AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18490, 4 February 1930, Page 12

AMUSEMENTS

GRAND THEATRE. “THE LAST OF MRS CHEYNEY.” To-night will be the last opportunity that patrons of the Grand Theatre will have to see the popular Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer all-talking picture, “The Last of Mrs Cheyney,” which has been given such a cordial reception during its screenings in Timaru. The leading part is taken by beautiful Norma Shearer, as Mrs Cheyney. She depicts it with beauty, winsomeness, human and dramatic talent, plus a talking voice that thrills. In fact, her distinctive speaking voice helps substantially to make “The Last of Mrs Cheyney” an outstanding triumph. Miss Shearer is supported by Basil Rathbone, George Barraud, and George Arthur, who are English in speech and “tone.” Were it not so, the pictured version of “The Last of Mrs Cheyney,” would not register artistically. Mrs Cheyney is a fashionable society beauty, but so reserved and modest that she piques the curiosity of many, including Lord Dilling, who conceives a passion for the beautiful woman. He resolves to learn something more intimate about her, and becomes amazed at the disclosure. This is not less than that Mrs Cheyney is a female Raffles, working society for what it is worth. Dilling exposes his knowledge, and states that he will make a complete revelation of her position if she raises an outcry. Her reply is to ring the alarm. A scene of dramatic moment ensues, for, though it is Mrs Cheyney herself who proclaims the thief, she still has the whip hand of them all in the possession of a letter which silly old Lord Elton had written her on the night of the detected crime. As this letter tells Mrs Cheyney his private opinion of all the guests as well as the hostess, none of them wishes to see the affair made public. Lord Elton seeks to buy the letter back, and offers £IO,OOO for it. Mrs Cheyney accepts the cheque, and then empties the tornup letter on to the table, and follows it up by destroying the cheque. Her acceptance of an offer of marriage from Lord Dilling is the natural corollary to the last of Mrs Cheyney. Short talking featurettes include “Lazy Days,” the latest Our Gang comedies, and a Metro-tone news film. A male quartette, who style themselves “The Revellers,” of gramophone fame, sing several tuneful songs.

“THE DRAKE CASE.” AT THE MAJESTIC. A picture that held the large audience at the Majestic Theatre last night in suspense until the last moment, was Universal’s latest all-talking feature, “The Drake Case.” A woman accused of murder on almost irrefutable grounds, who refuses to say one word to aid her defence, although she protests her innocence, and in the same breath says she is glad that the murder victim was slain, is the unusual situation presented. The accused, Lulu Marks, a servant in the house of the murdered Mrs John Morgan Drake, is arrested at the scene of the crime. A motive for the murder is established and all the evidence, including fingerprints, points to the Marks woman as the slayer, but she maintains a Sphinx-like silence when her attorneys beg her to help them in presenting a defence. Miss Gladys Brockwell has the role of the accused woman, with Forrest Stanley as the district attorney and Frazer as the defending lawyer. An immense courtroom was built especially for the picture, and the audience in the theatre becomes the audience in the courtroom listening to a trial that is marked with drama, tears, laughter, thrills and suspense. The Melbourne Cup race, which was won last year by "the New Zealand horse Nightmarch, is also shown in sound, and the film gives a splendid idea of what was actually happening on the course. The excited cries of the immense crowd, the appeals of the bookmakers, and the medley of other sounds are heard realistically. Other pictures include a singing, dancing and talking comedy, “The Love Free,” a sound cartoon and a Universal News film. Allan Prior sings two tenor numbers effectively.

“NEW BROOMS.” A DELIGHTFUL COMEDY. “New Brooms,” the second production presented in Timaru by Fullers’ America*! Comedy Company, attracted an enthusiastic house at the Theatre Royal last evening, the audience demonstrating its undeniable approval of the clever presentation of Frank Craven’s refreshing comedy. The characters of the two male principals are sharply and cleverly contrasted by Mr Wyrley Birch and Mr Leonard Doyle. In the role of Thomas Bates, senr., the father whose son knows everything, the man whose experience of life and men has made him suspicious and cautious, Mr Birch gives a masterly performance. Mr Leonard Doyle, as the son who was positive that he knew everything and was always right, had a different role in which at times his nonchalance took on a naturalness that amounted to genius. The part of Geraldine March, the young and attractive housekeeper engaged by Thomas Bates junr., when he took over the management of his father’s house, was ably played by Leona Hogarth, who possesses talent, which she used to the full in her part. Miss Hogarth captivated the audience with her charming manner, and her shrewd and pointed utterances. Miss Molly Raynor raised many a good laugh by her quips and quick repartee. Mr Compton Coutts as the ecclesiastical nuisance, always on the look-out for subscriptions for different objects and societies, gave a realistic portrayal and was the cause of much amusement. Others in the cast, who gave excellent support were Miss Eve Dawney, Miss Mary Curtain, Miss Lucille Lisle, Mr Norman Wister, Mr John Warwick and Mr Reginald Roberts.

The story is full of genuine humour which at times blossoms into gentle ridicule and witty and pointed sayings. The situations are all real, and the story holds nothing fantastic. Thomas Bates, junior, who was continually criticising his father’s business methods and the maner in which the head of the house ran the domestic premises,, was suddenly given an opportunity by his parent to try his amateur hand. Bates junior was of opinion that a cheerful countenance and an unlimited fund of good spirits would carry anybody a long way to making a success of any project that he undertook, and he proceeded to put this theory into practice. In a short time he found it increasingly difficult to keep up his cheerful attitude, when various members of the family were continually requesting him to do something impossible. With no experience behind him, he was soon heartily tired of his position, and was glad to hand back the reins of government to his father, and to abide by his decisions for the future. “New Brooms” will be presented again to-night for the final peri formance.