ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 22146, 14 October 1933, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE REGENT. SIR ALAN COBHAM’S “THE KING’S CUP.” CONWAY TEARLE IN “CAPTIVATION.” In these days when the world at large is “taking to the air” as an everyday mode of transport and a business facility, “The King’s Cup,” which heads the new double-feature British bill at the Regent to-day, is eminently opportune and should prove decidedly popular. Aviation is a field of enterprise in which the cinema, or at least British producers, have made wonderful progress, and this picture is outstanding for its technical perfection. The obvious “fake” that at one time characterized flying pictures entirely disappears and the aerial episodes are graphically realistic. And there is some amazing aircraftsmanship in the production. Not only are there breathtaking aerobatics, but the traversing of some of England’s scenic grandeur is enthralling. Woven into the “ways of the air” is a delightful romance, in which an ambitious aviatrix and a skilful flyer, who is the victim of ill-luck and jealousy, are the predominating characters. Betty Conway’s life work was selling, or trying to sell, gramophones when she became infatuated by a dashing and handsome airman, and the lure of the air entranced her also. She becomes the pupil of her affinity and makes rapid progress in flying. But he is wrongly held responsible for a crash and the jealousy of the club commander is the cause of his being degraded and stopped from giving flying lessons. He, however, is on the point of perfecting an important improvement to the propeller, hoping to win success in the King's Cup race, the annual aerial classic of Britain. Events develop with alarming consequences to the hopes of the pair, but the girl enters for the race with her lover as navigator. Fate again frowns on them, and there are thrilling adventures before the race. Nothing more exciting has been woven into any story than the contest that follows, and it is in the closing stages that the production reaches a height of excellence that makes it a truly memorable feature. The principal roles are enacted by Dorothy Bouchier and Harry Milton Both are experienced flyers. In addition the 1932 King’s Cup Race was actually filmed with the two planes that figure in the story taking part in the famous race. In “Captivation (also showing), a bright comedy-drama of a charming, beautiful woman who marries a confirmed “modem-woman hater merely because she cannot pay her hotel bill at Monte Carlo, Betty Stockfeld is given an opportunity to wear the very latest dress creations amid the sumptuous surroundings of Monte Carlo and a millionaire’s palatial yacht. Piquant situations laden with rich humour make this fine entertainment. Conway Tearle is another old favourite, and Frederick Volpe appears in one of his famous * Skipper roles.

THE MAJESTIC. “OUT ALL NIGHT.” SLIM SUMMERVILLE AND ZASU PITTS. Slim Summerville and Zasu Pitts, the laugh-provoking stars of “They Just Had to Get Married,” are at it again, only more so, in “Out All Night,” which opens at the Majestic Theatre to-day. Anyone in search of the tonic of a long night of good laughs should not miss this film. Universal seems to have winners in Slim Summerville and Zasu Pitts. They have established such a reputation that they draw crowded houses and they are so funny that they proceed to amuse very highly those they draw. In this film they have a story which provides them with the chances which compel laughs. There are broad lines and hilarious situations galore, and in these the awkward drollness of Slim Summerville and the doleful bewilderment of Zasu Pitts have to be seen to be believed. The thing has been written for them and nothing could suit them better. Slim Summerville is seen as an unsophisticated “mother’s boy,” whose mother has purchased railway tickets for the bridal couple for the wrong night, and has thus subjected her precious offspring to a rather depressing experience. And to add to the gaiety of the occasion, she flies to Niagara Falls by ’plane ana greets them as they fall backward oft the train at sight of her. But, determinedly, she makes it a honeymoon for three. That’s where Zasu Pitts baulks, and then complications come up, fast and furious. Kidnapping adventures. Wild automobile rides, and hectic fist fights provide plenty of action and serve to make a man of Slim Summerville, and then comes the inevitable happy ending to the hilarious courtship of this doleful pair. Slim Summerville and Zasu Pitts make an admirable partnership. They are great foils for one another, and Slim Summerville hardly needs to move or speak to raise laughs. The pair romp through this film to a constant accompaniment ot laughter. They are well supported, too. Laura Hope Crews, the stage star; Alexander Carr, a screen comedian ot no mean, merit, and Rolla Lloyd, George Hackathome and Shirley Grey are in the supporting cast. Supporting featurettes include The Radio Murder Special, a Micky Mouse Cartoon and three up-to-date newsreels.

CIVIC THEATRE. -COCKTAIL HOUR.” “THIS DANGEROUS AGE.” A double-feature programme at the Civic Theatre is headed by “Cocktail Hour.” The story is: Cynthia Warren, lovely, successful, rich by her own efforts as an illustrator, designer of posters and magazine covers, believes a girl in her self-sustaining position has a right to taste life as men taste it —she doesn’t believe woman was designed solely for matrimony. She will take her fun where she finds it At a big cocktail party in her studio, she is finishing her last cigarette poster before sailing for Europe. All types of admirers are present—including the handsome Prince de Longueville, finecharactered young Frenchman, who wants to marry her, though she is three years his senior. Cynthia takes her last poster to the office of Randolph Morgan, rich head of a great advertising firm. He is worldly, sophisticated; he knows Cynthia’s ideas of life —warns her that she won’t get away with them. She should marry him and stay out of trouble, he urges. But no, she is sure he is just like all the res t—ignorant of the real modern girl’s capabilities of caring for herself. Sped off by another big cocktail party, Cynthia sails. Among her first shipboard acquaintances are Olga Raimoff, noter Russian pianiste, and Raoul Alvarez, famed tenor and Olga’s lover. But more especially she associates with William Lawton, a fascinating Englishman, who is her idea of the answer to any girl’s dream. Before the ship reaches England, under the spell of magic moonlight, tranquil sea and Olga’s distant music, she falls in violent love with Lawton. She is gloriously happy. She has tasted life! But as the ship docks there comes disillusionment. Lawton is a married man. His wife meets him at the pier. He treats his parting with Cynthia casually. Heartbroken, Cynthia, following the masculine formula, drinks herself into forgetfulness, and then proceeds to Paris where she is welcomed by Prince de Longueville and his mother.

To a house party given by these fine people, come Lawton and. his wife. The Prince happens by and in the fight that follows Lawton goes hurtling through the window, supposedly to his death. Cynthia makes the Prince flee. She is arrested and accepts the blame —just as Randolph Morgan, the New York advertising manager, arrives to see that all is well with her. Cynthia, in gaol, refuses the reveal anything that happened. All the evidence points her way and things look mighty black until the Prince reappears—and shoulders the blame. Then comes word from the hospital that Lawton will live. He has recovered consciousness and says no one is to blame but himself.. Freed, Cynthia tries to convince Morgan that she isn’t worthy of him. She won’t even do illustrating work for him any more. Her theories on life have worked out just as he had predicted. She was wrong and he was right. But the gracious, liberal Randy will hear none of that and takes her into his arms. She yields, convinced that the old code for women is the only key to happiness—even for the modern miss. The caste includes Bebe Daniels, Randolf Scott, Jessie Ralph, Phillips Smalley and Marjorie Gateson. The other feature is. “The Sporting Age” a society drama with Jack Holt, Evalyn Knapp, and J. Farrell MacDonald.

ROLAND FAMILY SEXTETTE. VICTORIA HALL WEDNESDAY. What promises to be one of the most delightful concerts yet offered to local music lovers is the programme that will be presented by the Roland Family Sextette at the Victoria Hall on Wednesday next. After five years’ absence in Vienna this brilliant musical family returned to New Zealand and have just concluded a wonderfully successful tour of J. C. Williamson’s theatres which included visits to Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. When in Vienna the six children studied at the Conservatorium of Music and also under the famous Professor Malcher (one time teacher of the former Queen of Rumania and now leader of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra) There they came into contact with many of the celebrities of the musical world, all of whom showed the greatest interest in the talented family combination. The Roland family consists of five girls and a thirteen-year-old boy, who has remarkable gifts of leadership. From Vienna they toured the Continent, and after studying at Budapest they furthered their musical education in London, where they were invited to play before Princess May of Cambridge. The Chemiavsky Trio took a marked interest in the children and set in train plans for an Australian and New Zealand tour for them. Beautiful Viennese melodies are featured on the programme of the Roland Sextet, who excel in the lovely works of Strauss. Strauss’s son Johann HI. honoured the sextet by inviting them to play at the Strauss celebrations in Vienna a year ago. Wednesday’s programme will be of exceptional interest, for it will consist mainly of bright Viennese music from such well known composers as Lehar, Ziehrev, Waldteufel and Strauss, including “The Skaters,” “Blue Danube,” “Gypsy Baron Overture,” “Spring Voices,” “Roses of the South,” “Vienna Girls,” and “Fairy Tales” and ’cello solo by Miss Stephanie Roland. This attraction should be of exceptional interest to music lovers, for the instruments played by this famous family are violins, ’cellos and piano. Carefully

synchronized with the music will be some dainty dancing by pupils of Miss Rene Ward and songs by Mrs Henderson. Max Roland and his sisters are a charming lot of youngsters who are making musical history in the Dominion.