AMUSEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18555, 30 April 1930, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL. "MASQUERADE.” I When a novel first published twenty years ago is in such popular demand that the plates from which it was originally printed have been worn out and replaced five times and it still finds a ready sale, the book must have superlative quality. Such is the story "The Brass Bowl.’*' by Louis J. Vance, from which "Masquerade,” latest Fox movietone all-talking picture has been adapted. The screen talking version will be presented at the Theatre Royal this evening. In adapting "Masquerade,” Frederick Haslitt Brennan and Malcolm Stuart Boylan were obliged to modernise the novel. In the main it is the same story. “Masquerade” is said I to have presented unusual problems in i recording for the audible screen, due ! to the fact that Alan Birmingham, cofeatured with Leila Hyams, was called j upon to act a dual role He portrays Dan Maitland, wealthy young New | York bachelor, and also Dan Anisty, a | notorious society bandit. Maitland returns from abroad to see a beautiful girl leaving his apartment, which he 1 finds has been ransacked, but neither j he nor his servant, Blodgett (Clyde I Cook), can discover anything missing. , Maitland finds the print of a hand on j a dusty table top. It matches a glove ( the mysterious girl had dropped. That is the beginning of a series of exciting j episodes. Maitland, who has fallen in ! love with the young woman at first sight, gets into one tangle aftu*. another through being mistaken for Anistv, whose double he is. The crook, to obtain the Maitland family jewels, poses as a man-about-town. The gems are stolen: Maitland also proves to be a victim of a stock forgery, in which the voung woman displays an interest that'for a time keeps him guessing. Miss Hyams, as Sylvia Graeme, the heroine, is described as a most fascinating lady bandit. Additional films are of good variety. “Napoleon’s Barber” is a short interesting drama which introduces scenes and actions of the days of the Corsican hero. "The Picnic Partv” will create lots of amusement Clever indeed is "Old Tunes and New” and the Fox Movietone news is a bright edition. Seats may reserved as usual. PAUL MUNI IN "THE VALIANT.” AT THE MAJESTIC. Those who patronise the Majestic theatre this evening to witness the Fox Films production "The Valiant” are promised such an absorbing story that they are not likely to move until the last scene fades from viev. Indicative of the intensely human note tnat is struck in the motivation and dialog of this most unusual screen offering is the fact that although the leading character, portrayed by Paul Muni, is introduced through his confession of a murder and thereafter is seen only m a felon's role, he "wins and holds the sympathies of the audience to their very last glimpse of this valiant figure. Indeed, it is his high-minded and purposeful attitude v toward his family —to save his mother and sister from heartbreak and shame by cloaking his identity—that makes the striking title fit so well the atmosphere of the drama. It has its origin in a Shakespearean couplet that he has chosen as his motto: "The coward dies a thousand times; The valiant taste of death but once.” I Marguerite Churchill is seen in the other featured role — that of a young girl who visits the mystery slayer in prison to assure herself he is not her long-missing brother, and thus ease her ailing mother’s troubled heart. In her trying interview with the con- , demned man, a few minutes before the electric chair is to claim him, Miss Churchill’s artistry is intensely moving and measures well up to the careful and impressive performance of Paul Muni, whose lengthy stage experience speaks in his every line and action. "The Valiant” was adapted by Tom Barry and John Hunter Booth from a stage play of the same title, the worn, of Holworthy Hall and Robert Middlemass, and in the Fox Movietone version presented on the screen the telling power of the original drama not only is retained but amplified and strengthened. The supporting cast, nearly all stage players of distinction, includes John Mack Brown, DeWitt Jennings, Richard Carlvle, Henry Kolker, Edith Yorke, Cliff Dempsey, Don Terry, and George Pearse. Bright entertainment will be given in the shorts which will include, "Belles of Samoa,” a musical comedy featuring Lois Moran with some clever dancers and vocalists. Gertrude Lawrence a famous entertainer offers, "I Don’t Know.” "Four Married Men,” a clever offering and the Paramount sound gazette. A matinee will take place this afternoon. "THE FLYING FOOL.” AT THE GRAND. Magnificent stunt aviation, keen humour, and thrilling romance were the chief features of “The Flying Fool ” which commenced a season at the Grand Theatre last night. William Boyd takes the part of Bill Taylor, the “flying fool,” while Marie Prevost makes a charming Patsy Burke, a young lady who plays an important part in the lives of Bill and his brother. Tommy (Russell Gleason). Bill Tay- I lor is a gay, light-hearted aviator who, during the war sequences, spends his time fighting German airmen and making love to French girls. He re- I turns to America and obtains a posi- | tion as a stunt flyer in an aviation camp, where his brother Tommy is learning to be a pilot. Bill still lives mainly for the admiration of the fair sex and the flattery he receives leads

to a certain amount of jealousy between himself and Dugan, an old war time companion and rival, who is also engaged by the same company. Dugan determines to outshine the “Flying Fool” and takes his plane up one day when Bill is late for his stunt. Bill arrives upon the scene and follows Dugan up and drives him down with a display of splendid trick flying. That evening Bill goes to a cabaret with a young lady and offends Patsy Burke. * who sings there, and is thrown out. I While he is straightening himself out on the pavement he sees Tommy driving by with a young lady. Bill believes that all girls are only despoilers of peace and happiness and sets out to break up Tommy’s love affair. Tommy is firm in his conviction that his sweet- : heart is "different” and Bill calls upon her to see if Tommy is right and discovers that she is Patsy, the singer. He j also discovers that she is different from I what he believed all girls to be, and i falls in love with her and she with him. i Tommy proposes to Patsy and is rei jected. although she admits she might have married him if there had not ! been someone else. He carries his j troubles to Bill, who assures him that he will eliminate the other man and gets to Patsy and tells her that she will ! have to marry Tommy. He then goes ! out to do his stunt at the aerodrome ! and goes up in his plane when it is not ! fit for flying. Tommy discovers the j true state of affairs and goes to the l aerodrome to bring Bill back to Patsy. ! Tommy takes Dugan’s plane and goes lup to attempt to drive Bill down; it I Bill takes him for Dugan and leads him so severe a dance that the plane collapses. Bill follows it down and the i final scene places Patsy in Bill’s arms, i while Tommy is rescued from a tcle- | graph pole, where his parachute has I deposited him, to go and take another | charming young lady up for a flight. | The aerial photography is excepti m- | ally good, and last night’s audience ! were treated to many breatL.-taking spins and slips which Boyd carried out in a very capable manner. The supporting feature was Metrotone News in sound, which proved of p, most entertaining nature. BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL CONCERT. The Boys’ High School concert, which will be held in the Theatre Royal for three nights, commencing May 6, promises to be this year "bigger and brighter than ever.” "A Tale of Old Japan,” an Oriental scena introducing scenes from the “Mikado,” will give the whole School choir of over 450 voices an opportunity to display its talent. Special lighting and dressing will be used, and the performance should appeal greatly to the theatregoer. The ballet, which has proved so popular in past years, will appear in an entirely new setting, introducing gorgeous costumes and the very latest steps. The premier danseur and the premiere danseuse are experienced artists. A specially chosen choir of songsters will render a programme of delightful ballads. The soloists this year are particularly good, and an innovation will be noticed in the duets and quartettes. The Preparatory School will be responsible for a very dainty production, "Fanchette from France,” which is certain to meet with approval. A feature will be a solo dance with special stage setting and i dress, which should prove one of the most popular items on the programme. Combining a spectacle of wealth and colour, the stately grandeur of the Royal Castilian House of Spain, and 1 the drab ignorance of the old-time forecastle, the play for this year, “The , Discovery,” is the most ambitious performance that the School Dramatic Society has attempted. The art and : woodwork classes have constructed , Part of an ancient galleon with all its 1 stately trimmings. There will be numerous sketches and individual l items, so that there will not be a dull moment. The performers are determined to make the “Jubilee Con- | cert” an outstanding success. The high 1 standard of past concerts makes this aim rather ambitious, but it is confidently hoped that this year’s effort will surpass even those of past years. As there are likely to be record houses, patrons are advised to book early] Booking will commence at the Bristol to-morrow (Thursday).