ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 22297, 12 April 1934, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE. “WALLS OF GOLD.” AN EXCELLENT PICTURE. “Walls of Gold,” the new Fox photoplay based on the novel of the same name by Kathleen Norris, opened at the Majestic Theatre yesterday, and proved itself easily the best of the Norris novels picturized for , the screen. Sally Eilers, Norman Foster and Ralph Morgan have the featured roles. The story of the picture deals with the problem of a young and beautiful girl who must choose between love and the comforts of wealth. From the searching pen of Mrs Norris comes a character that Sally Eilers plays to perfection. It gives her every opportunity to display her truly fine talents for dramatic depiction. Norman Foster, cast in the masculine lead opposite her again proves himself as worthy as he was in the role of her lover in “State Fair.” Ralph Morgan, in the part of a middle-aged romantic, with doubtful ethics and peculiar artistic tastes, is superb. Others in the cast who deserve much credit for making “Walls of Gold” an outstanding film are Rosita Moreno, Spanish actress and dancer, Rochelle Hudson, Mary Mason and Margaret Seddon. Kenneth MacKenna did a fine job of the direction. The short subjects include a feature “Camera Thrills,” showing exciting incidents in horse racing in various parts of the world. This contains much that is exciting and thrilling. The other supports arc up to the usual high Majestic standard. The Majestic theatre management has arranged to relay the special radio broadcast of Mr George Bernard Shaw’s speech for the benefit of to-night’s Majestic patrons. THE REGENT, MARY PICKFORD IN “SECRETS.” SLIM SUMMERVILLE COMEDY. The return of Mary Pickford to the screen is an event of considerable importance, for of all the stars the screen has know none has held such a high place in the esteem of theatre-goers the world over. The Regent management were fortunate in securing her most recent production “Secrets” for screening to-night to Invercargill audience, for “Secrets” gives Miss Pickford an ideal vehicle. In the first place, it is “motion picture” from beginning to end, and in the second place the story is a simple one of love and elemental emotions, With no wise-cracking and no sophistication. In front of the cameras was an all-star cast in every sense of the word. Leslie Howard, English star, was Miss Pickford’s leading man, and Mona Maris is the “other woman.” Then there are C. Aubrey Smith, Blanche Frcderiei, Doris Lloyd, Herbert Evans, Ned Sparks and Jerry Stewart. But in addition to these Miss Pickford surrounded herself with several stars of another day, actors and actresses who used to count their salaries in thousands of dollars weekly. These included Bessie Barriscale, Ethel Clayton, King Bagott, Florence Lawrence, Frances Ford, Theodore von Eltz, Huntley Gordon and Paul Penzer, among others. The story of “Secrets” is in three sections, showing Miss Pickford as a young girl, as a young woman and as a middle-aged woman. It is a romantic drama that basically asoires to deep human interest with a trend that will create sympathy for the heroine. Told by means of transitions, it covers a period of 50 years. Beginning in a little New England seaport town, Mary Marlowe is fascinated to discover romance in John Carlton. Whippersnapper in her father’s eyes, but her love ideal, Mary elopes with him rather than marry the English aristocrat whom her father has selected for her. Transitions. A covered waggon trek. Pioneers in the new west. A baby. The menace of cattle thieves. A lynching party. The gang assembled to wreak terrible revenge on Carlton. The besieged cabin. The baby dies. Pathos and drama. The ranchers drive off thp raiders. Years pass. Carlton a candidate for governor. Scandal threatens. He has been a philanderer. His children know it. So does his wife. Dramatically rebuffing the other woman, Senora Martinez, Mary makes it possible for John to go on to political fame. The time is the present. Carlton is retiring from the U.S. Senate after decades oi public service. The now grown family beseech their parents to remain in Washington in the height of social glamour and prestige. They prefer to live with each other alone—to have their “secrets,” to pick up the covered wagon trek again, this time in a radio equipped roadster. On the supporting programme is a Universal comedy “Kid Glove Kisses” in which Slim Summerville and his “old pal” Sergeant Gribbon are at it again, much to the delight of the audience. “FACING THE MUSIC.” THE REGENT, SATURDAY. That renowned musical comedy star, Jose Collins, whose voice has thrilled the public the world over in such successes as “The Maid of the Mountains” and “The Southern Maid,” makes her talkie debut in 8.1.P.’s riotously funny, Stanley Lupino musical comedy, “Facing the Music,” which comes to the Regent Theatre on Saturday. “Facing the Music” is the first picture in which filmgoers have been given an opportunity to hear her melodious voice. She appears, appropriately enough, as Madame Calvini, a famous prima donna, who, desirous of more publicity, arranges to use and have stolen her own priceless jewels for- “The Jewel Song” scene during a performance of “Faust.” The fun begins when the jewels actually are stolen. But Stanley Lupino, the star of the film, after a series of grotesque adventures amid the precincts of the Opera House, succeeds in unmasking the crooks. Not only does Miss Collins give a remarkable acting performance as the temperamental prima donna, but filmgoers will be able to

hear her render “The Jewel Song.” the famous trio prison number from “Faust,” and the finale of “Tristan and Isolde.”

CIVIC THEATRE.

“THE GHOUL.” TERROR IN EVERY SHADOW. “The Ghoul,” the Gaumont-British picture showing at the Civic Theatre, marks a further tremendous advance in the ability of British studios to provide screen thrills, and one can safely predict that you will feel some shivers down the spine when you see it. Boris Karloff plays his part in true Frankenstein manner, and his make-up, as a fanatical Egyptologist, is nothing short of blood-chilling. The story, by Frank King and Leonard Hines, is excellently told and remarkably wellworked out. It concerns the stealing of a famous jewel from an Egyptian tomb and the dying professor’s (Karloff) wish that the stone shall be buried with him in his specially-fashioned tomb. He swears that if the stone is stolen from him he will rise from the dead and kill! His servant, brilliantly played by Ernest Thesiger, takes the gem from his dead master and on the night of the full-moon the door of the professor’s tomb opens and he appears, striking terror into the hearts of the hero and heroine and many more. Boris Karloff is supported by a well-chosen cast including delightful Dorothy Hyson, Anthony Bushell, Ralph Richardson, excellent as a visiting vicar, Harold Huth and Cedric Hardwicke. The story briefly is: On his death-bed, Professor Morlant, famous Egyptologist asks to be buried, in a sarcophagus of his own design, with the Eternal Light, an age-old jewel, bound to his hand. He regards it as his passport to immortality. After his death, however, his Scottish valet, filches the jewel with the praiseworthy object of restoring it to the rightful heirs, Ralph Morlant and Betty Harlow. But the professor’s rascally lawyer covets the jewel; an Egyptian priest seeks it, intent on restoring it to the tomb from which it came; and Dragore, the original thief knows that his life depends on his ability to steal it again. Hectic things occur when Morlant rises from his tomb, as he had predicted he would. Prowling in search of the jewel he kills and terrorizes, eventually recovering the gem. Betty and Ralph watch him performing strange rites before the image of Anubis and see him collapse. They are trapped in the tomb, but escape when the door is blown down; and it is disclosed that Morlant, previously only in a state of coma, is at last really dead. Another thief tries his hand in the game of robbery, but the gem is finally placed in the possession of the heirs Risen from the tomb to seek the dcspoiler of his faith . . ..this Thing of the Living Dead . . . this Ghoul . . . brought fear, death and stark tragedy to the household of its earlier being! Supporting pictures include “The Australian Fox News,” a Gaumont Mirror and the latest Gaumont Graphic.

HENRI THE GREAT COMPANY.

Coming next Thursday, April 19, to the Civic Theatre, the Henri The Great Company will present a programme of outstanding merit. Henri will be seen in one of his spectacular stunts over the town. One has only to look at the photographs in Messrs J. H. Geddes and Son’s, tailors, Dee street, to experience a thrill.