ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, 9 August 1930, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

MATINEE TO-DAY, 2 P.M. “So This Is College,” all-talking com-edy-drama commencing at Everybody’s to-day at 2 p.m. and 7.45 p.m., outlines the life of a student from the moment he steps off the train to the day he says good-bye to Alma Mater. The foibles of scholastic and fraternity life are amusingly developed and will give many a fond parent an eyeopener as to what son Johnny is laughin" at when he is supposed to be studying. Sam Wood, director, used a real college campus for many of his outdoor sound locations and the football ground in the final scenes is jammed with 100,000 cheering spectators. Sally Starr, Wood’s new screen “find,” makes her debut in “So This Is College,” and the cast includes Elliott Nugent and Robert Montgomery, who have become instant favourites with local audiences. Cliff Edwards, better known as “Ukelele Ike,” Max Davidson, Phyllis Crane and Dorothy Dehn are also included in the cast. The supporting programme includes Metrotone News, Joseph Regan (Irish-American tenor in two fine renditions), and “Leaping Love” (an alltalking comedy starring Charlie Chase). OPERA HOUSE. TO-NIGHT'S PROGRAMME. “Beggars of Life,” starring Wallace be presented at the Opera House to-night. Wallace .Beery, back to serious, heavy roles, ’ presents one of the greatest fictional characters of all time. 'As Oklahoma Red, Beery is pned again pictured in a part worthy of. his talent. He is the. incarnation of the glorious vagabond, huge, vital, human, an animal with a deep roaring laugh, roving through the world, beating a living out of life, cruel, lustful, domineering,, brutal, sacrificing himself with the-same easy smile with which, but a moment' previously, he hurled a man to a violent death. “Beggars of Life,” which is adapted from a story byJim Tully, ex-hobo, is a thrill-teem-ed drama of the men who became tramps on the highways of life, of a •boy and a girl, one a fugitive from justice, the other a failure, who found themselves strangely mixed with a band of tramps, of his fight to save her honour and her life. The leading supporting roles are portrayed by Richard Arlen, Louis® Brooks, Robert Perry and Edgar Blue Washington. The supporting programme will include paramount Overseas News, - Australian Gazette, Inkwell Imps,* cartoon and “Believe It Or Not” (Christie comedy). THE REGENT. BIG MATINEE TO-DAY, 2 P.M. 'f “Three Live Ghosts,” the all-talking comedy commencing at The Regent today at 2 and 7*45 ; p.m., js .of unusual interest, arid exceptional merit. One of the newest recorded'talkies, “Three Live Ghosts” is a revelation. Not for a moment does one forget even the most minute part of the.story, for the talking is all so clear and natural, that it seems the actors are on the stage in'the theatre. In the past producers have given scenes that interest for a while an d then tire, but in “Three Live Ghosts” a new Mine has been found, and with excellent results. There is not a weak character in the cast,' while the actors in the. title roles are certainly among the finest ever Been ,or heard on the screen.: The story is off the,, beaten track" and is, therefore, the more welcome. There are three British soldiers, a Cockney, an American, and an English lord- who cannot'remember who he is. The Cockney has a.stepmother and a sweetheart. The'soldiers are; “killed in action,” according to the army records, but they arrive in London on Armistice Day, having escaped from a German prison camp. The, stepmother, Mrs. Gubbins, has drawn the' life insurance; on Jirnmiei, and'that causes number'one complication, for Jimmie wants to get an advance on his back-pay. From this point there is one succession of amusing, and.at the same time unusual j incidents that keeps''the audience in roars of laughter.. Beryl Mercer, a<s Mrs. Gubbins, gives a character . portrayal second to none and one that is , a (‘scream” .from start to end, while Chad. McNaughton,-as'..the Cockney, Jimmie Gubbins/' fills' the ./part - .to”, perfection. Claude Alister, who,, was Algy in “Bulldog Drummond,” is' “Snooty” in “Three Live Ghosts.” as was his act-, ing in the “Sapper”, film, it is, not to be compared with his . work, in .“.Three Live Ghosts.” As the English lord who has lost .his memory and who has developed a tendency to take everything within reach, his acting and speaking are superlative, and sends the audience into roars of laughter. “Three Live Ghosts” will be preceded by a brilliant array of talkie shorts. ■ • ’ ' “DISRAELI” AT MANAIA. • FINE TALKIE PROGRAMME. Intrigue, melodrama arid high finance are intermingled in A brilliant story in “Disraeli,” the Warner-Bros.’ Vitaphoneproduction to be seen and heard, at the Manaia Talkies on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. George Arliss portrays with fidelity the character of the powerful conservative British Premier, wlm, in the fac& of scoffing. and ridiciile .by his opponents and powerful banking interests, acquired the Suez Canal for England, outwitting Imperial Russia,solidifying ■ the position of England in the Far East, and making Queen Victoria Empress of India through-his action. Woven into. this plot of diplo-. macy is a charming love story, carried bv Anthony Bushell and Joan Bennett. Florence Arliss, the etar’s .wife, plays the lead opposite him as Lady Beaconsfield. Al Green directed this Vitaphone version of the highly, successful stage play, “Disraeli,”, which . was written especially for Arliss by Louis N. Parker. There ‘is a good supporting programme. Special. matinees will be . held at 2.30. on Tuesday and .Wednesday. MUSIC WEEK. Wellington’s Music Week is arousing, an enthusiasm greater and more widely spread than was dreamed of when the proposal was first launched. From the original conception of a week devoted to the presentation of as many forms of music As were■ available 1 the

scheme has grown, until during this week Wellington is enjoying a huge musical festival. New Plymouth Music Week, the week after next, gives promise of an equal success and the inquiries for subscribers’ tickets indicate that public sentiment —the- motive power of achievement—-is cordially in sympathy with the movement.