ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, 31 January 1931, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

EVERYBODY’S THEATRE.

BIG MATINEE TO-DAY AT 2 P.M.

Two full length all-talking pictures which have just completed record breaking seasons , in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch will commence a season of four matinees and four nights at Everybody’s to-day at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Both will please th© most critical. The first attraction is “Loose Ends,” and so true to the stage is this adaptation of the stage play that one can sense the fall of the curtain on each of the three acts. It is this fidelity of translation which makes the film, additionally interesting, and it is a further notable instance of how entertaining material may be drawn from the stage, elaborated, polished and presented as screen entertainment without' loosing, its stage identity. There is a piquant story throughout this film dealing with a young London set and their attempt to break down the old structures of society. Owen Nares and Edna. Best are the featured players and they are supported by an all British cast, The second picture is entiled “Not So Quiet on the Western Front.” This production is a hilarious burlesque of wartime—full of dancing and singing jokes and comedians. The story opens in the kitchen of a fashionable London restaurant where the chefs are all exsoldiers of a certain company who fought together at the front. The proprietor enters and talks in reminiscent vein of the days spent during the war and a flash back takes the audience to a little cafe at the front where the' men are being entertained. Th© members of the company contribute items and, of course, this is where the humour comes in. Leslie Fuller, one of London’s favourite comedians, heads a superlative cast. A Fox movietone news will open the programme. t , .THE REGENT, AIONSTER MATINEE TO-DAY 2 P.M. Britain’s latest all talking comedy drama “Alf’s Button” will commence a season of three matinees and tlil'pe nights at The Regent to-day at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. It isrecommended wholeheartedly as 100 per cent, entertainment. “Alf’s Button” really sets down the adventures of Private Alf Higgins (his r mother called him ’Tggins) and pal Bill Grant. The fun of the piece really commences when ah irate officer orders Alf to polish, his tunic buttons. Alf, in the course of a brisk rub, discovers, to his dismay, that one of his buttons is a veritable Aladdin’s lamp. Whenever Alf rubs the button (and that is often) up pops a perfect respectable “spook” on whom Alf decides to bestow the good old English name of Eustace. So long as Alf remains in possession of the magic button Eustace is pledged to do his bidding. But that section of the public who have read or seen “Alf’s Button” will be probably ‘too anxious to see it in talkie form to bother about reading further, while those people who have neither seen the silent version nor read the book are advised to proceed hot foot to The Regent during the local seson. Alf Goddard, Tubby, Edlin and Polly Ward head the cast. The supports will include movietone news, “Indian Pudding” (cartoon). “People Born in June” (novelty) and “His Big Minute” (all talking comedy), THE OPERA HOUSE. “THE BLACK WATCH.” “The Black Watch,” with Victor McLaglen in the leading role will present unsurpassed entertainment at the Opera House, New Plymouth, to-night. It has got just about everything, exciting intrigue, amorous adventure, thrills and romance. The characters, thanks to the excellent cast, actually live. The direction by John Ford is flawless. And the story throughout is admirable and logical, never lagging yet never slipping over the best spots, McLaglen, whose popularity is sqre to increase by leaps and hounds even as it did in “What Price Glory?” may well be proud of “The Black Watch.” As a secret service agent for th© British Government, a man whose love for country is genuine and filial, he brings a, shrewd intelligence into his role. By the same token, too much praise cannot be accorded. Myrna Loy who, in the difficult role of “Yasmani,” temptress and adventuress, is with all her cruelty and barbarism, very much a woman in lore. “The Wktch” is a tale of love and adventure and in-

trigue and passion. AH of these elements are carefully balanced and • gracefully embellish the conflict between a. man and a woman, political enemies yet in love, playing with empires as stakes. From one situation to another the story moves, the duel constantly mounting in intensity to a breath-taking climax. The supports will include Fox news, “Belew the Equator” (variety) and “Riders of the Purple. Cows” (comedy), WAITARA TALKIES. DOUBLE STAR PROGRAMME. At the Theatre Royal. Waitara, a double'star programme will be screened at a matinee at 2 p.m. and again at 8.15 p.m. this evening. The opening feature is a musical comedy “Love at FirstSight,” and the second attraction tea- I tures HoSt Gibson in “The. Long, Long Trail,” a Western thriller. “King of Jazz,” the Universal super musical extravaganza starring Paul Whiteman and his internationally famous orchestra, will be the extra-ordinary offering at the Theatre Royal ncx t Thursday and Friday. "King of Jazz brings to the talking screen the most colourful sound production so far. It is the. most costly, the most spectacular and the most entertaining revue ever presented, a veritable “revues of revues that is loaded with the most celebrated stage and vaudeville artists and the greatest stars of the studios. J.he picture is filmed entirely in technicolour. The box plans for this wonder picture are open at D. H. Purdic’s and country patrons may reserve by ringing 41,