AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19512, 10 June 1933, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS

“THE RINGER.” AT THE REGENT. As a book “The Ringer” commanded an enormous sale, as a stage play it made new records, as a silent film it was a complete success; and now as a talkie it sets another feather in the cap of British producers. Of that fact theatregoers will be able to judge for themselves to-day when “The Ringer” opens at the Regent Theatre. Compared with the play, the talkie loses nothing, but rather gains, by the swift changes of scene, and by settings which were impossible on the stage. From the opening scene to the very last one, the interest of the audience is given no chance to slacken. Getting smartly under way, the story moves at an everincreasing pace and with steadilygrowing suspense toward the climax when “The Ringer” is at last unmasked, but manages again to slip through the fingers of the police. Like Raffles, Robin Hood, and countless other romantic law-breakers, the hero of the film Is actually, according to our legal code, the villain; but he never once loses the sympathy of the audience through the fact that he is a hunted criminal. His original crime, which caused him to become hunted, is not disclosed; and the story presents him merely as a just avenger, merciless certainly, but with every reason to be so —even the police admit that—whose final escape brings a sigh of relief from the audience. "TROUBLE IN PARADISE.” AT THE MAJESTIC. Outstanding direction, a scintillating cast and an entertaining story are said to be the elements which raise “Trouble in Paradise," which opens at the Majestic Theatre to-day, in to a class above the average film. In almost any others hands “Trouble in Paradise," while good, would have failed to be brilliant; but in the hands of the great Ernst Lubitsch and his 100 per cent team of players it Is stamped all over with the hall-mark of superiority. It rises far above the level of ordinary pictures of the same type simply because It has been directed by a master of screen strategy, and acted by intelligent players capable of very great finesse. The plot deals with two engaging crooks who meet by accident and plan to rob a wealthy business woman. The chief crook being England's own favourite actor, Herbert Marshall, his accomplice Miriam Hopkins, and his victim Kay Francis, it follows almost as certsdnly as the night the day that the complications of triangular intrigue are not long in coming to view. But no triangle, comic or otherwise, has ever been more neatly drawn; and few propositions in human nature have been so cleverly solved without violation of the rules. Herbert Marshall curries off his role with his usual easy manner, and his ability to cope with any style of part. “DESTRY RIDES AGAIN.” FINE TOM MIX FILM. Tom Mix, the popular Western star, is said to have an ideal vehicle to mark his return to the screen, after an absence of three years, in "Destry Rides Again,” which will be the attraction at the Theatre Royal to-day. The popular Max Brand novel of a wildcat cowboy who was framed to prison by a ring of unscrupulous politicians and who emerged from the bars, years later, to pay his debt to each member of the jury, is a perfect vehicle for the virile cowpuncher. The pictorial excellence of the picture is greatly enhanced by one of the prettiest leading ladies in Hollywood—blonde Claudia Dell and the Texas beauty distinguished herself In Zlegfeld's Follies before screendom claimed her. Earle Foxe and Stanley Fields are convincing villains and Francis Ford, Frederick Howard and Edward Peale all contribute to the completeness of the picture. Tony, Mix's wonder horse and inseparable pal of many a movie campaign, is back too, and even he may prove to be smarter, more alert and agile by reason of his circus experience. SPIVAKOVSKY-KURTZ CONCERT. RETURN CONCERT NEXT MONDAY. An exceptionallly attractive programme is announced for the return concert to be given in the Theatre Royal next Monday evening by the world-famous trio of instrumentalists, Jascha Spivakovsky, Tossy Splvakovsky and Edmund Kurtz. The principal ensemble will be the moving Tschaikovsky Trio in A Minor, dedicated “to the memory of a great artist,” a work with which the name of the Spiva-kovsky-Kurtz players is associated throughout Europe. Mr Tossy Spivakovsky's violin solos will include the popular Schubert-Wilhelmj “Ave Maria.” Beethoven’s Turkish March from the “Ruins of Athens” cantata, and the Joachim arrangement of Brahms’s Hungarian Dance No. 1. Mr Edmund Kurtz will introduce a new 'cello sonata by J. B. Breval, and Mr Jascha Spivakovsky will be heard in Liszt’s monumental transcription of the Bach Organ Fantasy and Fugue in G minor. This concert will provide a last opportunity for local music-lovers of hearing this combination of musicians, who are due to leave New Zealand later in this month for Australia en route to Europe. Plans are at Begg's.