ENTERTAINMENTS.

Waipa Post, Volume 40, Issue 3106, 30 January 1930, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS.

" CHARMING SINNERS." SATURDAY AND MONDAY. " Sauce for the gander is sauce for the goose," and " Charming Sinners," W. Somerset Maugham's clever drama of domestic re-arrangement, which Paramount had made into an alltalking picture, proves that a woman has often the best of the argument in a battle of wits with her husband. Ruth Chatterton, Clive Brook, William Powell and Mary Nolan carry the leads in this clever picture which will feature the Empire Theatre programme on Saturday and Monday. The story of " Charming Sinners '' has to do with a new treatment for philandering husbands. Ruth Chatterton, as the wife, applies her unique remedy in a smart way that leaves a smile all-around, even with the defeated husbands. Clive Brook has a rare role, and he handles it in delightful fashion. For instance he steps - out of the tragically serious character into a part which gives free play to all the interesting whimsicalities of which he is capable. William Powell, as the " other" man, and Mary Nolan in the role of the infringer, are strong supporters of the two well-known leads. " THE BLACK WATCH." The Fox Company, with its Movietone system, seems to have mastered the outdoor "talkie" to a greater extent than any other producing organisation. Many of the opening scenes of " The Back Watch," shown at the Empire Theatre to-day, tonight and to-morrow evening, wren the skirling of bagpipes, and the general clamour of the troops entraining for France, are among the best of the kind that have been made. There are opportunities for skiiiui photography here, too, with figures striding through the fog and mass effects of which the director, John Ford, has made full use. Though the rest of the film does not quite fulfil the promise of the opening sequences that is probably because the scene changes to the East, and the East of the cinema, as many producers have shown, is never vincing-. " The Black Watch," based on a story by Talbot Mundy, "King of the Khyber Rifles," opens with the Black Watch at mess on the outbreak of war. Here the director has seized the opportunity to bring in the singing of various old Scottish melodief. Captain Donald King (Victor McLaglen) is called away suddenly to the War Office; because of his knowledge of Indian dialects he is transferred to the Khyber Rifles, and sent on a secret mission to thwart the plants of the hillmen who, led by an Afghan Joan of Arc named Yasmini (Myrna Loy), plan to descend upon an India denuded of troops for service in Europe. Strange adventures befall Captain King, hut eventually the rising is put down, and King returns as a hero to his regiment, which had thought him p a shirker The unfortunate Yasmini has perished in a leaving King memories of an undying love which sprang up, apparently on very short acquaintance. Skilful direction marks the whole film. The scenes in Britain and in Flanders are very good; if the incidents on the Indian frontier are not very convincing that is, no doubt, because these things are considerably more difficult to believe on the screen than in an adventure novel. All the European characters are supposed to be English or Scottish, and the atmosphere, but for one ?r two minor slips, is well maintained Technically "The Black Watch" is excellent, and anyone who is willing to be a little more credulous than usual when a story of adventure is concerned will find it very good entertainment. .