ENTERTAINMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18167, 4 November 1930, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

TO-NIGHT’S PROGRAMMES. STRAND THEATRE. “ The Aviator ’’ is one of the most amusing comedies seen in Hamilton, and is delightipg large audiences at tiie Strand Theatre. If you were a middle-aged author, afflicted with dyspepsia, jumpy nerves and an inflamed liver, and your publisher’s publicity man had given you a tremendous— ; if fictitious—reputation as an aviator—if you were continually being called upon to give stunting exhibitions -for ; the amusement of your awed admirers—what-would you think of the publicity man—-and of life in general? Edward Everett Horton is thus featured in “The Aviator,” and in it he demonstrates that while a man who has never before been in an,aeroplane is in imminent danger of breaking his fool- neck, he is quite as likely to put on one of the craziest, most breath-taking stunt scenes in -the history of aerial acrobatics. As an invigorating ' mixture of laughs and thrills, “ The Aviator ” sets a new mark. In the cast are Patsy Ruth Miller,-' Johnny Arthur, Lee Moran, Edward Martinden, Kewpie Morgan, Phillips Smalley, William Norton Bailey and Armand Kaliz. An exceptionally good selection of short subjects, including a “ turn ” .by Jean Barrios and King Brady, who were in New Zealand with a Williamson vaudeville company, is included in the programme.

TALKIES AT CAMBRIDGE. A splendid programme will be presented at Cambridge to-night and no doubt many picture-lovers from Hamilton will find their way over to the sister town. “The Adventures of Submarine Sl3” tells an exciting story of disaster and heroism in a steel prison 16 fathoms down. Kenneth MacKenria and Farrell MacDonald .head the story cast. The scene in .which the submarine crashes and sinks holds the breathless attention of the audience, and the tense moments which follow are full of dramatic power. The true nature of each of’ the 14 men is revealed in such a crisis, making an intensely interesting romance. /

CIVIC THEATRE. “Anna Ghristiß,” Eugene O’Neill’s great play, has been brought to the screen, and proves an admirable vehicle for Greta Garbo -as her first talkie. In this picture Miss Garbo scores the triumph of her career, -her voice recording splendidly, adding power to her dramatic instinct and bringing fascination in multiple quantities to her personality. • Marie Dressier gives a striking performance as the old hag. Anna Christie is a woman of a nameless world who, sick at heart, stumbles into a saloon on one of New York’s old waterfront streets, looking for her father. The father, a sailor who tries to overcome his fear of “dat debil sea” with liquor, hadn’t done very much for Anna Christie. Anna learned to hate men. And then, as the film progresses, we see Anna living on the barge with her father, a comfort to the old man who realises now more than ever, how much he loves his girl. And in the end when Anna learns that she means everything not only to her father but also to Matt, a sailor whom they have saved from drowning, she finds, herself at the start of a new life.

THEATRE ROYAL. “Light Fingers,” ,an intriguing comedy-drama combining romance and action, will be seen at the Theatre Royal again to-night. “Light Fingers” comes as a refreshing change to the mystery drama which has monopolised talking picture .vehicles. The story takes so many sudden twists that the audience becomes completely absorbed and 75 minutes’ entertainment flashes past just as if it had been a quarter of. an hour. lan Keith is not very well known to screen fans, but he has a great stage reputation. If he can be induced to stay on the screen there is undoubtedly a great future' before him. He certainly has “it” for talking pictures.

ROXY THEATRE. The Roxy theatre is offering exciting entertainment with William Powell’s first starring - Paramount picture, “Street of Chance.” With a plot that sweeps along at a rapid pace, a theme that is refreshingly different, a supporting cast that is excellent, and above all, with the suave-mannered and smooth-voiced Powell dominating at every moment, this film lifts the emotions of the beholder to thrilling heights. It is a tale of big city gambling. The lives of those who live by their winnings at the poker tables of the metropolis are held up to the mirror of reality.