ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 22474, 9 November 1934, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

CIVIC THEATRE. “MR SKITCH.” WILL ROGERS AND ZASU PITTS. The delightful persons of Anne Cameron’s Saturday Evening Post Story, “Green Dice,” came to life on the screen, with Will Rogers as “Mr Skitch,” the character name and title of the new Fox production, at the Civic Theatre For outright entertainment, and good, healthy laughs, “Mr Skitch” tops anything Rogers has done. It is hilarious entertainment. Always at his best in a modern, topical and timely picture (“Mr Skitch” is all of that), Rogers has the type of role that lets him loose with sallies of wit, the kind that have made him a national favourite as a humorist. The story concerns a Missouri family that have lost all their savings in a bank failure. Forced out of their home, and their belongings taken away from them, they set out in a dilapidated car and make their way westward. Hoping to start anew in some other community, they migrate from one auto camp to another. The father of the family finally secures a job as waiter in a gambling casino. On the strength of a dollar tip, he splurges, and wins 3000 dollars at roulette. The family start off for home in style. They suddenly discover 1 that the money was lost at the tourist camp. Their search for the money proves unsuccessful, and they are once again penniless. They meet a newly married couple, whose acquaintance they’ve made at the auto camp. Because of the bride’s ability to impersonate famous movie stars, they all decide to go to Hollywood to capitalize on her talents. This last seauence brings the film to an uproarious conclusion. In support of Will Rogers, Zasu Pitts, who is a star comedienne in her own right, heads the cast, and gives a flawless performance.

“THE DOVER ROAD.”

COMMENCING TO-MORROW.

A delightful air of fantasy pervades every moment of “The Dover Road” opening to-morrow. Based on A. A. Milne’s well-known play, it is full of the subtle wit and human feeling typical of the author, and it stands out as one of the most brilliant comedies seen on the screen for a long period. The production is American, but the whole atmosphere is English. For the first time since “Cavalcade,” Clive Brook and Diana Wynyard appear together on the screen, and they are fortunate in being given two roles which suit them ideally. The story is an ingenious rearrangement of a theme which has seen service in many films, but it is given fresh appeal by the charm and humour of the characterizations, from the principals down to the very least of the supporting parts. Clive Brook appears as Latimer, an eccentric and wealthy Englishman who, in effect, acts as a social reformer with a sense of humour. His home is on the road to Dover, the route followed by a large percentage of eloping couples, ai?d by means of carefully laid plans he apparently succeeds in inducing some of these to spend a few days on a system of forced “probation.” The opening of the film introduces Leonard, an almost incredibly fatuous and self-satisfied gentleman who is on the way to Dover and Calais with Anne, a character played with the greatest intelligence and charm by Diana Wynyard. Reginald Owen, as Leonard, undoubtedly supplies a large percentage of the humour by his pomposity and lack of imagination. Their car unexpectedly breaks down not far from Latimer s home and the chauffeur, presumably a part of Latimer’s well-laid plans, guides them to the house which he describes as a “sort of hotel.” Leonard, . by a series of strange mischances, is deprived of his most essential garments, his shaving gear and the control of his temper, and it is not long before much of the glamour of the proposed elopement is removed from Anne’s mind. In the meantime, the sensational discovery is made that Leonard’s own wife, Eustasia is also a “guest” at the house with Nicholas, a rather bewildered young man who has found the term of “probation” in association with the gushing Eustasia too much for him. Billie Burke and Alan Mowbray are excellent in these two roles, and when the absurdities of their position are accentuated by Latimer’s whimsical machinations, Latimer’s intention to straighten out the matrimonial tangle is already three-parts accomplished, and the film moves on to a logical and highly satisfactory conclusion. A farcecomedy and several interesting newsreels are included in the programme; also a film of the Duke of Gloucester’s arrival in Perth. THE REGENT. BIG MUSICAL “WONDER BAR.” LAUREL AND HARDY COMEDY. Providing an extra day to give everyone the opportunity of seeing an outstanding programme, the Regent management will present this afternoon and evening an entertainment presenting three headlining attractions and other supports. The main feature is “Wonder Bar,” a lavish and spectacular musical production produced by the people responsible for “Footlight Parade,” “42nd Street,” and other big, spectacular shows. The comedy element is well looked after by Laurel and Hardy, the inimitable comedians, who provide many laughs in the tworeeler “Any Old Port.” Then of outstanding topical interest is the film record of the finish of the Centenary Air Race with Scott and Black arriving at Melbourne. The airmen tell the story of their flight. In addition there will be other supporting films. Drama, comedy and song, all cleverly blended, and staged against a background of spectacular settings, make “Wonder Bar” entertainment of a particularly attractive character. In the cast with Kay Francis, Al Jolson, Dolores Del Rio, Ricardo Cortez, Dick Powell, Guy Kibbee, Fifi D’Orsay, and Louisa Fazenda, any production could be expected to reach a high standard, and their varied talents have been so cleverly blended that the result is a picture of engaging charm. The theme deals with life behind the scenes at a gay Parisian night club, known as the Wonder Bar. It has earned that title obviously by the grandiose nature of its entertainment and the appeal of the features which are introduced for the amusement of the gaiety-seeking populace. This aspect has given the producers endless scope for staging wonderfully spectacular ballet settings, some of which have seldom been excelled. Running through the picture are romance, professional jealousies, and the unscrupulous plotting of rivals, whose aim is to encompass the ruin of the proprietors of the Wonder Bar. Also interwoven into the picture is the story of the indiscretions of the bored wife of a rich banker, who pining for the attention that is denied her owing to big business dealings, falls passionately in love with a gigolo. But the latter only uses this fascination to enrich himself materially and skilfully plays off the love of one woman against that of another. Al Jolson has a part that suits him particularly well as the ever-popular proprietor of the Wonder Bar. A spiritual song scena takes him through the Pearly Gates, where he registers his astonishment at meeting former friends. The box plans are at Rice’s Regent shop. GORE REGENT THEATRE. Showing at the Gore Regent Theatre on Saturday and Monday is Richard Dix and Madge Evans in “Day of Reckoning.” A true, powerful picture

of lonely women confronted with the greatest decisions of their lives. There is also an excellent supporting programme. MAJESTIC THEATRE. “THE PAINTED DESERT.” For this evening only the Rathe Western special “The Painted Desert will be presented. This is a story, of the cattle country where a feud exists concerning the rights of a miner and introduces some thrilling incidents. The supporting pictures as enumerated on the front page, are all most entertaining.

“THE MYSTERY OF MR X.”

ROBERT MONTGOMERY STARRED.

Exceptionally interesting entertainment will be provided for Majestic patrons on Saturday evening in the programme headed by “The Mystery of Mr X,” a film which is one of the most exciting and best constructed seen for some time. It is well produced and the acting is of a very high standard. The principal part is played by that cheery soul and favourite of everybody, Robert Montgomery, who is cast as a gentleman burglar. Brimful of thrills the story was written by Philip MacDonald, who is perhaps the best of current mystery story writers, and whose stories film so excellently. Heading a strong cast is Robert Montgomery, and with him are Lewis Stone and Elizabeth Allan. The direction is one of the masterpieces that one has come to expect from the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios. The scene is laid in London, the London of foggy docksides, and streets that are familiar in name and appearance to thousands all over the world who have never seen them. The story concerns itself with the interweaving trails of two crooks, one, the savage murderer of eight policemen, and the other, because he is the hero a singularly attractive crook. This is Nick Revel, a character nobody but Philip MacDonald could have imagined, and nobody but Robert Montgomery could have interpreted. The mystery and thrill parts of the story are engineered with great finesse. One is never invited to suspect any of the characters, but one cannot help forming the usual theories that mysterystory writers must pray that one should form. Needless to say,. all the early suspicion is proved to be entirely unfounded when the real man is discovered in a most genius ending. For the part of the good-looking, humorous young crook, no better choice than Robert Montgomery could have been made . The part of a high police official is taken by Lewis Stone, who appears to be as much at home in this picture as the perfect English officer, as he is in others as a hard-boiled American business man, or a medieval gentleman. He takes all his parts with complete confidence, and is quite convincing. Not a little of the success of the show is due to the Cockney taximan, played by Forrester Harvey. He is outstandingly good. The special film showing the arrival of the winners, Scott and Black, of the great Centenary Air Race will also be shown.