ENTERTAINMENTS

Waipa Post, Volume 47, Issue 3386, 28 October 1933, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. - TO-NIGHT AND MONDAY. [ "THE KING OF JAZZ." Undoubtedly the most brilliant colour revue ever shown at any theatre, "The King of Jazz," Universal's spec's tacular masterpiece-, makes a welcome v reappearance at the Regent Theatre to-night and Monday, in greatly revised and re-edited form. In response to public demand, Universal decided recently to re-issule their great production, and this has been done with new arid perfect sound. While all the famous song-hits have been retained, the film has been shortened by the deletion of some of the sketches, and the entire show has been considerably speeded up. There is not a dull moment from start to finish, arid as the film progresses the audience marvels.at the supreme beauty of the colouring in the various scenes, at the melody in all the numbers, and at the absolutely wonderful spectacular scenes that are presented m rapid succession. Perhaps the most outstanding numbers are the well-known "Rhapsody in Blue;." and the "Melting Pot of the Nations." Then there, is "Ragamuffin Romeo," with its amazing dance performed by two apparently boneless people. There are the fascinating and romantic it Happened in Monterey," and the sprightly "Happy Feet," " Bench m the Park," "Bridal Veil," and other lilting tunes. All the music is provided by Paul Whiteman and his world-famous band/and the.principal parts are taken by John Boles, J eanette Loff, Paul Whiteman, Bing Crosby!, and Stanley Smith. The work, of the ballet surpasses anything seen in the Dominion. In the supporting programme there are two exceptionally interesting sound gazettes. Then there is one of those amazing " Strange as it Seems." pictures. Finally, there is an hilarious comedy which endeavours to explain the apparently unexplainable meaning of "Technocracy."'

TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. " THE DEVIL'S IN LOVE." "The Devil's in Love," the Fox .film that presents Victor Jory as a full-fledged stau, comes to the Keeent Theatre on Tuesday and Wednesday. *lt is the story of a young surgeon who proves his_ innocence ol a murder by a willingness to sacrifice his own life. The locale of the spot shifts from the seething, seaport towns of Africa, across burning sands to the peaceful atmosphere of a, mission. And with the changes in locale comes a corresponding change in the Outlook of the principal character. At the beginning of the story he" finds himself at a Foreign Legion post, healing the wounds and the illnesses of these strange soldiers. Ihe murder of the commanding officer throws suspicion on him, and he is forced to flee to the protecting confusion of the seaport. A derelict amongs other derelicts he meets two women almost simultaneously—£ne the proprietress of a resort, the other a wholesome visitor from another country. Torn between the attraction of these two women, he wavers between sinking to greater despair and rising above his circumstances to a regained honour. It is only when a scourge attacks his old Legion post arid the natives threaten its occupants with slaughter, that he reverts to his old self, clears himself of the murder charge, arid chooses between the two women. In the featured role; Victor Jory has what is by far his most important part on the screen. Loretta Young has the leading feminine role opposite him. The supporting cast, headed by Vivienne Osborne and David Manners, includes C. Henry Gordon, Herbert Muhdin, Emil Chautard and J. Carrol Naish. Wilhelm Dieterle directed from the story by Harry Hervey and the screen play by Howard Estabrook.

* EMPIRE THEATRE.

"STRANGE INTERLUDE."

COMMENCING TO-NIGHT,

A rare treat is in store for moviegoers; to - night, when "Strange Interlude," a picturisation of the sensational Eugene O'Neill drama-, opens at the Empire Theatre, with Norma 'Shearer and Clark Gable in the principal roles. This is the play Which ran for eighteen months on Broadway. This powerful O'Neill drama deals with the tragedy of a- woman who finds she cannot have children because of a streak of insanity in her husband's family. Unwilling to rob her husband and herself of parental happiness, she hits upon a remarkable ultra modern plan for preserving their domestic tranquility, a device which involves the love of two other men and which eventually brings all four characters into the most difficult of matic complications. : The role of Nina Leeds in " Strange Interlude" is reported to be the most ambitious ever attempted by the talented Miss iShearer, both in the matter of psychological interpretation and acting power. The part is also said to call for an extraordinary feat in make-up,; for the iaction of the plot covers, some thirty years, requiring the star to iappear first as a young girl, then as a middle-aged matron, and finally as an old woman, a series of transitions comparable to that made by Helen Hayes in." The Sin of Madelori Claudet." •Not the least of the novelties in '■":■ Strange Interlude "is the fact that it retains the much-discussed spoken thoughts or " asides " of the original play. To accomplish this " doubledialogue " effect, two separate sound recordings were made as the picture wis filmed. The direction was in the hands of Robert Z. Leonard, who achieved such successful results with "The Divorcee," which won Miss Shearer the Motion Picture Academy award, and with " Susan Lennox," a recent Greta Garbo hit. '

An outstanding cast supports Miss Shearer and Clark Gable in " Strange Interlude," including Alexander Kirkland; Ralph Morgan', who repeats the role he played in the original production; Robert Young, who recently

scored in "The Wet Parade" and "New Morals for Old"; May JEobson, remiembejred for her work as the bitter mother in " Letty Lynton "; Maureen O'Sullivan, of " Tarzan " fame; Henry B. Walthall; Mary Alden. and Tad Alexander.

"STREET OF WOMEN." COMING TUESDAY. Kay Francis, undoubtedly the screen's most' compelling brunette star, has never been more lovely nor more fascinating than in "Street of Women;" her new picture coming to the Empire on Tuesday for two days. This drama of modern skyscrapers, the men who conceive and build them and the women who inspire them, is an excellent vehicle for Miss Francis' beauty and dramatic ability. No one portrays better than she the young woman of 1932, talented and attractive;, who makes a career for herself, only to find that success is only half of life, and the less half without love. As Natalie Upton, the celebrated modiste who,, against all her instincts and inclinations!: finds herself the unwelcome side of a domestic triangle be cause of her love for Lawrence Baldwin, Miss Francis is in her element from start to finish. She gives a richly varied and deeply human portrayal, supported by a cast of players that is one of the ablest we have seen in any picture this season. Allen Dinehart, as Larry l ,, and , Roland Young, as Link Gibson—the two men who are equally devoted to Natalie—are not only brilliant actors, but splendid foils for each other. It is a pleasure /tc* watdhi them in their scenes with Miss Francis. Marjorie Gateson as Lois Baldwin., the socially ambitious wife of Lawrence Baldwin, plays a disagreeable role with a sureness and authenticity that wins for an uncongenial wife just the proper amount of sympathy and understanding. Allen Vincent is Clarke Upton, Natalie's hot-headed brother, whose misunderstanding of his sister's devotio nto Baldwin plays havoc with four lives for a while. Vincent plays the part of an impetuouls over-ideal-istic boy with keen undertsanding. In the role of Doris Baldwin, deVoted equally to her father and mother and the only bond between them, Gloria Stuart stamps herselp as one of the promising young actresses of the present season. Though this is almost her first picture experience, she brings an ease and poise that augurs well for her future. The poignantly human drama of "Street of Women" moves engrossingly against a brilliant background of New York's skyscrapers and night clubs, under the deft and able direction of Archie Mayo. The picture will undoubtedly create an even greater following for the alluring star.