ENTERTAINMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18158, 24 October 1930, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

TO-NIGHT’S PROGRAMMES. HUMPHREY BISHOP COMPANY. FAREWELL TO HAMILTON. The Humphrey Bishop Company, which has been entertaining Hamilton audiences all the week, will hid farewell at the Civic Theatre to-night. The programme is very ententaining, including delightful music, clever dancing, gay humour,, and interesting tabloid sketches—welded into a very satisfying whole, and supported by a capable little orchestra and ballet. The singing of Thelma Trott and Walter Kingsley, the dancing of Les Desiree and Sidney Montlgue, the nonsense of Maurioe Barling, Arthur Hemsley and Fred Kelly, and the items by the other talented members of the company, all prove very popular.

The ■ picture portion of the programme is headed by “The Lone Star Ranger,” a *talkie version of Zene Grey’s well-known story. This is one of the most interesting films seer in Hamilton, combining romance and action, and set amid magnificent scenery. Beautiful Sue Carol and athletic George O’Brien head the strong cast.

ROXY THEATRE, “Thunderbolt” takes the audienoe from the heart of New York’s great negro metropolis to the awe-inspiring setting of Sing Sing’s Condemned Row; through the night clubs of New York’s “black belt" to the “Little Green Door" where society claims its penalty for orime. George Bancroft gives a very fine performance in the leading role, Richard Arlen and lovely Fay Wray have the supporting roles, and a brilliant cast of character actors carry the true-to-life roles.

STRAND THEATRE. Thrills, mystery and romance are some of the high-lights of Richard Dix’s first starring vehicle, “Seven Keys to Baldpate.” Dix gives one of the finest' performances of his screen career as Magee, the novelist who meets with many adventures while spending the night in a deserted tavern trying to write a novel. Tile eerie shadows 1 of Baldpate inn, the howling of the wind outside, and the ominous sound of seven keys turning one by one in the lock of the tavern door create an atmosphere of mystery. The surprise ending of the story is one that even the most imaginative minds will not guess. Dix is supported by a strong cast of players, two of whom enact the same roles in the'picture that they played in George M. Cohan’s original production of the play in New'York more than a decade ago. They are Joseph Allen and Carle ton Macy.

TALKIES AT CAMBRIDGE. “Ladies' of Leisure” is pleasing film-lovers at Cambridge. The story has to do with an artist and an idealist who falls in love with and seeks to reform a girl of the streets. On this simple theme a fine picture is worked, which met with a great reception in Auckland and elsewhere. Most of the heavy work falls on the shoulders of Ralph Graves, who gives a.sterling performance. Barbara Stanwyck gives a sympathetic rendition of the girl in the case, and Lowell Sherman has a strong character part. The delightful comedienne, Marie Prevost, contributes many laughs in a frivolous role.

THEATRE ROYAL. “Song of Soho,” with a cast headed by Carl Brisson, Edna Davies and Donald Calthrop, is a British film. Carl Brisson is the well-known London musical comedy favourite who has become equally popular on the screen. The story presents Brisson and Calthrop as two friends just discharged from the French Foreign Legion. Coming to London to Calthrop’s haunts, they link up with a run-down restaurant in Soho and give it a new lease of popularity through Brisson’s ability as a floor performer. Between the daughter of the proprietress, Edna Davies, and Brisson, a romance springs up, involved by the entrance of another woman, hut of course all ends happily. The Interest of the audience is held throughout.