NEW REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 985, 30 May 1930, Page 16

NEW REGENT

“THE BISHOP MURDER CASE” | Those individuals who enjoyed the j j two popular mystery film successes. : I “Unholy Xight” and “The Thirteenth ! Chair,” have a treat in store for them j in “The Bishop Murder Case,” which j comes to the New Regent Theatre to- j day with such prominent featured j players as Basil Rathbone, Leila i Hyams. Roland Young, Alec B. Francis, i and a number of others. The new all-talking murder drama. - adapted from the S. S. Van Bine best- j seller, and filmed under the joint | •direction of !Xick Grinde and David , Burton, is reputed to be by far the best j all-around mystery film as yet to come ; out of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer j studios. Advance reports indicate that par- i ticular care was taken to give the new . thriller a number of original twists j and sequences, which keep the audience on its toes while confusing it as to the identity of the real murderer. The plot concerns a series of murdrs done by a person who leaves a black chess bishop beside each victim, and sends jeering notes in “Mother Goose’* rhymes to his pursuers, notably Philo Vance, the popular detective of the Van Dine tales. The solution of the mystery is completely cloaked until the last ten feet of the film. The settings utilise the rooms of the home of Professor Dillard, the remarkable library of Pardee, the chess enthusiast; the Stuysevant Club of New York: Central Park/ New York, and an archery range between the two homes. The mystery starts when Robin, familiarly known as “Cock Robin,” is found on the archery range with an arrow in his heart. Directors Grinde and Burton selected their cast with especial reference to the fact that detective stories j must be very well played if the twists : of the plot are to be hidden. Basil j Rathbone came from “The Last of ■ Mi's. Cheyney” to do Philo Vance. ■ Alec. B. Francis, the splendid old > character actor, was cast as Dillard, j The other key parts are those of Arnes- j son, played by Roland Young, fresh j from “Unholy Xight”; Belle Dillard, i Leila llyams, of “Alias Jimmy Valen- I tine”: Clarence Geldert, of “The Thirteentli Chair”: James Donlon, Xellie j Bly Baker, George Marion, Zelda Sears, | Bodil Rosing, Charles Quartermaine, i and Delmar Daves. A specially selected supporting pro- i gramme will also be presented.

GREY LYNN CINEMA

“Dark Streets.” a dramatic story of a policeman’s fight to save his brother, a member of the underworld, from going to gaol, is now at the Grey Lynn Cinema. Tliis First Jsational and Vitaphone production presents Jack Mulhall in the dual roles of policeman and crook. By a new process the Vitaphone recording equipment was able to depict the actor talking in both roles on the screen at the same time. The heightened effect which the dual conversation gives to the unusual dramatic tenseness of a double role is said to be a novel treat in store for picturegoers. As the title suggests, much of the action takes place at night in the gloomy side streets of a warehouse district. VICTORIA, DEVONPORT “The Girl From Havana,” which heads the new programme at the Victoria Theatre, Devonport, this evening, is a talkie-thriller dealing with jewel thieves. Lola Lane in the leading role appears as a girl detective, and Paul Page is a clever international crook. “Hold Your Man.” which is a second attraction, stars popular Clara Bow in a merry comedy of love in Paris.

BILLIE DOVE’S TROUBLES

SEPARATED FROM HUSBAND Incompatibility, the bugaboo of marital bliss, has separated Billie Dove, beautiful motion picture actress, and her director-husband, Irvin Willat. “We simply reached the place where we could not agree,” Miss Dove said m announcing that she and Willat had parted. “It is a case of incompatibility such as often exists when peoule have been married for a number of years. New Year’s Day found the pair, once considered Hollywood’s “happiest married couple,” more than 3,000 miles "Willat .was in New York, where he recently went to direct a picture, while Miss Dove remained in Hollywood. While Miss Dove begged to be excused from telling just what their differences were, she emphatically denied that anyone had come between them. “There is no other man in my life, and I feel sure that there is no other woman in Irvin’s life. I suppose later we will naturally get a divorce, but as for saying anything against Irvin, I’ll never do that.” Willat fir: t saw Billie Dove across the footlights when she appeared in Ziegfcld’s Follies. They met and a romance began. They were married a short time after Miss Dove quit the Ziegfeld show for a film career. Willat directed his wife in her first picture. As her screen popularity grew other directors demanded Miss Dove in their productions and she soon became one of the highest paid stars in filmland. Meanwhile Willat did not succeed so well and it was not until recently that he got the opportunity which sent him to New ork as the director for an independent film producing companv. Friends of Miss Dove said that she waited until Willat got his opportunity before she decided to leave him.

ELSIE LINCOLN BENEDICT LECTURE NEXT TUESDAY Owing to the enthusiastic public reception of Iter message in Auckland and the large number of people who were unable to gain admission to her previous lectures, Elsie Lincoln Benedict, internationally known speaker and writer, will give a new and entirely different series of lectures at the Town Hall Concert Chamber begining Tueday evening, June 3, at eight o’clock. Her subject will be “How to Make the Host of Xourself,” in which Mrs. Benedict will deal with physical and mental efficiency. The lectures, which wil be given under the auspices of the International Opportunity League, will be free to the public.

Jack Mack Brown will have the leading ro'e in "Billy the Kid.” Lucille Powers. 19-year-o!d extra, has been assigned the principal feminine role and Russell Simpson has been given one of the leading character parts.

“HIGH TREASON” AT LONDON A narrowly-averted war a decade lienee between the “federated Atlantic States” and the “United States of Europe” is the theme of a nev British talking: picture, “.High Treason.” based on the play by Mr. Pemberton Billing 1 . The film is now in its second week at the London Theatre. The blowing up of the Channel tLinnel —which, combined with an unfortunate frontier “incident,” almost brings about a declaration of war—is very realistically staged, and, indeed, the mise-en-scene altogether is on the grand scale. Perhaps the most impressive episode is the trial of the “Vicar Genet al” of the European States for murdering the president, in order to prevent him broadcasting the declaration of war. Tliis forms excellent propaganda for the i-eace ideal, and condones to a large extent several somewhat grotesque scenes which precede Jameson Thomas, who takes the leading part, that of an airman, acts with great distinction, and his voice records clearly. Basil Gill, as the president, plays like a man inspired, and Humberston Wright makes a very excellent vicar general.

DE LUXE, MOUNT ALBERT Two fine talkies will be shown at the De Luxe Theatre. Mount Albert terminus, again this evening. The first is “Frozen Justice,” a powerful drama of love and hate in Alaska, starring the famous American stage actress. Lenore Ulrich, as a half-caste Eskimo. The second attraction, “The Jazz Age,” is an all-talking sparkling comedy with many spectacular and tuneful effects. A free bus leaves the Avondale Post Office every evening at 7.30 for the Be Luxe Theatre, returning after the performance.

PRINCE EDWARD A splendid double-feature talkie programme is being presented at the Prince Edward Theatre. “Woman to Woman,” the first attraction, is an unusually powerful drama of love and hate, of two women and one man. George Barraud and Betty Compson are the stars. The first picture is “Half-Way to ITeaven,” a charming romantic story of circus life, starring the popular young lovers, Charles Rogers and Jean Arthur. The second talkie is “Barnum Was Right.” a delightfully funny comedydrama starring Glenn Tryon.

CIVIC WINTER GARDEN CABARET The King’s Birthday will be celebrated at the Civic Winter Garden Cabaret on Tuesday evening with a big special ball. Lancing will be continued until 2 a.m. to the accompaniment of special music. DIXIELAND CABARET Dixieland Cabaret will be the scene of a monster King’s Birthday ball next Tuesday evening. Dancing will be enjoyed until 1 a.m. to delightful music by the Dixieland Dance Band.

PLAZA

TWO NEW TALKIES The current programme at theß*: ! Theatre will have its final screen;- I there this evening. This includes t l two comedies, “Taming of the Shre* starring Mary Pickford and Doug;; Fairbanks, and “Dames, Ahoy. 1 ' Of recent years, it is difficult to r call any overseas theatrical star ai* ing a more overwhelming success tfcr Leo Carillo —who has just concb<s- - prolonged visit to these shores. This famous American actor’s wc: derful personality and abilities hibeen much in evidence at the Criter. | Theatre, Sydney, in the famous p~ “Lombardi, Ltd.,’* where he score'..! triumphant success—placing his tiz i on everybody’s lips. Now the m;ugement of the Plaza Theatre, thro., j the medium of the speaking sere j announce this star in his first ult: i picture. “Mister Antonio,” a Ctoon ; Art Films release. Carillo is supported by Yiiyi'. ! Valli, and a host of famous artif. In the picture Carillo depicts—witi wonderful flair for dialect —an Hal hurdy-gurdy man, who is a ptelo* pher to wit. It is a comedy dram* i the highest ord• r. and patrons ▼. have an opportunity of seeing r j hearing him for the first time ffl screen.

In the second attraction, the tseeing and hearing eye of the met picture camera turns at last to*: the average American home and fc* there ample material in comedy . drama to produce an altogether sorbing picture, we hear. This picture, called Harmony Home,” adapted from the stage rcess. “The Family Upstairs,” de; family life in a manner which be the Jones's and the family around; corner will recognise as completely i. thentic. Produced by Fox Movietone and rected by Hamilton McFadden, “£• ■ mony at Home” is played by I t j headed by William Collier, sen, j Marguerite Churchill.

RIALTO, NEWMARKET During the unfolding of the Pj “Happy Days” at the Rialto Tb<*-' I Xewmarket, more than 20 speck* > are introduced and a gorgeous H beautiful setting is provided for «• one. Janet Gaynor and Charles ‘ rell appear in a number, “WeTlßo**| J Little World of Our Own,” Victor - | Laglen and Edmund Lowe are r | and heard in another called *^ JC H ; Eddie,” Sharon Lynn and AnaJ/l j nington provide a specialty* ! Hips.” William Collier, sen., and j ter Catlett have another s and sole* sung by J. Harold. Murray. Franks ardson and George MacFarlaxie. George Olsen and His Music areand heard in a number and they furnish the music for the part. These, however, are but*-' the acts that are introduced. Besides those already itentt-. Frank Albertson, Warner Biiy Brendel. James J. Corbett, K*, Keene, George Jessell, Farrell aid, Lew Brice, The Slate ,p" Paul Page, Will Rogers. David “Whispering” Jack Smith, j**White and many other appear. There is a chorus or . I voices and a dancing ensemble smart steppers.