AMUSEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18501, 24 February 1930, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. REGINALD DENNY IN “EMBARRASSING MOMENTS.” The latest Reginald Denny comedy feature.. “Embarrassing Moments,” presented to a crowded house on Saturday night at the Majestic is an all-talking production with rapid-fire dialogue and a multitude of amusing incidents. In support of Denny, Merna Kennedy plays the heroine. This attractive actress has appeared in only three films, and was on each occasion the leading lady. Her other films are Charlie Chaplins, “The Circus” and Universals super-picture, “Broadway.” This story is based on the “trial marriage" theme. The girl, home from art school, tires of her stodgy village life and her small town fiance. She invents a mythical “husband” and tells her family she has entered a trial marriage with one “Thaddeus Cruick' shank.” Strangely enough, there happens to be a man by that name in New York. Her father summons the real Cruickshank to the village home, and brings the supposed “husband” and the girl face to face. Their mutual amazement, the complications that follow, and the delightful working out of the plot makes one of the most engaging stories seen on the screen In addition to Miss Kennedy, the players include Otis Harlan, William Austin. Virginia Sale, Greta Granstedt and Mary Foy. Otis Harlan has the role of the puritanical father. William Austin is the small-town beau. Virginia Sale, who is a sister of Chic Sale, is a prim maiden aunt of the girl. Reginald Denny who was born in England, has had a remarkable career. He took to the stage at an early age, both his parents being theatrical players. He has one of his most amusing roles in his career in “Embarrassing Moments,” of which h*> makes a great success. A comprehensive list of short featuretts is also shown, including the famous English comedian, George Robing, in a sketch, “The Barrister.” Gordon Freeman, another of London’s clever entertainers gives several of his best Flections. The new and greater are heard and seen in an all-t.n iking and singing act of exceptional merit.

ALL TALKING PROGRAMME. AT THE GRAND. Patrons of the Grand Theatre were delighted with the English all-talking picture, “High Treason,” which opened its season in Timaru on Saturday night. There have been pictures which have attempted to portray the future, ‘out the directors of these productions have been prone to let their imaginations run riot, to the detriment of feasibility. Where “High Treason” scores, is that everything in the picture is within the bounds of possibility, and every detail havS been gone into with a thoroughness that amounts to genius. “High Treason” is outstanding in its dramatic power, and has a depth of appeal that could be accomplished only by British thoroughness and attention to detail. The leading players are Benita Hume and Jameson Thomas, and by their performances in this film they must surely establish themselves as “stars” of the first magnitude. By its first few scenes on Saturday night, the audience were convinced that here was something new, and as the great spectacle unfolded, the reality of the

thing overwhelmed them. The spectator is transported to the year 1940. The world and its civilisation have changed a great deal. Mechanical devices, architecture, clothing, and more important still, weapons of war have been developed to a degree that is remarkable. The old patriotism of the native flag has evaporated into thin air, and the population of the world has been collected into two great groups. In tne west are the Federated Atlantic States. In the east are the United States of Europe. Submerged in these mighty Powers are all the old racial conflicts and national hatreds, whilst above them is a vast spiritual organisation, exercising its influence over every friend and foe. The Peace League has evolved spontaneously, to hold the balance of power, and to prevent any repetition of the hideous past. It is significant despite this temporal metamorphosis, the nature of man has not changed; he still carries the brand of Cain on his biceps, and he is afraid of himself and what he capable of doing. Only too soon comes the test. There is a “frontier incident,” and a world-war is threatened. The audience is now introduced to Major Michael Deane, who holds high rank in the European Air Force. Lean, handsome the embodiment of what a flying officer should be, he sits in his London headquarters, the control of a vast organisation at his finger-tips. He is very much in love with life, ana with Evelyn, the enthusiastic daughter of Dr Seymour, the Vicar-General oi the Peace League. Thus are the two extremes Drought together in the age--old fashion., with the inevitable consequence. The production of the film, by Maurice Elvey, demonstrates how a clever superimposition of fancy on fact can result in an effect of undeniable realism. The television apparatus and other devices of the future leave the impression that they are absolutely real. An especially fine collection of short units are also shown, including a Pa the News, ana Gazette, and the latest Charlie Chase comedy.

THEATRE ROYAL. COMPLETE ALL-TALKING PROGRAMME. The Theatre Royal has now come into line with the other picture theatres in Timaru, by the installation of a sound-film apparatus. That this has been a step forward in the right direction by the managment of the Theatre was fully proved on Saturday night when Warner Bros spectacular production, “Noah’s Ark.” was shown , to a capacity house. The picture .which the producers heralded as “made to top any picture made,” is stupendous in conception, sets covering more than a square mile being necessary for several scenes. The picture took three years to make, and included in the cast are over ten thousand “extra” characters. The story was written by Daryl Francis Zanuck, and touches those moments of cataclysmic power between which lie fifty centuries. The characters play their parts in the soul-trying moments at the beginning of the twentieth century, and are then wafted back to the days of Noah. The picture gives an insight into heathen debauchery of that long-aero age, and the audience are shown the gigantic work of building the ark. which wrss to contain two of every living things on the earth, as well as of Noah and his immediate family. The dark terror of the rising flood waters is vividly portrayed, as the flood slowly but surely engulfed all living things, except these who took safety in the ark. Ham, Shem and Japheth, sons of the patriarch, play prominent parts in the Bibical sequences. This is the first

time that the Flood has been dramatized, which the exception of the opera “Noah’S Flood,” George O’Brien gives a magnificant portrayal of the fearless and fiery Japheth. This is a dual role. O’Brien in the modern sequencs, playing the part of Travis a young soldier of the World War. During a vivid story told by a chaplain in the midst of a bombardment, the characters, Travis and his sweetheart Mary, played by Dolores Costello, are wafted back to the days of Noah, and play their roles in tumult and terror of the days before the Deluge. Other notable players include Noah Berry, Louise Fazenda. Guinn Williams. Paul McAllister, Nigel de Brulier, Anders Randolf, Armand Kaliz. Mvrna Loy. William V. Merig, Malcolm Waite. Nobel Johnson. Otto Haffman and Joe Bonomo. Short supporting pictures shown on Saturday night were “Visions of Spain.” a vocal and musical feature, and Mischa Elman the famous violinist plays two excellent numbers.