ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1933, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

EVERYBODY’S—ALL BRITISH. “THE MIDSHIPMAID. “The Midshipmaid,” England’s proud successor to “The Middle Watch, will be presented for the first time in New Plymouth at Everybody’s (all British) theatre, New Plymouth, to-day at 2 and 7.45 p.m. The story which was written by lan Hay and Commander Stephen King-Hall tells of the visit of a naval economist to the Fleet at Malta. Unfortunately for the success of his plans, the pompous.; old boy (Fred Kerr) is accompanied by his daughter (Jessie Matthews). While he is looking into matters of administration, with a view to applying the economy axe to which he plays lip service, his daughter is breaking hearts in the ward room. For his benefit a ship’s concert is organised, and all the fun of the fair grows out of this endeavour to provide something that is really economical. It is all very good fund, and bright entertainment, to be recommended as a first-rate cure for the blues in any shape or form. “The Midshipmaid” will be preceded by some first rate supports which will include “Birds of River and Mere” (nature study), “New Guinea” (travelolgllue), New Zealand Sound Scenes (including winter sports at Mt. Egmont), “Birds in the Spring” (A Disney Silly Symphony in colour) an “Stationary Movies” (novelty), and “One Bright Summer Morning” (British short). REGENT TO-DAY. “THE CONQUERING HORDE.” There are thrills in abundance in “The Conquering Horde” winch commences at The Regent, New Plymouth, to-day at 2 and 7.45 p.m. Fay Wray is seen as the proprietress of one of the most desirable ranch properties in North-west Texas. She has a fine and large herd of cattle, but she cannot convert them into cash because there is no way of getting them to the rich eastern markets. Into this situation comes Richard Arlen, her childhood sweetheart. Arlen volunteers to lead her herd across a trail which he is familiar with, taking the cattle to Abilene, Kansas, the nearest railroad point. The trek begins. It is fraught with great dangers from the elements, the villainous lawyers who are trailing them, and the Indians of that region. Throughout the trip Fay suspects Arlen of plotting with the lawyers. At last the conquering horde. arrives triumphantly, and the estrangement of Arlen and his sweetheart is brought to a close with her discovery that he was a Government secret service agent who had been sent to Texas to trap the lawyers. There will be a: good supporting programme. The fourth chapter of “Heroes of the West’ will be screened at the matinee only. NEW PLYMOUTH OPERA HOUSE. “DIPLOMANIACS.” “Diplomaniacs,” hailed as a hilarious burlesque on world problems of the present day, embroidered with musical numbers and nonsensical situations, opens to-day at the Opera House. It is the first tuneful show to be based on the well-known ineffectualities in the peace conference and the aggravated pomp of some of their less notable delegates. Its outstanding cast in “Diplomaniacs is headed by Bert Wheeler and. Robert Woolsey. Marjorie White, featured comedienne of the stage, and Phyllis Barry, who recently scored “hits” with Ronald Colman in “Cynara” and Buster Keaton in “What! No Beer,” support the comical pair. The appearance of such well-known comedians and stars aS Hugh Herbert, Louis Calhern, Richard Carle, Charles Coleman, and Nelly Edwards make the supporting cast a notable one. The background of the production, rapidly shifting, take in an Indian reservation in Oklahoma, a liner at sea, Paris and its Apache rendezvous, as well as Geneva, Switzerland. A group of 24 Hollywood beauties, selected and trained by Larry Caballos, appears in spectacular ensembles. A particulaily fine list of supporting subjects preceed the main attraction and include The Rink” with the world’s most popular comedian Charlie Chaplin; two Pathe Reels, “Holland Mosaics,” a Vagabond adventure series, “In Dutch,” a clever cartoon and another of those highly appreciated Cinesound News Reels.