THE THEATRES

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18959, 3 January 1930, Page 7

THE THEATRES

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TALKING PICTURES

CRYSTAL. PALACE "CHARMING SINNERS." LIBERTY THEATRE "THE MISSISSIPPI GAMBLER" CIVIC THEATRE “ COQUETTE.” CIVIC THEATRE " THE TRESPASSER " (Commencing Friday 1 ). THEATRE ROYAL “ THE LAST OF MRS CHEYNEY.” <■ SILENT PICTURES. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE "THE BRIDGE OF SAN LUIS REY.” EVERYBODY'S THEATRE " THE ONE WOMAN IDEA." GRAND THEATRE " PARTNERS IN CRIME." GRAND THEATRE “UNDER THE TONTO RIM" STRAND THEATRE "THE FIRE BRIGADE." STRAND THEATRE "A PEEP BEHIND THE SCENES.” OTHER ENTERTAINMENTS. FULLERS’ OPERA HOUSE GERALD S REVUE COMPANY.

LIBERTY WILL SHOW “ BROADWAY ” TALKIE.

After some six months of talkies in the city theatres, the theatre-groin*; public by now accept these remarkable entertainments as somethin*? quite in the way of our everyday existence. It has to be a particularly brilliant talkie to Jerk the public up into a suitable appreciation of what the film producers are doing, and “ Broadway/' it is claimed, is the picture that is going to do the Jerking. This film will be produced at Liberty Theatre Talkies next week, a spectacular singing, dancing and talking picture that sees Glenn Tryon in the leading rrne, supported immediately by Merna Kennedy, Evelyn Brent and Leslie Fenton, besides many other characters. The picture itself is built on a colossai scale, reminiscent of the old Cecil de Mille days: the story is a very good one, strong drama for the most part, and most emphatically not a slender plot that is merely an excuse for a series of songs and dances. What songs and dances there are (and they are just enough, and most delightful), are rendered by the singing and dancing choruses between the acts of the drama, as it were. There are some sequences in technicolour, scenes that are the last word in splendour; the costumes of the artists are attractive, and the music, specially written for the production by Conrad. Mitchell and Gottler, is excescessively tuneful, and the words of the songs are witty. The story takes one back of Broadway, that most famous theatrical thoroughfare, on to the real Broadwav. It is not a drama of backstage, but the characters are show people, and the picture is just sufficiently tinged with show life to give it that touch of glamour and fascination that makes the rest of the world eager and greedy to look on. The acting, speaking, singing and dancing are the best seen in a musical picture so far. Merna Kennedy and Glenn Tryon, as a team in a night club, are immense. Tryon is as amusing as he was in stlents. The box plans for “ Broadway *’ are now at The Bristol Piano Company, where seats may be reserved. CHARMING SINNERS *’ AT CRYSTAL PALACE. Mr Maugham's latest play, “The Constant Wife,” now has come to Crystal Palace with the title “Charming Sinners.” Mr G. B. Shaw speaks on holiday visits to the seaside. There is a touching scene of the pilgrimage to the sacred grotto at Lourdes, in France. Several popular artists are heard in songs. A delightfully grotesque caricature, cleverly done in outline, has a popular song as the theme. “If Men Played Cards as Women Do ” is a mild and good-natured burlesque of the chatter at a ladies’ card party. EXCELLENT FILM AT JE VERYBODY’S THEATRE. A fine picture,’ " The Bridge of San Luis Re3',”' heads the programme at Everybody'S Theatre. The second feature film is r* The One Woman Idea.” It fs an interesting study of the ideas of east and west. The supporting programme shows the Prince of Wales looking on at an aerial pageant, in which there is some realistic bombing, and among other pictures the 46.500-ton steamer Bremen is shown on her recent record-breaking trip across the Atlantic. “ PARTNERS IN CRIME " AT GRAND THEATRE. The partnership between Wallace Beery and Raymond Hatton has produced some of the most successful screen comedy of recent years, and in their latest production, “ Partners in Crime.” they have once more made an extremely entertaining comedy. The prr>gramme contains a second star picture in “ Tender the Tnnto Rim.” based on Zane Grey’s well-kno'wn story of the same name. Chapter ten of “ The Pirate of Panama” is screened. FINE PROGRAMME AT THE LIBERTY THEATRE. The principal picture at Liberty’ Theatre, “ The Mississippi Gambler,” is a triumph for Joseph Schildkraut, an actor who has come to the front since the introduction of this new type of entertainment. There are two very fine dancing pictures. One is in a semicomedy, entitled “Delicatessen,” a Jewish study, while the other is Irish in nature. One of the most topical of the news items is a sound picture of the final of the Davis Cup between Tilden and Borotra. THEATRE ROYAL HAS FINE ATTRACTION. The all-dialogue picture version of “ The Last of Mrs Cheyney ” is the present attraction at the Theatre Royal. The task of presenting Frederick Lonsdale’s well-known play as a talkie has been accomplished with the greatAt possible success. Norma Shearer, undoubtedly one of , the best actresses engaged in screen wbrk, is at the head of an exceptionally strong cast, every member of which speaks cultured English without a trace of American accent. The restriction imposed by the necessity for picking players with suitable voices has not prevented the producers from securing artists excellently adapted to the parts they have to play. The settings have ail been chosen with the best taste, and are not. as is too often the case, ostentatious. All this first-rate material is given its full value in “ The Last of Mrs Cheynej-.” probably Frederick Lonsdale’s best, and certainly one of his most successful plays. The principal crisis in the action develops when Lord Arthur Dilling discovers that the beautiful Mrs f’heyney, a recent recruit to his social circle, is a thief. The events that follow are intensely dramatic. The ending is all improbable. but delightfully so. The dialogue throughout is crisp and full of the neat things which Frederick Lonsdale seems to give forth with such ease. Norma Shearer has adapted herself to the new conditions imposed by the talkies, and in doing so gives further proof of her outstanding talents. As Lord Dilling. Basil Rntbbone is the sporting type of English peer He make* U se o'- .... .t»i—difficult y is taken very’ successfully Bunston. who appears as Lord Elton. Dt.her well-known screen artists »T -pear in the smaller parts, and the work done is a credit to all concerned. The principal feature in the remainder of the programme is an “ Our Gang ” comedy, in which the troupe of mischievous children, who are well known to every picture goer, make a successful debut into the talkies. The negro members of the “ gang ” and a whole zoo or domestic animaLs are the principal actors. Interesting glimpses of banpeninga overseas are contained in a news film, and another picture shows several vaudeville items, including a male quartette and two or three jazz

FINE REVUE AT THE OPERA HOUSE,

COLOURFUL BALLETS ARE FEATURE OF SHOW. Sir Benjamin and Mr John Fuller are to be congratulated upon having obtained the talent of Jim Gerald’s Revue Company for a Christchurch season. In turn, Jim Gerald deserves the thanks of the many patrons of the Ntew Opera House for the inspiration which produced his musical comedy revue, “Oh, Mum!” It is in a class by itself as far as entertainments at the New Opera House are concerned, and the entire programme. including some bright vaudeville and colourful ballets in the first half, is a credit to the company. There is not a dull moment in the two and a half hours of fun and fancy, and tho new programme last night, which was givien to a crowded holiday house, went with a delightful swing from beginning to end. Patrons left the theatre with the wish that more could be seen of the versatile comedian, who, as a “digger/' had brightened the outlook of hundreds of men in the camps at the base. The revue sparkles with wit at. every turn. There is no string of dull moments livened with an occasional burst of mirth, but the dialogue is bright throughout. As Mrs Muggins, Jim Gerald is wonderful as a female impersonator—and such a female! His creative mind has infused into the character many oddities which will long be remembered with a broad smile of tolerance and even sympathy. Mrs Muggins,, who has accounted for almost as many husbands as she has children,, has a way of her own. and she generally gets it. There is little of the farcical about the story or the acting, and one unconsciously enters into the many tribulations of the house of Muggins and enjoys them immensely, particularly when the sophisticated widow is a central figure on the stage. Her bring-ing-up of her son and daughter, Horace and Emma, is a treat to see and hear. , Essie Jennings, as Emma, gives an excellent characterisation of the daughter who is growing in knowledge and clueekiness, while Ronnie Shand, as the obvious boy, is responsible for many hearty laughs. The part of Mr Flint, the landlord, who combines rent collecting with the courtship of Mrs Muggins, is taken by Reg. Hawthorne in good stvle, while Mr Shrewdie (Howard Hall) provides many opportunities for the wide-awake widow to score heavily Miss Iris May. as Sarah Muggins, renders one of the best of the musical numbers in “Clierie.” She has a comparatively swteet voice of fair range. The many other daughters of Mrs Muggins are Kitty (Linda Foy), Maggie (Lily Coburn), Eliza (Olivette), Phoebe (Lettv Craydon) and Daisy CJoan Graham). The Six Twinklers assist in the "horuses and provide some very colourful ballets, in which the quality of the dancing is outstanding. The staging of the revue ,is well carried out. The numbers inelucs® a dlever dance specialty bv Joan Graham and Ronnie Shand, in addition to catchy songs by Letty Cravdon. Tom Dale, Jim Gerald, Reg.' Hawthorne, I And a Foy, Lily Coburn and Essie Jennings. “Happv Ideas” is the collective title given to the numbers preceding the revue. Lily Coburn sings “Why Should 1 Weep About Qnp Sweetie?” in a little act well up .to standard, and In* May \3 the central figure in the song Walking with Susie,” with ballet. One of tho best dancing items is given by Ronnie Shand. who shows exceptional cleverness. A little act concerning a muchhaunted house provided many thrills and not a little laughter, and in this Jim Gerald and Reg. have the house screaming and laughing b> turns. The best scene of the lot is that where Hawaiian songs are sung and characteristic dances given, in a setting of palm trees under a mellow moon. To Linda Foy is entrusted the singing, and the dancing falls to the share of Joan Graham and Ronnie Shand CIVIC THEATRE SHOWS - THE TRESPASSER." A mother love theme, dealt with without any of the crudities of melodrama, can make a wonderfully alluring picture. This fact was demonstrated to a big audience at the Civic Theatre on Tuesday evening, when a preview was given of “ The Trespasser.” a picture that ought to bring Gloria Swanson greater fame than all the good work she has done on the silent sheet. The season of "The Trespasser” began at the Civic to-day. The story is a charming one, charmingly told and superbly acted. It is fairly safe to say that the people who see this picture will carry the memory of it with them long after they have forgotten all about less notable films. Gloria Swanson impresses in a really remarkable manner. Her dramatic acting possesses a power that is strangely gripping. Her voice is excellent and her singing is not the least charming feature of the picture. She seems to be the very personification of joyousness in the early and happy phases of the picture—her impersonation of the happy wife is quite a triumph. But it is in the moments of. tragedy that she really grips, and it is in the moments when she tells the primmest passages of the story that she does the work that keeps her face lingering in the memory long after one has left the theatre. She achieves it all without melodramatic aid. There is nothing declamatory about her, there is no obvious posturing. And yet it is all so very convincing, and It seems so very real. A good cast of supporting artists permits the excellent work of the star to have full effect, and the tale appears to have no weak spots. The fortunes of the characters flow naturally from episode to episode, each one a natural consequence of its predecessor. Thus there is created the impression that one is looking on, not at a story that has been written, but at some passages from real life. It is the kind of thing that all can enjoy, for it does not ask too much of credulity. It may be that audiences who see this film will regard it as the greatest talkie that has yet come to Christchurch: it seems inconceivable that anybody will be other than delighted with it. It should secure for Gloria Swanson an assured place in tlie affections of the picture loving public. The box plans are at The Bristol, Begg's and The Farmers’ to-day. CHINESE FILM FOR THE CRYSTAL PALACE. A picture that immediately calls forth the dictum that "it is the finest talking picture of its type that has been so far screened in the city” is “The Mysterious Dr Fu Manchu,” from the story by Sax Rohmer, and which will be shown at Crystal Palace Talkies next week. The director, Rowland V. Lee, has specialised in mystery films since he first made “The Bat,” and with the talking medium be has so much more promising material at hand. Warner Oland is Fu Manchu. and the SwedishAmerican actor gives a magnificent showing as the Celestial. His voice is deep, sinister, mysterious. Jean Arthur, Neil Hamiltop, William Austin and O. P. Hcggle all appear to distinct advantage in the cast, especially Heggle, who, as Nayland Smith, of Scotland Yard, is eminently satisfactory. The speaking voices of all the players are excellent, and the picture is so produced and staged that the Chinese atmosphere is well preserved all the time. The box plans .are now open at The Bristol Piano • *■»mll*ri nv. where scats ni; ,v be 'reserved.

<■*- - 111 SPEEDWAY MATCH TO-MORROW NIGHT. The big event to-morrow night at the Speedway is the race between Charlie Perabo and “ Skid ” Perkins. After the latter’s win last week Perabo is challenging him for a second race to-mor-row. Last week’s race was very close, a greater turn of speed on the straight winning for Perkins, but Perabo gave a wonderful exhibition of broadsiding, and with the increased speed he considers he now has obtained from his motor, he is confident of getting the judge’s eye first. As the great feature on a special New Tear programme this event is sure to attract a huge crowd. The other big match race is that for the Gold Sasn This trophy marks premiership among the local riders, and is sought after eagerly by them. For the past month J. Carter has been unbeaten, and now Fred Sharman challenges him. The trophy is held by the winner of two out of three rac.es. The other events include a New Year Handicap, a Summer Handicap and a Flying Mile Race. A special tram service has been arranged to the Speedway, trams leaving Cathedral Square at frequent intervals. At the Speedway there is a car park for motors, so all patrons are well catered for.