AMUSEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18646, 15 August 1930, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

GRAND THEATRE. FAREWELL TO “ROOKERY NOOK.” A matinee this afternoon and tonight’s screening will conclude the successful season of “Rookery Nook.” For the convenience of country patrons this afternoon’s matinee will commence at 1.30. Most people have read the book by Ben Travers, and many have seen the stage play nf the same name, so they will know what to look for in the picture. The film has Britain’s name behind it, but it does not have to rely on this for its appeal. The claim that “there is a laugh in every line” is almost literally true. In addition it has the merit of being essentially an English production, with the attendant good qualities. The picture was made in England at the British Dominions Studios at Elstree. The cast is made up of English players, and their clear melodious speech adds much to the enjoyment of the picture. Tom Wall and Ralph Lynn, two of England’s foremost “Smart Set” comedians, are most happily cast as the cousins, Clive and Gerald Popkiss, and the real honours of the production are credited to the latter, whose “silly ass” type of humour is both broad and subtle, as befitting the part. Wall, as the cynical cousin, makes the most of his somewhat restrained part, and the work of the rest of this talented company would have it appear that they were selected as being most fitting to the respective characters —as they certainly are. All the supporting people being worthy-of most honourable mention, they are Robertson Hart, Ethel Coleridge, Griffith Humphreys, Doreen Bendix, and Margot Graham. So just earmark all these people, together with the principals, for future reference, as being most talented and thorough artists. A brilliant talkie supportingprogramme completes a fine entertainment. Coming to the Grand to-morrow is a new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production, “The Girl Said No,” featuring William Haines. The story depicts Haines as a young man who loses his father and faces the world for himself and family—and the girl won’t love him. It is a comedy drama with far more laughs than tears. ROYAL THEATRE. “ SEVEN FACES.” “Seven Faces,” one of the most unusual pictures yet made, is the current attraction at the Royal Theatre. “Seven Faces,” in addition to having a powerful dramatic story, provides Paul Muni with the greatest opportunity any actor ever had. He is called upon to play seven entirely different roles in the same production. Muni’s chief role is that of Papa Chibou, caretaker of a Parisian wax works, and the other six. which include Napoleon, Schubert, Don Juan, Diablero the Great, Joe Gans and Willie Smith, are wax works statues which come to life. Muni is a master of make-up, and his seven different roles establish him as the foremost character actor of the talking screen. Marguerite Churchill, whose two previous Fox Movietones, “The Valiant” and “Pleasure Crazed” won favourable comment, is co-featured with Muni and Lester Lonergan. Clark and McCullough head a good array of short features in ah hilarious comedy.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. “BIG TIME.” A backstage romance, “Big Time” now at the Majestic Theatre, features Lee Tracy, Mae Clarke and Josephine Dunn. The first two named came from the New York stage where they made individual successes in musical comedy and dramatic productions. Daphne Pollard, celebrated comedienne of the screen, and Stepin Fetchit, inimitable negro comedian, provide the laughs and, there are many from this rollicking pair. The story directed by Kenneth Hawks, concerns a small time hoofer who has an exaggerated idea of his ability and a talented chorus girl who is in love with him. They marry and a naturally interesting event follows. After this event he teams up with another girl and this arrogant song and dance man flops and can’t get another stage job, finally drifting down into despair. How the egotistical “hoofer” is finally made to realise his shortcomings and is converted to a more humble outlook on life, provides a most interesting and dramatic story which is punctuated by many backstage sidelights and some unusual comedy.