ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1931, Page 15

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT TO-NIGHT.

MAURICE CHEVALIERS LATEST.

“The Big Pond,” commencing at The Regent, New Plymouth, to-night, presents Maurie Chevalier in a role entirely different from anything he has yet attempted on the audible screen. In this latest Paramount picture, Chevalier is cast as an impoverished French nobleman who goes to America bent on becoming a -rip-roaring business success. And, strange to say, he succeeds, far and beyond his wildest expectations. But there is one difficulty. The girl he loves fails to appreciate his newly aciquired accomplishments. She wants | him to be romantic and gallant, while he makes the surprising discovery that it is almost impossible to make a lot of money and be romantic all at the' same time. But Chevalier "refuses to be discouraged, which makes possible one of the gayest, most delightful, romantic comedies of tbe new year. There are two new songs featured in this picture which Maurice ■ Chevalier sings, both of them, “You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me,” and “Livin’ in the Sunlightr—Lovin’ in the Moonlight,” destined to be popular with audiences everywhere. As the Frenchman who mixes business with love, Chevalier plays one of the gayest roles of his career. And Claudette, who is the reason for his fast-beating heart, is also ideally east. Others in the cast include George Barbier, Marion Ballou, Frank Lyon and Elaine Koch, a talented child actress. There is a big supporting bill.

OPERA HOUSE. FAMILY NIGHT TO-NIGHT. “Raffles,” United Artists’ special starring Ronald Colman will be finally presented at the New Plymouth Opera House to-night. As an exciting story with splendid acting into the bargain |it has had few equals to date. Ronald Colman, who made Bulldog Drummond a more popular character than ever by bringing him to the screen, makes that of Raffles memorable beyond the mere events that make up the story. The ..reason why “Raffles” scores is because so much depends on real acting, so that it becomes more than just a racy melodrama. Raffles is the first gentleman crook, a silk-hatted amateur cracksman, who leads a double life and who, by his polished methods, defeats the brains of Scotland Yard. .He falls in love with a girl who knows nothing of his real life, and for her sake he privately resolves to reform, but the need to help a friend drives him into a last crime. He j ventures openly into the very home of the woman whose diamond necklace he has determined to steal, but the whole plan takes a new turn when the place is invaded by a band of detectives who have heard of the activities of a gang of thieves who also have designs on the necklace. Yet even in such difficult conditions Raffles brings off the robbery iu a manner that is daring and even amusing. Kay Francis is attractive and convincing in the feminine lead and a strong supporting caste brings the acting generally to a high level. “Raffles” is preceded by a bright and varied number of “shorts.” EVERYBODY’S TO-NIGHT. COMPLETE CHANGE OF PROGRAMME

“The Gay Nineties,” starring Marion Davies, will head the change of programme commencing at Everybody s, New Plymouth, to-night at 7.45. Jhe plot, which is delightfully and entertainly punctuated with hearty laughs, and many old famous sings, concerns the love of Daisy, a chorus girl, for Jack Vibart, a young well-to-do man, famous. for his racing stables. However, Jacks luck on the turf does not last out, and his mother tells Daisy that he must marry a rich young society girl to maintain the family’s social standing. Unhappy and worried at the position, Daisy decides to try and convince Jack that her love for him has flown with his money, but Jack won’t believe her, and in spite of further actions to try and turn him away, he eventually learns of her sacrifice and, in a fitting climax, all ends | happily. Lawrence Gray heads the sup-1 porting cast. The shorts will include Metrotone News, “A Night in a. Shooting Gallery” (Colortone Revue) and [“Qirl Shock” (Charlie Chase comedy).