THE THEATRES

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 708, 8 March 1933, Page 3

THE THEATRES

“THE BLONDE VENUS.” Marlene Dietrich comes to Plaza on Saturday. “ Insult,” in which Elizabeth Allan has the major role, will be shown at the Plaza Theatre for the last time on Friday night. Marlene Dietrich, attiactive German actress, Herbert Marshall, Cary Grant, and Dickie Moore all act magnificently in Joseph von Sternberg's “ The Blonde Venus,” which begins at the Plaza Theatre on Saturday. The leading characters in “ The Blonde Venus,” are a research chemist suffering -from radium poisoning; his wife, who was formerly an actress; and their small son. The mainspring of the plot is that the chemist will die unless he can go to Germany for a cure which is t.o cost an inordinate sum of money. The following scenes deal with the wife’s efforts to secure the necessary money. Marlene Dietrich gives a superb performance. She brings to her portrayal ! a warmth and devotion which some of her previous * h a r a cterisations have lacked. The i enderness with which she Invests the part cf a mother striving to save the life of her husband will appeal to all. Marlene Dietrich is even more attractive than she was in her previous pictures. Herbert Marshall, well known English act o r of I ” Michael and Mary ” and “ The Faith- I ful Heart,” gives what is without ques- | tion his finest portrayal in a Hollywood film. He is an actor who invariably ] endows his roles with wit and charm. Another splendid performance is contributed by Cary Grant, another Englishman, who is rapidly coming to the fore in pictures. He played an important part as the muscular javelin-thrower in “ This is the Xight.” “ The Blonde Venus ” has been enthusiastically received by overseas • ritics. The London ” Mc-rning Post’s ” reviewer says: “I have never been an uncritical admirer of Joseph von Sternberg as a director. This film is the best piece of work of his I have seen! It is also much the best performance rf Marlene Dietrich—better. on the whole, than her lovely acting in * Blue Angel.’ ” Besides the gifted child actor. Dickie Moc-re, the supporting cast includes Rita la Roy. an actress with an established reputation.

“GUILTY AS CHARGED.” M Laglen and Lowe Coming in Mystery-comedy. "Air Mail,” the thrilling talking picture which Sir Charles Kingsford Smith brought across the Tasman in the Southern Cross, will conclude its season at the Majestic Theatre on Saturday night. Hat O’Brien, Ralph Bellamy and Slim Summerville are the stars of this aviaIn most crime pictures where a murder is involved the audience is offered tn opportunity of solving the crime long before the climax is reached, but in “Guilty as Charged,” which begins at the Majestic Theatre on Monday, there is something of a change in that the audience sees and knows who commits the murder at the outset, and is afterwards interested in following a detective • i*d police reporter throughout their inquiries in clearing up the crime. < 'leverly the murderer, who is a doctor, kills his wife, l>ut he has so carefully arranged • very thing that suspicion is cast upon Frank Marsh (Ralph Ince), a clubman, and the finding of a watch-fob belonging to Marsh, and his finger-prints on the handle of a door, place around Marsh such strong evidence that he is convicted and sentenced to death. Russell Kirk (Edmund Lowe), a police reporter, and r>etective M’Kinley (Victor M’Laglen) have their doubts about the guilt of Marsh, and they set out to prove his innocence. This they accomplish, but not before they have bungled along through the most humorous situations, to finally bungle upon the very fact which reveals the real murderer. The story is a particularly engrossing »ne, and the cast is strong, including as it does such popular and talented actors as Edmund Low. , Victor M’Laglen, Richard Arlen, Ralph lnee and Adrienne Ames. It is r* ally a mvsterv- • omedy, with the comedy featured, and he audience is kept in continuous 'aughter throughout the screening of 7000 ft of film. Box plans at The Bristol.

BRITISH COMEDY. “ Diamond Cut Diamond” for Crystal Palace. “His Wife’s Mother,” the excellent British comedy starring Gus M’Naugliton, will be shown at the Crystal Palace Theatre for the last time on Friday night. A cast of prominent British comedians enact the principal roles in ” Diamond Cut Diamond,” the British production which will begin at the Crystal Palace Theatre on Saturday. Claude Allister (“Spoofy” of “Three Dive Ghosts”), who will be remembered for his facial expressions and his monocle, is the star, whilst Benita Hume, another well-known screen player, has the feminine lead. Adolphe Men jo u and Kenneth Kove are also in the cast. “ Diamond Cut Diamond ” deals with the lives of two crooks (Menjou and Allister), who are first seen in the South Seas without a penny to their name. However, realising that the only way out was to rob somebody, they do so, and board the first boat for England. In England their little stock of money goes down, so somebody else is again robbed. Eventually they turn their eyes in the direction of jewels, and then the fun begins properly. They meet a young girl—and that’s the end of their thieving. How they eventually fare is told in as funny a manner as any picture has ever unfolded.

The supporting programme will include a song scena in which the popular Sir Harry Lauder is featured. Box plans at The Bristol. AN ARTISTIC GEM. George Arliss in “The Man Who Played God.” “ The Man Who Played God,” which is enjoying a return season at Evervbody’s Theatre this week, is an artistic gem with George Arliss, the greatest actor of the talking screen, in his most notable role. Among the many roles which George Arliss has created on the screen, his Montgomery Roy ale in “ The Man Who Played God ” is his most human and realistic character. He portrays a celebrated pianist who is suddenly stricken with deafness, and thus loses his ability as an artist. It is a part which gives Arliss full scope for his talent, providing bc-th deeply serious and delightfully amusing moments. In selecting the supporting cast, Warner Brothers. who made “The Man Who Played God,” studied the requirements of the various parts with great care, the result being a perfect background for the artistry of George Arliss. Violet Heming, from the New Yoi'k stage, gives an outstanding performance as Mrs Miller, a friend of the great musician. Bette Davis has an important role in the picture as Grace, the girl who is hopelessly in love with the pianist. The supporting programme is good. “THE GHOST TRAIN.” Arnold Ridley’s Famous Play at Civic. Gainsborough’s big success, •• The Ghost Train,” was screened again yesterday at the Civic Theatre to a large audience, which responded in whole-hearted fashion to the fascination of Arnold Ridley’s famous Play and to the admirable acting of the competent cast. Apart from the thrilling train sensation scene, the outstanding features of the performances arc the laughter-provoking characterisations of Jack Hulbert as the “silly ass,” who stops a train merely to recover his hat —an act which leads to far-reaching consequences—and Cicely Courtneidge as Miss Bourne, a spinster with a parrot. Cicely Courtneidge shares the honours of the performance with Jack Hulbert, and between them the pair succeed in bringing merriment to all who see them. On the same programme there is an excellent satirical comedy, entitled “ Hotel Splendide.” and a charming scenic subject dealing with Lake Waikaremoana. Heats may be reserved at the Civic Theatre from 10 a.m. SYDENHAM TALKIES. Bright and entertaining, full of the joy of vouth, and net forgetting its difficulties and crises, “Huddle,” starling Ramon Xovarrn and Madge Evans, will be shown at the King's Theatre Talkies. Sydenham, to-night, Thursday and Friday. “ Huddle " is a virile story of « ollege life, and many fine scenes of a college association football match are included in the film. On Saturday, Politics," starring Marie Dressier, will

GOOD COMEDIENNES. Marie Dressier and Polly Moran in “ Prosperity.” “ Sleepless Nights,” the bright musical farce starring Stanley Lupino and Roily Walker, will be screened at the Regent Theatre for the last time on Friday night. Give Marie Dressier and Polly Moran something to fight about, and sidesplitting comedy is the inevitable result. They’re at it again—this time as mother-in-laws battling over the lives of their married children, in “ Prosperity,” which begins at the Regent 'Theatre on Saturday. In “ Prosperity,” the heroines of " Polities ” and “ Caught Short ” have as many battles as of yore, but the battles are said to be louder and funnier. Then, too, there is a dramatic twist in the story, and Marie Dressier is responsible for some “ straight ” character acting that tugs at the heart-strings. “Prosperity” deals with two widows who are friends, in a small town, until their children get married. Each' tries to regulate the new family—and furflies. Polly goes bankrupt, there is a run on the bank, Marie gets a job in a grocery store and figures out a way to put it on a paying basis by “ trading,” their battles cause the youngsters to get a divorce—and then everything crashes. The comedy highlights are a scene in which Marie Dressier and Pollv Moran break up the formal wedding partv of their respective son and daughter; a sequence in which Marie Dressier proves her skill at making a run-down grocery store do good business; an incident taking place in the town’s picture theatre in which an old-time Western film is parodied, and various occurin the joint home of the ’in-laws in which broken dishes, carpet beaters mud and even castor oil have a share in providing hilarious situations. Anita Page and Neman Foster are ideally cast as the young couple, and the children are rlayed by .lacquie Lyn and Jerry Tucker. Charles Giblyn, Prank Darien and Henry Armetta contribute clever character studies Box plans at The Bristol. DOUBLE PROGRAMME. “ Second-hand Wife” and “ Thirteen Women.” “ Second-hand Wife ” and “ Thirteen Women ”, the two full-length features which are screening at the Liberty Theatre this week, make a well-diversified and enjoyable entertainment. “ Secondhand Wife ”, from the novel by Kathleen Norris, is a story of the sacrifice which the second wife of a wealthy banker makes in order that her husband should not be denied the pleasure of caring for his daughter by the first wife. Sally Eilers and Ralph Bellamy give excellent portrayals as the stenographer and the banker, and Helen Vi risen is very effective in the role of the selfish and jealous first wife. The potent influence of mental suggestion is revealed strikingly in “Thirteen Women ” (Ricardo Cortez and Irene Dunne), an unusual production which keeps the audience in a -state of suspense until the final stage. A group of young women, who were at college together, are seen pursuing a normal existence, when a diabolical and uncanny influence overtakes them with tragic results. The machinations of Myrna Loy, who has formed a partnership with a sorcerer, are the cause of the influence which is based on the belief by the girls that their destinies are guided by the sun, moon and stars. ZANE GREY ROMANCE. Zane Grey’s great Western drama, “Riders of the Purple Sage”, heads the programme at the Grand Theatre this week. Romance and thrilling action , are deftly blended, and the result is a film which will live in the memory of pioturegoers. George O’Brien has the role of Lassiter, and gives a performance which is as good as any of his previous successes. The supporting programme has many interesting features, and includes the eight h chapter of the thrilling serial, “ Danger Island