CINEMA PROGRAMMES

Taranaki Daily News, 14 January 1935, Page 11

CINEMA PROGRAMMES

NEW PLYMOUTH OPERA HOUSE. MATINEE AT 2 P.M. TO-DAY. All the romance and comedy of life in the sawdust ring is brought out to the full in. the hilarious film “Circus Clown,” which was screened to a large audience at the New Plymouth Opera House on Saturday night. The popular comedian Joe E. Brown appears in the title role and has been provided with more opportunities for displaying his inimitable style of humour than in any of his previous productions. As usual, Brown, is seen in many highly amusing incidents, and his experiences with the circus animals and his attempts to emulate the acts of the leading performers kept the audience in an uproad of laughter. Although Brown is the principle figure in the film, another feature is the appearance of several celebrated artists who are well known for their ability and daring. Among the many/ thrilling acts are . those of the Flying • Codonas in their astonishing performance on the flying trapeze, Poodles Hanneford in daring equestrian feats, the Picchiani family in a sensational tumbling act and Mamie Ward, a master of the flying rings. There is an excellent supporting programme. Screenings will be repeated to-day and to-morrow at 2 and 8 p.m. Dr. A. L. Lewis, Hollywood, discoverer of Janet Gaynor, is personally searching New Zealand for screen types to use in Australasian comedy talkies. Dr. Lewis will conduct his interesting and entertaining talkie tests at the New Plymouth Opera House on Wednesday night and will interview interested parties at 3 p.m. to-day and to-morrow in the Opera' House lounge.

REGENT THEATRE. DOUBLE FEATURE PROGRAMME. Film audiences have grown to expect a good picture whenever Jack Holt is starred, and “The Woman I Stole,” Columbia's newest film featuring this popular actor, now showing nightly at the Regent Theatre, is no exception. There are powerful situations without number, a rapid-fire plot, and a splendid cast. Jack Holt, as Jim Bradier, oil tycoon, who has built up this tremendous industry only 'to w;ss it aside as a wornout playtiling, has his usual he-man role, but he portrays it with even more than his customary punch. Miss Wray’s interpretation of Vida Corew is a welcome change from her previous “horror pictures.” As a woman of the world who seeks merely to gratify her own desires, ■ she offers a characterisation which should delight not only her old admirers, but bring her a new following. “The Woman I Stole” is preceded by “Among the Missing,” a drama of tangled lives starring Henrietta Crosman. SUCCESS OF “CHU CHIN CHOW.* EVERYBODY’S, NEW PLYMOUTH. The greatest success in the history of the London stage, “Chu Chin Chow,” Oscar Asche’s evergreen musical triumph, which bears everlasting, witness to its popularity in the fact tnat it ran for 2238 successive nights at London theatres, has been most successfully brought to the screen with all its Eastern pageantry and glamour by GaumontBritish, easily the foremost studio of the present time. That it is still popular was shown by the fact that Everybody’s theatre, New Plymouth, was full well before the starting time on Saturday, and that the public’s expectations were fully realised was proved by the many delighted comments of thpse who saw the film. .Though adapted slightly to suit the different medium, which allows of even greater spectacle than a most spectacular play, the film contains all the best of the original production. Who better could take the comedian’s part than George Robey, idol of the English stage? He is still the same Robey. There will be only one disappointment and that will be for the theatre management in not haying been able to book the film for at least a week. The supporting programme contains an excellent news reel of the Aidershot tattoo, the greatest military display in the world, and several other good shorts. i PLAZA THEATRE. “BULLDOG DRUMMOND” FILM. Ronald Colman makes a debonair figure of “Sapper’s” nonchalant amateur detective of fiction in “Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back,” the delightful film played to capacity houses on Saturday at Stratford. Owing to its extreme popularity the management of the Plaza Theatre has been able to extend the season until Tuesday. The film is a perfect blend of exciting suspense and light-hearted humour and is interpreted by a brilliant cast. Even more engaging than in his original screen portrayal ,of Captain Hugh Drummond, Colman acts with just the right touch of bravado and tiie right flavour of whimsical humour. The traditional part of Algy, played previously by Claude Allister,. is given a. new but inimitable interpretation by Charles Butterworth, who is a perfect foil tor the exuberance of Ronald Colman. Considerable, humour arises from the casual manner in which Algy repeatedly leaves his wife on their honeymoon to aid and abet Drummond in his adventures. Loretta Young brings grace and charm to the part of tlie “lady in distress” who appeals to Drummond for assistance, and Una Merkel shows a fine sense of comedy as tlie mortified young wife. KING’S THEATRE. DOUBLE-FEATURE PROGRAMME. Considered to be the season’s comedy scream wherever it has been riiown, “Horse Play,” which is the first of a double-feature attraction to be screened finally at the King’s Theatre, Stratford, to-day, stars Slim Summerville and Andy Devine. It depicts the romantic inclinations of a love-smitten cowboy,' the object of sudden wealth, whose heart and eyes are set on two things, a girl and a horse. The action takes him with his pal Andy from the cactus beds of a Montana ranch to the castle boudoirs, of a medieval London estate. The cast includes Leil.Hyams as the feminine lead, and May Beatty, Una O’Connor, Lucille Lund, David Torrance, Cornelius Keefe, Ethel Griffies and Ferdinand Gottschalk in featured roles. “Cross Country Cruise,” a Universal comedy-drama, which reveals a cross-sectional view of life aboard a trans-continental bus operating between New York and San Francisco, forms the second half of this special week-end double feature programme.