ENTERTAINMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18392, 28 July 1931, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

TO-NIGHT’S PROGRAMMES

CIVIC THEATRE. Thirty years of thrills, packed into two hours of breathless entertainment. Such is “Cimarron,” Radio Pictures’ dramatisation or Edna Ferber’s epic story of Oklahoma, starring Richard Dix as the colourful Yancey Cravat. The film is one of the most significant productions since the advent of talking pictures. Smashing, dramatic punches come in rapid order . . . Yancey leads the great land rush. . . . Slays Lon Y’ountis. Meets “the Kid” in mortal combat. . . Champions the Osage Indians. . . . Thwarts his own love, Sabr-J, to save Dixie Lee, . . . and dies that others may live. ... All in one gripping, awe-inspiring production. Although there are tremendous spectacles, parades of covered waggons, great herds of cattle, the town of Osage as it appeared in three separate eras, oil gushers, they have not been allowed to interrupt or detract from the absorbing plot. The thirty-three characters and thousands of pioneers have stepped right from the pages of the Ferber novel. Dix’s portrayal of Y’ancey undoubtedly is i his greatest role. Irene Dunne, as Sabra, is equally convincing. Estelle Taylor is Dixie Lee personified; Nance 4 O’Neil, as Felice Venable, scores; Buster Collier gives a wonderful performance as “tlio Kid”; Rosco Ates is a bettor Jess Rickey than the original, while George E. Slone as Sol Levey is exceptional; Lon Y’ountis, the evil one, lives in Stanley Fields; Robert Me Wad, as Louie lleffner, the undertaker, is at Ills best: Edna May Oliver, stage star, is a marvellous Mrs Tracy Wyatt.

THEATRE ROYAL. Possessing one of the most human stories brought to the screen, "Dancing Sweeties,” tile comedy-drama of modern youth, is the tale of a dance-, crazed youth who is handsome and conceited, and who thinks more of dance halls than he doos of Ills family. Never once does “Dancing Sweeties" suffer a let-down in its tempo. It is a delightful mixture of comedy and suspense, romance and action. Adapted from the successful stage play by George Abbott and James Gleason, "The Fall Guy” presents no problem situations nor moral preachments. It is the tale of a white-collar man who loses Ills job and takes a chance with bootleggers to keep the wolf away. He becomes a "fall guy” for the gang and results make for a series of the most humorous scenes ever brought to the screen. Jack Mulhall, popular screen favourite, plays the title role. He is admirably supported by a competent cast, including Mae Clarke, Ned Sparks, Pat O’Malley, Wynne Gibson, Thomas Jackson and Ann Brody.

STRAND THEATRE. "Parlour, Bedroom and Bath,” which' fiad tnidlenccs roaring when It was presented as the most hilarious farce-comedy in the history of the stage, now comes to the talking screen as a' vehicle l'or the inimitable Buster Keaton, lie depicts a shy bill-poster, who, through no efforts of his 'own, achieves the reputation of a “great lover.” In a desperate attempt to uphold this reputation lie becomes involved in an uproarious series of amorous affairs which are brought to a swift conclusion when the jealous husband appears on the scene with a gun, Keaton's antics start the laughs rolling, and they are kept rolling .oy the rest of the cast, which includes the lanky Charlotte Greenwood, who scored on the stage in the original role; Reginald Denny, Cliff Edwards, Dorothy Christy, Joan Peers, Sally Ellers, Natalie Moorhead, Edward Brophy, Walter Merrill and Sidney Bracy. Among the high spots of the farce are the episode in which Keaton is discovered in the arms of Miss Moorhead by his other sweethearts; the comedy of errors by which lie finds himself with 'the wife of a jealous husband in a hotel room; the chase and shooting melee which follow; the sniash-up in which Denny runs Keaton down in his auto; the exciting wreck which follows upon the attempt of Keaton and Miss Peers to oulracc a locomotive. A tremendously funny scene is that in which- Miss Greenwood teaches the naive Buster to make love.

ROXY THEATRE. "Tho Man Who Game Back," featuring those popular lovers of the screen, Janet Gayfior and Charles Farrell, will be screened at the Rovy Theatre to-night. This is a talkie version of tho great stage success, and tells of the regeneration of a man and a woman through love. The action shifts dramatically from Ne v York to the dope dives of tho East, and then back to America. The cast does excellent work.

OAWSON-HAMBOURQ OONCERT. A notable event in tho musical history of Hamilton will lake place on Wednesday, August 5, when Mark llambourg, the world-renowned Russian pianist, and Peter Dawson the equally famous baritone will give i combined concert here. Crowded houses have .greeted ihese Iwo great artists throughout Australia, and the success at the opening concert in Wellington lias been a revelation and unparalleled in the history ot visiting artists to Hie Dominion. No Australian singer, not even Melba, Is known to more of the world’s ears than Peter Dawson. His appearance here will be an unique event in I lie world of music. As a pianist, Mark llambourg is equally Notable for his delicacy and powers, his supremo command of technique, his Intuitive grasp of the intention of the great composers Ills temperament and Imagination. He is recognised as one of the world’s greatest pianists and /lands among I,lie really great forces in the musical world of this age. The unique position he has achieved for himself in four continents is sullleient proof that here wo have to deal with, a master. Grilles (he world over are unanimous In acknowledging three prominent qualities, Ids tremendous temperament, his wonderful poetical feeling, and Ids electrical technique. The' box plan will open to-morrow morning, at 0 o'clock.

Before you nick tne kiddies in, sprinkle a few drops of " XAZOL ' on their nighties. P will save you a lot of worn;.