THE THEATRES

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19237, 26 November 1930, Page 5

THE THEATRES

TALKING PICTURES. Regent—“ The Benson Murder Case.” Majestic—" Wild Company.” Crystal Palace—“ Half Way to Heaven.'* St James’—“Tiger Rose.” Theatre Royal—“Alt’s Button.” Everybody’s “The Vagabond King.” Liberty—“ The Second Wife.” Liberty—“ Two Weeks Off.” SILENT PICTURES. Grand—“ The Isle of Tlope.” Grand—" Beautiful But Dumb.” Grand—“ The Vanishing Ride,r ” (serial). Strand—“ The Bridge of San Luis hey.”

GOOD COMEDY PICTURE. “ ALF"S BUTTON ” IS VERY A war story, with none of the horrors of battle, but with comedy at every turn, is “Alt’s Button.” the all-talkie feature at the Theatre Royal this week. The story is as unusual as it is fantastic, with the magic button playing a prominent part in the lives of the two British Tommies, Alf Higgins and Bill Grant. Bright humour, characteristically British, runs through the whole story, and variety is lent by the splendour of the Eastern courts to which the heroes are transported in the twinkling of an eye. The dancing and ballets in technicolour are spectacular scenes. The supporting films cover a wide range of interesting subjects. "THB BOGUE SONG.” Song and colour, high adventure and romance, are ail blended into the first motion picture starring a famous opera Singer. Lawrence Tibbett, the world's greatest operatic baritone, bids fair also to become one of the world’s greatest movie stars, as a result of “ The Rogue Song,” Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s musical drama, opening at the Theatre Royal on Satui*day next. Filmed entii-ely In colour, directed by Lionel Barrymore, that master of talking screen drama, the new picture combines an engrossing plot with spectacle and gorgeous music, all woven into a romance of love and adventure. VARIED ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTED BY ST JAMES’. Enacted against a magnificent natural background in the great forest and lake country of the far north-west of Canada, “ Tiger Rose,” the principal attraction in the programme at the St James’ Theatre, is packed with thrills. Monte Blue and Lupe Velez, who have the principal roles, are responsible for some fine dramatic acting in which they are assisted by a capable cast, including H, B. Warner. Bull. Montana, Gastor Glass, Grant Withers and Rin-Tin-TJn, the wonderful dog. The first part ol the programme is made up of Vitaphone varieties, including a couple of really laughable comedies. “WILD COMPANY" SCORES HIT AT THE MAJESTIC. Pictures dealing with night-life are not altogether new to theatre-goers, but “ Wild Company,” showing at the Majestic Theatre this week, has manynovel features. The plot centres round young Larry Grayson, played by Frank Albertsc-n, the son of a prominent city business man. Larry becomes infatuated with the charms of a “song and dance ” girl in a local cabaret and this leads to much trouble. A newsreel gives views of RIOO after her flight across the Atlantic, and scenes of the Italian earthquakes. A comedy' is screened.

"BENSON MURDER CASE" SCREENING AT REGENT. The principal picture at the Regent Theatre is “ The Benson Murder Case,” a Paramount production of exceptional merit, full of action. It is the story of a clever gangster’s attempt to trap an amateur detective, the part being played by the popular ‘William Powell. Chief among the “ shorts ” is a study of Don Bradman, the Australian cricketer. who gives a talk on cricket in general. himself in particular, and demonstrates his favourite shots. There are the usual comedies and other items of an interesting nature. TWO BRIGHT PICTURES AT LIBERTY THIS WEEK. Two entertaining talkies are shown at the Liberty Theatre, this week. The first attraction is ” The Second Wife.” in which Conrad Nagel, Lila Lee and Mary Carr are the featured players. This picture has a rather novel theme. The second, attraction, “ Two Weeks Off,” is a rollicking comedy of a girl who took two weeks' leave at the seaside to get a husband. Dorothy Mackaill’s? acting is well-known tc- picture-goers and in this, her latest picture, she gains further laurels. RICHARD TALMADGE IS FEATURED BY THE GRAND The programme at the Grand includes ” The Isle of Hope,” “ Beautiful hut Dumb ” and a chapter of “ The Vanishing Rider.” "HALF WAY TO HEAVENSTARS CHARLES ROGERS. “Half Way to Heaven.” the princi-/ pal attraction at the Crystal Palace Theatre this week, has a particularly strong cast headed by Charles (Buddy) Rogers, Jean Arthur and Paul Lukas. The. supporting programme has been carefully chosen. EVERYBODY’S THEATRE HAS “VAGABOND KING.” The picturesque roystering Francois Villon, one of the most romantic of history’s figures, makes a new appeal to the susceptibilities of an audience through the medium of the talkie in “The Vagabond King,” showing at Everybody's Theatre this week. There is magnificent action, supplemented by bea.utiful melodies and stirring songs. The picture presents itself in all the beauty of the stage presentation, plus tho added scope of the camera.