ENTERTAINMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18776, 26 October 1932, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

TO-NIGHT’S PROGRAMMES. CIVIC THEATRE. '“Gentleman for a Day,” to open a season at the Civic Theatre to-day, Is, according to a noted oveseas critic, “ a film that takes a step —and a good step—nearer the ideal talking picture, cinematieally speaking.” Ho continues: ‘“lt is a fascinating demonstration of film-making at its best. A prodigal producer, an expert scenario writer, a brilliant cameraman, a skilful director and a fine team of blever. players have packed thrills, action and humour into a story which is well told, and with such a wealth of entertaining incident that its deficiencies, if any, are only realised in retrospect. In this cast the setting is far more important than the theme. The Him derives much of its appeal from the panoramic background of a large American railway station. Douglas Fairbanks, junr., Joan Blondell and Guy Klbbee are all superb.”

STRAND THEATRE. With that recklessness and dash common to newspaper reporters, Ben Lyon pursues a hot news story aboard a speeding Pullman train and solves five mysterious murders while getting his story in ”By Whose Hand?” a romantic melodrama. “By Whose Hand?” takes place entirely aboard this fast train, bringing the lives of thirteen * people into a dramatic situation. Lyon follows an escaped criminal believed to be aboard a train, on which are riding a jewel merchant, a dope fiend, the wife of the criminal, a young married couple, another criminal on his way to prison and a young girl with whom Lyon falls In love. With awesome mystery the engineer and the firemen of the train and three of the passengers are, murdered. Lyon manages to catch the murderer in a manner that is startlingly olever.

THEATRE ROYAL. The conflict of modern morals and emotions with old-fashioned Ideals is the basis of the gripping drama “Forgotten Commandments.” Additional grandeur is given the picture by excerpts from Cecil B. De Mllle’s • classic, ‘‘The Ten Commandments,” including the impressive scene in which the Red Sea opens. Sari Maritza, who has the leading feminine role, first entered films at the age of 17 years in Hungary. Since then she has gone from success to success. “ Forgotten Commandments” is her first Americanmade picture. Marguerite Churchill and Irving Plchel are well cast in supporting roles. Unquestionably Mr Piohel plays his most important part in this picture. He portarys a brilliant scientist;!whose personal* dreams are thwarted by his new-fangled doctrines. His advocacy of new ideals ultimately leads to murder, but in the end he realises his error. Gene Raymond appears as a young modern, who comes to a big university to study medicine.

MARIE DRESLER ON FRIDAY. The art of being able to sway the emotions of thousands belongs to few artists of the soreen to such an extent as it does to Marie Dressier. This 61-year-old figure has demonstrated time and again that she possesses ability to make an audience “enjdy"ory-lng as well as laughing.” Her latest production, “ Emma,” in which she is claimed to give' the most outstanding performance of her career, will open a season at the Theatre Royal on Friday. In this film pathos, comedy and tragedy are blended in such proportions as to make perfect screen entertainment, which is enhanced by the sheer simplicity and appeal of the •tory.

ROXY THEATRE. One of the late Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s besj, mystery stories of the famous detective Sherlock Holmes, entitled “ The Sign of Four,” has been adapted to the screen In a British picture of the same title. Arthur Wontner, who is noted on British stage and screen for his remarkable impersonation of Sherlock Holmes, again plays this role In “The Sign of Four” and demonstrates some of the unique disguises adopted by the famous detective of fiction.