entertainments

Southland Times, Issue 21773, 30 July 1932, Page 7

entertainments

THE MAJESTIC. , STANLEY LUPINO. ENGLAND’S LATEST COMEDY. British International Pictures have treated audiences to many fine P IC " tures, but it is doubtful if anything cleverer and funnier has come from the Elstree studios than The Love Race” the English comedy that makes its bow to Invercargill audiences today and which features the London comedian Stanley Lupino. Based on the musical comedy whicn was such a notable success on the London stage, it is enacted by a cast similar to that which took part in the stage presentation, so that the success of the picture is assured. “The Love Race” may be termed genuine farce, but there is some pretension to a story which certainly adds to the fun, interest, and general complications that ensue before the last laugh is reached. It deals with the doings of Reggie Powley, the son of a wealthy motor manufacturer, who emerges from one scrape merely to find his way into another. His boon companion and fellow in fun and mischief is Bobby Mostyn, the son of Powley’s most dangerous business rival. Reggie is in love with Ida Mostyn, the fascinating sister of his friend, but Reggie’s father has threatened him with all sorts of penalties if he has anything to do with any member of the family of the rival firm. Affairs generally become most complicated when Reggie defies his father’s instructions and goes to a party at the Mostyn’s, where such a tangle occurs that one might imagine it would never be straightened out. First of all, Reggie becomes involved with a strange girl whose suitcase he takes by mistake, and his subsequent adventures nearly bring about the dissolution of his engagement with "Ida Mostyn. The girl to whom the suitcase belongs, also becomes enmeshed in the complications and hilarious situations that ensue, but there are others to add to the general mix-up. Bobby’s mother brings home a new husband, who is mistaken by her son for a lunatic when he asserts that he owns the house, with the result that he spends a night in the cell. , en i Reggie Powley sends a proposal of marriage by letter to the wrong girl, and her attentions harass him almost to distraction. So much so, indeed, that he and his friend both miss the race on which so much depends for the respective concerns. All is not lost, however, for Ida takes Reggie s place and the innocent stranger, to whom Bobby Mostyn has become attached, takes the latter’s place, and with the big victory to the two girls, the rival concerns become united, and the tangle begins to straighten itself out. In the process there is some delightful comedy, and the picture ends in a laughable anti-climax. The plot is a thin one, and for a while the picture runs along without it, but if there were no plot at all “The Love Race” would still be excellent entertainment. It abounds in brilliant witticisms, there are several tuneful musical numbers, and the

clever fooling and original stunting of Stanley Lupino and Jack Hobbs are sufficient to keep any audience in a happy frame of mind from start to finish. Stanley Lupino, author and actor, is a member of a family which has entertained audiences for generations, and his original style of comedy work is vastly different from that usually presented by the American stars. His work is of a polished nature, his droll humour is infectious, and he and Jack Hobbs make a comedy team that will take some beating. But the supporting cast is equally strong, ana sharing the honours of the show with Stanley Lupino is Arty Ashe, as Eustace, the genial and sometimes inebriated taxi-driver. Ashe is another droll comedian whose work is along original lines, and his adventures among dozens of hats in an effort to find his own, just about brings the house down. Wallace Arthur, as Ferdinand Fish,, the somewhat irritable and pompous “silly ass,” gives a good characterization, and Dorothy Boyd and Dorothv Barlam supply the romantic interest.., Featurettes will comprise Mark Hambourg at the piano playing the “Moonlight Sonata,” a short picture of Edinburgh, steeplechasing in England, and the British and Australasian news reels. A matinee takes place this afternoon. THE REGENT. “THE UNEXPECTED FATHER.” SLIM SUMMERVILLE, ZASU PITTS AND CORA SUE COLLINS. When two staunch favourites like Slim Summerville and ZaSu Pitts get together in one picture, that picture is bound to be a sensation of good, oldfashioned hilarious laughs—no matter what else it might be. The sparkling comedy, “The Unexpected Father,” which is to be shown at the Regent this afternoon and evening, is all of that and infinitely more, however, and the ticket-buyers who view its presentation are constantly alternating between smiles and moist eyes as the truly excellent film unfurls itself before them. The story, concerning a young waif of the streets and a bachelor of new-found wealth who is frightened into adopting her on the eve of his own wedding, is unique. When wryfaced Slim, the bachelor in question, is torn between the arms of the baby, her wistful nurse, and his gold-digging bride of the morrow you feel, that it truly is a shame and you wish you could do something yourself, to help the pathetic situation. Slim, the memorable Tjaden of “All Quiet on the Western Front” is the sort who always seems to arouse a rustle of pleased anticipation in his audiences as soon as he shows his face to them. His co-star-ring partner in fun, Miss Pitts, is every bit as pleasing, and unless you see her in “The Unexpected Father” you just have not seen ZaSu Pitts. And as for tiny Cora Sue Collins, the newest of Hollywood’s child stars who plays the baby of the film—she is one of the most amazing combinations-of talent, natural acting ability, and beauty that the folks who discover these children have presented, to date. Thornton Freeland did a fine job with “The Unexpected Father.” Dorothy Christy, Ali-

son Skipworth, Claude Allister, Tyrell Davis and Grace Hampton are all ideally cast, and the writers, Dale Von Every, Robert Keith and Max Lief did splendidly with the screen story. “The Unexpected Father” is emphatically recommended. The supporting programme includes another of the Bobby Jones series “How I Play Golf”, an Australian Cinesound Review, a Detective Story, Newsreel etc. Plans will be at the Bristol until noon, later at the theatre, and seats may be reserved by phoning No. 1938. REGENT THEATRE, GORE. “SHANGHAI EXPRESS.” “FRIENDS AND LOVERS.” “Shanghai Express” is a story of love and adventure, in which Marlene Dietrich plays the part of Shanghai Lily, a woman who lives by her wits in the coast cities of the Orient and who in vernacular is known as a “coaster.” It is the principal feature in to-night’s programme at the Regent Theatre, Gore, and features such popular players as Clive Brook, Marlene Dietrich, Anna May Wong, Warner Oland and Eugene Pallette. It is a picture of unusual interest, wonderfully acted. Another interesting feature of the programme is the thrilling drama “Friends and Lovers,” in which Adolphe Menjou and Lily Damita take the leading roles. REGENT THEATRE, MATAURA. TO-NIGHT’S PROGRAMME. “SHE WANTED A MILLIONAIRE.” The princinal feature to be screened at the Regent Theatre, Mataura, this evening, “She Wanted a Millionaire, has proved to be an extremely popular one, wherever it has been shown. Spectacle, pageantry, comedy arid drama skilfully interwoven all play their part in providing an absorbing entertainment, while the cast, which includes 'the charming and popular screen star, Joan Bennett, is a particularly strong one. An exceptionally good series of shorts will also be shown. THEATRE ROYAL, WINTON' Youth—impulsive, high strung, daring, groping its unconscious way through frivolous flirtations, risque romances, seeking for itself .the secret of life, the recipe for true happiness, and then not recognizing it until it has again almost slipped away. Such is the theme of “Bad Girl,” the Fox Film version of Vina Delmar’s sensational novel, the story that has been read by millions, which is being shown again to-night at the Theatre Royal, Winton. The supporting subjects are good and altogether make a fine programme 'which should not be missed.