ENTERTAINMENTS

Waipa Post, Volume 48, Issue 3482, 21 June 1934, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

AT THE REGENT. TO-NIGHT AND ON FRIDAY. "THE POOR RICH." If you don't believe that there is fun in being poor, snatch your hat and dash down to the Regent Theatre to attend the opening to-night of "The Poor Rich," a Universal comedy co-starring Edward Everett Horton and Edna May Oliver. Edward and Edna, scions of a wealthy family who, until the late lamented depression, have travelled around and around the world, suddenly discover that they've only enough money to get home, a place designed ate Spottiswood Manor, near Old Haven, Conn. The "manor" has fallen into decay with their fortunes. The only bright spots are Andy Devine, as an unemployed cook, and Grant Mitchell, in the rcle of an ever-loving deputy sheriff. And on top of this, Lord and Lady Featherstone decide to drop in for the week-end, when all there is on the floors is a carpet of dust and in the oven a stolen duck! Add to this the appearance of a pseudo Indian prince, sought by the police, an overbearing- police detective, the Featherstone's amorous daughter, played by Thelma Todd, and a fake saleswoman of aluminum:, the beautiful Leila Hyams. Scramble this collection and you have "The Poor Rich." Advance reports are that the combination is a scream to say the least. The screenplay is directed by that veteran comedy director, Edward Sedgwick, from an original story by Edda Havez and Dale Van Every. SATURDAY AND MONDAY. "CUCKOO IN THE NEST." Toim WalUs and Ralph Lynn have joined forces again in the GaumontBritish picture "A Cuckoo in the Nest," which is opening at the Regent Theatre on Saturday. Picture-goers will welcome this reunion which, under the Gaumont-British banner, will bring much more of the delightful work of these comedians to the screen. It is difficult to select an outstanding humourous incident in their latest picture, "A Cuckoo in the Nejit" for it is so tightly packed witli laughable situations. If selection is to be made, preference would probably be given tc Tom Walls' taxi ride through the pouring rain to the little village of Moiden Blotton, whither Walls' film son-in-low (Ralph Lynn) has eloped with an unknown lady. With him is his wife, an acrimonious lady of uncertain age and tamper, played by Grace Edwin, bent on exposing the foibles of her son-in-law. The taxi is of unknown vintage, with an engine that eventually conks out, necessitating the descent of the driver to peer into the depths of the bonnet. To add to the discomfort of the occupants, the roof of the taxi is /riddled with holes through which pour streams of water. Tom Walls' business with an inn-keener to obtain a drink by pretending that his wife is ill, is as funny a bit of fooling as has been seen en the screen for many a day. Ralph Lynn, as the son-in-law, has another of his roles of a man who drops verbal bricks in every direction and gets into delicate situations—and out of them—without in the least realising that his idiotic behaviour has caused them. No WallsLynn farce would be complete without Mary Brcugh and Robertson Hare, and they are both in "A Cuckoo in the Nest," as also is Yvonne Arnaud, all three in the roles they played in the original stage play. This is another of Ben Travers' famous faeces, directed by Tonn Walls. EMPIRE THEATRE. FRIDAY, SATURDAY r AND ON MONDAY. "BRITANNIA OF BILLINGSGATE." Picture-goeiv, will appreciate the typically British humour of " Britannia of Billingsgate." With this picture Gaumont-Brit'sh have again demonstrated their flain for producing comedy that makes instantaneous appeal to the great body of the public. This filinij is being released by Fox and will be screened at the Empire Theatre this week-end. With Violet Loraine and Gordon Harker as the auch fun-makers, the flow of merriment never ceases in this rare and joyous talking picture of London life. Violet Loraine, fresh from London ptage triumphs, makes her screen de-

but as Mjra Bolton, the porter's wife who is suddenly " discovered" and pitchforked into the movies. Miss Loraine makes of Bessie an intensely human character, whether in the atmosphere of the Billingsgate fish and chips shop which is her own homely world or in that of the seething mailsbrom of London life, under the glare of publicity that is inseparable froim fame. And how has she to do her best to control her family at the same time! Bolton (Gordon Harker) suddenly transformed from fish porter to budding organiser, under conditions of hitherto undreamed-of splendour fairly breaks out into an orgy of living. The children, Fred and Pearl, pursue their ambitions, the former becomes a dirt track champion, and the latter glitters in the star galaxy that is forever ris.ng over filmland. Tuneful song numbers give Violet Loraine a change to display her considerable ability; the Gau-mont-British studios figure prominently as the studios of the Phoenix Film Corporation; the thrilling racing scenes at the Lea Bridge speedway include several British champion dirttrack riders. On this excellently mounted picture its producers have lavished time and money in a successful effort to screen a first-class entertainment, redolent of the characteristicts of British working men and women, born and bred in London, representing a series of types found nowhere else in the world. 'The rich feast of fun is by no means confined to its leading characters; there are plenty of other parts filled by such capable artists as Wally Patch, Kay Hammrond, John Mills, Walter Sondes, Djruscilla Wills, Gibb McLaughlin, Anthony Holies and ethers.