ENTERTAINMENTS

Waipa Post, Volume 42, Issue 3304, 2 June 1931, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

FINAL SCREENING TO-NIGHT,

“ THE GAY NINETIES.”

Marion Davies reaches new triumphs in “ The Gay Nineties, her new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer all-talk-ing mirthquake which opened at the Empire Theatre last night. In the new picture, Miss Davies brings to us quaint recollections of the 90 s the “ good old days.” The story is endowed with a sweetness distinctly refreshing and replete with comedy and famous old songs. The director, Harry Beaumont, of “ The Broadway Melody” fame, lives up to his high reputation, and, combined with Miss Davies’ flair for originality in humour, makes one of the funniest comedies that has been seen here for many a moon!

WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY,

The most unusual setting in picture history, the acting of such screen and stage stars as Ronald Colman, Ann Harding and Louis Wolheim, and the power of a story from the hands of two famous authors, are among the noteworthy features of Condemned! ”, the new Samuel Goldwyn starring vehicle for Ronald Colman, which comes to the Empire Theatre on Wednesday and Thursday. following close on the enormous success of “Bulldog Drummond,” “ Condemned! ” is said to be an even greater triumph for Colman. Its story is adapted from “ Condemned to Devil s Island,” Blair Niles’ famous novel of life in the French penal colonies in South America. Sidney Howard, famed New York dramatist, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for “ They Knew What They Wanted,” put “ Condemned ” into screen form and wrote the dialogue. It is directed by Wesley Ruggles. In addition to Ronald Colman, in the starring role of the dashing French convict, the cast includes Ann Harding, Broadway stage star who made a national sensation m the title role of “ The Trial of Mary Outran ” and has been a tremendous success in “ Paris Bound,” her first picture; Louis Wolheim, most noted character, and Dudley Digges, star of the Theatre Guild. Another famous name associated with this production is that of William Cameron Menzies, noted artist, who designed the sets. Condemned ” is a story of romance growing between the mistreated wife of the warden of the prison on Devils Island and a convict whose sympathy for her plight ripens into love. Unique scenes of the interiors of prison-ships and squalid jails, thri - ling escapes through the tropical jungles, and all the atmosphere o a group of desperate criminals huddle together on what is known as The Island of Living Death,” combine to make “ Condemned! ” one of the production sensations of the year.