ENERTAINMENTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 141, 17 June 1931, Page 11

ENERTAINMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE '•ONCE A SINNER” One of the most powerful screen dramas of the current season comes to the Majestic Theatre to day. The offering is “Once a Sinner,” FoxMovietone production directed by Guthrie McClintic and featuring Dorothy Mackaill as the girl who sins, and repents when she experiences her first real love for a young inventor. Before marriage she confesses her past and ♦•ells the story of the other man. The husband-to-be agrees to forgive and forget. Later jealousy and suspicion enter his mind and prompt him to quarrel with his wife—and they separate. What happens then is vividly aud dramatically told in a surprising climax. Miss Mackaill gives the finest dramatic portrayal of her long and successful career as ‘‘Diana Barry,” the young wife who insists that her past —before marriage—belongs to her alone, just as her husband's past belongs to him. Joe McCroa, handsome and athletic youth gives a tine portrayal of the young husband with sincerity tho dominating note, and John Halliday plays “the other man.” Other notable portrayals are contributed by C. Henry Gordon, like Chase, Sally Blane, Clara Blandick and Ninette Faro. George Middleton wrote tho story and dialogue and the direction of McClintic reflects his long and enviable success or the New York stage. “Once a Sinner” is preceded by the latest Fox Movietone News of tho latest world events, a very humorous monkey comedy entitle* I “The Blimp Mystery.” and an interesting travel talk, “Tho Island Empire.” DUCHESS THEATRE “SARAH AND SON’’ The powerful dramatic ability of Ruth Chatterton, displayed so successfully in “Charming Sinners,” “The Laughing Lady” and “Madame X,” will be again brought forward for the delectation of her admirers when tho Duchess ’Theatre shows “Sarah ana Son” to-night and to-morrow. “Sarah and Son” is the story of an impoverished actress who is forced to give up her baby boy that she mighr work and live. On becoming famous she tries to retrieve the lad, but on counters intrigue upon the part of the wealthy couple who have adopted her child. The manner in which she accomplishes her courageous purpose | forms the climax of tho picture. It is tense and breath-taking—but it is one which leaves an audience in a happy glow of good spirits. Frederick .March is cast opposite Miss Chatterton. He plays the part of the young | lawyer who falls in love with her and tries to help her retrieve her young son, played by Philippe rfo Lacy. There is an abundance of splendid character-portrayal in the picture. • LAUGH THAT OFF” BOX PLANS OPEN The plans for reserved seats for the two performances of ‘‘Laugh That Off.” to be given in the Opera House next Monday and Tuesday, will be opened to-day at H. I. Jones and Son’s. It is expected that the booking will bo heavy, and early booking is advisable. The play will be presented under the auspices of the Wanganui Amateur Society by arrangement with J. C. Williamson, Ltd., and should prove one of the brightest attractions of “ Welcome Week.” Thu comedy is described as being exceedingly clever and laughable, full of smart, witty dialogue, amusing situations, and a splendid plot, and there can be no doubt but that the performers will give a good account of themselves, for it is doubtful if a better east, of amateurs could be found in New Zealand. Reasonable prices of admission arc being made, and as the, proceeds are to go to the Mayor’s local relief fund, the Opera House should be tilled on both Monday and 1 uesday next. WANGANUI WELCOME WEEK “JOY NIGHT” I Ouc “f the first attractions of “Wei ■ couiu Week.” which has lor its purpurpose the raising of funds for the | Mayor’s Local Relief Fund will be a ; monster “Joy Night.” 1 ho building i to be used, the National Mutual build i ing. next the Bank of New Zealand. , in the Lower Avenue, has the largest i floor space in the city. The windows 1 are- being used for the display of Man ganui manufactured goods, in addition to “.Miss Wanganui's” huge birthday cake. A first-<dass dancing floor is being prepared, and two orchestras cn gaged; for nun-dancers a pleasant lounge will bp furnished, which commands a good view of the dancing floor, ami a large room upstairs will be used for entertainments, etc. The committee of “Welcome M’eek ” is sparing no effort to make “Joy Night” ;i memoi

REGENT THEATRE “CITY LIGHTS” The gigantic creation of the motion picture world arrives al the Regent Theatre to-day, with the presentation of “City Lights,” Charlie screen masterpiese. The picture will have a run of four days only. There will be a 10.30 a.m. matinee on Saturday. A production absolutely void of dialogue but with fascinating musical synchronisation and sound effect®, “City Lights” is hailed as the newest thing in cinema art and the greatest Chaplin effort of all time. More than two years in the making and with an expenditure of close to two million I dollars, “City Lights” is said to be the last word in pantomimic genius. Those who have viewed the work of the comedian-producer are of the belief that this offering will go a long way to bring back non-dialogue motion pictures. “City Lights” is an original idea and was written by Chaplin. It is a simple story of everyday life in any large city, with a human treatment such as the style for which this producer is noted, and, whi»ch ho followed in his direction. There is not a human voice used at any time throughout the picture but the unique manner employed through instrumental music, is declared to be a revolutionary step in synchronisation. A majority of all the music used throughout the action is original and was created by Chaplin. Mo.c than any production Chaplin has ever offered “City Lights” i a the most extensive. Some of the massive settings include the business district; slums, theatrical, select; a prize-fight stadium; a river and its embankment; a huge aud gay cafe and the exquisite rooms of a millionaire ’s mansion. Thu action represents that whi'ch goes on in any large city anywhere. There are three characters vital to the story. One is a tramp, as enacted by Chaplin, i another a flower girl who is blind and portrayed by Virginia Cherrill and the other au eccentric millionaire, by Harry Myers. And of importance to these three, the girl’s grandmother, Florence Lee; the millionaire’s butler, Allan Garcia, and a prize-fighter, Hank Man n. CONVENT CONCERT The pupils of the Convent Schools, assisted by the boys of the Marist School, will give a concert in the Opera House to-night at 8 p.m. An excellent programme has been arranged, including choruses, national dances, recitations and violin solos, etc. There will be special orchestral numbers and elaborate frocking and scenic effects. Box plan at Rowells. GRAND THEATRE “SALLY” NOW SHOWING The staging of a mammoth motion picture like “Sally,” the First National and Vitaphone production which comes at the 11 a.m. matinee today at tho Grand Theatre, starring Marilyn Miller. resembles a whole series of Broadway “first nights,” with all their nervous tension, anxiety. weeks of preparations, and countless thousands of details that must be perfected before “the show goes on.” “Sally” was Miss Miller’s greatest stage triump. As a spectacle, the picture exceeds even the stage production for the reason that tho limitations of the stage do not apply i . the motion pictures, and many elaborate scenes, impossible in tho footlight version. will be shown Jn their entirety on the screen. For instance the Follies scenes, where Marilyn Miller is shown ns the star of a big ballet in the world-famous revue. On the stage the sc • occupied but a few minutes, and it was constructed on a movable platform so that, tho scene might quickly bo shifted to the semifinal scene in the dressing room, where the boy and girl arc reunited. Because of the stage limitations and the necessity for a quick change to another set, tho stage ballet was ncc.esarily limited aud rather cramped. In the morion picture it is one of the biggest and me” spectacular scenes ever, made for the camera. “Sally” is made entirely in technicolour, and for this reason every costume worn by the 110 giil in the ballet scenes was made e pecially for tho picture. During the last three weeks prior to ! I lie making of the seem.*, eighty women were kept busy in the wardrobe department, completing tho work that more than twenty seamstresses had boon planning and workiug on for two months. Tho costumes of the ,irls were in gorgeous colours, and planned so that each group harmonised with i ho others.