AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20063, 21 March 1935, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE “BERKELEY SQUARE” “Berkeley Square,” heralded as one of the year’s outstanding photoplays, opened at the Majestic Theatre yesterday and thereby hangs a tale of superb film entertainment, some of the best acting ever seen, and direction that has rarely been surpassed. It is the Fox production made by Jesse L. Lasky, in which Leslie Howard has the stellar role and which Frank Lloyd directed. The theme of the film, as it takes a young man of to-day back 150 years into the life of his ancestors, has already aroused more comment than did the John L. Balderston play from which it was taken. It is a theme of so unusual a nature that its skilful handling makes it a distinct cinematic pleasure. Leslie Howard gives the best performance of his brilliant career. When you see him as the youth who goes through time practically at will, you realise that he is the only one on a long roster of capable actors who could do the job. Heather Angel has the leading feminine role opposite him and her presence l bespeaks a perfect selection. REGENT THEATRE “LADIES SHOULD LISTEN” On of this season’s surprises of the screen is Paramount’s “Ladies Should Listen,” which opened yesterday at the Regent Theatre, in which Cary Grant reveals a new facet of his versatility. This bubbling, Continental comedy gives Cary Grant a chance to display his abilities to the fullest extent as a competent farceur. The story is one of complicated situations in which a young Parisian man-about-town finds himself with an option on a nitrate concession on his hands plus one of his many sweethearts w T ho. with her husband, is trying to rob him of the concession. The telephone operator in his hotel is also in love with him, and through the medium of the switchboard tries to straighten out his affairs, only to succeed in complicating them still further until happy chance helps to resolve them. Frances Drake, one of the most promising of the newe • crop of film players, does some very fine work as the telephone operator, while the picture is made still lurther interesting by Charles Ray who stages his film comeback in the role of a doorman. PRIZE-WINNING PLAYS PRESENTATION IN LITTLE PLAYHOUSE Of great interest to those interested in community drama in South Canterbury is the announcement that the three placed plays in the One Act Play-writ-ing Competition for 1934, conducted oy the South Canterbury Drama League, will be presented in the Little Playhouse on Monday evening next, March 25. The presentation of the prizewinning plays, which will be made under the capable direction of the Repertory Section of the Drama League, provides an opportunity for those interested to witness for themselves the advances made in playwriting as a result of the League’s work in promoting a love of community drama. Besides, the winning plays are reported to be of such a high standard that an excellent evening’s entertainment should be provided. The plays to be presented are as follow: “Glorious Failure,” by W. J. Parsons; “The Roundhill Block,” by Mrs R. L. Wigley; “Koea Koea Calls,” by Mrs E. R. Goulter. The box plan opens at Begg’s this morning. PLEASANT POINT TALKIES Sponsored by the Racial Hygiene Association, “Damaged Lives,” which will be screened at Pleasant Point Talkies at 8 o’clock to-night, and also at a special matinee for • women only at 2.30 p.m. to-day, has been described by leading newspaper editors and critics as a “great motion picture,” and as a dramatic education in fundamental truths which every person over the age of 16 years should know. It is a love story, sincerely and beautifully portrayed, and at the same time, is a picture with a most important purpose. No children under 16 years will be admitted.