ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 21717, 1 June 1932, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE REGENT. DOUBLE STAR PROGRAMME. ENGLISH COMEDY AND DOMESTIC DRAMA. Edgar Wallace wrote the story of “To Oblige A Lady,” the popular farce comedy starring Maisie Gay, the English comedienne who is said to be Mary Brough’s only rival in her own particular field, which is to be shown on the double-star programme at the Regent to-night. So, with Maisie Gay, England's foremost comedienne, in her well known and popular “Mrs ’Arris” role, which gives her numerous opportunities to display her talents, deft direction, and an original story by Edgar Wallace, it can be readily seen that the producers of this farce have left nothing to chance. These three main parts in the making of “To Oblige A Lady” have produced a film which is being unanimously acclaimed everywhere as one of the best comedies ever to emerge from an English studio, and that’s talking. Maisie Gay, around whom this diverting comedy of misunderstandings and cross purposes has been written, is seen as a char woman who wangles the post of emergency cook to a Mr and Mrs Pinder (Warwick Ward and Mary Newland). The latter has just taken possession of a furnished flat in order to entertain Sir Henry Markham (James Carewe), the husband’s godfather, who longs to see his protege in a home of his own. The Pinders have been living in a hotel, and Mrs Pinder’s “Savoy” manners quickly lead to the exit of the three flat servants; hence the entrance of “Mrs ’Arris,” who is always ready to “oblige a lady” and not scared to be called upon to serve a multi-course meal to a party of six, hastily invited to meet and please Sir Henry. The results can be imagined when “Mrs ’Arris” serves gunpowder cocktails, fish from the shop “round the corner,” and poultry done to a cinder. Laugh follows laugh until the climax of the film which concludes in a veritable explosion of mirth. The Warner-First National picture “Comprised,” is, despite the title, a picture which will give universal pleasure. It has much human interest, several humorous situations in which the lovable little boy of four or five is the central figure, and an excellent cast comprsing Ben Lyon, Rose Hobart,' Claude Gillingwater and the little chap, Delmar Watson. Claude Gillingwater, playing the father of Ben .Lyon, is desirous of bringing his son into his business. Lyon prefers to play about and is infatuated with Juliette Compton, who, however, turns him down. Despondent, he visits Rose Hobart, as the servant daughter of the town’s notorious woman. Lyon is found with her and is compelled to marry her. He does, and with her aid, succeeds so well on his own that his father brings him back into the business, and Lyon, his wife and the child, Delmar Watson, return to the father’s home. There, however, Gillingwater treats the girl so badly that she leaves, thinking Lyon no longer cares for her. He follows, proving her wrong, and they plan a fresh start together. The story is simple, and comment at a recent preview indicated appreciation of the manner in which it is related.

THE MAJESTIC. GRETA GARBO IN “SUSAN LENOX.” Greta Garbo, star of “Susan Lenox,” her fall and rise, which commences at the Majestic Theatre this evening, is undoubtedly the greatest screen actress of to-day. No role that she plays baffles her. She may be required to portray a young girl still in her teens, seeing and living life for the first time after years of cruel oppression—the character is there. Or perhaps the story demands a woman of the world, embittered by the treatment she has received from men—again the portrayal is convincingly done. Her every movement, every sentence, every look, is studied without seeming to be so. And in consequence one forgets the actress and moves with the character. The story of “Susan Lenox” is tragic. At her birth her mother, who was not married, dies. The child lives by the efforts of a doctor, and is brought up in the household of her Norwegian uncle, a bitter, morose man. As soon as she becomes of marriageable age he decrees that she shall marry an equally sullen man. Hating him, she runs away from her uncle’s farm and takes shelter from a storm in the garage of a hunting lodge occupied by Rodney Spencer, a young engineer. They fall in love, but while Rodney is away to gain his father’s consent to their marriage Helga, as she is then known, is forced to flee once more from her uncle, this time taking refuge with a travelling circus. Again her uncle locates her, but she is saved from him, at a price, by the circus proprietor. Rodney finds her, learns what has happened, and leaves her. Until then Helga is a quiet girl, wanting nothing but a peaceful life with Rodney. When he leaves her an entirely new girl emerges. Greta Garbo becomes immediately the type of worldly woman all have seen her play before. So the story works on through extraordinary sequences to a dramatic close. The short subjects will include “Tilden’s Tennis Technique” in which W. T. Tilden, for years the world’s tennis champion and still famous as a great professional player, shows just how the game should be played. He demonstrates various grips and shots so clearly that the “short” is a god deal more useful than an ordinary half-hour lesson. The filming of a practice game he plays is the best seen here. "Close-ups” and the halting of the action during strokes enables one to follow carefully the technique of a champion who is not merely one of the world’s tennis stars, but one of America’s greatest sporting personalities. “Wizard” Smith on the Ninety-Mile Beach at Auckland is one of the incidents in the Fox Australasian News. A Boy Friend comedy and the Metrotone News will also be shown.