ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, 18 April 1932, Page 11

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE TO-NIGHT. “WATERLOO BRIDGE.” “Waterloo Bridge”—odd title for a picture. True. But moving pictures are seeking unique and unusual titles iu the same way that producers are seeking unique and unusual stories from which to make them. The reason Robert E. Sherwood, author of “The Road to Rome,” as well as “Waterloo Bridge,” chose this for his title is because he knew his London. The failures of “the oldest profession on earth” have their castes and each caste has its own accepted streets or sections or places of business. The top-notchers of the profession frequent Piccadilly at the height of their beauty. As they grow less attractive, they' work the smaller streets of the West End, but the last stand, of beauty in distress is Waterloo Bridge, and from there to the south side of the river, where beautymakes its final fade-out. And now Waterloo Bridge has given its name to a moving picture. It was adapted by the dramatist Benn W. Lovy, from Robert E. Sherwood’s play of the same name, and directed by that eminent British director, James Whale. While its action takes place in war time, it isn’t a war picture so much as it is a picture dealing with war morals. The girl in the picture, Myra, played by Mae Clarke, is truly a representative of Beauty’s Last Stand. “Waterloo Bridge” will commence a four-night season at the New Plymouth Opera House to-night. The shorts will include Universal News, “The First to Fight” .(four-reel Slim Summerville comedy), and “Dufier Swings” (Johnny Farrell golf short). Matinees will be held at Everybody’s on Tuesday and Wednesday at 2 p.m. THE REGENT. BRITISH MYSTERY SPECIAL. Agatha Christie’s popular novel, “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” has lost none of the vital mystery of the plot by its transference to the talking screen in “Alibi,” the distinctive English film version, now showing, at The Regent. Hercule Poirot, the genial French detective of fiction, whose ostensibly ingenuous manner conceals brilliant powers of deduction, is admirably played by Austin Trevor, an English artist of worth. Excellent performances are also contributed by Franklin Dyall, who impersonates the unpopular country squire who is killed in circumstances at first implying suicide. Further investigations, however, set in train a murder mytery as baffling as anything that has yet 'been seen on the screen. The shorts include Curiosities, Heroes of the Flames (Chap. IV.), Volga Singers, “Svengarlic” (cartoon), “Land of Enchantment” (travelogue) and opening of Sydney Bridge.

EVERYBODY’S.

“RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE.”

That perfect combination of romance and thrilling action comes together in “Riders of the Purple Sage,” now showing at Everybody’s. Fox films has made of°this famous Zane Grey subject one of those infrequent so-called “programme pictures” that emerges from the studios as a real epic achievement; a perfect harmony of cast, story, setting and direction that results in a picture to be talked about and remembered. George O’Brien, in the role of Lassiter, the heroic stranger, has the finest role of his career; Marguerite Churchill is beautiful and convincing as Jane Withcrsteen, owner of the historic ranch that Lassiter saves from the depredations of Noah Beery, who plays a villain you ache to hiss. The shorts include Fox Movietone News, “Birds of the Sea” (interest), “Duffer Swings” (Johnny Farrell golf short), "Way of all Fish” (comedy) and opening of Sydney Bridge.