ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 22201, 19 December 1933, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE REGENT.

JESSIE MATTHEWS IN “THE MIDSHIPMAID.”

FINAL SCREENING TO-NIGHT.

Many fine comedies have come from the studios of the British producers, and to these there must be added “The Midshipmaid,” which is to bring a successful season to a close at the Regent to-night. Nothing more delightful could be imagined than the rollicking humour with which the film abounds, and when it is considered that the story comes from the pens of lan Hay and Commander Stephen King-Hall its calibre can be readily gauged. Jessie Matthews, as charming and. personable as ever, has the leading, and practically the only feminine role, and her natural flair for comedy has never been better demonstrated than in this uproarious tale of love and laughter on the high seas. The greater part of the action centres round a concert given by the ship’s company of H.M.S. Dreadnought, stationed at Malta, for the benefit of Sir Percy Newbiggin and his daughter, Celia, played by Jessie Matthews. Sir Percy has been sent on a mission by the Government to inquire into the possibilities of introducing economy measures into the navy, and, in order to humour him, the concert has been arranged with as little expense as possible. A slight hitch occurs when, at the opening, half the orchestra is playing Mendelssohn’s “Spring Song” and the other half the “1812 Overture,” but eventually these difficulties are overcome, but a sensation is caused when it is discovered, in the course of a pierrot act that one of the “women” is no other than Celia Newbiggin, who introduces far more grace and attraction to the number than could ever have been achieved by one of the midshipmen. Fred Kerr has rarely been better cast than as the humbugging economist, and grunts and grumbles his way through the part in the most entertaining fashion. One of the most amusing members of the cast is A. W. Baskcomb, who, in the role of a lugubrious A. 8., provides a good share of the amusement. His efforts during the concert are of the most ludicrous nature. The supports are allBritish and most entertaining.

CIVIC THEATRE. LAST NIGHT OF JOE E. BROWN IN “ELMER THE GREAT.” Followers of Joe E. Brown will see the versatile comedian in what is probably the greatest role of his long laughmaking career in his latest First National picture, “Elmer the Great,” at the Civic Theatre. There is every reason why this hilarious comedy-drama of big league baseball should fit Joe E. Brown more perfectly than any role he has yet played. Joe’s middle name should have been baseball, for if making millions laugh is his business, baseball is his hobby. In fact, it’s been more than a hobby with Joe, for he was once a big league player himself. For several years he has maintained his own semi-professional team in Southern California, and recently he topped all his previous baseball activities by buying an interest in the Kansas City baseball club. A splendid cast of players seconds Joe E. Brown’s fun-making efforts. Patricia Ellis is the girl with whom Joe is in love.

TO-MORROW.

“THE LIFE OF JIMMY DOLAN.”

The virile and altogether likeable characterization of a young prizefighter affords Douglas Fairbanks, jun., one of the finest screen roles of his entire career in his Warner Bros, picture, “The Life of Jimmy Dolan,” which opens at the Civic Theatre to-morrow. Provided with a good story, an exceptionally fine supporting cast and more than capable direction, young Doug furnishes us with an evening’s entertainment that cannot fail to please movie fans no matter what their tastes may be. It isn’t just a prize-fight picture, nor a love story, a comedy or a drama. Rather, it is all of these put together in a very consistent and logical form. The story opens in the prize ring with Doug winning a championship, only to be forced to go into absolute obscurity when he accidentally kills a reporter just after his fight. His flight from justice under an assumed identity, his immersion in the life on a farm which is entirely foreign to one accustomed to bright lights, and the crosscurrents which bring him to the final fighting climax of the picture, have all been skilfully woven into a most exciting and thoroughly entertaining picture. To make the picture even more outstanding, the supporting cast of screen favourites seems to have been chosen with great care, for they are all superby fitted to their roles. Loretta Young, who plays the feminine lead, continues to surprise with her evergrowing ability as a mature actress. Aline MacMahon is given something new in the way of screen characterization and she handles it with all the finesse that marked her former pictures. Guy Kibbee, Lyle Talbot, Harold Huber, Fifi Dorsay, Shirley Grey, Arthur Hohl, George Meeker, and four child players, Farina, David Durand, Dawn O’Day and Mickey Rooney, make up the well rounded cast THE MAJESTIC. “A WOMAN IN HIS HOUSE.” CLEVER AND UNUSUAL DRAMA. A well-knit story, which is exceedingly well told and contains many unusual twists, is contained in “A Woman in His House,” at present enjoying a most successful season at the Majestic Theatre. Leslie Howard, the handsome and clever young English actor, has the leading role, and lends to it that easy distinction which is characteristic of all the films in which he appears. Ann Harding, too, is exceedingly well cast as an artist who finds her love for Howard a far from pleasant experience, but the most sympathetic part, that of the wife who has faith in her husband, is taken by Myrna Loy. The story opens showing Tom Collier (Leslie Howard) about to meet his father and fiancee, but angering the former by appearing late, as usual. On the evening of the announcement of their engagement a cable comes from Daisy Sage (Ann Harding), a woman to whom Collier has already made passionate love, announcing that she is coming to see him, and asking him to meet her. Collier goes, but tells Daisy that he is engaged to be married to Cecelia (Myrna Loy). .Daisy is stricken at the news, and declares she never wishes to see him again. At this time Tom is blinded by the sensuous allure for Cecelia, but after their marriage a conflict between Cecelia and Tom emerges as inevitable. Cecelia knows about Daisy, but, of course, does not want Tom to see her or his other Bohemian friends. She also wants him to accept feis father’s invitation to live in his New York town house, instead of in their cozy suburban home. She further wants him to sell “The Bantam Press” to a New York mass-pro-duction firm. When Tom is stubborn on all counts, Cecelia gives a party and invites his Greenwich village friends, including Daisy, so that they may be shown up by contrast with people of social standing. From this stage the story takes an unexpected turn, with an unguessable conclusion. Altogether, it is a film which is made unique by outstanding acting and which is clever in the extreme. The supporting programme includes an uproarious comedy “Homewrecking” which'leaves the audience helpless, while a most amusing

sound cartoon !s also screened. A budget of interesting newsreels completes a programme which should not be missed for splendid entertainment. “ITS GREAT TO BE ALIVE.” “It’s Great to be Alive,” a sparkling romantic musical comedy with a decidedly novel plot, heads the new programme at the Majestic Theatre on Wednesday. A new film star, Raul Roulien, heads an outstanding cast, which includes Gloria Stuart, the talented comedienne, Edna May Oliver, Joan Marsh, Dorothy Burgess, Emma Dunn, Edward van Sloan, Robert Greig, and last, but not least, that prince of comedians, Herbert Mundin. Ultra-modern in presentation, “It’s Great to be Alive” is a picturization of what happens when there is only one man left alive in a world of women. Carlos (Roulien), following a quarrel with his fiancee, takes off on a trans-Pacific flight and is lost. As the years roll by, “masculitis,” a rare disease, wipes out all the men, and the world is left to women alone. Dr. Prodwell (Edna May Oliver) tries in vain to create a synthetic man, and the news that a man has been discovered on a lonely Pacific isle sets the fun going in earnest. One can easily imagine the comic situations that arise when the League of Nations, composed entirely of women, meet in conference to bid for the only man in the world. But the young man in question is in love with a girl ... It would spoil the enjoyment of this rare comedy to reveal the startling denouement, suffice it to say that it is the comedy riot of the year. Several catchy songs are sung by Raul Roulien, who has a splendid voice and a striking personality, and the musical score of the piece is up to the best standard of American pictures. The comedy is in capable hands, with Edna May Oliver and Herbert Hundin standing head and shoulders above the others in this department. “It’s Great to be Alive” is really worth-while entertainment of the type seen too seldom and should not be missed. An attractive supporting programme is also promised.