ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1933, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

NEW PLYMOUTH OPERA HOUSE. “IF I HAD A MILLION.* Paramount’s “If I Had a Million,* a blend of comedy and drama, will open to-morrow night at the Opera House for a season of only two nights and one matinee. The following cast, the largest group ever assembled for a single production, will appear: Charles Laughton, May Robson, Charles Ruggles, Alison, Skipworth, W. C. Fields, Mary Boland, Roscoe Kams, Gene Raymond, Lucien Littlefield, Richard Bennett, Gary Cooper, George Raft, and Frances Dee. Tire story centres around Bennett, an eccentric millionaire, who decides to dispose of his fortune to eight persons whose names he chooses from a city directory. His beneficiaries are Cooper, a rowdy marine; Miss Gibson, a lady of dubious reputation; Raft, a forger; Raymond, a convicted murderer, only a few hours from the electric chair; Laughton, underdog in an office; Ruggles, clerk in a china shop; Miss Skipworth, an ancient vaudeville actress; and Miss Robson, living in a home for the aged. The reactions of each to the bequests are as unique as is his own character. Each of the stars is cast in the type of role in which he won original stage and screen fame. The entire resources of the vast Paramount Publix organsiation went into the making of the picture which is regarded as the most ambitious undertaking even to come out of Hollywood. A Paramount Pictorial, a Betty Boop cartoon entitled “I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead, You Rascal,” “The Beach Nuts” (an act), and an American Sound News will be the supports.

EVERYBODY’S TO-DAY.

“THE FLYING SQUAD.”

Everybody knows the thrills that cluster round the “Flying Squad,” the shock troops Edgar Wallace has made so familiar in his Scotland Yard stories; the squad that turns out to rake in the desperate fellows when the detectives have done their work. In “The Flying Squad,” which will commence at Everybody’s Theatre, New Plymouth, today at 2 and 7.45 p.m., there are all the usual Wallace embellishments, the characters who are by no means what they seem in the early scenes, and the intense, deadly reality infused into the composite villain, who always has a redeeming feature, if it be only courage. Ann (Carol Goodner) appears as a Paris art student, drawn to London by the news of the death of her brother, a partner in jewel smuggling. The death she finds on arrival is a murder. Planning to unravel the mystery, she takes his place, and -herself runs contraband by air. McGiel, her partner, is suspected of her brother’s murder by the police, but tries to plant the crime on a detective (Harold Huth), who falls in love with Ann. Clever impersonations, a ghostly violin, and shadows of dead men are all tricks used by the detective, who proves his case in the most unusual way. “The Flying Squad” will be preceded by “Hotel Splendide a British comedy drama starring Jerry Vemo and Pathe British News.

) REGENT THEATRE.

DOUBLE STAR PROGRAMME.

“Self Made Lady,” a British production, and “White Zombie,” a chilling mystery drama, will both be screened on tonight’s change of programme at the Regent Theatre, New Plymouth. “Self Made Lady” is an adaptation of Douglas Newton’s widely-read novel .“Sookey” and features in the leading role Heather Angel, who is described as England’s Janet Gaynor. The story deals with a girl’s fight with poverty and climb to social heights. The fascination of the supernatural forms a strong element of appeal in “White Zombie,” which is said to be one of the eeriest stories ever brought to the talking screen. Grim superstitions in Haiti, where the practice of ancient customs strikes terror into the modem mind, give the film an atmosphere seldom experienced in a picture theatre. Bela Lugosi, star of “White Zombie,” surpasses the fine representation he gave in “Dracula,” and in the control of Ms dead subjects, enemies of his during their lifetime whom he has subjugated by force of will power, his characterisation is sufficient to raise a spell of fearful anticipation in the minds of the audience of what is yet come. Madge Bellamy and John Harron, as Americans who are to be married at the house of a recent acquaintance in Haiti, provide roles which are acted with skill, the former having spent the last two years on tiie legitimate stage. The cast is completed by Joseph Cawthorn, Ralph Frazer and Brandon Hurst. The box plans are at Collier’s,

NEW THEATRE, OPUNAKE.

“IN A MONASTERY GARDEN.”

Joan Maude, the delightful little feminine star of the latest British Dominions' film to come to the New Theatre to-night and to-morrow, makes her talking picture debut in “In a Monastery Garden.” She presents an altogether new type of screen heroine, insofar as her screen personality is i eally overwhelming from the first to the last scene. In a story that contains romance and mystery she handles her role with the ease and skill which would do justice to any screen veteran. She is a decided brunette with Grecian features, which lend a charm and grace to her perfect figure and would undoubtedly lend tone to any talking film. Supporting her in this story of love and pathos is one of the English screen s most handsome leading men, John Stuart, who, it will be recalled, occupied one of the stellar roles in the early British success, “Atlantic.” Humberstone Wright, whose most notable talkie appearance so for been "High Treason” .is another highly paid and popular star who has an important part. .