ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, 31 December 1929, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS

EVERYBODY’S TALKIES. SPECIAL MATINEE TO-DAY 2 P.M. ‘‘Close Harmony,” finally showing at Everybody’s Talkies, New Plymouth, today at a special matinee at 2 p.m. and to-night at 8 p.m., is a 100 per cent, talking picture. It has a remarkable cast of screen favourites. It has songs and jazz band music. It has strong romance, and much sure-fire comedy. It is a story of back-stage life in a big de luxe picture theatre. The atmosphere is authentic. The cast of “Close Harmony” includes two of the greatest young players in Hollywood—Buddy Rogers and Nancy Carroll. Both have jumped into popularity in a short time. They are tho types the public wants to see, and both have roles ideally suited to them. “Close Harmony” is preceded by an excellent programme of “talkie”

shorts. NEW PROGRAMME TO-MORROW. Never before have mystery stories been s 6 popular, and “The Studio Mystery,” Paramount’s production of the thrilling and baffling story of a slayer hunt in tho intriguing setting of a motion picture studio, will do much to sustain and increase that interest. This Paramount all talking picture commences at Everybody’s Talkies to-mor-row at 8 p.m. Prom the first breathtaking scenes in the dark, shadowy studio, on through the gripping drama that threatens the lives of six of Hollywood's most interesting personages. “The Studio Mystery” holds the interest at a high tension that is only relieved when the final surprise climax reveals tho solution of the clever plot. Many mystery stories have gripped the public imagination, but none have done it so completely and so thoroughly as “The Studio Mystery.” The cast is superb. Truly, Paramount is producing up-to-tho-minute pictures. • Neil Hamilton is better than ever in this picture. Fredric March, Warner Gland, Florence Eldridge and Doris Hill give v unsurpassable performances. “The Studio Mystery” has everything—thrills, drama, humour, pathos, lovo and, most of all, real honest-to-goodness entertainment for those who see it at Everybody’s Talkies The supporting programmes includes “Blue Songs” (featuring Ruth Eiling, Columbia artist), “Humorous Flights” (a humorous talk on bird life), “Pusher in

the Fan” (talking comedy), and “Ye Old Melodies” (Paramount singing cartoon). There will be a matinee to-mor-row at 2 p.m. if wet.

PEOPLE’S TALKIES.

“THE LETTER” FINALLY.

“You wanted the truth, now you’ve got it —if you ask me to choose —I choose her! I'm fed up! Understand? I’m sick of the sight of you .” And so he left Leslie Crosbie, shaken by the scorn of tho man she loved. In a drama that will make you tingle with

the excitement and tenseness of its dramatic moments. Jeanne Eagels is the star, and 0. P. Reggie, an Australian, is the featured player. “The Letter,” which is 100 per cent, talking, will be finally presented to New Plymouth audiences this evening. There is a good supporting programme. COMMENCING TO-MORROW. Take a story dripping with human interest in an atmosphere that everyone likes to hear about, give it a cast of'line, magnetic actors and a production that puts into it every possible value, and you get a picture like “Gentlemen of the Press,” Paramount’s latest all-talking drama of newspaper life which commences at the People’s Talkies, New Plymouth, to-morrow at 8 "p.m. On the stage “Gentlemen of the Press” was the sensation of New York and the story has been faithfully reproduced for the screen. A master cast, headed by the incomparable stage artist, Walter Huston, includes six members of the original stage cast. The story deals with a veteran newspaperman who has given up everything in life for his business. When his daughter was born, he was covering a prize-fight; when his wife died, he was on assignment covering a Mexican uprising; when his daughter graduated from high school, he was writing about Lindbergh. Tho only thing he has not given up is his fatal susceptibility for a pretty woman. It is this character that Walter Huston portrays on the talking screen in “Gentlemen of the Press.” It is this

thrilling story that will entertain and delight patrons of the People's theatre. An excellent supporting programme will be headed by “Booklovers” (talkie playlet), and “High Hat” (talking and musical aet). There will be a matinee at 2 p.m. to-morrow if wet.

NEW PLYMOUTH OPERA HOUSE. DOUBLE STAR PROGRAMME. ‘'Looping the Loop” and “Where East is East,” which commenced at the New Plymouth Opera House last night, aro worth coming a long way to see. “Looping the Ix>op” stars' several well* known Continental players, including Warwick Ward and Jenny Jugo. It is the story of a clown who, because of his profession, is indifferent to tho charms of women, but when absent from tho glamour of tho sawdust and spangles, poses as an engineer. Ho meets a girl who has been turned down by a trapeze artist in tho circus, and falls in lovo with her. It is not until after tho girl meets her old flame again and finds out his real character that she realises her lovo for tho “’engineer.” But tho real climax is brought about when she finds that tho clown whom she had laughed at and her

hero are one and the same. This picture was directed for UFA by Dr. Arthur Robinson. “Where East is East” is laid in the jungles of Siam, afar from civilisation, where human lives and human passions run rampant. Lou Chaney plays the role of “Tiger” Haynes, trapper of wild beasts in his jungle fastness, and here, with the one love of his life, his daughter, played by Lupe Velez, he dwells in comparative peace with no enemies save his savage tigers, gorillas and elephants—until another woman comes into their lives like an avenging nemesis. Estelle Taylor plays this role/ a vivid Oriental charmer, beautiful and deadly. The triangle turns into one of | the most astounding plots in literature, rivalling the most fantastic flights of fancy. Lloyd Hughes plays the romantic lead as the young Westerner visiting the tropics. Louis Stern as the priest and Mrs. Wong Wing as the Chinese grandmother, are ideally cast. There is a gazette to open and the Opera House orchestra supply the incidental music. This programme will be repeated tonight and to-morrow night.