ENTERTAINMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18349, 8 June 1931, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

TO-NIGHT’S PROGRAMMES. THEATRE ROYAL. With its frequent dramatic moments heightened by amazing photography, “The Seas Beneath,’’ a vivid romance of submarine warfare, opened at the Theatre Royal on Saturday to an enthusiastic audience, with George O'Brien giving one of the best performances of his career in the leading role. This remarkable movietone offering does many things. For the first time in talkie history it presents graphically the struggle of the Allied navies against the submarine menace, It takes the spectator below the surface of the seas, using a newly invented submarine camera, and actually into the complicated Interiors of Uncle Sam’s underwater fighters, with some of its intensest moments filmed Against the background of a submarine’s control room and torpedo room. It gives a notable Insight into the psychology of naval men of both countries-—men fighting bravely and without bitterness against their enemies. And finally, in the person of the blue-eyed and flaxen-haired Marion Lessing, it presents the speaking screen with a new and highly promising actress of stellar rank. *\s the sister of the U-boat commander, torn between a new-found love and a lifelong devotion to her country, Miss Lessing gives a notable performance, and one that is perfectly matched with George O’Brien’s excellent work as the American commander of the little flotilla, out to destroy the U-boat in question. In fact, the entire cast is good, with the honours, perhaps, going also to Warren Hymcr, William Collier, sen., Walter G. Kelly and Walter McGrail as the riotous American gobs, Gaylord Pendleton as the youthful ensign, and John Loder, Henry Victor and Ferdinand Schu-' mann-Hcink as the German officers. STRAND THEATRE. That Marie Dressier and Polly Moran are an extremely popular pair of comediennes was amply attested by the roars of laughter which greeted their premiere at the Strand Theatre of "Reducing,” their newest Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture. “Reducing” lampoons the beauty parlours as “Caught Short” did Wall Street. The plot, (and the picture, unlike most comedies, has a strong story) starts when Marie, with her family and rural mall-carrier husband, Lucien Littlefield, comes to visit her sister, the successful “Pauline Rochay,” beauty parlour proprietress. The audience is taken behind the scenes in an establishment where fat women become thin and thin women fat. Marie and Polly have gentle fun with reducing methods, and succeed in keeping their admirers in a constant state of mirth. A strong story is played out by two pairs of young players—Anita Page and William Bakewell; Sally Filers and William (“Buster’’) Collier, Jun. The . boys’ parts arc well done by Billy Naylor and Jay Ward. The latter is. the young vaudeville star who in 1927 gained wide publicity as the National Mascot of the American Legion on the trip of that organisation to Paris for tho Second A.E.F. “Reducing” was adapted by “Chuck” Ricsner, the man who did “Caught Short.” In addition to the funny scenes in the beauty parlour there is an amusing sequence in a Pullman car and another featuring the arrival of Marie and family at the Grand Central Station, New York. “Reducing I !"has- no moral or lesson It is made for laughing purposes only, and it succeeds admirably.

CIVIC THEATRE. , There Js a laugh In every line of “Hook, Line and Sinker," a snicker In every situation, and a plot that keeps spectators in an uproar all the time. Credit for this excellent entertainment Is traceable largely to the Inimitable antics of Hollywood's comedy team. Wheeler and Woolsey. However, one cannot forget that Dorothy Lee, Jobyna Howland, George Marion and Hugh Herbert are blessed with a sense of humour and know how and when to use it. The story starts with a roar and gains In momentum. Wheeler and Woolsey. start out as insurance salesmen, politely steal a whole railroad train, butt in on the affairs of a beautiful girl, take over ■ the hotel she has Inherited, fill it with society dowagers and their jewels, and then, when publicity brings all the crooks in creation into the hotel, the plot begins in earnest. “Hook, Line and Sinker" has everything. For the romantic-minded there is the tender love affair between Bert Wheeler and petite Dorothy Lee. For those who prefer their villains deep-dyed and vigorous, it provides. Stanley Fields, one of the most popular " menaces" in Hollywood; a gang of cut-throats; and last, but not least, the sleek and sophisticated Half Harolde. Scenic beauty is provided in the exterior scenes and lavishly-equipped “Hotel De Ritz" grounds. ROXY THEATRE. An engrossing story, beautiful backgrounds and splendid performances upon the part of Joan Crawford, Anita Page, Dorothy Sebastian, Robert Montgomery, John Miljan and a large supporting cast contrive to make "Our Blushing Brides" effective entertainment. The plot centres about three girls who work in the same department store and share rooms. They are fed up with the monotony of their lives, clock-punching, delicatessen meals, made-over dresses and all tho other millstones of poverty, and each . awaits the opportunity to escape from a humdrum existence. The outcome Is sensational. MISCHA LEVITZKI, PIANIST. “After an absence of ten years Misclia Levitzki reappeared at llie Sydney Town Hall last Saturday night, and scored a brilliant success. A very large audience lllled every part of tho hall and gave tho pianist a warm welcome. The printed programme was over shortly after ten, but the recital did not terminate until after half-past tho hour, so numerous were the encores played," wrote the musical critic of the Sydney Mail, hi the course of a glowing notice of j Levitzki's first concert in Sydney, j Under the K. J. Gravcstock direction Levitzki will give one concert in Hamilton, ami itiis will eventuate next Thursday night In the Theatre Royal. A particularly generous programme lias been prepared, and in addition the famous pianist is asking music-lovers lo leave Hie names of any special “request" items they wish lo he included among the encores at the con- | elusion of the printed programme.) Special interest attaches to the j Levitzki performance of the “Appas- j stonata" Sonata (one of the items on j Thursday's programme), for cities, elsewhere have referred to the “fresh, | spring-like qualities that Levitzki's] unorthodox reading tilings to this familiar work. Beethoven. Bach, i Chopin. Debussy. Gluck, Havel, Liszt! and Levitzki himself are the composers represented on the printed pro- | grammo. The box plan is open.