ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, 6 September 1929, Page 13

ENTERTAINMENTS

EVERYBODY’S.

“TALKIE” MATINEE TO-MORROW

The first “talkie” matinee to be held in Taranaki will take place at Everybody’s Theatre, New Plymouth; to-mor-row (Saturday) at 2 p.m. Universal’s mighty talking and singing production, “Show Boat,” will be the attraction. “Show Boat” is a combination of Edna Ferber’s famous novel and the song hits from Florenz Ziegfeld’s famous stage production of the same name. You will see and hear the famous Ziegfeld stars, Helen Morgan, Jules Bledsoe, Aunt Jemima and the Ziegfeld Plantation Singera singing “Bill,” “Can’t Help Loving That-Man,” “01’ Man River,” and other negro spirituals. You will also hear and see in dialogue and action a brilliant Universal cast headed by Laura La Plante, Joseph Schildkraut, Otis Harlan, Alma Aubens and Emily Fitzroy. You will not fail to enjoy this picture with its great drama and quaint characters. Prices for the matinee are advertised in this issue; also box plan arrangements.

EVERYBODY’S.

RE-OPENING WITH THE “TALKIES” i TO-MORROW.

The management of the New Plymouth Picture Theatres will present the first “takie” programme at Everybody’s Theatre to : morro'w (Saturday). The premier opening attraction (which is the first “talkie” programme to be presented in Taranaki) will be Universal’s gigantic talking and singing production, “Show Boat.” The picture is an elaborate- combination of Edna Ferber’s famous novel and Florenz Ziegfeld’s musical extravaganza. Ziegfeld stars, Helen Morgan, Jules Bledsoe, Aaunt Jemima and the Ziegfeld Plantation Singers, as well as the Universal stars, are seen and heard in the popular song “hits” from the stage production. Laura La Plante, Joseph Schildkraut and Otis Harlan head the cast, which numbers such screen favourites as Emily Fitzroy, Jane La Verne, Jack McDonald, Alma Rubens, Nelly Edwards and a score more. Helen Morgan and Jules Bledsoe are the outstanding Ziegfeld stars included. The production, replete with dialogue, music and songs, was directed by Harry Pollard. Laura La Plante is said to be a revelation in the dramatic scenes, and in the colourful songs. The picture.is a faithful adaptation of the book story, with its intense drama, its delightful romance and its quaint characters. The box plans for Saturday and Monday next are now open. Reserved seat-hold-ers in the dress circle are asked to particularly note an announcement made in this issue.

THE PEOPLE’S.

FAMILY NIGHT.

“London Love,” finally showing at the People’s to-night, is a well-staged and well-acted popular melodrama. Based on a story by Arthur Applin, it tells how a girl of the East End becomes a big film star, and how her happiness is linked with that of a young sailor, who is accused of having murdered the girl’s stepmother. The role of the girl is played by Fay Compton, who portrays drama and comedy with equal facility, and is particularly good in her interpretation of a girl who is facing the film camera for the first time. John Stuart appears in the role of the girl’s lover, and Miles Mander gives a good study of the villain, who for his own ends introduces the girl to films. The supporting programme includes comedy, interest and Gaumont News. Showing at the matinee to-morrow and again at night is “The Cavalier,” starring Richard Talmadge. The supporting programme will be headed by the first chapter of the thrilling new serial, “The Mystery Rider,” starring William Desmond.

OPERA HOUSE.

FINE BRITISH PROGRAMME.

The two British productions, “Eileen” and “Champagne,” which commenced a three-night season at the Opera House last night, are both fine entertainments. “Eileen,” starring Anny Ondra,” is an entrancing romantic drama by the wellknown author H. de Vere Stacpoole. A pretty, young girl is the slave of two crude characters dwelling in a London mews. Hei - life is a miserable one, except for gleams of sunshine through the baby of her foster-parents. A young aristocrat by accident comes in contact with the girl and decides to take her out of her misery. Quixotically he carries out a plan to take the girl to the country estate of his family and leave her at one of the farms. He succeeds in doing so, but the fugitives are traced. Romance enters, and the young man, remembering that Scottish marriage laws are different from English, decides to race for the border. An exciting chase follows with a most unusual climax, “Champagne,” stars Betty Balfour and Jean Bradin. Filmed in America and Europe, the story deals with a daughter of a champagne millionaire and the impulses that led her into many an exciting situation, proved an immense success judging by the applause of the audience. Betty Balfour, the star, carried out her role with exceptional talent and proved all that has been already announced about her as the “queen of the British films.” A Topical Budget opens the programme, and the accompanying music is supplied by the Opera House orchestra.