ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1933, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

NEW PLYMOUTH OPERA HOUSE. LAST DAY OF “BRING ’EM ALIVE.” Although such an outstanding screen production as “Bring ’Em Back Alive” deserves a longer season than has been arranged by the New Plymouth Opera House management, exceptionally heavy bookings in other centres prevents any possibility of extending the three-day season, which must definitely conclude to-day. , Judging by the patronage accorded the picture on Saturday and again yesterday, it has provoked great curiosity and amazement, and proved that pictures that provide thrills and excitements never fail to suit the public taste. “BILL OF DIVORCEMENT.” With such a prominent actor as John Barrymore in' the leading' role, and two such popular stage stars as Billie Burke and Katharine Hepburn in support, and added to that one of the most famous stage plays of all time, Clemence Dane’s “A Bill of Divorcement,” which has been adapted to the talking screen and will be shown at the Opera House commencing - to-morrow, . must unquestionably prove a screen - drama of exceptional merit. The theme is, a daring one, and one that requires the consummate artistry of John Barrymore and Katharine Hepburn to make it convincing. John Barrymore needs no introduction, but Katharine Hepburn does, because as a screen star she is utterly unknown. Her name on the American stage is a byword, and her performance in the screen version of ‘‘A Bill of Divorcement” has already created highly eulogistic comment by both the public and the Press in the towns in New Zealand where the picture has been screened. Many film fans of years ago will remember Billie Burke who forsook the screen for the stage. This beautiful star is still beautiful in the more mature role that she plays in her return to the screen. Additional players of exceptional acting ability combine with the principals to make a picture that ranks with the outstanding'screen dramas of the talkie era. EVERYBODY’S. BUSTER KEATON’S COMEDY. The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer comedy, “Speak Easily,” with the “frozen-faced". Buster Keaton and Jimmy Durante heading the cast will be screened finally this afternoon and to-night at Everybody’s Theatre. These two funsters are assisted in their side-splitting antics by Thelma Todd and Ruth Selwyn. An interesting supporting film on the bill is a number of swimming and diving, events at the last Olympic Games at Los Angeles. To-night is family night at Everybody’s.

WALTER HUSTON IN “GOLD FEVER.”

A powerful and dramatic characterisation by that splendid actor Walter Huston, as a courageous bank president, who fights valiantly to protect the savings of his depositors and to hold the love of his young wife, will be seen in the new Columbia melodrama “Gold Fever’’, commencing to-morrow at Everybody’s Theatre. According to leading critics, “Gold Fever” is one of the outstanding pictures of the year and will merit serious consideration when- the best ten films are chosen. Supporting Walter Huston in “Gold Fever” are Constance Cummings, Kay Johnson, Gavin Gordon and Pat O’Brien. REGENT THEATRE. “SPORTING WIDOW” FINALLY. “The Sporting Widow,” the Paramount production which has completely captivated New Plymouth audiences, will be finally screened at The Regent Theatre, to-night. Alison Skipworth gives a marvellous performance in the title role, and she is ably assisted by a clever cast, including Richard Bennett, Evalyn Knapp ‘and George Roft. There is a varied programme of shorts.

COMMENCING TO-MORROW NIGHT.

When “The Crowd Roars,” starring James Cagney and Joan Blondell, opens at the Regent Theatre to-morrow (Wednesday) night, movie audiences will see seven spills, a few of which were not in the original scenario. Fourteen racing cars were wrecked during the making of “The Crowd Roars.” Many of these are the real article, which took place while the cameras were grinding and which were retained in the final print of the film. Supporting James Cagney and Joan Blondell in “The Crowd Roars,” are Eric Linden, who plays the part of Cagney’s kid brother, and Ann Dvorak, who is cast as Jimmy’s girl. “The Crowd Roars” has been described as an enormously successful picture, and one that merits attention from one and all. It is high tension screen entertainment. INGLEWOOD TALKIES. TO-MORROW’S PROGRAMME. When “The Indiscretions of Eve” comes to the Inglewood theatre to-morrow filmgoers will be regaled with a new story, new music and new backgrounds specially written and designed for 8.1. P. by Ceqil Lewis. A midnight cabaret of unparalleled brilliance, three sumptuous flats, the very essence of modernity; a Chinese cafe and a wax model factory play important parts in the film which tells of a young couple who fall in loye on New Year’s Eve and the subsequent adventures which surround their efforts to discover each other’s identity. Eros, Queen Victoria, Nelson and his lions, an Epstein creation and Boadicea all join in the singing of Auld Lang Syne, and in the concluding scenes bands of Nippies, members of the Stock Exchange, and even the police force and the Guards “turn out” to speed the lovers on their honeymoon. In addition there is another big programme entitled “The Strangler,” a story of mystery in a haunted house. Harry Lauder sings the popular song “Somebody’s Waiting For Me.”