ENTERTAINMENTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 424, 15 November 1930, Page 11

ENTERTAINMENTS

DUCHESS THEATRE (Aramoho). Thrilling Alpine tempests and glittering cabaret scenes are some of the features of the British super-produc-tion, “The Inseparables.” screening for the first time in Wanganui at the Duchess to-day. The photography in really beautiful and the settings excellent/ manifesting Britain’s wonderful progress in the picture-producing world. It is a human story containing both comedy and pathos that has taken England and Europe by storm. The Duchess Orchestra will again bo* in evidence. If you enjoy entertainment that provides complete relaxation come and see this British superspecial picture, suitable for young ami old. HUBERT CARTER FAREWELL RECITAL. The programme arranged for the grand farewell appearance of Hubert Carter, the eminent tenor, is one of exceptional interest. Mr Carter will be including songs and operatic arias seldom performed owing to their difficulties and great demands upon the artist. The versatility of Mr Carter’s artistry is well known and this programme will call upon his gifts to their fullest extent. Anton Dvorak’s suite of Gipsy songs will be the first group programmed, then will follow groups of modern art songs, liedcr and operatic arias, the latter including the great “Ossian’s Song” from Massenet’s opera “Werthcr.” This will be the first group programmed, in N.Z. of this aria. The assisting artists will be heard in instrumental items of great interest and altogether the programme will be one long remembered by Mr Carter’s many admirers and a fitting finale to his long sojourn in our midst.

“TAMING OF THE SHEW.' REGENT’S NEW FEATURE. MARY PICKFORD AND DOUG. FAIRBANKS. Ample opportunity is provided in “Taming of the Shrew” for Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks to display their talents. The picture, which commences at the Regent Theatre to-day, also serves to introduce these two famed stars in co-starred roles. Miss Pickford is seen as Katherine, an untamed shrew —until Pctruchio arrives on the scene and proceeds to tame her. Katherine’s appearance is announced by the crashing of pottery, mirrors and furniture as various missiles are hurled by her at the servants and even her own lather. When the audience obtains its first glimpse of this spirited young woman, she is seated with a whip in her hand and is boiling with fury and panting like an athlete who has just broken the one-mile record. One is given the impression that all men are to Katherine as a red rag is to a bull and it is while she is raging and stoTming and doing her utmost to wreck her father’s house that Pctruchio swaggers in to ask for her hand in marriage.

The wooing of Katherine has had no equal on the screen and. like so many things, it has to be seen —and heard — to be believed. {Suffice it to say that Pctruchio woos and wins the fair but turbulent young maiden, but more by force than by the soft-spoken word that is usually associated with screen romances. The musical pealing of bells and the rich notes of the organ proclaim that a wedding is about to take place, and great crowds gather outside the church to await the arrival of the bridegroom who is late. Katherine sits in the back of the church fuming and storming, her countenance clouded and her lips curled with scorn and anger. An excited member of her lather’s household announces that Pctruchio is on his way, and shortly afterwards the bridegroom stalks into the church, grotesquely attired in rags, a long boot serving as a head-piece, while he unconcernedly munches an apple! It is just Petruchio’s idea of taming the little rebel who is about to become his own wife. No one appears to enjoy the joke as much as Pctruchio himself, not even his friend who struggles to conceal the apple core which Pctruchio has handed him. A situation indeed! The wedding over Pctruchio seizes his bride and bundles her on to his waiting steed much in the same manner as hi; would a sack of grain, and they amble off to their future home. It is raining hard on their arrival, and while Pctruchio is dismounting the horse jerks forward, throwing Katherine into a pig wallow. Which is scarcely an auspicious reception for any bride on her wedding night.

The events that follow arc humorous in the extreme and before the final “fade-out,” Pctruchio succeeds in taming Katherine and winning her love and esteem.

“THE MANXMAN” OPERA HOUSES FEATURE SIR HALL CAINE’S NOVEL The feature at the Opera House this afternoon and evening is the U.A.F. release “The Manxman.” As announced prior to the release of this picture, it is undoubtedly a magnificient production. Sir Hall Caine’s original story is followed faithfully throughout the film and the acting is also of very good quality. Carl Brisson and Anny Ondra are in the main roles and give excellent portrayals of their respective parts- This picture, which was produced by Alfred Hitchcock for British International Pictures, is one that the picture-going public should not afford to miss-

The story opens in the Isle of Man, where two friends, Philip Christian, a lawyer, and Pete Quilliam, a fisherman, are infatuated with the same girl. Pete, who is more impulsive than his friend, is refused by the girl’s father, because of his poverty, and Pete decides to go abroad to seek his fortune, but before he goes he extracts a promise from Kate, the girl, to wait for him. He is absent some years, during which time Philip and Kate fall in love with each other, and are to be married. The day before the ceremony Pete returns home, having made a fortune. The father now accepts him as a suitor to the hand of his daughter, and the marriage takes place with Philip as best man. A baby is born, but it is not Pete’s, and Kate and Philip, whose baby it really is, decide to tell Pete the truth, but Pete is so elated with the news and believing he is the father, that they cannot tell him. Kate becomes discontented, and runs away to Philip, who sends her back to her husband- She tells Pete that he is not the father, and then goes to the wharf, where she is caught attempting suicide. At the court Philip, who is presiding, is denounced, and resigns from the court to take care of uc woman whom he had wronged.

“THE CUCKOOS.” A RIOT OF FUN. GRAND'S SPLENDID ATTRACTION Proving that there is, after all, something new in motion pictures, “The Cuckoos,” Radio Pictures’ riotous extravaganza of nonsense, is now showing at the Grand Theatre. Filled with mad waggery and delirious fun. “The Cuckoos” is a new type of screen musi-

cal which seems to come about the closest to one hundred per cent, popular appeal that any picture ever has achieved. “The Cuckoos’’ is not a revu’e; and it is not a musical comedy. The film is based on a well-developed plot and has a pleasing little romantic story running throughout. But the comedy is of prime importance. These two mad wags, Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey of “Rio Rita” fame clown their way through the show carrying everything with them. The picture is completely theirs —a delirious concoction of delightful nonsense, wild fun and side-splitting comedy gags. Never before has any screen production presented comedy throughout and succeeded in making every moment one of unadulterated glee. “The Cuckoos” is a most lavish production. It is dressed with breathtaking settings and costumes; the cast includes seven featured players in addition to Wheeler and Woolsey t and hundreds of singers, dancers, musicians, and extra players. A large portion is filmed in the most effective Technicolour yet to reach the screen. All in all, it’s a gigantic fun show. Ten melodious song hits give it a most impressive musical score, with every number destined to become a popular hit. Among the most noteworthy of the songs, composed by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby, are “I Love You So Much,” “All Alone Monday,” “Dancing the Devil Away,” “Wherever You Are,’ “Laugh To-day and Cry To-morrow” and California Skies.” Seats may be reserved at theatre office.

“ONLY THE BRAVE”

A SPLENDID PRODUCTION AMERICAN CIVIL WAR LIVES AGAIN The spirit of adventure and romance which marked the stirring cays of the American Civil War lives again in “Only the Brave,” the splotidid Paramount production which will open a season at the popular Majestic Theatre to-day. Gary Cooper, recently seen in the title role of “The Virginian,” the star- For many a feminine heart the foregoing statement, brief as it is, will no doubt be sufficient recommendation to this newest offering. But in case there arc any doubters, it must be added that “Only the Brave” shows Cooper to a better advantage, far better, than his previous satisfactory best. There is something about this tall, manly youth that seems to mark him as the most perfect type. He is virile and gallant, but yet not given to thunderous outpourings of unseemly emotions. His quiet tourage inspires hero-worship iv the hearts of all who behold him and fear him in his masterful work upon the talking screen. Paramount chose

wisely when it selected Mary Brian as the sweetheart of Gary Cooper in this picture: Their tremendous success as| the lovers tn “The Virginian” found great favour with film fans everywhere. “Only the Brave” is from an original story by Keene Thompson. It is an adventure of the old South in the days of the Civil War. Cooper is cast as a daring captain of cavalry in this adventure-romance of the war torn days. He volunteers as a spy behind the lines of battle action. In fulfilling his dangerous mission he meets Mary Brian fashionable Virginia girl and falls in love with her. The plot advances through a number of thrilling episodes in which Cooper must compromise two loyalties—Love and Duty. After much exciting action the lovers find that good fortune ha* cleared the way for untroubled romance. The finale is one that will please everyone.

For a brilliant polish use “TAN-OL. ’’ Cleans and polishes lioors, linoleums, furniture, footwear and the fabric and duco bodies of cars.*