greatly telented, is seen as Judy. A remarkable feature of the production is the faithful manner in which the producers have followed the original story and the manner in which the atmosphere created by the author has been maintained. In the opening stages of the picture there is a series of juvenile scenes which are strikingly done by a troupe of youngsters of all ages and sizes who prove to be valuable additions to the cast. With their help the producer has contrived to provide a very effective preface to the film and, at the same time, to introduce some of the most pleasing comedy of the whole production. The college scenes are no less interestingly treated, and there is an exceptionally enjoyable interlude in the form of the graduation ceremony. The supporting programme is an unusually interesting one. A selection of topical items is given in the news reels and there is also another feature in the “Magic Carpet” series, dealing with the capture and training of wild elephants. A most amusing comedy acted entirely by trained apes and chimpanzees is a novel and enjoyable feature. The same programme will be repeated again this evening and to-morrow evening.