ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, 26 July 1930, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

; "THE DOCKS OF NEW YORK.” In ‘‘The Docks of New York," which heads the programme at the Opera House to-n-ight, George Bancroft is shown, stoking in the depths of a packet. He gets a night ashore, and, as lie steps on the wharf to have a good time sees a woman throw herself into the water. He dives to the rescue and pulls her tb safety. She is an outcast, who'sought the easiest way to escape the life of"the docks. More out of bravado than anything else Bancroft marries her. She takes him seriously. Bancroft leaves the morning after his wedding to join the packet, but just as he walks alohg the street there is a shot and he sees his wife arrested for shooting a man who came into her bedroom. He returns to her and sees that she is innocent. He stops until the guilty woman confesses. Again he goes to get aboard tne packet, but when it is in mid-stream, ploughing its way seawards, he deserts the stokehold to dive overboard; swim ashore and return to his wife. When he reaches the hotel he finds she has been arrested, and when he goes to the night court ascertains that it is on a charge of having stolen goods in her possession—clothing which .the, hero stole for her. The stoker confesses before the magistrate, is given 60 days, and wlien he is released promisee to return to the heroine. Betty Compson and Mitchell Lewis head the big supporting cast. A fine supporting programme will include Overseas News, Australian Gazette, Electric Railways of Victoria (educational), Inkwell Imps Cartoon, and “Lay On McDuff”'(tworeel comedy). - ■ t— EVERYBODY’S TALKIES. MATINEE TO-DAY 2 P.M.

“It’s a Great Life,” . the Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer picture starring the Duncan Sisters,, which commences at Everybody’s Talkies to-day at the matinee at 2 p.m. and to-night at 7.4-5 p.m., is an all-talking, singing and dancing film directed by Sam Wood and filmed with outstanding technicolour sequences. Local moviegoers have a great thrill in store for them when they, see and hear these genuinely great musical comedy stars of the London and New York stage. The new film incorporates a number of. skilfully executed dance routines handled .by Sammy Lee, who has received no little distinction as a result of hie work in several Broadway musical comedy successes. The . music was composed by Dave Dreyer, responsible for “Mo and My Shadow,” “Rainbow ’Round My Shoulder,” and other hits. Ballard Macdonald wrote the lyrics. “Trail of the Lonesome Pine” started him off on one of the most successful careens in the field of popular music. A very capable supporting cast is headed by Lawrence Gray and includes

Benny Rubin and Jed Prouty, the former being the Jewish comedian of “Marianne," and the latter the “stutter,ing Uncle Bennie” of “The Broadway Melody." The supporting programme will include -‘‘Amy Johnson’s Arrival at Sydney” (presented in sight and sound), Laurel and Hardy in “The Hoosegow" (a two-reel talking comedy), Bernado de Pace (mandolin items) and Metrotone News. ' * THE REGENT. - ' • BIG MATINEE TO-DAY, 2 P.M. Commencing at The Regent to-day at tho matinee at 2 p.m. and to-night at 7.45, two fine all-talking features will bo presented. : “Courtin’ Wildcats,” Hoot Gibson’s latest starring effort, will be screened first. It is a thrilling comedydrama of thrills and laughs at a Wild West show. The ' second picture is a beautiful all-talking and singing Irish romance entitled “Come Back to Erin,” and stars Morton Downey, who is hailed as a new John McCormack. The theme of “Come Back to Erin”, concerns the love romance of Lady Mary Cardigan, granddaughter of an Irish Eari, and Michael O’More, her stable .boy. Mich-ael,-who nings like a thrush, wins her love by the judicious use of his golden voice, and a tremendously interesting series of events ensue. Irish wit, drama, swift-moving action, laughter, music abound throughout. Directed by Kenneth Webb under the supervision of Robert T. Kane, the picture is one that will linger long in the memory of all who see it. The supports will include “Traffic Troubles” (a two-reel talking comedy) and Universal Talking News. PLAYS FOR NEW PLYMOUTH. “LOVE LIES”—“SO THIS IS LOVE” No theatrical company has visited New Plymouth for over tlrree months, so special’ interest -will be taken in the appearance on Saturday next and Mon-, day week - at the Opera House of J. C. Williamson’s New English Musical Comedy Company consisting of 70 artists,. in the two outstanding London Gaiety Theatre’s comio opera triumphs, “Love Lies” and “So This is Love.” These musical plays ran for over 12 months in London, and they have just completed record seasons in the various cities of Australia, In London the three principal characters in “Love Lies” were interpreted by Miss Madge Elliott, Mr. Cyril Richards and Mr. Stanley Lupino. For the Australian and New Zealand productions a number of London’s foremost musical comedy artists were engaged, including Mr. Michael Cole, Miss Betty Eley and Mr. Bobby Gordon, and with them are associated Miss Marie Eaton, Paul Plunkett, Dan Agar, Mona Barles, Les White, Erie Edgely, Compton Coutts, Kitty Stewart, Mina Zeppel and John Robertson, and the very, popular comedian, Clem Dawe, who will make his first appearance here in musical comedy.

He witnessed the London productions of “Love Lies” and’ “So This" is Love,” and critics in Australia declare that he is irresistibly humorous in the principal comedy role. “Dove Lies”, was ...written by. Stanley Lupino and Arthur/Rigby, and the music was. composed by Hal Brody. No money, it is‘stated, has been spared in an endeavour to make Love Lies” and “So This is Love’ comparable with any musical play yet staged in Nev/ Zealand. A feature, of both operas will be the -specially-trained ballet, who have become highly proficient in “tapdancing,” which is. the modern; name, for step dancing. The magnificent ensemble and the gorgeous staging are other features of the two musical plays.. A full operatic orchestra and chorus is under the direction of Gregory Ivanoff. The box. plans will be opened at • Collier’s cm Thursday next.