ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 25341, 20 July 1935, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE “THE PAINTED VEIL” Exceptionally fine entertainment will be, provided at the Majestic. Theatre this afternoon and evening in The Painted Veil.” In it there is a highly gripping, dramatic story by Somerset Maugham, and superb acting by the incomparable Greta Garbo, who appears in her twentieth starring film in the nine years since she first arrived in America. The absorbing story begins in the dreary home of an American scientist and, following the star’s marriage to a young British doctor, it ascends to most gripping episodes of love, hatred, and sacrifice in a cholerainfested district of interior China. The picture, fraught with the mystery and intrigue of the Orient, serves as an admirable successor to Miss Garbo’s last production, “Queen Christina,” which brought her out of seclusion after an absence of two years from the screen. “The Painted Veil” also introduces to the theatre world a new leading man for Garbo. In the past, such names as John Gilbert, Clark Gable, Robert Montgomery, Ramon Novarro, and a dozen more of the screen’s handsomest men have been linked with the name of Garbo over thousands of theatre marquees. And now comes a new leading man, possibly the greatest; at least the most popular one of to-day, Herbert Marshall, to share dramatic honours with Garbo. Marshall portrays Dr. Walter Fane, the young medical scientist who marries the Austrian girl and takes her to China, where he quickly neglects her for his scientific business. It is when the action of the plot moves to China that the heroine finds her feet and that drama enters. Then it is that she becomes more exotic, more picturesque—Garboesque —and she winds turbans round her head, which Adrian, one of Hollywood’s expert fashion designers, knows so cleverly will suit her classical profile and poetic nose! Every inflection, every gesture of this magnificent artist is a delight. No small person could handle with consummate skill the mental development through which the heroine has to go, but Greta Garbo proceeds, and the picture is hers. Herbert Marshall also plays a role which is unconventional for him. He drops a little of his suavity, only using it to make a telling point. His restraint is admirable. There is power in his work, and he retains his old, destructive charm. George Brent, the young Irishman who has been climbing steadily toward stardom in recent years, appears as the “other man” in Garbo’s life. Warner Oland, noted character actor who brought Charlie Chan and Dr. Fu Manchu to the screen, repeats with one of his perfect Chinese charac- . terizations of General Yu, a Chinese' officer. Jean Hersholt makes his third appearance with Garbo as Professor j Koerber, her father. The supplement- I ary films will embrace the latest British ■ Paramount News, a gloriously coloured musical cartoon, “The Old Pioneer,” the : popular comediennes, Thelma Todd and Patsy Kelly, in a laughable comedy, and the Paramount Overseas Budget.' The regular matinee will take pla ? today at 2 p.m. and matinees will also be held on Monday and Tuesday. THE REGENT. FANNIE HURSTS “IMITATION OF LIFE.” POWERFUL DRAMATIC STORY. “Imitation of Life,” the Universal film, the season of which is to open at the Regent Theatre to-day, is an outstanding picture,’ worthy of being ranked among the best screen productions of the year. Some pictures are remembered for their laughter, others for their tears. “Imitation of Life,” based on Fannie Hurst’s novel of the same name, will be remembered both for its gaiety and pathos. Two distinct themes are skilfully interwoven in the unfolding of the story, that of a young vzidow and her daughter, who are both in love with the same man and that of the tragedy of a negress whose almost white daughter runs away from school and then from home to escape the ignominy which her colour brings her. The problem relating to the mixture of black and white, one of the greatest confronting American society, is handled with dignity and sincerity. Scenes between the negro mother and her daughter are among the finest in the picture. The story tells how Beatrice Pullman, a young widow with a baby daughter, forms a business partnership with a widowed negress, known as “Aunt Delilah,” who also has an infant girl. The undertaking, astutely managed by a progressive business agent, grows with great rapidity as a special type of patent flour, which was marketed by the company, enjoys an enormous sale. Prosperity, however, brings its difficulties for the I two women. The daughter of the negress disowns her mother and leaves her home. The mother dies heartbroken and the daughter returns only in time to witness the mother’s funeral. The white woman’s daughter, home on vacation from college, falls in love with her mother’s fiance, without knowing he is such. The picture concludes when the mother, rather than risk a rift between herself and her daughter, gives her lover up, at least for a time. The leading roles are splendidly cast, Claudette Colbert as the successful business woman being especially good. Her part is not an easy one and she gives it charm and beauty. The role of the negress is excellently played by Louise Beavers, who acts with convincing naturalness. There is much gaiety and humour, to which Ned Sparks, a sour-faced comedian, makes a large contribution. There is a high-class supporting pro-’ gramme. A newsreel, followed by a Universal travelogue, “Going Places,” with dialogue by Lowell Thomas, and “Toyland Premiere,” an outstanding coloured cartoon, are also screened.

CIVIC THEATRE.

“CHARLIE CHAN IN PARIS.” COMMENCES TO-DAY. Hailed as the most engrossing and ingenious to date of the famous “Charlie Chan” films, the latest of the series, “Charlie Chan in Paris,” once more starring Warner Oland, will arrive at the Civic Theatre to-day. In its presentation of sinister mystery, the pic-