ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 23025, 20 October 1936, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE “GIVE US THIS NIGHT” Anyone who likes good music, outstanding singing and beauty of photography should not fail to see and hear Jan Kiepura and Gladys Swarthout in “Give Us This Night,” which is having its final screenings at the Regent Theatre to-day. These two are opera singers in the height of their talent, and together they present a feast of song that will delight all lovers of music. In the balcony scene from “Romeo and Juliet” they are magnificent. Six new songs were composed for the film by Oscar Hammerstein, and the two leading players are suported by an outstanding chorus. Antonio (Kiepura) is a Neopolitan fisher lad, to who music means everything. He lands himself in trouble when he throws a ripe egg at a great tenor, because the latter is singing flat. This escapade lands him in the local calaboose, but not before he has led the carabinieri a merry chase. He takes refuge in a church, and there his splendid voice, swelling the volume of “Ave Maria” attracts the attention of a young singer, the prima donna in an untried opera composed by the Maestro Bonetti (Philip Merivale). Maria (Gladys Swarthout) has just insulted the great tenor, and what should be more natural than that Antonio should be asked to take his place. He is bailed out of the lock-up and starts a new life on the stage. There are further complications when he discovers that Bonetti is, like himself, in love with Maria, so he slips unobtrusively back to his fishing boat. He is not, of course, allowed to remain there long, and eventually he returns post haste to the opera in time to take part in a triumphant finale with Maria. Alan Mowbray provides the major element of comedy. Included in a strong supporting programme is a Grantland Rice Sportlight entitled “Winged Champions,” an interesting short on birds, an amusing “Pop-eye the Sailor” cartoon, “Brotherly Love,” a musical novelty and several topical newsreels. ZANE GREY’S “DRIFT FENCE” AND “F MAN.” TO-MORROW AT THE REGENT. Based on a drama by the well-known writer of Western stories, Zane Grey, the Paramount film “Drift Fence,” which heads the splendid double-feature programme to be shown at the Regent Theatre to-mor-row, presents an exciting story of the efforts of a young ranch-owner and his men to defeat a desperate gang of cattle thieves. Tom Keene is at his best in the part of a Texas ranger sent to rid the country of the cattle thieves, while Larry Crabbe and Katherine De Mille also are prominently cast. “F Man,” the second attraction, is a highly diverting comedy concerning the adventures of a young man who wished to become a Federal agent, and join the ranks of America’s G-Men. In this bright and unusual comedy, Jack Haley, a comparative newcomer to the screen, provokes roars of laughter with his performance as the tyro guardian of the law. Playing opposite to him is Grace Bradley, cast as a country sweetheart, who eventually is captured by gangsters. The country boy rescues the girl from the clutches of the criminals, but is riddled with bullets while doing it. He decides to return to the rural life, with its safety and serenity.

MAJESTIC THEATRE “I FOUND STELLA PARISH.” That delightful actress Kay Francis is seen at her best in “I Found Stella Parish,” the bright comedy drama at present drawing packed houses to the Majestic Theatre. The story of “I Found Stella Parish” is simply enough, but with Miss Francis in the leading role and an outstanding cast to assist her there are frequent tugs at the heart strings, many gay moments and plenty to think about. She has to fight to hide a scandal which she knows would darken the life of her little daughter, but the man she trusts betrays her and she is separated from her daughter. Is it to be wondered at that her heart should grow bitter in the stress and turmoil of the unhappy life she leads? And who but Kay Francis could bring out the emotional shades in this intensely human drama? Towards the close the action quickens and the shadows lift, the climax being extremely interesting. Paul Lukas makes an admirable theatrical manager; lan Hunter, a clever British player, has an attractive role as a young journalist; and clever little Sybil Jason happily fills the role of the daughter. The first half of the programme leaves no room for criticism. Newsreels, a musical revue and a snappy cartoon complete a splendid programme.

“THE VOICE OF BUGLE ANN.” A DRAMATIC STORY. “Tire Voice of Bugle Ann” may be described as a picture for all doglovers. It revolves round the dramatic story of a man whose loyalty to a faithful dog was so great as to lead him to commit murder. “The Voice of Bugle Ann,” with Lionel Barrymore and Maureen O’Sullivan in the principal roles, comes to-morrow to the Majestic Theatre. Based on MacKinley Kantor’s novel, which in turn was based on an actual court case in Missouri, it tells

the story of a veteran Missouri fox hunter and his favourite dog, to avenge which he kills a man and goes to prison. It is held to be the greatest tribute to a dog since Senator Vest’s famous speech which figures in the trial scene. The man and dog episode is set in a romance of young love, feuds and other interesting angles. A romantic interest is supplied by the inclusion in the cast of Maureen O’Sullivan and Eric Linden, while others of importance who play prominent parts are Dudley Digges, Charles Grapewin and Henry Wadsworth.

THE CIVIC

BRIGHT STORY AND STRONG DRAMA. To-night will give Invercargill cinema goers their final opportunity of seeing one of the best double-feature programmes that has yet been shown in the city. The main attraction is Gracie Fields in “This Week of Grace,” but the supporting picture “If I were Free,” starring Clive Brook and Irene Dunne, is outstanding in the field of romantic drama. “This Week of Grace” is an admirable vehicle for the inimitable talents of Gracie Fields. It is a bright tale of love and laughter, replete with catchy song hits and humorous situations. In brief, the story is as follows: The Duchess of Swinford, a kindhearted but eccentric old lady, has entrusted the management of her estate, Swinford Castle, to her stepsister, Lady Warmington, and the latter’s son Clive, Lord Swinford. In a north country town, where the Duchess has a house, there also resides the Milroy family consisting of Mr and Mrs Milroy, their daughter Gracie and their son Joe. Mr Milroy and Joe run, somewhat unsuccessfully, however, a small garage and Gracie works in a local factory. One day Mr Milroy reads that a city typiste has been left a large fortune by an old gentleman, who used to travel to work in the same bus with her and for whom she had occasionally done small services, such as helping him across the road and carrying his bag. Gracie thinks that this is a very easy way to acquire a fortune, and the following morning she endeavours to do the same service to an old gentleman getting off the bus. Unfortunately, he turns out to be a bank manager and threatens to give her in charge for attempting to steal his bag. As a result Gracie is late for the factory and is summarily dismissed. She wanders into the park and takes a seat near a quaint old lady who is, in fact, the duchess herself. They get into conversation and the duchess becomes highly interested in her story. The next day a lawyer calls at the Milroy home and announces that an anonymous client has authorized him to offer Gracie the job of managing Swinford Castle for the space of one year, and that, if she makes a success of it, there may be further benefits in store. So the Milroy family leave the humble street in which they lived and set out for a new life at Swinford Castle. What follows is both amusing and exciting and the audience is kept in a state of pleasant suspense until the wholly unexpected climax.

STATE THEATRE “JACK OF ALL TRADES.” Gaiety is the keynote of Jack Hulbert’s new picture, “Jack of All Trades,” which concludes a season at the State Theatre to-day. With Robertson Hare, Gina Malo and some snappy new musical numbers, Hulbert dances and sings joyously, and his comedy at all times is delightful. The theme, which concerns Jack’s adventures as he bluffs his way through meetings of bank directors, or rescues his lady-love from a burning factory, is undoubtedly the medium to show this fun-maker at his best. His troubles begin when he goes to a big house as an extra waiter, and is mistaken for a guest. Here is seen the real

Jack Hulbert of the twinkling feet, the jolly voice and the heroic chin. Robertson Hare, as pessimistic as ever, takes the part of a rather bewildered little man who is made the scapegoat by the dashing Jack. COMMENCING TO-MORROW. “TWO IN THE DARK” AND “BARBOONA.” A mystery picture which should make an exceptionally strong appeal to those who appreciate films of this type is “Two in the Dark,” one of the two brilliant films which begins a season at the State Theatre to-morrow. With Walter Abel and Margot Grahame in the leading roles, it tells a story full of excitement and suspense, but appeals especially to the intelligence of the audience in its earlier stages and reserves the best of the thrills for its highly dramatic climax. It is a remarkably intricate story, ably told, and it will be liked because of the entirely new basis on which the story has been built up. It concerns a young man who finds himself at night outside a fashionable dwelling unable to recall any previous event in his life. He discloses his loss of memory to a charming girl whom he meets. She undertakes to help him to establish his identity, and their" task is made exciting because they fear that he may have been concerned in some way in a murder which has been committed in the house outside which he found himself. The stirring events which lead up to the identification of the man provide the solution of the murder. As the result of a daring aerial expedition to Central Africa Mr and Mrs Martin Johnson, the worldfamous hunters of big game, have produced in “Baboona,” the associate feature, one of the most striking films about wild life. From the air the camera has been able to record scenes in almost inaccessible country, and one obtains an idea of African topography which could be gained in no other way. The explorers, however, did not remain in the air all the time. The major portion of the film is, as the title indicates, concerned with the wild animal life of the country. The film provides thrilling and interesting entertainment.