ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, 4 August 1934, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE. JOHN BOLES IN “BELOVED.” “Beloved,” a moving, dramatic story interspersed with songs by John Boles, beside whom Gloria Stewart is cast, commences at the Opera to-day at 2 and 8 p.m. It has a theme which is neither too markedly stereotyped nor too sickly sweet, but is interpreted with resttaint. The film follows the career of a man through his lifetime struggles in an effort to compose “the great. American symphony,” and its constantly changing background covers almost an entire century. In his role Boles is first seen as a baby in Vienna, son of a great nobleman, who is even then engaged in instilling great music in the consciousness of the child. The scene changes to Virginia .before the Civil War, where Boles meets the girl who afterwards becomes his wife, the role played by Gloria Stuart. In swift succession the couple are seen at various stages of their life together, and the backgrounds for dramatic action include New York’s Bowery in the 60’s and the great city in the years which follow, with the story reaching its conclusion in the year 1933.' A bright and enjoyable supporting programme includes “Vaudeville Days,” Universal (Graham McNamee) News reels and an "Oswald” cartoon.', ‘ 7’’. ■ - ■■ < REGENT THEATRE. , . .. a i DOUBLE-FEATURE PROGRAMME. Tim McCoy has the leading role in “Man of Action,” which screens first on the double-feature programme to-be presented at the Regent to-day: at 2 pirn, and to-night at 7.45. The story- deals ;with a mystery in a frontier town of the old West. The second feature,; “It’s .'a Cop,” s'tars the celebrated Lancashire comedian, Sydney Howard, who has been seen in “Up for the Cup,” and. “Up for. the Derby.” Howard has made a strong appeal''.to. New Zealand audiences. He has completely mastered the comedian’s art and, even without ‘a particularly bright dialogue, can keep an audience in constant laughter by resorting to comical facial expressions. He, is cast in a role which admirably suits his type of acting. Dorothy Bouchier heads the supporting cast. A further chapter of “Gordon of Ghost City,” starring Buck Jones, will be screened at the matinee only. EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. “UP TO THE NECK.” Following in the wake of such outstandingly successful farces as “Rookery Nook,” “Thark,” “Plunder,” and “A Cuckoo in the Nest,” comes Ben Travers’ latest piece of humour, “Up to the Neck,” which commences its New Plymouth season at Everybody’s Theatre today at 2 and 7.45 p.m. Travers’ plot concerns the exploits of a young bank clerk, whose fervent ambition is to become a famous actor. At a local dramatic academy he makes an enemy of the star pupil (Francis Lister), who wins the annual prize for the most promising actor of the year. Lynn’s recitation in front of the examiners is one of the highlights of the film.' In the course of time, when his rival is a popular matinee idol, the bank clerk inherits a large fortune, goes to London, and falls in love with an attractive chorus-girl (Winifred Shotter).He is persuaded to finance a new dramatic play, agreeing on condition that his musical comedy friend plays the lead. When he discovers that his rival is to be the hero there is a furious quarrel, the ' outcome being that on the London first night Lynn plays the' lead himself. His atrocious acting is mistaken for burlesque, and he is hailed by the critics as the greatest comic discovery of the year. Mary Brough is a highly moral theatrical landlady. A varied supporting programme precedes the main attraction.