ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, 12 May 1934, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

NEW PLYMOUTH OPERA HOUSE. ‘BROADWAY THROUGH A KEYHOLE’ The splendour of New York night life makes a colourful background for “Broadway Through a Keyhole,” which commences a season at the New Plymouth Opera House to-day at 2 and 8 p.m. The film is the first to come from the studios of the new Twentieth Century Pictures recently formed Sy Josef Schenck and Darryl Zannuck. If this production is any criterion of the output of the new Hollywood studios it will rapidly have a wide and popular demand. Both the personnel and players of the new company have fulfilled their policy of both and fearless treatment in their first film, which gives a true insight into the life behind the scenes of a great entertainment centre of New York. The film also includes plenty of fun, provided by clever dialogue and bright players, not the least of whom is “Texas” Guinan (since dead). Her sudden shots of straight-talking are very diverting. The cabaret scenes and the music round off the picture to perfection. Some of the best specialty- artists of the American stage help the entertainment, and the ballet work is new j and precise. An excellent supporting L’ programme includes “Mickey Mouse in Giantland” (cartoon), “Round the World ; in Song” (vocal travelogue), Australian 4 Fox News and Pathe English Gazette.. EVERYBODY’S TO-DAY. “IT’S A BOY.” Leslie Henson, the English comedian who can always be depended upon for excellent fooling, makes the most of a first-rate chance in “It’s a Boy,” the British farce-comedy which commences at Everybody’s to-day at 2 and 8 pan. The supporting cast is outstanding and includes Albert Burden, Edward Everett Horton, Wendy Barrie, Joyce Kirby and Helen Haye. “It’s, a Boy” is a farce with intricate and amusing complications. Two friends, the groom and his best man,-are so late for the marriage that the bride’s irate father decides.that the ceremony shall be abandoned. The guilty couple lay the blame at the feet of John Tempest, a popular novelist, and decide to produce him to confirm their .. story; but ‘John Tempest” is a woman and actually one of the wedding guests! This unlooked-for complication has to be surmounted and the fun grows more furious as the situation'becomes more 1 involved. Behind the fluster and bluster • * of the groom and his friend is the fear : I that the supposed truth regarding the'" 1 £ former’s affair years ago will be revealed; a persisten' youth clamouring for recognition as a son. This delightful com- ? edy is excellently played by a cast who ‘I enter fully into the humour of the amazing situations. An entertaining supporting programme includes a Mickey Mouse cartoon. THE REGENT. MATINEE 2 P.M. TO-DAY. In “Fugitive Lovers,” the- thrilling film which begins at The Regent to-day r at 2 and 8 p.m., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer have utilised a new background. This picture, which is crammed with excite-, ment from first to last, features Madge Evans and Robert Montgomery as two people who are thrown together in the . strangest circumstances. The whole of the action revolves around the journey of the continental bus. Madge Evans takes the bus because she wishes to escape the attentions of a racketeer who has just bought the show in which she appears. Unfortunately for her the racketeer also takes the bus, and that is the beginning of her adventure. Robert Montgomery plays the part of an escaped convict who manages to hide himself in the luggage carrier on' the top of the vehicle, and from the moment that he breaks gaol his ecapes, the gradual drawing together of. the convict and the chorus girl, and the final climax in a blizzard makes a stirring picture. In the film, besides these well-known stars, are Nat Pendleton, who will be remembered as the racketeer in “Penthouse.” Ted Healey, C. Henry Gordon and Ruth Selwyn. Short* subjects of outstanding merit -will be shown at all sessions. These will include Thelma Todd and Patsy Kelly in a laughable comedy, “Babes in the Goods”; an interesting travel film of the Negro Republic, Dutch Guiana and a Metroton? News. The fourth chapter of “The, Phantom of the Air” will be screened at the mati-s nee only. BAND FOR MOVIE BALL. The engagement of Epi Shalfoon and his famous Melody Boys for the movie ball to be held in the Agricultural Hall, New Plymouth, on Thursday, May 31, is welcome news to dancers who have heard of this talented combination but have never had the opportunity of see-, ihg for themselves the secret of their phenomenal successes all over New Zea-;, land. Of a recent visit to Auckland the New Zealand Observer says: ‘“All the people whose feet had been tingling for a mid-week dance turned up at Peter Pan to dance to the pipes of Epi Shalfoon. P was not a case of the only tune that he could play being over the hills and all that—this particular piper took all the tunes one dances to and a few more besides and tossed them off with the best shalfoonery. Just how this little man does it is for you to see. Five hundred couples danced to the tune he played.” Excellent prizes are being given for impersonations of film stars, and indications already point to. numerous aspirants. The supper, etc., will be on '