ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 21577, 15 December 1931, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE MAJESTIC. “PARDON US” AND “SHIPMATES.* FINAJ, SCREENING TO-NIGHT. The double feature programme “Pardon Us” and “Shipmates” will receive the final screening at the Majestic Theatre this evening. “Pardon Us” starring the two popular comedians, Laurel and Hardy, is 3 real riot of fun. Hardy can speak such volumes merely with an inclination of his head and the rolling of his comically-ex-pressive eyes, and Laurel simply has to scratch his head of wiry hair, screw up his funny face, and grin, to send the audience into paroxysms of mirth. The story is more substantial than is usually the case in any talkie in which the pair appear, and, in addition to the hilarious humour, there are one or two well sung songs, including negro spirituals. The inseparables get into trouble through brewing illicit ale and trying to sell a bottle to a policeman. Gaol is their punishment Tn prison Laurel who has a loose tooth which buzzes after ho has finished talking, arouses the ire of everybody, from the terrible “Tiger,” a fellow-prisoner, to the superintendent. “Shipmates,” the other main feature, is noteworthy for humour of a more subtle nature, and for acting of a very high order. The leading light in the male cast is Robert Montgomery, a talented artist who contrives to get his laughs with the least possible effort. The object of his attentions is Dorothy Jordan, a pretty little actress. She is the girl who falls in love with Montgomery while he is posing as an oil king, and who still sticks to him when ho has been revealed in his true colours as a seaman of the lower deck. There is other talent in the cast. Ernest 1 Torrence enacts the role of Scotty, the bos’n’s mate, who is the trial of the hero’s life. Hobart Bosworth plays the part of the admiral of the fleet, while other featured are Cliff Edwards and Gavin Gordon. The story is simple enough, but good. A battleship provides most of the scenes, and there is some firing practice with big guns to provide a break from the comedy. And there is a final thrill when an ammunition barge is menaced by an oil fire. The supports include the ever popular Mickey the Mouse in a cartoon entitled “Traffic Troubles” and also the latest newsreels. “THE BLACK CAMEL” Teeming with thrills and suspense, CThe Black Camel,” comes to the Majestic Theatre to-morrow (Wednesday) as a worthy successor to “Charlie Chan Carries On,” and again Warner Oland in the role of the suave Chinese detective. The director and scenarists of the former picture, respectively, Hamilton MacFadden and Barry Connors and Philip Klein, aiso have repeated their previous success in transferring Earl Derr Biggers’ exciting story to the speaking screen, but the plot of “The Black Camel,” laid entirely in romantic Hawaii, is a very different one from the round-the-world affair of the preceding film. Sally Eilers and Robert Young play the romantic leads, with Bela Lugosi as the mysterious fortune teller, Tarneverro, and a splendid supporting cast includes Victor Varconi, Dorothy Revier, William Post, C. Henry Gordon, Marjorie White, J. M. Kerrigan, Violet Dunn, Richard Tucker, Rita Roselle, Mary Gordon, Otto Yamaoka, and Murray Kinnell. THE REGENT. EXCELENT ENGLISH COMEDY: RONALD COLMAN IN FREDERICK LONSDALE’S “THE DEVIL TO PAY.” With direction that makes the most of a good story, sparkling dialogue, amusing situations, and a great supporting cast, Ronald Colman rounds out a splendid entertainment by giving one of the best portrayals of his career in “The Devil To Pay,” the extended season attraction now at the Regent. The story, with the zip and go of witty lines, concerns certain important episodes in the life of the Hon. Willie Hale, wayward son of Lord Leeland. As played by Ronald Colman, he is presented as the kind of chap every man would like to be—and, too, perhaps, the sort that any woman would gladly choose. Gay, and clever at getting out of scrapes, a devil with women, happy-go-lucky in any situation, the role fits Itonald Colman as if made for him, as indeed it was, and by the famous writer of smart comedy dramas, Frederick Lonsdale. In taking Colman’s measure, the author has kept in mind the star’s high-bred, ingratiating personality, and has contrived innumerable amusing situations of which this amazing player takes full advantage. To continue the story, the errant son goes bankrupt in South Africa, and auctions his belongings to obtain passage money home. Arriving permiless in England, he faces his father, who is more than peeved at Willie’s continued failures. In a stormy interview the prodigal emerges victorious, having mollified the angry old gentleman, and gets a hundred pounds from him instead of the disinheritance with which he had been threatened. He promptly takes Florence Britton, his sister, to the Derby; she in turn, invites Loretta Young who, to please an aspiring father, has become engaged to the Grand Duke Paul. But Ronald and Loretta fall in love, and when her father gives a ball at which he intends announcing her engagement to the duke, Loretta pleads illness and leaves. Her father has become suspicious of Willie, and she, too, is threatened with disinheritance. This causes Willie to propose, just to prove that it is the girl he wants, and not her money. A previous affair, which the reckless youth has had with an actress, complicates matters, but the iove story threads the novel plot to a surprise climax and a satisfactory conclusion, but only after a succession of amusing developmerts that kept tiie audience on edge, roaring with laughter at the fun of it alt “The Devil to Pay” is undoubtedly one of the best things Colman has ever done. We heartily recommend this current attraction at the Regent Theatre as splendid entertainment —a brisk and sprigthly example of what might well be emulated by other producers of talking pictures—although, alas, there is but one Ronald Colman. MIDDLE SCHOOL CONCERT. In our advertising columns will be found a skeleton programme of a concert to be staged by the pupils of the Middle School in the Victoria Hall on Wednesday and Thursday nights, December 16 and 17, at 7.45. The programme for both nights is the same, but tickets on sale admit to one or other of the nights and not to both. This is being done to make provision for seating accommodation for those who may attend. Intending patrons are notified that the issue of tickets for each night has been limited to the seating capacity of the hall. Those purchasing a blue ticket must attend on Thursday, the red ticket admits to Wednesday’s performance. The quality of the singing at the last concert put on by these pupils is sufficient guarantee that parents and friends will be treated to a musical feast. As the school funds need generous support it is confidently expected that those interested will repay tho work of their children and teachers by according them a bumper house.