THE THEATRES

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18940, 10 December 1929, Page 7

THE THEATRES

ATTRACTIONS FOR THE WEEK

EVERYBODY’S THEATRE “ THE DUKE STEPS OUT ’’ EVERYBODY’S THEATRE “ THE FAR CALL ’* GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE “ THUNDERBOLT ” LIBERTY THEATRE “THE HOLE IN THE WALL” GRAND THEATRE “TILLY’S PUNCTURED ROMANCE” GRAND THEATRE “ FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE ” STRAND THEATRE “ WEST POINT ” STRAND THEATRE “ ROMANCE OF THE UNDERWORLD ” THEATRE ROYAL Talking Picture, “INNOCENTS OF PARIS ” FULLER’S OPERA HOUSE Musical Comedy Co. in “ SUNNY.” RADIANT HALL BENEFIT CONCERT (To-night) RADIANT HALL Rotary Club’s Musical RECITAL (Thursday) RADIANT HALL DANCE RECITAL (Saturday) CALEDONIAN HALL Boys’ High School DRAMATIC PERFORMANCE (Thursday) CIVIC THEATRE Orchestral Society’s CONCERT (Wednesday) CIVIC THEATRE MALE VOICE CHOIR (Thursday and Saturday)

FINE PROGRAMME AT EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. There is a treat in store for silent picture patrons at Everybody’s Theatre. The features, which were shown for the first time in Christchurch last night, are “The Far Call” and “The Duke Steps Out,” both exceptionally good pictures in their class. William Haines and Joan Crawford play the leads in the main feature, “The Duke Steps Out.” They are so well known in the movie world as to require little introduction. Sufficient is it to say that their acting in this production is equal to anything they have yet done. It is a deliciously amusing comedy, and running through it are the wittiest sub-titles. Haines invades a new field of sport for him, and becomes for a time a prize-fighter, staging a realistically sensational ring battle as one of the highlights of the production. He also attends college, succeeding until the last moment in concealing his identity from the girl in the case, who was the reason for his presence at the college. His quick wit and whimsical humour find ample opportunities for expression! There are three major thrills, a fight in the coN lege, a big ring fight, and a general mixup in a cafe. While the picture abounds

in comedy of the more subtle type it is essentially a love story, and the fight scenes serve to form a vivid background for the central romance. Karl Dane and Tenen Holtz supply many a laugh in the fight episodes as manager and trainer. Delmer Daves, a genuine collegian, and Eddie Nugent, are also members of the cast. It is an excellent production, and well worth seeing. “The Far Call” is adapted from Edeson Marshall’s book of the same name, and stars- Leila Ply am s and Charles Morton. It is the story of a modern buccaneer, and opens in a Chinese cabaret on the Shanghai waterfront, where a plot is being hatched to raid a seal station on the Island of St Paul in Alaskan waters. Morton plays the ringleader, and things go along swimmingly until he meets the one girl for him. Then he discovers that he himself was born on the island, and when things are ripe for carrying out the raid he calls it off. This does not satisfy his followers, and they proceed to carry it out without him. The result is disaster. The audience is treated to more good fights of a different nature. Every, thing turns out all right in the finish, and the hero, of course, marries the girl The “shorts” are of a very entertaining nature. They include topical reviews of world's events. The following jnusical programme is given by the Select Orchestra under the conductorship of Mr Albert Bidgood:—Overture, “Rio Rita” (Henderson) ; suites, “Country Sketches” (Howgill), “Open Road” (Wood), “Carnival” (Florindo) and “Minehaha" (Taylor); selections, “Lakme” (Delibes), “Lucia di Lammermoor” (Donizetti), “Remembrances of Verdi” (Godfrey) and “From the South’* (Nicode); overture, “Joan of Arc” (Grimaldi), “Hiawatha (Taylor), “Vanity Fair” (Fletcher) and “Mazurka” (Schaewenka); foxtrots, “Ever So Goosey” (Connolly) and “Why, Dear?” (Carrick); entr’acte, “Ole Man River” (Kern).

FINE TALKIE, " THE HOLE IN THE WALL,” <• AT LIBERTY THEATRE.

People who visit the Liberty Theatre this week will have no cause to complain of any lack of thrills, for the principal picture on the programme, “ The Hole in the Wall,” is as exciting and as mysterious probably as any that has ever been screened in Christchurch. Certainly, it is the most perplexing talkie that Christchurch theatregoers have been privileged to witness. The authors of the story have mixed up the doings of a gang of criminals with a spice of the supernatural in a manner that keeps the audience in a state of the greatest expectancy during the whole of the time that the film is being screened. While it is by no means a study in spiritualism it has in many respects a spiritualistic background that greatly enhances the dramatic qualities of the play. Apart from that aspect it is a well connected story, well told and well acted, and has quite enough merit apart from Its mystery to make it satisfying talkie fare. The development of the “ shorts ” since the advent of the talkies has lent a character altogether new to picture entertainments, and has brought a variety that is extremely refreshing and pleasing. The news films in their talkie form are certainly a great improvement on their older prototypes. This week’s “ News of the World ” includes a very up-to-date selection of the most important happenings of recent times, and demonstrates how important a factor this type of film has now become in keeping with people thoroughly up-to-date in what is happening in other lands. The ” Whimsical Nonsense ” of Clapham and Dwyer, the noted English vaudeville comedians, makes a bright spot in the programme. Clapham and Dwyer are an exceedingly gifted pair

ist A S ’ ve , ry versatile and very funny ? i f2 lt .’ s audience doubtless wished that their film had been a little longer Yankee Doodle Boy” provided a distinct novelty. it is a song cartoon, fancifully and delightfully done, , an of yet another sphere in the entertainment line that the talkies have been able to enter with perfect success, “ The Dylnpp Jungle ” w i* s tne title of a most interesting study of what was “ Darkest Africa,” a territory into which the light of civilisation is fast spreading its rays. There were given ip this picture some especially ‘l ll6l ’* B * l **® views bf animals, formerly wild and hunted' in this region, but now enjoying the immunity that a national reservation provides for them. The giraffes, of which’ sotne considerable herds were depicted, .delighted the audience. The picture was interesting also for the manner in which it illustrated the industrial progress that is being made in this region. In addition to these “shorts” there is a delightful nonsense comedy, “ Lucky in Love,” in which Clyde Cook, as the principal character, . keeps the audience in continuous merriment during the time the picture is being screened. The dialogue In this picture is very witty and some of the situations are ludricrous in the extreme. , With such excellent “ shorts ” to precede it, “ The' Hole in the Wall ” makes a first-class evening’s entertainment, and the new -programme should prove extremely popular during this week. “ THUNDERBOLT ” IS Story of underworld . AT CRYSTAL PALACE. With a deep, resonant voice of wide range, Mr George Bancroft, in matter of sound, as well as in attitude, gesture, and action, possesses a peculiar combination of talents, which fit perfectly into all the requirements of the talkies and movies. He is a big man, physically strong, with well-marked features and a dominating personality. • In “Thunderbolt” he has .been given a part which, if done properly, calls for all those qualities. This is a big picture, covering phases and incidents in the sinister notorious underworld of New York, and reaching its climax in a scene in Sing Sing Prison. A night club and all it implies, charges of robbery and murder, a death sentence, an escape, a recapture, a bank hold-up, revenge, a wrongful conviction, love, arid repentence, are in the make-up of the story, which swings along iwlth. rapid strides to an unexpected but by no means unnatural, ending. Mr Josef von Sternberg, who, by the way-, produced “Under, world,” took ’’Tunderbolt” in hand, and with his experience behind him, made a wise selection of the players. Mr Bancroft is head and shoulders above all the others, partly because he is peculiarly suited to play the rugged, selfwilled, dauntless gang-leader, but it must be admitted that "Thunderbolt” would not be the success it was at' Crystal Palace last evening if Miss

Fay Wray and Mr Richard Arlen were not in the cast. While Mr Bancroft’s acting, probably, is as powerful as anything that has been done in the talkies, their work is subtle and full of art. It is studied restraint with which they achieve most of their effect. Mention should be made of another notable player. This is King Tut, apparently a cross between a bull-terrier and an Airedale, who appears in a fairly large number of scenes and takes his part as the wonderful dog with credit. The big picture was introduced by a series of talkies, some of which made the hearts of all present merry, and filled the theatre with laughter. A sharp contrast to “Thunderbolt,” these items gave the programme the variety that the public, in their amusements, like. First came Mr Edison, Mr Ford, and Mr Lewis Miller, who has done much to establish the Chautauqua system of adult education, from which the summer school has sprung. The three great Americans appear together and chat together. Another rapid change, and there is a demonstration of broadcasting thought by .radio. It is explained that in this there is nothing super-natural. The audience are not let into the secret. They are merely asked to think of the name of a person now prominent in the world. The name is written down by the broadcaster, who puts it in a sealed envelope. He promised to disclose the name next week. In view of the greatest man in the trio who spoke a few minutes previously, a man of many inventions, a guess may be made at the name uppermost in the minds of most of the listeners. Introduced by magnificent music, the Florentine Choir, of Florence, comes on to the screen, and sings solos, hymns, and choruses, tlieir voices blending perfectly, and, at times, reaching a great volume of sound. Finally, * by way of a still greater change, there was a most amusing and delightful novelty caricature talkie item, representing, more quaintly than ever before, some of the old songs. The first was “Auld Lang Syne,” particularly well sung, and the melody of “Good-bye, Ladies, We Have to Leave You Now” was charming.

HAROLD LLOYD STARS IN COMEDY PROGRAMME AT GRAND THEATRE. No one who knows anything of the pleasures of life will deny laughter a high place in the list, and there could be no doubt that the audience at the Grand Theatre last night had special cause to indulge in it. An excellent programme of comedy is headed by Harold Lloyd in one of his latest pictures, “ For Heaven’s Sake.” It might be thought that Harold Lloyd would have used up all his original tricks by this time, but in “ Heaven’s Sake ” he breaks still more new ground. During the whole screening last night the audience was kept in a continuous roar of laughter. Harold plays the part of a care-free young millionaire—at least he is care-free until one fateful dav when he journeys to a slum square in

the city, where he lives. He accidentally sets fire to a coffee stall, but owing to an amusing misunderstanding gives a missionary enough money for a mission hall instead of paying for the damaged stall. Then Harold meets the missioner’s beautiful daughter (Jobyna Ralston) and his fate is sealed. The best scene of all in the picture is where Harold in an attempt to please the young lady gets a mob of gangsters to attend the hall. He does so by annoying them individually until they chase him into the hall. Just as it looks as if he will be torn to pieces when the bad men get him outside he wins them over by saving them from the police. Harold has many more amazing adventures, which end with his marriage to the missionary’s daughter. The comedy note in the programme is well sustained by the second big picture, “ Tillie’s Punctured Romance,” starring Louise Fazenda, Chester Conk-

lin and W. C. Fields. Circus life is the background for this clever comedy. Tillie, stage struck after seeing the handsome trapeze man, runs away from her German step-father and joins the circus. The fun then begins in earnest. When America enters the war, the proprietor (Chester Conklin) says he is too old to fight, but will take his circus to France to amuse the troops. He does so and after the show is welcomed at a small village by a fierce bombardment falls into the hands of Tillie’s step-father, now a general in the German army The lions escape in time, however, and save the situation by scaring the whole army for miles around. The programme is completed with another exciting chapter of the serial, “ The Pirate of Panama.” “ INNOCENTS OF PARIS ” IS EXCELLENT TALKIE AT THEATRE ROYAL. So successful was the presentation of the talkie. “Innocents of Paris,” at the Theatre Royal last week, that the management has arranged for an extended season. This picture is so rich in music and wit, and is such a gorgeous spectacle in the more colourful parts, that it must stand out from most others. Such productions make one realise the boundless possibilities of the talkies as a high-class entertainment, and wonder at the short space of time taken for their near perfection. The story is much of the type of two other fine talkies which have appeared at the Theatre Royal, in that it revolves round the stage, a gifted nobody who, goaded to ambition by the scorn of the father of the girl he loves, rises to fame almost in a day, and the attractions which he meets there to bring complications into his love affair. The leading part, that of Maurice, is a wonderful conception, and is wonderfully played by Maurice Chevalier. His acting is bdyond reproach, and his voice, very reminiscent of A 1 Jolson’s, has an irresistible attraction. Opposite him, as Louise, is Sylvia Beecher, one of the most attractive ladies the talkies have discovered. The “shorts” which precede “Innocents of Paris” are again of exceptional merit and variety. There is pinging, dancing and novelty numbers with a leaning toward the comic side which puts the audience in good humour for what is to follow. THE LILIES OF THE FIELD " CONCLUDES SUCCESSFUL SEASON. “The Lilies of the Field,” the clever play given by the Canterbury Repertory Society in the Radiant Hall, concluded its season last evening. The play, which was much appreciated, attracted crowded houses during its presentation.

—v. LABOUR CARNIVAL. The eight-day carnival organised by the Labour Party to aid the party fund*, was continued opposite the Railway Station last evening, and was well attended. There will be the usual attractions to-night. To-morrow there will be a grand fancy dress dance for children, and prizes will be given for tha best and most original dresses. A boxing ring has been fitted up, where local boxers stage exhibition bouts.

BRIGHT COMEDY AT THE NEW OPERA HOUSE. “Sunny,” a bright musical comedy ! is now being presented at the New Opera House by the talented company that has been appearing there for some weeks. “Sunny,” with its pleasing music, attractive scenes and humour, is of thebetter class of musical comedy, and, • like many equally successful shows, it hails from New York. The plot has a

. simple framework. Freddie Forbes, the English comedian, who is the victim of the plot, has become a great favourite with local audiences. His art is not helped out by any elaborate make-up ’ as a “funny man.” He gains his effect by amusing mannerisms and clever patter. Miss Betty Lambert as “Sunny,” the circus girl, has a part that suits her admirably. A good stage appearance is, : one of her marked assets. The scenery ; and lighting effects are excellent. : MURDER MYSTERY ' OPENS NEXT WEEK AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE. People possibly are still talking about } that talking picture, “The Canary Murder Case,” and of the advent on the • screen of America’s Sherlock Holmes, Philo Vance. These murder mysteries , woven round the infallible person of Vance are froln the pen of S. S. Van Dine, who is to the Americans what Edgar Wallace and Conan Doyle are to us. Yet another of his clever, ingenious mystery stories is on the talking screen, this time “The Greene Murder Case,” and as an all-talkie film will open a season at Crystal Palace Talkies next Monday. Once again, as in the forerunner, William Powell plays Vance, the super-detective and criminologist; but whereas in the first picture he had only one mysterious murder to fathom, in this film he lias several. One by one, the Greene family are exterminated by a hidden, diabolical hand, and from the startled expression on the race of the first victim, perceived by Vance, it is gathered that the murderer is a friend or relative. Box plans open at The Bristol Piano Company on Thursday morning.