ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1933, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

NEW PLYMOUTH OPERA HOUSE.

42ND STREET FINALLY. Warner Bros.’ musical sensation “42nd Street,” which has been drawing large audiences to the Opera House, concludes its season to-day at the matinee and evening performances. Warner Baxter, Bebe Daniels and Ruby Keeler head the large cast. “Secrets of the Blue Room” commences a season uf two nights and one matinee at the Opera House to-morrow. The cast comprises players of ability, and by their acting they impart an air of realism that causes many of the exciting and unexpected situations to be watched with bated breath. One of the chief features in this rather grim story of a mysterious legend surrounding a Blue Room in a private castle is the manner in which speculation regarding the murder is maintained until the last moments of the play. As the charming daughter of the house, on the eve of her 21st birthday when the play opens, Gloria Stuart’s sweet grace and varied talents cast a spell of fascination over the audience. There are three who admire her, and these characters are played by Paul Lukas, Edward Arnold and Onslow Stevens. Lionel Atwill is convincing in the role of Gloria’s father. There are many in the household who are more or less concerned in the succession of tragedies which occur, and evidence points to most of them who could be classed as guilty of the crime committed. But it would be indeed difficult to determine who is the actual offender, so skilfully has the play been constructed. REGENT THEATRE TO-NIGHT. “HALLELUJAH I’M A TRAMP.” A scintillating picture that moves along in rhythm with your heart played by the largest cast of comedians yet assembled for any one picture—tuneful, catchy songs —humorous situations—rich romance — warm' drama —are ingredients of “Hallelujah, I’m a Tramp,” which introduces the very latest innovation, “Rhythmic Dialogue,” meaning that every spoken word is set to music. It commences at The Regent, New Plymouth, to-night. Whenever the popular stage star, Al Jolson, decides to release a new picture, you can rest assured that it will be something out of the ordinary. After a lengthy absence from the screen, he returns in “Hallelujah, I’m a Tramp.” This, like all Jolson’s films, is a musical show, and in it the star is heard in several exceptionally catchy numbers, all songs in his own inimitable style. The film has an entertaining plot, and deals with the adventures of the leader of a group of vagabonds who frequent New York’s Central Park. You’ll adore Madge Evans as the heroine, and you’ll be amused at the hilarious escapades of Al Jolson, Harry Langdon, Chester Conklin and Bert Roach. The supports will include “Secrets of Plant Life” and “His Lordship,” a four-reel British musical extravaganza starring Jerry Vemo. EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. • NEW PROGRAMME TO-NIGHT. In “That Night in London,” which commences a season at Everybody’s (All British) Theatre, New Plymouth, tonight, one follows the realisation of the ambitions of a headstrong country bank clerk’s desire to break loose, have one great night in London, and then end everything with a pistol. Six years buried in a village, with promotion delayed, and scarcely anything saved, sets' the clerk busy and he takes away about £5OO of the bank’s money to make a night among the bright lights. He gets in with a murderer and his pretty girl accomplice, whose'job it is to get the bank clerk’s roll. But the clerk and the girl are good looking, they fall in love, change their respective plans, become involved in plenty of adventure, and end the story as it should end. But in between whiles there is any amount of exciting incidents and some deftly clever twists are given to the tale with a smattering of quiet humour against a Background of conflict and intrigue. The featured players are Robert Donat, Pearl Argyle and Miles Mander; all are convincing and all speak pleasing English. The supporting attractions will include Paramount British News, “The Singing Boxer” (comedy), English Pa the Gazette, “Dinah”’ (screen song), New Zealand sound scenes (in-, eluding wrestling, Walker v. Varga) and pictorial novelties. The box plans for the season are at Collier’s Music House. NEW THEATRE PROGRAMME. TO-NIGHT’S PROGRAMME. To win prominence as a Western star an actor must possess an unusual physique, steel nerves and a complete disregard for his own neck, in addition to his acting ability and screen personality —George O’Brien for example. O’Brien must be the favourite of Lady Luck. Although in the course of filming his numerous pictures he has participated in hundreds of “stunts” of one kind or another, he generally has escaped without a scratch, and his rare injuries have never been —and we hope they never will be—serious ones. His latest, “Smoke Lightning,” opening at the Opunake Theatre to-night contains much of the daring horsemanship and breathless moments that have made him the outstanding Western star to-day. Nell O’Day, Betsy King Ross and Frank Atkinson support. David Howard directed for Fox from Zane Grey’s-novel, “Canyon Walls.” The other feature is a British mystery, “After Dark/’ and forms the second half of tonight’s and to-morrow’s big double star programme.