AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18554, 29 April 1930, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

GRAND THEATRE. “THEIR OWN DESIRE.” “Their Own Desire,” a sophisticated and intriguing drama of love’s errors, will conclude its season at the Grand Theatre to-night. The picture, which is an all-talking production, is one of outstanding merit, and relates how a middle-aged man discovers that his wife is no longer attractive to him and turns to another woman. Henry Marlett, novelist, endeavours to convince his downright young daughter, when she comes across his intrigue, that as he grew older, things appeared in a different light, that his craving for romance cannot be denied. However, his efforts fail rather badly, because the girl has quite different ideas about existence. Knowing that her mother, gave much to help the man, to adi vance him to his present eminence, she looses her scorn upon him. Then affairs progress. The daughter falls in love with a young man who is all that a young man should be. only to discover that he is the son of the loathed Mrs Cheever. In the picture Providence and the elements intervene, but just how they intervene and produce the desirable happy ever after effect must be seen to be appreciated. “Their Own Desire” is acted in a striking and convincing manner. Norma Shearer, as the daughter, carrying off the principal honours. She is entirely delightful, in her technique and natural demeanour. Others in the cast are Lewis Stone, Robert Montgomery, Helene Millard, and Belle Bennett. There are some particularly good scenes in the picture, notably the ballroom sets, and the polo and diving episodes. The supporting programme is varied and well up to the customary standard. “THE GHOST TALKS.’* AT THE MAJESTIC.. The settings of ‘The Ghost Talks,” Pox Movietone’s most recent creation to be screened at the Majestic Theatre, are unusually well dene. The picture opens with a train arriving, and the swishing steam and ringing locomotive bell are recorded with the utmost realism. After a brief space the scene shifts to a hotel lobby, and one feels, in viewing the setting, as if he were actually in a hotel lobby, so natural is the effect with all voices and sounds reproduced. Then, the outside of the supposedly haunted mansion is t* masterpiece if the scene arranger’s art The house is just bound to bj haunted judging from the eery look it has from the outside. And when the p ayers involved in the ghost episodes get inside and begin their laugh-provoking reactions to the unusual stimuli of the the spooks, one is quite sure that here is the nearest approach to the spooky dwelling. The picture which was made by Lew Seiler contains an exceptionally strong cast including Helen Twelvetrees, Carmel Myers, Charles Eaton, and Earle Foxe. A number of entertaining short variety attractions are shown, chief among which is the Kentucky Jubilee Singers in new songs and plantation melodies. SKATING. Now the weather is getting colder, skating is becoming more popular in Timaru again. Each evening sees large crowds at the rink. Hockey teams are now getting into practice for forthcoming games with the dliristchurch rink teams. A ladies’ hockey team may also visit Christchurch.

“TO-NIGHT AT TWELVE.” ROYAL THEATRE. The height of amusing entertainment is reached in Universal’s new alltalking screen adaption of Owen Davis’ play, “To-night at Twelve,” which is at the Royal Theatre. The picture is full of shocks and thrills and is a daring story of a delightful domestic tangle. A wife finds a note written by her husband containing only the words. “To-night at Twelve,' she accuses one of three women—all married and all good friendso--of being her husband's sweetheart. That starts it and in the confusion that follows the unexpected happens “To-night At Twelve,” has an all-star cast worthy of that designation, headed by petite and delightful Madge Bellamy and suave Robert Ellis. Others in the cast are Margaret Livingstone, Vera Reynolds, Mary Doran, Louise earner, Josephine Erown , Madeline Seymour. Norman Trevor, Hallow Cooley. George Lewis, Don Douglas, and Nick Thompson. An excellent programme of supporting features also is screened. “THE FLYING FOOL.” AT THE GRAND. Appearing in a series of breathtaking death-defying aerial exploits, “The Flying Fool” comes to the Grand Theatre to-night. It is a thrilling all-talking air drama, in which this popular player is supported by Marie Prevost, Tom O’Brien, Russell Gleason and other notable screen artists. Bill Taylor (William Boyd), loves just four things, girls, ’planes, a scrap and his kid brother, Jimmy. Tom Dugan, fellow officer, is Bill’s “favourite” enemy. After the war Bill works as aviator in America. His daring earns him the title of “The Flying Fool.” His brother a lad of 19, works for the same organisation as air taxi chauffeur. One day Bill is late for work. Dugan is sent up in Bill’s ’plane. Bill takes Dugan’s 'plane. A thrilling air fight occurs, but no casualties result. That evenI ing Bill finds a note from Jimmy tell- ' ing him that he has borrowed Bill’s ?ar. Bill's indignation disappears when the 'phone rings and a feminine voice invites him out. Bill is ejected from a night club when he insists on howling the chorus of a song to the annoyance of an entertainer. Jimmy passes—in Bill’s car. Bill, pursues, but Jimmy keeps right on travelling. The following night the brothers almost come to blows. Bill discovers that Jimmy’s girl is the night club singer who had him “bounced.” He decides to find out just what sort of person she is. To his surprise, he discovers, after a number of highly amusing situations, that she is a home girl, decent and really lovable. He falls for her like a proverbial “ton of bricks." The girl soon learns that Bill is Jimmy’s brother. She realises that Jimmy is a “mere baby,” and turns him down. Jimmy packs up. deciding to leave town. Bill, despite the fact tljat he loves the singer, demands that she cannot turn the boy down. Bill tells her that he was playing with her merely for Jimmy. Jimmy goes to see the girl. He finds her weeping and learns that Bill is the man she loves. Both dash to the flying field. They are stunned to see Bill, half “lit,” doing fancy stunts in a ’plane which seems to be spouting flames. Jimmy hops into Dugan’s ’plane. Bill accepts this as a challenge. The brothers battle in a terrific dog fight. A wing of the Dugan 'plane collapses, Jimmy is hurled earthward. He takes to his parachute and lands on telegraph wires. Bill also lands safely. When the airport manager tells Jimmy to take a pas- | senger up. he refuses, swearing off on j all women—forever—until he sees that the said passenger is q, lovely littlt miss. And it ends'happily for Bill and the singer.