ENTERTAINMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18639, 18 May 1932, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

TO-NIGHT’S PROGRAMMES

CIVIC THEATRE,

•George Arliss gives one of his most notable screen portrayals in Alexander Hamilton.’’ The story does not dwell so much on the brilliant states manship of the financial genius of the first Secretary of the United State Treasury, but rather on the common humanity which made Hamilton the dupe, temporarily, of one of the cleverest adventuresses of all turn., Mary Reynolds, a role played to advantage- by June Collyer. Indirectly this fascinating woman influenced the brilliant leader who at that period was largely responsible for the creation of the Constitution. Among great problems of the time were the choice gi a site for the national capital, the establishment of national credit, and the question of Governmental assumption of revolutionary war debts. To clear his name from false charges of dishonesty Hamilton frankly revealed his part in the Reynolds affair. This jS one of the most dramatic scenes In the absorbing picture. COMING ATTRACTION. To-morrow night “Racing Youth,” a hilarious comedy featuring the popular comedians Slim Summerville and Louise Fazenda, will he screened. It. should have a successful season, for these funmakers are very popular. Saturday will see the return of those great favourites, Woolsey and Wheeler, in their latest comedy “Peach o’ Reno.” This film is said to show the clever comedians at their best. STRAND THEATRE. “Men Like These,” an engrossing drama of a submarine crew entombed In their sunken craft many fathoms deep, heads the programme now being presented at the Strand Theatre. John ißatten, the Auckland-horn actor, who lakes a prominent part in the picture, makes personal appearances before the afternoon and evening screenings. The actual sinking of the submarine has an Impelling reality, which will not be lost among Hamilton audiences. It conveys a feeling almost of terror. Remarkable fidelity has also been achieved in the portrayal of Navy types. Each sketch is a masterpiece of character study. Although the tempo of the story reaches remarkable heights of emotional intensity at times the players never falter. The director (Air Walter Summers), who was responsible for the “Flying Fool” and notable military and naval films, has brought 'deft imaginative skill to Ills latest success. Ilis direction has qualities both of tautness and fluency. THEATRE ROYAL. Joe E. Brown appears at his funniest in “Broad Minded," In which he Is seen as Ossie Simpson, the timidly girl-conscious, who by an odd twist of fate has been put In charge of a wealthy playboy, whose father wants to get him out of reach of the blonde who is determined to acquire him as a means of getting possession of his dad’s millions. The two beat it westward In a baby Austin—and wrecks—rescues complications with new feminine , menaces—and a thousand and one funny mix-ups go to make up the story which Is by Kalmar and Ruby—the Broadway favourites who wrote "Animal Crackers," “Hold Everything" and many others. That the collaborators know the technique of making people laugh is evident from the story. The support is excellent. Ona Alunson, ■ Broadway musical comedy hit plays lead. Others are William Collier, Jr., as the gallivanting rich hoy. Beauties of the screen are in great evidence, ’ among them being Alarjorie White, Alargarot Livingston and Thelma Todd. Grayce Hampton, Bela Lugosi, Holmes Herbert and George Grandee are also in the cast. ROXY THEATRE. “A House Divided” tells the story of a tyrannical egoist who marries a girl, secured through an advertisement in a matrimonial magazine, and then sees her fall in lovo with his son. 'i'ho solution of this tragic problem lies m tho stormy Pacific Ocean, which brings the picture to a startling conclusion. Heading the cast is Walter Huston, one of the screen's finest actors. Other featured roles arc played by Kent Douglass and Helen Chandler. LECTURE ON RUSSIA. The unique views of Russian dally life to be shown by Mr Kingston tonight are probably the first series of suoh views to reach New Zealand. They have created astonishment and surprise wherever they have been shown, and ono critlo even went the lens'Lh of saying that they Included some of the most artlstio photographs he had ever seen. They are more than that, because when accompanied by Mr Kingston's lively descriptions they bring home to everyone what a book or magazine artlclo can never do —clear impressions of the vitally Important faots. No 'one can realise the scope of the Soviet Five Year Plan until he has actually seen for himself the Immense buildings and machinery lnvolvod. Similarly, the dally .round of tlie people Is appreciated more fully after one has seen ptiotos of communal kitollens, queues in Moscow streets and of home life.

The lecture will be given in the Alexandra Hall to-night.