ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 21607, 20 January 1932, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE REGENT. “MOTHER’S MILLIONS.” SCREENING AGAIN TO-DAY ONLY. MATINEE AND NIGHT. Another opportunity will be given those who for any reason missed seeing “Mother’s Millions” during its recent recordbreaking season at the Regent. Arrangements have been made for this very fine picture to be screened again. There will be two screenings at the Regent to-day—mat-inee and night. These will be absolutely the last chances Invercargill residents will have of seeing “Mother’s Millions,” and May Robson, who has proved to be so popular in her role as the feminine “Grumpy,” the stern old mother and hard business woman, the mistress of millions, but with a warm heart under a hard exterior. She has a son and a daughter, and she adopts her own ways of bringing them up to realize the value of wealth, for she forces her son to go out into the world and earn his own living. Her husband was nearly broken by a financial ring, but the way in which she brings the ring to book when trying to corner wheat is a thrilling story. She feels the suffering that would have been brought on the people, and in her operations she not only breaks'the wheat pool, but secures control of the transport. What delights her more is the fact that when her son returns home she finds that he has developed a will of his own, like his mother. Of course, there is a pretty love story in it, but the dramatic force is there all the time. A programme of well-chosen supports is also to be screened. “LETS LOVE AND LAUGH.” MORE BRITISH COMEDY. AT THE REGENT TO-MORROW. The English Studios are excelling in the art of producing laughter-provoking comedies. We have enjoyed several quite recently, and now another excellent one is listed for screening at the Regent to-mor-and on Friday—unfortunately the season is limited to two days. The stars are Gene Gerrard (who is best known as the star of “My Wife’s Family”), George Gee (who toured New Zealand with J. C. Williamson companies) and Muriel Angelus. This gay and melodious British international picture contains scenes that will make picturegoers lose their breath with excitement and on recovery lose it again when thej' gasp at the beauty of the settings and laugh till their sides ache at the exploits of the hero. One of the highlights of this hilarious comedy is an all-out fight which takes place in the hero’s bedroom. During the production of this scene Gene Gerrard as the bridegroom entered into the fistic competition with such zest that he knocked out his heavier opponent’s teeth and received a complete knock-out in return. On recovery he and Dennis Wyndham, his sparring opponent, continued the fight which ended in a violent struggle on a balcony, over which they fell into water twenty feet below. Here the fight continued but owing to the difficulty of photographing the swimming boxers under water the fall and ensuing submarine battle had to be accomplished five times before the camera had registered the scene successfully. THE MAJESTIC THEATRE. “SON OF INDIA.” Adventure, romance and an exotic locale are features of Romon Novarro’s latest starring film, “Son of India,” which will commence in the Majestic Theatre this afternoon. It is the first time that Novarro has been seen in an oriental role since “The Pagan,” and he equids the admirable performance of his former hit in this latter feature. The story concerns a young Hindu, who is left beggared when his father, a rajah, is killed and robbed by bandits. He has managed to save one huge diamond, but when he tries to sell this to a disreputable dealer, the scoundrel charges him with theft of thp diamond. Novarro is about to be sent to prison when he is rescued through the intervention of a young American, played by Conrad Nagel. Subsequently Novarro falls in love with an attractive white girl. On an exciting tiger hunt their friendship ripens into infatuation. The girl turns out to be the sister of the man who had saved Novarro from prison. 'When Nagel comes from America to stop the marriage of his sister to a man of another race, the story is brought to a climax. “Madge Evans, the New York stage star, plays the part of the heroine, and offers a performance which combines charm and capable dramatic work,” says a review. “Excellent portrayals are also offered by Nagel, Marjorie Rambeau, C. Aubrey Smith, Mitchell Lewis, John Miljan and Nigel de Brulier. But chief honours must go to Novarro, who again proves himself one of the finest players on the screen. His performance is marked with sincerity, and he combines an unusual dramatic vigour with a charming flair for comedy.” The box plans are at the Bristol. PRINCESS THEATRE, GORE. “SEED” SHOWING TO-NIGHT. GENEVIEVE TOBIN’S MASTERPIECE. Commencing a two night’s, season at the Princess Theatre, Gore, to-night, Universal's super special, “Seed,” should draw big houses. The dramatic strength of the film lies in its human appeal to all classes and for this reason it has attracted big audiences wherever it was shown in the Dominion. . On Saturday next Winnie Lightner, everybody’s favourite, will be seen in “The Life of the Party,” a picture that is a laugh maker from start to finish. The scene in which she rides the great race is one of the funniest seen for a long time. THEATRE ROYAL, WINTON. TO-NIGHT “DON’T BET ON WOMEN.” Patrons of the Theatre Royal, Winton, are in for a real treat to-night, when the Fox Movietone, "Don’t Bet On Women” is shown. This is the smart and sophisticated comedy of love on a yacht and in a drawing room, which has been winning the praise and plaudits of critics and audiences alike, wherever it has been shown. Edmund Lowe enacts the leading male role, that of the debonair man-about-town, who thought that ail women were bad, and found himself in no end of trouble when he attempted to prove it. Opposite him plays lovely Jeanette MacDonald as the fascinating lady who cured him of betting on the fairer sex. The supporting cast is one of comedy notables, including such eminent favourites as J. M. Kerrigan, Roland Young, Una Merkel and Helene Millard. William K. Howard, who directed Lowe in the Fox Movietones, “Scotland Yard” and “Good Intentions,” directed this production from an original story by the well-known writer, William Anthony McGuire.