ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 21772, 29 July 1932, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE REGENT.

"THE BELOVED BATCHELOR.”

AN APPEALING ROMANCE.

A real tonic for picture fans somewhat blase to the ultra-sophisticated type of film is provided by “The Beloved Batchelor,” a charming romance which had its initial screening before a large audience at the Regent Theatre last night. The theme, essentially fresh in essence, concerns the blossoming into love of the devotion of an adopted daughter for her benefactor. An ambitious young sculptor, with his foot already on the ladder of achievement, finds himself deserted by his actress fiancee, who is a prey to baseless suspicions. Almost broken-hearted, he finds solace in adopting the baby daughter of his model. The adoring fatherly young batchelor rears the child to glorious young womanhood, but he is too wrapped up in the happiness of his work to realize that each impressionable year has ben responsible for fanning into an intense love her appreciation of his sympathetic interest in her welfare. Meantime Fate throws the now renowned sculptor into the path of his former sweetheart and the old love flames become so kindled again that she plans a divorce from her husband. To divulge further would be unfair but, it may be said that, as can be imagined, the beloved bachelor becomes ultimately awakened to the real affections of his ward, and the attaining of this charming ending provides opportunity for some excellent pieces of light dramatic acting. The tender story is delightfully splashed with delicious humour and the scenes in which the sculptor’s two bosom friends, also bachelors, strive valiantly, but incompetently, to mother their tiny charge add to the piquant charm of the production. Paul Lukas gives a fine character study of the great-hearted sculptor. Dorothy Jordan makes an appealing grown-up ward, while Charles Ruggles, of “Charley’s Aunt” fame, shines in clever comedy work in which he is loyally assisted by Harold Minjir, both of whom are cast as Paul’s accomplices in the adoption. The supporting programme comprizes a popular newsreel, a Ford Sterling comedy, another bright “short” and a clever screen song. The entertainment will be repeated again at a matinee this afternoon and at this evening’s final screening. “THE UNEXPECTED FATHER.” COMING TO TOWN. A bachelor millionaire, a nurse, a scheming fiancee and a little child of four years old are the principal characters in “The Unexpected Father,” starring Slim Summerville and Zasu Pitts, which is coming to the Regent to-morrow. Slim Summerville is one of those persons who brings forth a laugh from the staidest of the staid by the merest facial gesture. It is safe to say that he has never been seen in a funnier role than that in “The Unexpected Father.” The fun starts when through no fault of his own Slim finds himself in possesion of Pudge, a bouncing four-year-old girl, and the complications that ensue when his fiancee hears of the matter are nothing short of amazing. The part of Pudge is played by Cora Sue Collins, Universal’s latest “find,” and her sweet naturalness is truly a delight. Slim Summerville as Jasper Jones, an oil millionaire, is more ridiculous than ever, but, as usual, always comes out on top. Zasu Pitts as Polly Perkins plays opposite to Slim as the nurse to the adopted child. It would serve no purpose to attempt to describe the countless impossible situations, but it can be truly said that the picture is a scream from end to end. The supports are of unusual merit. “The Unexpected Father” is quite all right for the children to see at the matinee. THE MAJESTIC. “SHE WANTED A MILLIONAIRE.” Joan Bennett’s triumph in “She Wanted a Millionaire” continues to attract big audiences to the Majestic. This film marks the return to the silver sheet of that charming and popular screen star, Joan Bennett, after an absence of six months which she spent recuperating from a serious injury she suffered last summer when she fell from a horse while making one of the picture’s many dramatic sequences. Joan Bennett, as the girl whose childhood poverty leads her to determine to marry a millionaire, is delightful as well as entirely plausible in the role. Her lovely grace and charm, especially when she competes with the scores of other Hollywood beauties for the coveted title of Miss Universe, has never been shown to better advantage. And the dramatic tensity of the plot provides her with the emotional situations so dear to the family of Bennett. As a small-town boy whose faith and loyalty remain true while the flattery and adulation of the crowd occupy his sweetheart’s mind Spencer Tracy gives an outstanding characterization. His role is further marked in that it offers him many scenes with Una Merkel, whose original brand of humour grows increasingly more popular on the screen. James Kirkwood, as the millionaire husband; Douglas Cosgrove, as Joan’s ne’er-do-well father; Dorothy Peterson as her work-and-worry ridden mother, and Donald Dillaway as a conceited young suitor complete the outstanding character roles seen in support. The dramatic content of “She Wanted a Millionaire” is drawn around Joan’s life from the time she is old enough to decide that a money marriage is the only way out of life’s difficulties. Unknown to her, Tracy enters her picture in a beauty contest. From that moment it seems the good things of life fall in her lap. But with the good things come troubles also, which begin after her wedding, when she discovers that her aged husband has been married three times before. The climax is reached when Tracy, now a successful executive, discovers her at the arts ball in Paris Queen of Beauty, but most miserable of human beings. This picture with an attractive programme of supports will be screened for the last time this evening. STANLEY LUPINO IN “THE LOVE RACE.” ENGLAND’S GREAT COMEDIAN. In “The Love Race,” the British International Pictures Ltd. comedy romance, which opens at the Majestic on Saturday, there are blended all the essentials necessary for the production of perfect entertainment. Romance, excitement, and thrills, not to mention a motor race at Brooklands, are all to be found in the show. “The Love Race” has as its star the ever-popular Stanley Lupino. It is a riot of laughter from start to finish. The plot lies round two powerful and rival types of cars, both of which are favourites in a big race on the famous Brooklands track. They are Powleys and Mostyns. The head of the Mostyn Company is greatly worried by the fact that his prospects on the track are threatened by his powerful rival, and when he finds that his daughter and the son of his rival have fallen in love with each other he sternly forbids the alliance. Stanley Lupino is, of course, the masterful lover, and as love laughs at locksmiths, so this brilliant pair laugh at the parental edict. Preparations for the motor Derby proved without interruption, and the respective rivals are keyed up to the moment. There is a ludicrous mix-up at a birthday party, and when the time comes for the race the drivers are missing. The race takes

place, however, and the sequel is thoroughly satisfactory to all parties. Other stars include Jack Hobbs, Wallace Arthur, Dorothy Bartlam, and Florence Vie. If “laugh and grow fat” is a true axiom, then all who see “The Love Race” will have to let out their clothes. Never has so much laughter been packed into so small a space, and the many uproarious scenes in the film should make “The Love Race” a hot favourite. Special English featurettes will be added to the main attraction. A short picture of Scotland’s city Edinburgh is described by the provost of that city. The eminent pianist Mark Hambourg plays and explains the “Moonlight Sonata” and the English gazette shows some sensational steeplechasing and high jumping. Early application for reservations is necessary. THEATRE ROYAL, WINTON. “BAD GIRL.” Comedy, pathos and deep understanding of human nature vie for supremacy in the Fox Film version of Vina Delmar’s “Bad Girl,” which opens to-day at the Theatre Royal, Winton, for an engagement of two days. Frank Borzage’s inspired direction is said to mark this gripping study of first year marriage and motherhood which features James Dunn and Sally Eilers in the principal roles, as one of the most realistic film dramas of the current season. Minna Gombell heads the supporting cast which also includes William Pawley and Frank Darien. Their story, briefly, is the story of young love. Although located in New York, it might just as well have been laid, in Milwaukee or San Francisco, so human and universal is its theme, Sally, as a working girl, meets Dunn, a radio mechanic, on an excursion steamer. They fall in love, marry and have a baby. The bitter conflict brought about by mutual misunderstanding as to whether the baby is wanted or not forms the basis for the dramatic episodes in which the picture is told. The supporting subjects are excellent, and patrons can rest assured of a good night’s entertainment.