ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 22041, 14 June 1933, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE. “PLAY GIRL.” A STORY OF THE MODERN GIRL. Loretta Young, the beautiful young screen favourite who scored so heavily recently will arrive at the .Majestic Theatre to-day in her latest and most important picture, “Play Girl,” a Warner Bros, and Vitaphone production. Miss Young has brought to a part packed with romance, pathos and spirited comedy, a sincerity and understanding which makes it the outstanding triumph of her career. Norman Foster, as the young lover and husband—a lovable, gambling ne’er-do-well—carries the role opposite Miss Young to the story’s happy ending. He again demonstrates the superb technique evident in his other successes, “Under Eighteen” and “Alias the Doctor.” Comedy in “Play Girl” is amply taken care of by those delightful veterans of stage and screen, Guy Kibbce and Winnie Lightner, thus rounding out a balanced and intriguing story. James Ellison, a new face on the screen, Noel Madison and Dorothy Burgess also have important parts. “Play Girl” is the story of a modern business girl, whose longing for a brilliant career, desire for financial security, and inherited fear of motherhood, are all cast to the four winds when she meets the young scapegrace, Wallie. Unknown to her he makes his living by games of chance. Their honeymoon almost ends in tragedy when Buster discovers his secret. Subsequent events, in a series of heart-rending ups and downs, and in a thrilling climax as Buster, expecting motherhood, places her last cent on a horse named “Baby Mine.” Another romance, threading its way hilariously through the problems of the young lovers, is that, of Buster’s girl friend, Georgine, clerk in a department store, and Finkelwald, portrayed by Winnie Lightner and Guy Kibbee, respectively. Many of the scenes of “Play Girl’ ’are laid in the hustle and bustle of a big department store, providing a panorama of life such as seen in a grand hotel or a union depot. Haurine Watkins, author of “Chicago” and other stage hits, wrote the original story, which was adapted and dialogued for the screen by Maude Fulton. Ray Enright, director of many screen successes, has brought “Play Girl” to the screen with imagination and originality. Gregg Toland, responsible for the pictorial clarity of “Palmy Days” and “To-night or Never,” handled the photography. Others in the large cast of “Play Girl” are Edward Van Sloan, Polly Walters, Rene Whitney, Aileen Carlisle, Betty Farrington, Velma Gresham, Nadine Dore, Flora Finch, Jack Curtis and Charles Coleman. Varieties will include the latest Fox Movietone Australasian News, one of the popular “Adventures in Africa” series, “Sports Slants,” and a bright cartoon. CIVIC THEATRE. "TIGER SHARK” TO-MORROW. Commencing to-morrow night at the Civic Theatre as the theatre is otherwise engaged to-night, Warner Bros.’ thrilling drama “Tiger Shark” will be screened. Amazing in its growth, more dangerous than the hunting of wild animals in the tropical jungles, fraught with all the romance of man’s intrepid conquest of the storm-swept seas, the tuna fishing industry has gone practically unknown in story, drama or motion picture until now. “The most modem development in one of man’s oldest known occupations,” is the way one writer has described it. After twenty years, the glamour, romance and peril of the tuna fisheries have been fittingly embodied in a production by First National that promises to be one of the outstanding attractions of the current season. “Tiger Shark,” Which has for its stars Edward G. Robinson and Richard Arlen, is the stirring saga of the tuna fisheries of the Pacific, and the fearless, daredevil fishermen who risk their lives many times a year on the shark-infested fishing grounds where the schools of roving tuna make their home. No pains or expense have been spared by First National to make this a memorable production. Weeks were spent by the company, under the general direction of Howard. Hawks, at the fishing grounds far off the Mexican coast, to obtain the thrilling action that helps to make “Tiger Shark” the most authentic picture of its kind ever produced. The picture will be shown for the first time in this city at the Civic theatre, beginning to-morrow. Other days were devoted to the picturesque fishing villages that line the shores of the Pacific near San Diego, and to evei-y other phase of the strange life that these people lead. With that grasp of the human and dramatic elements of a story that made his direction of such powerful pictures as “The Crowd Roars” and “Scarface” such indisputable hits, Howard Hawks has woven a story of human courage and human emotions around the lives of these hardy fisher-folk that promises to be among the finest pictures of the year. In the role of Captain Mike Mascarena, the “tiger shark” of the little village and the finest fisherman of his day, Edward G. Robinson has the most colourful and dramatic role of his career. Richard Arlen, as Mike’s first mate and pal, “Pipes” Boley, gives a performance that is bound to increase his popularity. As the lovely orphan, Quita, Zita Johann, the young Hungarian stage star, is conspicuously different from the popular leading women of the screen. Her striking brunette beauty and her marked dramatic ability have full scope in a powerful role. THE REGENT. LAST DAY OF JANET GAYNOR AND CHARLES FARRELL. "TESS OF THE STORM COUNTRY.” The loyal legion of Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell’s admirers have thronged the Regent Theatre during the last ; four days and given their emphatic ap- j proval to the latest production starring t this famous couple. Unfortunately the t end of the season must come and to-day £ —matinee and night—will see the final ( screenings and a most successful sea- j son come to a close. “Tess of the Storm Country” is a story that provides j plenty of dramatic climaxes and a tang . of the “old davvil sea.” The result is as ] brilliant as it is entertaining. “Tess j opens aboard a big schooner, with Janet t as the daughter - of the be-whiskered skipper. Deciding that his girl is get- t ting too big to be knocking around the c world with him, the skipper brings her t ashore and they settle down in a cot- E tage along the Maine coast. A crusty old millionaire who owns the property, im- a mediately ejects them despite Janet s t fiery tongue. So that when Charlie sub- □ sequently is saved by Janet from a j watery grave and she learns that he is j the millionaire’s son, her feelings ex- / plode. It is after such a beginning that £ their acquaintance develops along more q peaceful lines. But many complications ensue, with the elderly skipper being f; sent to jail on a false charge of mur- J der and Janet rescuing Charlie’s sister n when she tries to commit suicide to a keep from having a fatherless baby, si The baby, which Janet cares for, puts more obstacles in the path of romance, tl but eventually the various difficulties o: are overcome by the sister’s confession. P With considerably more dramatic s i action in their roles than they ordin- sj arily have, the two stars turn in not- i £ able performances and are aided by the d excellent work of Dudley Digges and Claude Gillingwater as the parents and a: June Clyde as the sister, to say nothing g of “Peppy” the cute monkey in the cast, a: Altogether “Tess” offers splendid en- al tertainment from any angle. It is highly p recommended to those who have not g. yet seen it, l ai