ENTERTAINMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18652, 2 June 1932, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

TO-NIGHT’S PROGRAMMES. STRAND THEATRE. British comedy talkies have a charm of their own, and "The Lo\e Race no exception to the rule. It contains a running Are of wit, and the enthusiastic manner in which each member of the cleverly-constructed cast piajs his part adds to Ihe charm. "t rollicking corned}. It isnt Stanley Lupino, the lea( J i 1" " 0 h i l es maker, says so much as what he does, and the marvellously fu^ y " r \ ain _ does it, that makes him a jj ing. His lines in themselves are all laughter-provoking, but his q drolleries of aclion throusho»t this sari-Sfs'tA-and offering him a drink. The glasses are put on a revolving table, and the Set way in which Lop.no, unnoUced. turns the table round so that me stranger’s brimming S|ass is replaced by his own, as yet un-fllled, three times in succession, to the amazement of the guest, who has seen the dri given him, yet finds his glass empty, is excruciatingly funny, lhat is but one of the many amusing incidents. The effervescent Stanley is ably supported by Jack Hobbs, who gets him every minute into a fresh scrape while telling facile lies to extract him from the last. Further merriment .s supplied by Arty Ashe as Eustace, an inebriated taxi-driver. CIVIC THEATRE. Svdney Howard, seen recently in “Tilly of Bloomsbury" and “splinters in the Navy,” is at his funniest in “Up for the Cup," to be presented at the Civic Theatre to-day. Mr Howard revels in the part of a blundering Yorkshireman on a visit to London to see the Cup final, his adventures keeping the audience in roars of laughter. This “frozen-faced” comedian ranks high in popular favour; his art seems effortless, he is a great character actor, and lie is always convincing. In “Up for the Cup” he has full scope for the display of his gifts, and he makes the most of his role. Joan Wyndham adds to the funmaking as his quarrelsome wife, and the remainder of the characters are all well filled, so that there is nothing lacking to make the comedy entertaining from beginning to end. The director of the film, Jaok Raymond, says he was treated handsomely by the mill-owners of Yeadon when he was directing “Up for the Cup.” They offered him all sorts of facilities, and at times stopped the looms while he took scenes. Some nice lengths of material came his way too, and at the time he was expressing his appreciation Mrs Raymond was in London attired in a dress made of the material! THEATRE ROYAL. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of “Arsenc Lupin,” the new film at the Theatre Royal, is the contrast between the acting of the Barrymore brothers, Lionel and John. Although each has appeared in numerous earlier films, the brothers are seen together for the first time in this entertaining Franco-American story of robbery and intrigue, and, as should be the case, they have been oast In conflicting parts. Although many who see the film will probably prefer the character represented by John Barrymore, the acting of the other brother is undoubtedly the more forceful. Each, however, is well suited to his part, and the combination Ik decidedly pleasing. The film is based on the most thrilling incidents taken from a series of stories by Maurice le Blfcno, the best of the popular tales being concisely modelled into an entertaining plot. The picture Is not a mystery film, it oeing obvious from the outset that lhc lebonair Due de Chamerace is the jriminal Lupin, but the interest lies not in finding the identity of the elusive robber, hut in the methods employed in bringing him to justice and his skill in evading carefullyflanned traps. There is abundance of action in “Arsene Lupin,” the ingenious burglar indulging in a scries of daring escapades, none of which is so super-human as to he impossible. The film is notable also for the excellence of the work of the minor players, chief of whom is Karen Morley. In the supporting programme a Laurel and Hardy comedy, “Helpmates,” is the principal item. This amusing pair, the elephantine Hard}' and the tearful Laurel, have further adventuros in a domestic farce, each, a■ usual, stepping Into trouble. ROXY THEATRE. Ann Harding and Leslie Howard two of the most intellectual artists ir films, appear together in "Devotion,’ at the Roxy Theatre. An English critio cays: “A talking picture I car recommend to-day is ‘Devotion, adapted from tho English novel, Littlo Flat in the Temple,’ which is c lavender and old lace story as Engllsl In character as is Devonshire. ‘Devotion’ must be commended also because Miss Ann Harding is the star and because Mr Leslie Howard hero gives his finest film performance."