ENTERTAINMENTS

Waipa Post, Volume 42, Issue 3271, 12 March 1931, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

“ WHOOPEE.” JUST TO-NIGHT AND TO-MOR-ROW NIGHT. . “ Whoopee ” opened on Tuesday night at the Empire Theatre with all the burst of splendous that would be anticipated from the news that Samuel Goldwyn and Florenz Ziegfeld were working together to produce a musical comedy spectacle on the talking colour screen. The plot of the picture is an adoption of Owen Davis’ grand farce, “The Nervous Wreck,” with its story of the imaginary Invalid forced to be a he-man in order to get the heroine out of trouble and married <to the right man. Eddfe Cantor’s portrayal of Henry Williams, the invalid in question, fs a classic of comedy from one qf the stages’ greatest. Combined with the beauty of huge ensembles _ of handpicked girls, fast, unflagging direction by Thornton Freeland, and breath taking photography, the whole picture is the talking screen at its opulent best. . The singing of Paul Gregory, Zejgfeld’s 25,000 dollar tenor, and Chief Caupolican, the Indian baritone, form another notable feature of the screen “Whoopee.” It is a picture whfteh satisfies from any angle. “ BALACLAVA.?’ SATURDAY AND MONDAY The charge of the “ Death or Glory ” boys will soon resound throughout the Empire Theatre, for Balaclava was re-fought for the talkies, and one of England’s brightest pages in the annals of her military career has been recorded -n picture and sound under the brilliant direction of Maurice Elvey and Milton, Rosmer. The film, which is entitled “ Balaclava,” will be an early release at the Empire Theatre. Benita Hume and Cyril MacLaglen supply the love interest which revolves arouhd the story of a young Scottish officer who is dismissed under a cloud and reinlists as a trooper in the 17th Lancers. The smirch on his honour is removed when he makes good in the famous Light Brigade charge. The military scenes were made with the assistance of the War Office, under the personal supervision of Captain Oakes Jones, M.B. E. The whole production was recorded by R.C.A. Photophone system, who achieved a miracle in sound, not on]y with the realistis sound in the battle sequences, but also in the recording of the musical score, which was arranged by Louis Levy.