AMUSEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18008, 13 July 1928, Page 13

AMUSEMENTS.

“ON YOUR TOES.”

REGINALD DENNY AT THE GRAN 1 ' The popular qml breezy Reginald Denny returns with “On Your Toes,’’ liis mesb l'ecent effort before the camera. Hero wo have prize-fighting cheerfully mixed -with fancy dancing, Denny is hilling equally as a prize-fighter and a polite and elegant teacher of dancing. Thi:i picture was viewed by a delighted uudienc© at the Grand Theatre last evening. Bllio-itt Beresford, one of Denny’s professional aliases, is a gentle*, man. of Virginia, who conducts a dancing academy. The comedian’s oonduccorship is a gorgeous bit of farce. Admirers of the English actor will recollect his enforced impersonation of a bishop in “What Happened to Jones,” and the -ficrea-nungly funny portrait he drew, bntTthe essentially-masculine Denny ai A dkhpirig teacher is onei.of the drollest tilings seen- on the screen But ewent.jyvHy’he" discovers that* his father was a champion boxer, and he i ; : covered .wTfli'‘shame and confusion. He- invests pair of gloves and a manager. Ho gets on to the front page; he piques the interest of a pretty girl; he tells some thumping lies to- his- grandma, who still thinks him a dancer. Indeed he does so many things; and all of them so amusing, that it would be a Herculean task to t-iy to enumei*a-te them. The story is straight, and has no trimmings- on it, hut the star sees to it that the action is plentifully adorned with gags and stunts that liven things up, and keep- the- tale up to prog,ha,mme length. The titles are witty ; there are as many thrills in one reel as in a fairsized western;.-there is-even a love interest-, in the person of Barbara, Worth, who prefers-fighting men to the■ other port, and very wise of her. “Oq Your Toes” is the most entertaining picture Reginald Denny has made yet, and that is saying a lot--It has. speed, and "thrills and that brand of comedy that only Reginald Denny can supply;' it a plot of strength ~and,. of some - Originality, and itl has an excellent supporting oast for.the star. Mary Can* plays the grandmamma with much spirit, and Hyden iStephenson is a good screen Rickard. , A British Empire News, a coined}'- “Start Something” and ahe latest; International News were' also screened. The Grand Orchestra, under Mrs G. Donaldson, whs heard to advantage in appropriate musical... numbers. '

“VERY CONFIDENTIAL.”;

COMEDY OF MODERN MORALS. iijyJhe-mean's/ justifies -the?end.'f'ft'''Also, all’s fjiir.'fn/love‘apd iyaL I(£is upon these "two-" pi’ovrifw that .; the-/ comedy “ Very Confidential”' is built up; a basis that is richer in matter for comeay exploitation; it cap quite naturally be dramatic, and that it is fast and thrilling was agreed upon by, the large audience at' tho-Theatre Royal last evening. Mainly itl concerns the adage, all iis. fair t,,in. love/and, war, for Patricia Murphy, the giii in the case, is a poor .iittle innopini,.. and -the . idol of her afewealthy oelebrity. Here we ftMqp\;thaVrig:eAjld;»toify,'')l'OMiig:ioxt!-und The"’human ui-ge. among sun-oundings of bowiuching beauty; uoautiful women right dtitooto, the. pages of fashionable fiction; and one. A>:ojrvini-ip.i’p{U‘tioulurv--:with'. nOthirig’ but beauty t«o aid her. who has sivoriri to get her man, and who gets him. It is ;',iiU«TOi'.:inensel,y diverting picture, airius|j|nd funny, yet with a shadow of qxatliris aunning beneath its laughter. There arc romantic scenes cheerfully rubbing shoulders with auto races, find speedrboat.^races; \%e, have the orearq of sooiety'and; shop attendants all playing iiftpqrfehtofpayfe in the same, lifltie dram'ri?M' f ‘Very Confidential”is very cosmopolitan, a clever story 1 receiving good tieatment from director oast: i: iilie plot utilised for this .picture is, Llf old and familiar, one of 'the ! 'besfl iff*the world. Men and women will always be supremely interested, in the loves and hates of their fellow niien; wilf always thrill to the spectacle?; of romance and courn re, and sheer nerve —and “A r erv Confidential” offers them all this. And that : ‘m&ans v is 'sho-wn up irig daring yfentUro7i entered into^,byj : the ;'two_ girls 'Who moan most to the audiepoe, whether the venture calls for a brazen r.iasqiU'Tade'-as a- celebrity, or anytliing else equally, bold. For all is fair- in love of war, and when the situation is niost 'awkward, then is the time to stow out and step high Miss Bcllamv is well assisted br her supporting -.-. artists. Marjr.rie Bpobe,' as; her. “girl "friend” is a ghed little trouper. .* New faces are ai'.vavs wplcoTrfjl on tho sctco'O, so "tho advent of Patrick Afichnel Dunniu/ s’lVr.nld be locked -forward' to. Patrick Mir-linel is recruited from the stage, rwhere he had .’.tinined an enviable distifrtion He brings to his role oopas-ito Madge Bellani}- all the Trish wit and ardour at his command. Tn addition, a “Fox Newn,” a A r an Bibber comedv “Hot-hou-.se Hazel” and nt> ednc-'tiq'ml 'film -“.Argentina-the Rich.” were P-'so screened. Tliroughout,. the Rova.l Or-cbee-tra-, under Air N. B. Sutcliffe, lentvariety with pleasingly played musical numbers. '' l "

ROYAL COMIC OPERA CO. “MADAME POMPADOUR,”-AND “THE STUDENT PRINCE.” / v .it Wie-dlTieatre Royal next .Thursday and Fridiiy, July 19th and 20th, J. G. Williamson* Ltd, present: their Royal Comic'Upeia. Company in two of the greatest comic opera successes or recent years—“Madrjme Pompadour,” and “The Student ;Prince.” “ MADAME POMPADOUR.” “Madame Pompadour,” which will be staged on Thursday night, enjoyed record seasons In Sydney and Melbourne. “The lovely charm and sweet /dignity of that comedy /actress, Beppie-.de .Aries,” wrote a critic, “is never more .apparent than in the second acT - 'of’ ‘Madame Pompadour,’ and her singing/ acting, and fascinating personality, is a joy to watch and to-hear.” Mr Frank Webster, wlio plays principal tenor role, sqdred .a success in England ;iii; “La Boheme,” and other light /. grand/ operas'.'' , Artnm Stigant has 1 in his time pltijfed a series of important conje’dy, chni'acters. He has frolifclted, ’as" .pagtomime Dame, and he . liasyhad variety of roles Tn comic 'opera?/'./and/ musical comedy / * But he ',has/ :jn'’ilie opinion of Australian, . .criticjsT' sgpced the greatest /success of* „ lijs _ edVeer us .Joseph Calicot, the poet in /Aladamo Pompadour,” -a part t’hAti/cnll.s for the utmost in" exp.erieTice ' from ‘'an actor and comedian,-; An outstanding - feature of the production'.,..is.the..wdek of tVi ( e chorus, *'n.pd ‘Hjther featfites "are the gorgeous'costumes and the magnificent scenic effects. /,/: ./.«'• : “ THE. STUDENT PJHI££.E.” / In the production' of- “The/ Stndent Prince” ,on Friday, special;interest, lies in the fact that, Bepni.e- 4e' AJr.ies will appear ns~Kat' i o" ; U ~ .~ 4 \ "/--o- 4 -d in Europe/'in-J./Old/Heidclberg,” th'q romantic ..play ijp'tVii n in,-. co. !t: opera- is based.. , J ames .-.laddy. the famous tenor,,’ has IHjtT-oj'i(sFnsi 1 role ns Prince Karl, and ; Fr<i<lSvrek Blaoknian, who originally staged the play ip London, will. tof - tlio pro-

duclion. Others in fhe cast include Arthur .vStigant, Frank Webster, Noel Dainton, Heclley Hall (who will-make his first appearance in New Zealand), Conrad Charlton,' Atora Spruill, Russell Scott- ' (his first uppearaheo in New Zealand), George Conyngham, Mason Wood, Millie Engler, AdelC Cra-iie, Peg Desmond, and others. Some very fine choruses are sung by t'he Forty Singing Students: Miss Minnie Hooper has invented and arranged the dances, etc. Box plans for reserved seats open at the Bristol on Monday.