Amusements

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 237, 6 October 1928, Page 2

Amusements

DUCHESS THEATRE The story of “Dance Magic,” showing at the Duchess Theatre to-day runs: Jahala leaves her home town to become a dancer on Broaddway. In New York she meets Jed Brophy, theatrical producer, and Leach Norcutt. The latter falls in love with her, but Brophy, by promising to make her a star, hopes to make her submit to him. Brophy, sure of himself,. gets rid of Selma, his former sweetheart. Leach, however, warns him to keep away from Jahala. The latter visits Brophy at his apartments ar.', finds him murdered. Recalling Leach’s threats she suspects him of the crime. Just then Leach enters the apartment, and thinking Jahala has murdered Brophy makes a confession to the police. His confession is repudiated, however, by Selma. Jahala returns home, and Leach, realising that he is in love with her, comes to claim her. The players aro Paulino Starke and Ben Lyon. On the same programme is “Bardleys the Magnificent.” At the matinee at the Duchess Theatre this afternoon, a very attractive programme will be presented. The leading attraction will be “Braveheart,” featuring Rod La Rocque and Lilian Rich. In addition a splendid programme of supports has been arranged. “Silk Stockings” and “The Dove” Hollywood High School once had enrolled two of the members of the cast of “Silk Stockings,’» the UniversalJewel, which will be screening at the Duchess Theatre to-night. Laura La Plante, star of the production, attended there for a term before her family took her to San Diego, and Marcella Daly, who plays an important role is a recent graduate. John Harron plays in support of Miss La Plante, while the other players include Otis Harlan, William Austin, Tempe Bigot, Ruth Cherrington, Hcinie Conklin, and Burr McIntosh.

“The Dove,” which will be at the Duchess Theatre to-day, was directed by Roland West, associate producer in the Joseph M. Schenck organisation. The supporting cast is a notable one, including Gilbert Roland, who appeared as “Armand Duval” with Miss Talmadge in “Camille,” and Noah Beery, playing Holbrook Blinn’s role, Michael Vavitch, of the Moscow Art Musical Studio, Harry Myers, and Evelyn Sclbie also appear.

MUNICIPAL THEATRE A city steeped in crime and two underworld gangs engage in deadly war- ’ fare because one band has encroached 3 upon the other’s territoy. Wallace Beery and Raymond Hatton are on the 1 trail of the crooks! That is the situation in Partners in Crime,” the Para--5 mount melodramatic comedy, which I opens at the Opera House to-day ' They have sailed the seas, the inimitable Beery and Hatton. They have 1 scaled the Alps, braved the terrors of 1 tho trenches, and made tho world, happier for fire insurance writers, but they have never before been as funny as they are as the nemesis of the underworld. For the first time since they have been starred as team comedians, Beery and Hatton are provided in “Partners in Crime’ l with a straight melodramatic story. A story teeming in thrills, abounding in humorous situations and with an interesting love theme woven through it. Another cause tor envy of the successful moving picture star was discovered during the filming of “Half a Bride,” the new Esther Ralston starring vehicle, which will also show at the Opera House to-day. Garry Cooper who supports the star in “Half a Bride,” was required to go unshaven for nearly two weeks during work on the production and got in 15 minutes extra sleep every morning. His razor rusted during the long period of inactivity. The story shows Miss Ralston and Cooper cast away on a desert island with nothing but their appetites. Director Gregory La Cava took a personal pride in the development of Cooper’s whiskers. Esther Ralston’s new morning wrap, worn in her new Paramount picture, “Half a Bride,” is a creation in ermine. It is a warm, comfortable bathrobe in which she can snuggle on mornings when arising in her chilly sleeping room. The furry white robe is dotted with black tipped ermine tails and equipped with tailored shawl collar, cuffs, pockets and belt. THE MAJESTIC "The Bush Cinderella,” Mr Kudall Hayward’s latest New Zealand motion picture drama, will be shown at The Majestic to-day, commencing at tho matinee. The principal of the picture is Miss Dale Austin, “Miss New Zealand,” and who comps direct from tho completion of her contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios. "The Bush Cinderella” is described as a modern drama full of the irresistible humour of the back-blocks and the laughter of the bush. The story includes many exciting scenes, with a thrilling ride for life and a battle between naval men and the steamer Tekoa. The production is one in which the beauty of the country is fully depicted and there is all tho charm of the bush and the picturesque old homesteads. .Wound through the story is an absorbing mystery and a charming romance.

“The Bush Cinderella” is preceded by a stage spectacle arranged by and introducing Mr Alf. Lawrence’, worldfamous song writer with Miss Nell Crane noted English pantomime principal boy. . In addition to the above, “The Opening Night,” featuring Claire Windsor will be screened. This is a story of the theatre and of the sort which holds the interest from start to finish. This programme will be screened for three nights only and intending patrons arc urged to book scats at tho Bristol Piano Company. BAILEY PLAYS Theatregoers of Wanganui will be pleased to know that on Wednesday, October 10, Mr and Mrs J. W. Bailey, supported by their senior players, will appear in specially selected comedies for one night only. Lancashire people will be greatly interested in the comedy by Sydney Houghton, entitled “The Dear Departed,” a play dealing with the humour of a North Country household. Brighouses’s comedy thama “A Maid of Franckwhich an for 18 months in Lonyon, is a mystic play in which the statue of Jeanne D’Arc comes to life on Xmas Eve, during the 'Great War, and finds the English and

THE NEW GRAND The extravagant humour of Charlie Murray and George Sidney was never better exemplified than in “Flying Romeos,” the comedy de luxe now showing at the Grand Theatre. It deals with tho latest fashion the latest craze, that of aviation, and, as the Americans would say. “and how.” With tho difficult science of aviation is combined tho equally thrilling and uncertain art of vamping the village widow, a lady of uncertain years and much embonpoint, who upon admitting to a weakness for Colonel Charles Lindbergh, the gentleman who piloted a monoplane across the Atlantic from America to Paris, was the instrument (the lady, not the pilot) responsible for sending Messrs Murray and Sidney to a school for airmen, and thus precipitating them into a life full of hazards and thrills. Messrs Murray and Sidney being, in this comedy, barbers by profession and inclination, find their adopted profession widely different from the one they just left, and cause much merriment in the academy, not to mention the audiences, by mixing the two badly. But it is not until they get their pilots’ certificates that the fun really commences, for when.they have things very much their own way and ride rough-shod over all objectors or advisers who would tender them some free advice, such as not to take off the wheels just as they’re going to land, and other convenient bits of information. Of course, a non-stop flight to Europe conies in, which tho Romeos lose, but in the adventure provide some uproarious comedy; the only record they set are long-stop laughing records. It is also immensely thrilling, and all fun is not up in the air. They serve some wild thrills when they start forgetting their instructions, and pull and turn the wrong knobs and things, but they eventually come down to earth and bring their delighted audiences w’ith them. The whole picture may be a sparkling satire on the aviation fever and on prize fights to outlandish places, but it is very, very funny, and Charlie Murray and George Sidney are quite the best comedians in the industry. The supporting programme includes Universal’s latest comedy and Topical News. Scats may be booked at Theatre or by ’phonos 3125 and 2852.