AMUSEMENTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 108, 9 May 1930, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS

THE GRAND SATURDAY ’S ATTRACTION “THE VERY IDEA” Patrons of the Grand can look forward to a screen treat to-morrow, when William . Lc Barron’ s great comedy bombshell, “The Very Idea,” will commence a season at the matinee. As a stage play this comedy kept New York roaring with laughter for a solid year ai d had a run in London for eighteen months. Critics declare it as even better entertainment to the stage version which was translated into every language, and has had successful runs throughout the world. The picture version follows the stage play to the letter, and also introduces to the talking screen Frank Craven the original comedian of the stage production. Craven’s inimitable ease before an audience gets under the skin fully as well from the screen as from the footlights. There isn’t a doubt that Frank Craven will be as sensational in the talkies as he has been on the speaking stage. Local talking and picture lovers will find “The Aery Idea” the snappiest farce comedy that, ever hit the boards, brought to the screen with every word, cvepr laugh and every titter with full dialogue by a brilliant array of comedy artists including Alien Kearns, Sally Blance, Doris Eaton, Hugh Trevor, Olive Tell, Adele Watson. In addition to this attraction will be a well selected budget of supporting features including the first chapter of Universal’s Sound and talking picture ‘‘The Ace of Scotland Yard,” featuring Crawford Kent and Grace Conard. The story deals with one of the most populai heroes of screen fiction “Blake of Scotland Yard,” the super-detective of Scotland Yard, is brought to life in the first photo serial to be made with sound and dialogue. The thrills and suspense are immeasurably heightened by every sound that makes the picture Jive. The selection of short featurettes have been carefully selected and include John Barclay, baritone, Eddie Conrad, comedian, Fox Movietone News and a radio comedy entitled “Old Vamps for New.’’ The plans for reserved seats are now open at the Grand Theatre office. Early application is essential.

“The Broadway Melody” “The Broadway Melody,’’ an elaborate all-talking, all-singing, aU-danc-ing production filmed by Mero-Gokl-wyn-Mayer, attracted a good attendance at the Grand Theatre at the afternoon and evening screenings for its return visit to this city- It is the most vividly portrayed drama of back-stage life to reach the screen, with all the glamour, tinsel and clatter for which life behind the scenes is famous, reproduced in this new era of singing and talking pictures. The story, an original by the celebrated playwright, Edmund Goulding, relates the sad, yet humorous experiences of a small-town “sister act’’ that looks like material for the Follies but flops in rehearsalThrough it all runs a humanly interesting romance su/i as is carried on only in the turbulent, exciting life of show people whose chief aim in life is to entertain well the public for whom they perform. The dramatic climax of the story is one of the most heart-grip-ping episodes imaginable, for, after struggling to keep her “little sister” from wandering off the straight and narrow, the good Samaritan secs true love take its course by sacrificing her own lover. Anita Page and Bessie Love appear in the “sister act” and Charles King, musical comedy star as the helpful song-and-danee-man lover. Kenneth Thomson plays the idle rich and handsome stage-door Johnnie who endeavours throughout to gain the attentions of Miss Page and is the ultimate cause of the cyclonic climax. Mary Doran, Eddie Kane and others are in the supporting cast. Harry Beaumont, responsible for “Our Dancing Daughters” and other successes, directed the new production which is interspersed throughout with specially written musical scores. This picture will be repeated again to day and to-night and should attract, large audiences at the popular prices.

DOUBLE STAR PROGRAMME MAJESTIC ENTERTAINMENT Continuing the policy of presenting double star programmes the management of the Majestic Theatre are offering another programme of this type. Evelyn Brent, fiery actress who made such a personal triumph in “Why Bring That Up?”, ‘‘Fast Company,” and “Woman Trap’’, will be seen in her first starring Paramount picture, “Darkened Rooms.’’ Darkened Rooms” is based on a popular novel, by Sir Philip Gibbs, which recently was published serially in the Cosmopolitan Magazine. It deals with the fortunes of a Fakir who tries to mulct big fees from rich clients by his mysterious office of calling forth messages from their dearly departed. It is a picture that affords many an exciting moment and many a thrill with its convincing mystery plot and action. “Darkened Rooms’’ was directed by Louis Gasnier, veteran of film producing, who has a long list of mystery picture successes to his credit. An English star, a French director, and an American supporting cast—that is the international atmosphere in “The Battle of Paris.” Charles Ruggles as the comedian and Walter Petrie* as the native leading man head the American contingent. Florey, the youthful French director, who made “The Hole in the Wall”, “Cocoanuts’’ and “Night Club”, preceding his present venture, has seen to it that the same international flavour has been maintained in various phases of this picturisation of the gayer side of the World War. A modern ‘Three Musketeers,” representing America, France and England, are principals in the story, and Miss Lawrence, famous English actress is the star. In filming “The Battle of Paris,’’ the lighter side of the serious business of war has made Miss Lawrence the central figure around which romance and comedy have been blended.

“DEVIL-MAY-CARE” A HOM ANTIC FILM Ramon Novarro, last seen in little more than a loin cloth in the picturesque “The Pagan,” the vehicle which revealed the singing talent of this versatile performer to a surprised world, has returned to the Regent Theatre fudjr clothed in the uniform of ai attache of Napoleon in a musical romance which rivals its fore-runner in beauty of settings, adroit‘direction, finished acting and all-round entertainment. The new picture, “Devil-May-Care,” is Novarro’s first all-talk-ing production, and gives him an opportunity to extend his vocal repertory bcyoiyl the seemingly immortal “Pagan Love Song” to include a number of Napoleonic ballads and love songs written by Herbert. Stothart, co-com-poser of “Rose Marie.” From an artistic and pictorial viewpoint, “Devil-May-Care’’ is unquestionably one of the finest productions of the year. Laid in the early French settings of Napoleon’s hazardous reign, the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer art staff has given a genuine and appreciative touch ol both interior and exterior scenes of the picture, which arc partly filmed in technicolour. The “piece de resist-

ance’’ of “IDevil-May-Care” is a sequence filmed in technicolour which depicts a group of Albertina Rasch girls executing a ballet in a reproduction of the noted gardens at. Fontainebleau. Here the quaint striped costumes of the dancers, the ivid contrasts in colour of dresses, the sky and the landscape have been charmingly worked out while the number has been given a surprise finish in the- sudden rising of a myriad of tall fountains be hind the rows of dancers. SILENT FILMS. OPERA HOUSE ATTRACTION. Lovers of silent films will be well catered for at the. Opera House tomorrow afternoon and evening, when a specially-selected double-star programme will be presented. “The Bridge of San Luis Rev,” -Mctro-Goldwyn-Mayer ’m *uch heralded

iilmisation of Thornton Wilder’ a celebrated novel, is a special attraction, and as such is one of the most important theatrical events of the year. Plans to film the Pulitzer prize-winning novel, a literary sensation, started widespread debate, because of the strangeness of the story and the difficulties of putting it on the screen. But unde/ the direction of Charles Brabin, this was not only done, but with almost utter fidelity to the original book. Majestic settings, the great, cathedral, picturesque winds and strange, uncanny lighting and. photographic effects, the thrilling spectacle of the wrecking of a great bridge over an Andean gorge, and vivid, intimate details (hat literally bare the lives of its characters, are all women into the central theme, a story of love- The cast is a remarkable one, us famous artists fill every principal role. Lily Damita plays the fiery dancer and Ernest Torrence is scon as Uncle Pio. Don Alvarado, Raquel Torres, Henry B. Walthall, Tully Marshall, Emily Fitzroy, Duncan binaldo and many others are in the cast.

The second film, and one. that ’ 8 worthy of being starred, is “Spike Marriage,” an M.-G.-M. production, starring the inimitable Buster Keaton. Buster Keaton battles with rum runners, navigates a burning and deserted ship through a storm, wrecks a theatre and a night club, and ndulges in other strcnuou s and hilarious adventures. It’s the story of a tailor who poses as a millionaire iu the plumage of his customers, marrie s a beautiful actress and then is utterly submerged in comical griefs, woes, mishaps and adventures. Most of the big laugh: come through Buster’s participation in such thrills a s a battle at. sea, swinging head downward from the mast of a ship in a storm and such details.

CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOW Entries for the show in the Drill Hall on Friday and Saturday, constitute a record for St. Alban’s Society. Chrysanthemums entered have almost reached five hundred, whilst the other sections are well filled, the decorative classes being exceptionally strong. In foliage and flowering plants, ferns, fruit and vegetables, there are numerous entries, boors will be opened at 2 o’clock this afternoon, and the Hon. W. A. Veitch will conduct the official opening half an hour later-