ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1933, Page 15

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE TO-NIGHT. DIANA WYNYARD AND LEWIS STONE A film drama that entertains and at the same time stimulates feeling and thought—that is Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s “Men Must Fight," which opened a three-night season at The Regent on Saturday. It is one of the most unusual pictures the screen has seen for it depicts the world on the verge of a war in 1940. The settings, the gowns, the sentiment are those of future years. From the standpoint of acting and direction the picture is exceptional. Few screen plays can boast a cast of such varied talents as that presented by Diana Wynyard, the English actress who scored in “Rasputin and the Empress” and “Cavalcade,” and who gains’ stardom in this production; the veteran character star, Lewis Stone; Phillips Holmes, of “American Tragedy” fame; May Robson. Ruth Selwyn, Robert Young, Robert Greig, Hedda Hooper, Donald Dillaway, Mary Carlisle and Luis Alberni, all of whom excel in roles which afford leeway for dramatic fireworks. The shorts are exceptionally good and include Laurel and Hardy in “The Chimp,” three reels of riotous mirth.

EVERYBODY’S TO-NIGHT.

“THE GOLDEN CAGE.”

First-class photography and charming settings are. features of “The Golden Cage,” now showing nightly at Everybody’s, New Plymouth. Life in the superb hotel opens the picture with Anthony Kimmins, as Mortimer, tne reception clerk, attending to the many wants of the society ladies who can say nothing but: “Dear Mr. Mortimer, please do this,” "Please, Mr. Mortimer, do that.” Everything goes smoothly for Mortimer until Lady Doxford (Anne Grey) a former sweetheart, comes to the hotel on her honeymoon. The reception clerk is left a fortune of £lBO,OOO by one of his clients, and that starts the womenfolk after him in full cry,' The players all give of thejr best, and many amusing comedy sequences add .to the entertainment value of this really worth-while British production. The featurettes include Cinesound News, Kinographic Weekly, "So This is Paris That -Was” (interest), “Musical Games, of Britain” and “Taking Ways” (two-reel musical comedy).

DRESSLER-BEERY ROMANCE.

“TUGBOAT ANNIE” AT OPERA HOUSE

. The love of a mother for her son and the loyalty of a woi\ian to her mate are the foundations of the story out of which the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production “Tugboat Annie,” now showing at the New Plymouth Opera House, has been fashioned. There is not much romance about the life on a tugboat and when its lawful skipper “Terry Brennan” has an unslakeable thirst there are additions to the sordidness that nearly, break the heart of his wife who is the real captain of the vessel. “Annie Brennan” is determined that her son shall have his chance. She slaves herself and drives hard the others on the tugboat in order that her boy may receive a good education. Her reward comes when he becomes the captain of a new liner and the tugboat “Narcissus” goes but to shepherd in the big vessel to her son’s home port. Even this ceremony is darkened by “Terry’s” indulgence in alcohol, and there are other tribulations arising out of that failing that were nearly sufficient to break the stout heart of “Annie.” In the end, however, Terry shows that he has in him the stuff of which heroes are made. He saves others when the risk tb himself was tremendous.

Wallace Beery as “Terry Brennan” was warmly appreciated by the capacity audience on Saturday night. But it is with Marie Dressier as “Tugboat Annie”, that the force of the story rests. Annie is no society lady. She has a vocabulary that is meet for the waterfront, but she has a heart of gold and a determination that rises superior to most eventualities. There is much humour in the picture, and the touches of pathos are just sufficient to give it balance. “Tugboat Annie” is no problem picture. It is the story of common, hard-working folks. It Shows their foolishness and their weaknesses, but it shows also the heights to which they can reach. It is a picture that will appeal to all who enjoy laughter, good spirits and plucky determination with a dramatic climax that is very satisfying. There is a very good supporting programme, the comic “Nertsery Rhymes" being responsible for some beautiful colour photography and the travelogue an extremely interesting picture of modern Moscow showing actual street scenes in the capital of the Soviet. The programme will be; repeated to-day.