ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 21605, 18 January 1932, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE REGENT.

"SEED.”

A STIRRING DOMESTIC DRAMA.

A drama that stirs the very heart-strings is "Seed,” which commenced a season to packed houses at the Regent Theatre on Saturday. John Boles is seen in an entirely new role, that of a young father struggling to bring up five children, while at the same time submerging his own private ambitions for the good of his family. The player whose acting is little short of brilliant is Lo;s Wilson, a well-known favourite of the silent days. She is cast as l’ e F?y, the faithful and old-fashioned wife of Bart (John Boles). The two have been happily married for ten years, when Genevieve Tobin, a former sweetheart of Bart’s reappears on the scene. She knows that Bart has considerable talent as a writer, and encourages him to finish the novel he is engaged upon. As she is one of the heads of Bart’s firm she has him transferred to her department and he is left free all day to write his novel. The book proves an immediate success, and riches come quickly to Bart. At the same time he realizes that he is in love with Genevieve Tobin, who, as it happens, has been in love with him during the past ten years. Bart’s wife realizes that she cannot hold him against her prettier and more charming rival, but she is determined to have the children. Bart and his sweetheart leave for Paris, while his wife and the children leave for California. The rest of the picture is fraught with tense drama—tense because of its gripping realism. It is a true picture of the problems that may beset any modem couple, and as such can be regarded as something in the nature of an epic. John Boles gives a sincere and accomplished portrayal, while Genevieve Tobin has a rather difficult part to portray, a part to which she does full justice. Zasu Pitts is seen in a lesser role as the "maid of-all-work.” No one who likes good acting and quiet drama should miss this picture. The supporting programme includes two more than usually interesting news reels and a very funny “Oswald the Rabbit” cartoon.

THE MAJESTIC.

COLOURFUL MUSICAL COMEDY. ‘THE BRIDE OF THE REGIMENT.” Filmed entirely throughout in techmcolour and containing many gorgeous spectacles, First National’s lavish musical comedy production "Bride of the Regiment'' experienced a successful opening season at both afternoon and evening sessions of the Majestic Theatre on Saturday. It is safe to predict further large audiences to-night and to-morrow evening for those patrons who have witnessed the picture will not fail to tell their friends about it. The setting is in Italy and the production is noteworthy on account of its tuneful melodies and amusing and dramatic incidents developed in the story. A former stage star in Vivienne Segal appears at her best against the beautiful background, her part being that of a charming bride of a few hours. Her wedding to Count Beltrami, a role ably filled by another musical comedy favourite in Allan Prior, is no sooner completed than her husband is obliged to leave to escape arrest by Austrian soldiers sent to quell a revolution. The Hussars, under the menacing Colonel Vultow (Walter Pidgeon) take up their quarters at Beltrami’s castle where Vultow loses no time in playing unwelcome attention to the hostess. Drunk with champagne he seeks to dishonour the beautiful countess. The subsequent events are dramatic and unexpected and how the countcss saves both her honour and the life of her husband makes an interesting story. All’s well that ends well and the operetta closes with the Hussars recalled from the castle and husband and wife united after theii time of stress. Some of the excellent songs of "Bride of the Regiment” are from “The Lady of Ermine,” the original stage production, but many of them are new. Louise Fazenda, Ford Sterling and Lupino Lane are the trio responsible for most of the comedy. Miss Fazenda is at her best and Sterling and Lane are her riotous aides. Myrna Loy is seen as a fiery charmer again. Harry Cording and Claude Fleming have effective character roles in the large cast. It is altogether one of the best stage musical comedies brought to the screen. "Bride of the Regiment” is supported by the popular Fox Movietone featurettes which include the latest Fox Movietone News films, a most interesting travelogue entitled "India Today,” a rollicking comedy “Bitter Friends,” and one of the popular Johnnie Farrell golf studies. These are proving most instructive to followers of the little white ball and it is rumoured that a number of Queen’s Parkers are eagerly availing themselves of the tips afforded. The full programme will be shown again this and to-morrow evenings.