ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, 1 December 1932, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. POPULAR PROGRAMME. “Sky Bride,” which commenced. a three-night season at The Regent, New Plymouth, last night, is an entertainment that will appeal to all classes of patjons. This simplest of stories shows what can be accomplished with good direction and a sense of humour, for there is not one foot that isn’t entertaining. Some of the flying sequences Will thrill even those who are sick of aviation pictures, but most of it takes place on the ground. It would have to, since Jack Oakie, as the “spieler” for an air circus, plays a strictly non-flying gentleman, and scores a hit You follow the experiences of Richard Arlen as a young barn-storming stunt-flyer whose clowning in the air causes the death of a fellow air-acrobat. Dick feels like a murderer, and is rapidly going to the dogs when Jack Oakie, with the able assistance of young Robert Coogan, makes a man of him again. Dick is great, and Bobby is inspired. Virginia Bruce is the principal lady. The shorts include Universal News, “Chess-Nuts” (talkartoon), Paramount British News and “His Week-End” (comedy). EVERYBODY’S. WARNER BAXTER FILM. When two men, both strong characters, fall in love with the same woman, there is usually trouble, and no exception is made in a particularly entertaining picture, “Man About Town.” The film, which commenced a season at Everybody’s Theatre yesterday, is really worth seeing, containing as it does such a wealth of detail in every scene. The story is unusual, almost bizarre in parts, but is done so well that the greatest sceptic could not fail to be interested. It deals with the career of Stephen Morrow, an ex-secret service , man, who, on returning after the war, becomes a professional gambler. His closest friend, Ashley, persuades him to rejoin the service, and later invites him to meet his fiancee, the sister-in-law of a foreign ambassador. Morrow is astounded to find that the girl, Helena, is a former sweetheart he had met in Budapest, and the meeting destroys the engagement between Helena and Ashley. The rejected lover maks ho attempt to. hide his resentment, and,, with Morrow as . his subordinate in the secret service, purposely sends him on dangerous, missions. Meanwhile, Helena has become involved in a serious affair, and when Morrow returns, Ashley assigns him to solving the latest crime; knowing Helefia to be guilty. In the leading role, that of Morrow, Warner Baxter is particularly good, while Karen Morley is suitably cast as Helena. Conway Tearle has the difficult role of the disappointed lover, a part he fills with distinction. The supporting programme is particularly good. One of the most interesting films is entitled “Pirate Isles,” which shows many of the beauty spots of the Caribbean Sea, and some of the primitive industrial methods still used on the Island of Hayti. International and Australian News reels,show, among other items of interest ski-iers at Ball Glacier Hut in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. The programme screens again to-night and to-morrow night with matinee screenings each afternoon. NEW PLYMOUTH OPERA HOUSE. CHAMPAGNE AND SQUALOR. An American ■ double feature programme at the New Plymouth Opera House provides one with a satisfying bulk of • amusement. There is something solid about this programme which should content the most critical of audiences. Taken separately the pictures are well worth seeing; taken together they form an admirable combination. The first picture, “Cock of the Air,” is definitely,of the bubbly-frothy night life type; there is little plot but the very simplicity of the theme affords scope for scenes of considerable beauty, filmed incidentally to the narrative.. In the beginning of the picture Billie Dove, acting the part of a very wicked woman (though one is not definitely assured that she is actually bad) sees a gay cavalier who is personated by Chester Morris. This symmetrically formed and diamond-studded lady falls immediately in love with the young Lothario and is immediately pursued by him. She, however, doubts his intentions and rebuffs his advances, even though his shoulders are a long way across and modelled on a pair of set-squares. In the end we leave them happy. There is some humour, and the effectively photographed scenes of a carnival with gondolas and an air pilot who cannot handle his machine. The second picture is a sweet story with a good plot. It begins with a view of the extreme poverty which assails any of Hollywood’s characters who are nor fabulously rich. Then it moves swiftly again to the super-plutocratic. The clash between these two inevitable conditions is worked out in extremely pleasing fashion. “The Silver Lining” is the name of the picture, which is really a triumph for Maureen O’Sullivan, who plays the part of a rich girl who becomes sensible. The picture and the programme should not be missed if only because Miss Maureen is by far the most attractive, most talented, and sweetest heroine seen for a long time. Montagu Love is pleasing as a hero. He is a middle-class man for whom we feel an immediate sympathy. Betty Compson plays the third side of this attractive triangle. NEW THEATRE, OPUNAKE. “YOUNG AS YOU FEEL.” Evening clothes, topper, cane, bouttoniere; not the Prince of Wales, but the Prince of Good Humour, Will Rogers; and that’s just what he wears in his new Fox picture, “Young As You Feel,” which opens at the New Theatre,’ Opunake, to-night But don’t laugh now. Wait till you see Rogers change overnight from an old duck of the stock yards to a modem boy of the night clubs. He is more mirth-provoking than ever. If you thought Will was funny in baggy trousers, or in his galvanised derby, wait till you see him in spats. And wait till you see Fifi Dorsay, and Lucien Littlefield, who head the strong supporting cast, which also includes Donkld Dfllaway, Terrance Bay, Lucile Browne, Rosalie Roy, C. Henry Gordon and Brandon among z .. *