AMUSEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18651, 21 August 1930, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

“PLEASURE CRAZED.” AT THE GRAND. With an exciting polo game, a thrilling auto chase, an attempted poisoning and three clever crooks after a rare collection of emeralds: and other stimulating features embodied in the story, “Pleasure Crazed,” the all talking Fox Movietone production which opened at the Royal yesterday, provides plenty of entertainment for its audience. Marguerite Churchill, Kenneth Mac Kenna and Dorothy Burgess, playing the leading roles, give notable performances, and an unusually good supporting cast includes Campbell Gullen and Henry Kolker. The film is one of the best modern dramas to reach the talking screen. Included in the fact that “Pleasure Crazed” is an adaptation of an excellent stage play by Monckton Hoffe, “The Scent of Sweet Almonds” is the quality of the players, most of whom have made their marks in other important stage and screen successes. The quality of the synchronisation is such as to elicit the highest praises from the most discriminating. Good supports also are screened. “THE DELIGHTFUL ROGUE.” AT THE MAJESTIC. “The Delightful Rogue,” starring Rod la Rocque and Rita la Roy is the principal feature of a programme of varied interest at the Majestic Theatre. “The Delightful Rogue” tells at length the bold adventures of a modern pirate, the notorious Captain Lastro (Rod la Rocque) and his final sucess in winning the love of Nydra, a dancing girl in the Barbary Cafe. The setting of the picture, which is one of its best features, is an island off the coast of Mexico, and the fascinating Captain Lastro, at the mention of whose name the population trembles, is a Mexican, who has apparently been successful enough in the pirate business to acquire a palatial yacht. There is a price on his head in the island, and a company of soldiers led by an extremely fat captain to see that the law is upheld. But danger is just the salt of life to Lastro, and, when he finds that posters around the island township display a photograph of him and offer a reward for his capture, he decides that the picture does not do him justice, and he goes ashore to present a better one to the military authorities. Exciting incidents follow, but Lastro wins through. The remainder of the programme consists of clever and amusing short features. “ GUILTY.” AT THE GRAND. Romance, drama and thrills vie for supremacy in “Guilty?”—a Columbia all-talking drama with Virginia Valli and John Holland in the leading roles —that opened at the Grand Theatre last night. Based on a modern version of the circumstantial evidence theme, this film supplies entertainment of the most absorbing type. It was directed by George B. Seitz. The plot is a powerful one. Trouble starts when Judge Lee, internationally famous attorney, railroads Senator Daniel Polk to a Federal prison on a trumped-up bribery charge. Ten years later, Polk's daughter, Carolyn, and Bob Lee, son of the judge, meet and fall in love. Polk, released from prison on parole, consents to the marriage for the sake of Carolyn’s happiness. Judge Lee’s attitude is entirely opposite. Polk, feeling that his very existence is a bar to hie daughter’s happiness, decides to commit suicide by taking poison. Because it had been proven that young Bob Lee had been in possession of the poison that caused Polk’s death, he is arrested and tried for the murder. Circumstantial evidence is all against him and he is convicted and sentenced to death. How he is saved, when in the very shadow of death, supplies the rest of the action for this intensely absorbing story. Roles were admirably handled by the entire cast, John St. Polis, Lydia Knott, Erville Alderson, and Eddie Clayton play supporting parts. MAURICE CHEVALIER IN “THE LOVE PARADE.” Having been given a story worthy of his superb talents, Maurice Chevalier comes to the Majestic Theatre on Saturday in “The Love Parade,” a charming, sophisticated romance of a mythical kingdom. It is an excellent story, and it has the advantage of the full facilities of Paramount-Fam-ous Lasky. The French star made his picture under the direction of Ernst Lubitsch, and therefore, was not only permitted to show, but was assisted in showing what he really can do with subtlety and humour. The combination is irresistible. Lubitsch and Chevalier are precious, the one paving the way and the other doing the stuff. Jeanette MacDonald has been a musical comedy and operetta star long enough to know all there is is know about the presentation of this type of story, and her sweetness and charm are indisputable. Besides, she has a voice that records perfectly via the microphone. The principals in “The Love Parade,” know their business, and use their talents to the best advantage. There are six excellent songs in this piece. Standing out conspicuously is Miss Jeanette Macdonald’s “My Dream Lover.” This is the theme-song, and it fits /erfectly into the plot and into the general construction of the story. Mr Maurice Chevalier sings “Paris Stay the Same.” These two performers sing as a duet “Anything to Please the Queen.” Mr Lupino Lane and Miss Lillian Roth contribute a comedy duet, “Let’s Be Common”; and, finally, there is an excellent chorus, “The March of the Grenadiers,” sung with martial spirit by some forty voices. For the rest, this story in word song and picture of real love in a mythical kingdom fills in an hour and a half very acceptably, and, it must be admitted very profitably, for it takes the mind away from dull care, and. with its lighter touches, makes the heart beat merrily. The appearance of Mr Chevalier, described as prince of love and laughter, is a notable event. He carries out the part of the handsome young attache, first Count Alfred, then Prince Consort, and finally King of Sylvania, to perfection. Almost equal j in acting is Miss MacDonald; and not far behind in merit are Mr Lane, the count’s valet, and Miss Roth, the queen’s maid. The story itself is all action and colour, well constructed, admirably set, artistic throughout. The whole production is delightfully fresh, especially in the humorous parts, in which Mr Lane and Miss Roth show their qualities as comedian and comedienne. Box plans for the season open at the Bristol this morning. ,