MAJESTIC THEATRE.

Southland Times, Issue 22215, 6 January 1934, Page 3

MAJESTIC THEATRE.

“RIO RITA” RETURNS.

MATINEE AND EVENING.

Better than it was when presented two years ago, “Rio Rita” wiU return to the Majestic screen for a short season commencing at this afternoon’s matinee. In music, comedy, and lavish settings, “Rio Rita” can give points to the latest musical films. Its music is particularly good, and it is highly doubtful if any comedy has had a more tuneful collection of songs. In the leading role of Rita, Bebe Daniels scores a veritable triumph with her acting, assurance, and graceful poise. Her singing in the melodious solos and duets falls sweetly on the ear, and the first notes suffice to bring home the fact that she is an accomplished vocalist. John Boles plays the opposite role as the manly hero, and his fine tenor carries the spirit of the story along with perfect harmony, the resonant qualities losing none of their virtues in the sound reproduction. Together, these two players give an air of romantic attraction which is the making of the musical comedy. A brilliant performance is given by Robert Woolsey as a most erratic lawyer, and his principal client, Bert Wheeler, a bigamous bootlegger, is another wonderfully comic figure. As for Wheeler and Woolsey, experience has proved the wisdom of the producers’ choice. It was “Rio Rita” that introduced these comical nit-wits to picturegoers (though Woolsey was actually playing his original stage part), and it is doubtful if they have ever done anything better in the numerous features in which they have since appeared. Strangely enough, though, Whc-eler rather dominates the comedy, a position that has since been reversed in favour of the bespectacled one. Wheeler is seen as a young man who looks like becoming a bigamist, and his trouble with his past and future wives causes him to seek the assistance of Woolsey, a most unorthodox lawyer. The two put their heads together over a bottle of very ancient Aztec wine, and then things begin to happen! Into every scene of this musical play the camera has imparted a generous sweep of action that it would be impossible to aspire to on any stage. There is no limit to the elaborate grandeur of the settings, and while the Mexican background remains mostly in evidence, it has been possible to introduce a subtle blending of singing and dancing choruses without in any way interrupting the tenor of the story. A tale is unfolded of the adventures of a Mexican bandit, courageous and daring in his actions, who proves almost too elusive for his pursuers. Rita, a beautiful senorita, spends many anxious hours endeavouring to cover up the misdeeds of her arrant brother, Don Alvarado, and at the same time repelling the advances of the principal villain of the piece, whose price of freedom for Don Alvarado is the sacrifice of her love to himself. The Texas Rangers add an animation and liveliness with their horseback dashes and relentless pursuits of bandits and brigands. The supporting programme also maintains the high entertainment value of “Rio Rita.” Matinees will also be held on Monday and Tuesday. THE REGENT. TOM WALLS IN “THE BLARNEY STONE.” NEW IRISH COMEDY. The charm and delightful entertainment of “Hie Blarney Stone,” which is to be shown at the Regent this afternoon and evening, will be remembered , long after more pretentious pictures

have been forgotten, and, while offering a new angle on the brilliant acting of Tom Walls, it will remain outstanding because it is so excellently spiced throughout with clever wit. Tom Walls, past master of screen comedy, dominates every scene of his latest production, which serves to easily make “The Blarney Stone” quite the most entertaining production he has yet appeared in. His latest picture comes to the screen like a breath of old Ireland, and will appeal to young and old alike. For his role in this production, Tom Walls adopts an extremely convincing Irish brogue that would surely pass unchallenged in the Emerald Isle, so perfectly is it assumed. The picture is rather different from this star’s usual type of subject, in that it strikes a definitely dramatic note halfway through, when the hero goes to gaol for stock defalcations engineered by the heroine’s brother. Briefly, the story., tells of Tim Fitzgerald, a benign Irishman, who, having kissed the Blarney Stone when a child, is endowed with the “gift of the gab,” a faculty that enables him to talk his way out of an attempt on his life by Sinn Feiners. Escaping to London, he becomes an embankment down-and-out, until a chance meeting with Lord Breethorpe (to whom he had formerly extended hospitality in Ireland) puts him on the way to financial success in the stock market. Tim is in love with Breethorpe’s sister, Lady Anne, and when an auditor’s report reveals defalcations committed by Breethorpe, Fitzgerald is blamed, but maintains a damning silence rather than risk hurting Lady Anne. Sentenced to seven years’ penal servitude, Tim prepares to serve out his time, but is pardoned when the suicide of the guilty party clears his name. Outside the grey walls Tim finds Lady Anne waiting for him, arid a lucky investment materializes to bring enough money to ensure the happy couple’s future prosperity. The acting, throughout is excellent, but Tom Walls dominates the picture with a most polished performance, and by his facile handling of a delightful part that offers him many opportunities which he is not slow to grasp. Anne Grey fills the stellar feminine part in an extraordinarily capable manner, and her work is such as to indicate that besides being one of the most beautiful of English

actresses, she is also one of the most ! talented and charming. Robert Doug- • las gives a good characterization as the : rather weak Lord Breethorpe, and 1 Robert Horton gives a finished perform- 1 ance in the role of the butler. Other original types are introduced. This ; picture is one that can be recommended to all as first-rate entertain- ■ ment, and if merit counts for anything , it will attract large audiences during its : Invercargill season. The supporting programme is well up to standard, and two numbers in the Zodiac series (for those bom between October 24 and December 23) afford novel entertainment. A further part of “This England” series is an interesting and instructive film, and the Ideal Cinesound Magazine comprises the usual interesting items, a gazette completing a full-value programme which will be shown twice today and repeated on Monday and Tuesday.