AMUSEMENTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 62, 14 March 1930, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS

THE MAJESTIC. “THE GREAT DIVIDE” PROVES ATTRACTIVE The colourful drama, “The Great Divide,” an all-dialogue, singing, ami dancing production which has been playing to large and appreciative audiences, shows finally at the Majestic this evening The locale of the picture is the end of the Great Divide just north of the Mexican border, and some of the scenes are very beautiful. Dorothy Mackaill and lan Keith are in the leading roles, and when these two are suddenly brought face to face with the realities of life some exceedingly clever acting results. Briefly the story is: Ruth Jordan, spoiled darling of the modern jazz age, travels from New York with a party of friends to visit a mine in which her father had been half owner. At a Mexican fiesta she meets Stephen Ghent, but does not know him as her father’s former partner. Rather she is led to believe that he is a notorious bandit, and Ghent, playing up to this impersonation, woos her in an ardent Mexican manner. There then comes on the scene a pretty little halfbreed girl who is very much in love with Ghent, but whose sentiment is not I reciprocated. When Ruth discovers the feeling of the halfbreed girl to the man she believes the worst and leaves him in disgust. He follows and carries her off to the mountains, planning to give her a touch of the rougher side of life. They eventually arrive at Ghent’s cabin in the hills, but by this time Ruth realises what kind of a man her kidnapper is, and instead of repulsing her he attracts her and wins her love. Later she protects him from the law that has pursued him through mountains and desert. Myrna Loy plays an arresting role. The musical features are presented in the colourful scenes of a Mexican fiesta. The theme song of the picture is “End of the Lonesome Trail,” sung by lan Keith. Myrna Loy sings the number, “Si, Si, Senor.” The story does not demand a singing role from Dorothy Mackaill, the star, but this charming actress portrays one of the most sensational parts she has undertaken on the screen. She is a flapper who has grown up. She is sophisticated. pleasure-seeking, and with few thrills left to experience. She is the life of a wild party on a Westbound train which ends when she is kidnapped by a fake caballera in old Mexico A splendid supporting programme is also being shown. Seats may be booked at Emmetts until 5 p.m.; thereafter at the theatre ’phone 2863. TO-MORROW’S PROGRAMMES “THE SHANGHAI LADY” There is only one Mary Nolan —and therefore the management of the Majestic theatre feels pride in having the opportunity to present “the orchid of the screen’’ in “Shanghai Lady” beginning to-morrow. “Shanghai Lady” is a colourful, dramatic story of Ihe ■Orient admirably suited to the dazzling beauty and bewitching personality of the most exotic star of the motion picture sphere; an all talkie, bringing the glamour and fascinating colour of the other side of the world with marvellous realism to the eye and ear. The scintillant star is supported by a notable cast of screen favourites whose roles are fully in keeping with the magnificence of the production—James Murray as the white derelict adrift upon the streets of Shanghai, playing the lead opposite Miss Nolan; Wheeler Oakman, Lydia Yeamans Titus, Anders Randolf, Yola d’Avril. Mona Rico, Irma Lowe and many others. Faithfully adapted from the stage dramatic success by John Colton, ‘‘Shanghai Lady” brings to the screen the romantic half world of the East, dives where sailors from visiting ships find their lurid pleasure, and establishments such as Madam Jollv Voo’s “tea-room,”

where girls of all nationalities vie with each other for the patronage of utter strangers, drifters, like themselves from the ends of the earth. John Robertson, who has to his credit many great pictures featuring Greta Garbo and other big stars, directed “Shanghai Lady” with a prodigal hand for realism, drama, and sheer beauty. The elaborate sets of the picture outdo Shanghai itself in Chinese lavishness and atmosphere, and a huge fortune in authentic Chinese furniture, tapestries, and objects of art was used in making the film. Real Chinamen and women by the thousands were used in the biggest scenes.

GIRL GUIDES’ DISPLAY.

The Wanganui Girl Guides are holding a garden party in Mrs Hatrick s (senior) garden, Oakland Avenue. St. John’s Hill, to-morrow afternoon. At this function a special display of country dances and drill will be made. A bus leaves the Post Office at 2.15 p.m.

“BEHIND THE MAKE-UP.” INTRODUCING KAY FRANCIS, A NEW STAR. “Behind the Make-Up,” Paramount’s brilliant drama of human hearts and the incomprehensible way's of man. shows finally at the Regent Theatre this evening. Besides being one of the finest talking dramas produced in Hollywood last year, “Behind the Make-Up” serves to introduce to New Zealand audiences a new star in Miss Kay Francis, who, from a triumphant career on the New York stage, turned to Hollywood as a fresh world to conquer. Women will be interested in the fact that she wears conservative clothes in that manner which singles her out for attention in a crowd; men will be interested in the fact that she has more personality in her little finger than most other women manage to cram into a much larger area; and it speaks volumes for the Francis charm, fascination, what-you-wiU, that she is regarded coldly by women. But women form a large part of her audiences; she is so delightfully instructive. Her role in “Behind the Make-Up” calls for that harness, there is really no other I word, that diamond-like glitter, which she displays so well. The star of the production is Hal Skelly, that Pagliacci-like comedian, who is more nearly humorous and tragic by turns than most comedians boasting of this gift are. He was, it will be remembered, the principal player of “The Dance of Life,” and is a remarkably versatile artist, with abilities that life in a histrionic direction as well as abilities as a dancer and singer. William Powell co-stars. Fay Wray is the third member of the trio which is the source of all the drama ol “Behind the Make-Up,” a charming ingenue who, when she secs a big scene, takes it. These three players, I Kay Francis, Hal Skelly and Fay Wray as well as the well-plotted story, result in the production being an eminently pleasing one, as intelligent as it is entertaining, and as highly diverting as it is both. The programme includes a number of short singing and talking subjects. The box plans are at the Bristol, where seats may be reserved. TO-MORROW'S ATTRACTION ‘ ‘ THE HOTTENTOT ’ ’ PROVIDES EXCELLENT COMEDY “The Hottentot” commences its Wanganui season at the Regent tomorrow. A more ludicrous figure could not be than Edward Everett Horton as S. Jay Harrington, the lovelorn tenderfoot, who has been edged into the favour of Betty Fairfax of old Virginia, by false tales told by a matchmaker to the effect that he is an experienced horseman. Patsy Ruth Miller is charming as the enthusiastic horse fancier who believes him to be a real hero of the turf. S. Jay Harrington, presented in a wrong light, finds himself brought nearer and nearer to the nerve-racking test of riding Hottentot, the untamable, in the steeplechase which is to be won for Betty. His tremors when he sees the fiery prancings of Hottentot, his increasing horrors as the day of the steeplechase nears, his awkward desperation as he mounts the snorting beast, to be hustled down the track, is a mixture of laughter and thrills that has seldom been screened. In its original setting as a legitimate comedy,

“The Hottentot” ran successfully or Broadway for three years, and became recognised as one of the greatest hits of the time. And now, as a talking picture, both the comedy and the thrills have been intensified. Douglas Gerrard, who enacts a ludicrous comedy role as the scheming butler, was born in Ireland and educated at (Dublin University and Heidelberg. He has been motion picture director, screen actor and legitimate stage player. As

a director of the silent drama, Gerrard has wielded the megaphone for such famous figures as Rudolph Valentino, Pauline Frederick, George Beban, Ethel Clayton, and others. Before the camera he has played leads with Mary Pickford, Anna Pavlova, and others. Gerrard has had a long career on the stage. He has had outstanding roles with such stars as Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree. Clyde Fitch, John Barrymore, Ethel Barrymore, Oscar Asche, Lily Brayton, and many more. “The Hottentot” affords this versatile artist an unusual vehicle for his unique talents. He is seen in this comedy with a cast which, besides the stars, includes Edmund Breese, Edward Earle, Stanley Taylor, Otto Hoffman, and Maude Turner Gordon. Harvey Thew adapted “The Hottentot” from the stage hit. Roy Del Ruth directed. Box plans are at the Bristol Piano Company’s premises.