ENTERTAINMENTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 244, 15 October 1931, Page 11

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE

"RIVER’S END.” — The majesty of snowswept forests and men whose passions are as stark —contrasted with others whose ideas of duty are as unchangeable as the mountains romance beauty terror—and drama that rings true —are characteristics of "River's End/' Jarnos Oliver Curwood’s great tale of the Far North, which shows finally at the Majestic to-night. The grimly glamorous picture opens with, a man hunt in the icy wastes of the Aretir. And when fugitive and captor meet they find themselves as alike in appearance as though they were brothers, but as far apart in temperament as the poles. On the way bach through the wilderness the captor dies and the hunted man dons his clothes and makes an attempt to bluff his way through the outposts to freedom. Into this tangle of circumstances come a girl and a little boy—and the story rushes to a tremendous and unexpected climax. Charles Bickford is magnificent in his portrayal of the dual role —of pursued and pursuer. His vigorous manliness is evidenced in the trying part and Evalyn Knapp is bewitching as the girl loved bv both men. Another of the "Golf with Johnny” Forrell” series, entitled "In the Rough,” will also be greened. Plans are at Emmett’s, ’phone 5077. ••Yankee at King Arthur’s Court" Two of the greatest laugh makers are united for the first time in Mark Twain’s "A Connecticut Yankee” in which Will Rogers is starred. Mark Twain, one of the world s greatest humourists in his dayf has his modern counterpart in Rogers, who ranks as the greatest living American humourist and comedian. ”A Yankee in King Arthur’s Court," which will be seen and heard at the Majestic tomorrow, Friday, has long been considered one of the world’s greatest satires. In the new version of the famous Mark Twain classic, Rogers starts out as a small town radio dealer. He delivers a battery to a mysterious mansion on the hill one stormy night. The owner of the house hopes to tune his huge radio set in on sound waves which have been batting around in the ether since the beginning of time. He tunes in on what appears to be King Arthur’s Court. There is a terrific flash of lightning, and Rogers wakes up in the sixth century, right in the middle of the Round Table. Rogers becomes the unwilling hero selected to rescue the fair Princess Alisande from the wicked Queen Morgan Le Fay. He becomes involved in another series of adventures that climaxes in the most side-splitting laugh of the picture. Bogers is surrounded by a capable supporting cast which includes Maureen O’Sullivan, Frank Albertson, Myrna Loy, William Farnum, Mitchell Harris and Brandon Hurst.

DUCHESS THEATRE

‘•THE SPORT OF KINGS.” The turf, with all its fun, trickery, colour and multitudes of human types, is the theme of the clever farce comedy at the Duchess Theatre. "The Sport of Kings” is the tale of a sanctimonious hater of betting, who falls into sin owing to the wiles of a couple of society punters who excite his pronounced cupidity. Leslie Henson is the puritan in question, who first lectures the household on the wickedness of the turf (without being in the least away that they all "have a bit ou” on the sly), and then drops headluug into the wickedness himself. To watch his decline and fall—his extraordinarily clever change from the smug preacher against betting to the wild bettor and “bookie" —is to be present at a feast of first-class comedy. "The Sport of Kings” is British through and through, humour, setting, and characters. Its story is all alive and constantly on the move from scene to scene; and whether we agree or not on its theme that "everybody has a bit on sometimes,” we can all enjoy a picture which is a distinct credit to the British studios.

REGENT THEATRE.

"6 CYLINDER LOVE.” One of the best programmes that has been seen at the Regent Theatre is now showing. The feature is "Six Cylinder Love,’’ and to say that El Brendel is in the cast is to promise a gale of laughs. Yet the feature, perhaps, could not be truly called the feature as the rest of the programme is on an exceptionally high plane. The news is good, and there is an outstanding travelogue, one that makes you feel that you are really looking at the scenes yourself. It takes you from Honolulu to Havana through the Panama Canal, and with all the picturesque scenes on the way. Animal pictures have improved out of sight during the last year or so, but the special by the name of "Nine Nights in a Bar-room,” now showing, takes the honours of being the best. yet. It is the best that has come to Wanganui, and ranks as superlative. "The Devil to Pay,” with Ronald Colman, which was to come to the Regent this Saturday has been held back owing to phenomenal business in Auckland. 41 Six Cylinder Love” tells of the troubles a pair of newlyweds meet when they buy a tar that is too expensive for their means. Owning the machine brings a crowd of spongers, whose principal interest is having the newlyweds throw a continuous round of parties. Presently the host finds the pace telling on his pocketbook, but his wife over-rules his objections. Facing bankruptcy, the final straw comes when the wife smashes into another car, and hubby has to raise five thousand dollars or see wifey go to gaol. In desperation he "borrows" the money from his employer without the latter’s knowledge, but the employer discovers the loss and gives him the alternative between repaying or facing prosecution. Those who like laughing should go to the Regent to see the conclusion of the story.

I GRAND THEATRE.

"A NOTORIOUS AFFAIR."

A notable cast has been assembled for "A Notorious Affair,” the First National and Vitaphone picture now showing at the Grand Theatre. Billie Dove was given the coveted story, an adaptation of the play, "Fame," as a reward for good work in other pictures. She portrays a self-willed English girl wh< marries a poor violinist, builds him up to a popular idol, and then spends the rest of her married life trying to hod him against his public, other women and his temperament. Basil Rathbone was engaged to play opposite her as Paul Gherardi. Gherardi is a convincing person in the play, one of the type often met on the concert stage. He is a man of supreme egoism, of deep sincerity, of petulant childishness. In other words, a genius. Kay Francis as "the other woman," is another perfect choice. She plays a woman who tries to get every man she sees, and who is generally successful. Falling in love with Gherardi, it seems only natural to her to charm him, despite the fact he is married to one of her friends. She helps Gherardi to rise, by being one of his patronesses, and demands his attentions thereafter until she tires of him "Playing Around,” the First National picture starring Alice White and featuring Chester Morris, now at the Grand Theatre, is from the pen of Vina Delmar, one the best known and most popular of the younger American authors. Miss Delmar wrote "Bad Girl,” a best-selling novel of 1928, and "Kept,” the daring story which appeared serially. She has also written dozens of short stories and several novels. POULTRY ASSOCIATION The forty financial members of Wanganui’s vigorous young Poultry Association are making an effort to attract the interest of all small flock owners. In addition to founding an egg depot in the city, a public lecture is arranged to be given in the Technical College Hall on Friday night, when Mr J. N. McLean, the well-known breeder from Rotorua, will bring forward several proposals for the advancement of the industry. Further particulars will be found in our advertisement columns.