ENTERTAINMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18804, 28 November 1932, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

DRAMA OF MOTHER LOVE. i “CASE OF CLARA DEANE.” AT THE THEATRE ROYAL. I ! i ! “Tiie Strange Case of Clara : Deane," claims attention through the : intensity of its dramatic situations, i and also because it introduces a new jnnd accomplished actress, whose perI formanco places her with the con- | summate players of the day. Wynne i Gibson, in the name part, dominates jand elevates the action. We see her i first as a charming and trustful young bride ,and later as a disillusioned yet loyal wife, emmeshed in a sordid association with a worthless husband whose unlawful pursuits lead ultimately to the imprisonment of both. Released on parole 15 years later, she finds herself cut off from companionship with her daughter be-. I cause of the latter’s adoption by a ! detective who had been engaged on some of the father’s earlier crimes. Threatened with imprisonment again it she discloses her Identity the mother finds a modicum of Joy in the casual contact permitted by her employment in the salon in which her daughter’s trousseau is being made. The climax is full and powerful. Intent on blackmail, the husband, also on parole, visits the home of the daughter’s fiance. There is only one way of circumventing him and in taking it the mother jeopardises her own life, Francos Dee, as the daughter of Clara and Frank Deane, presents a charming and winsome personality. Her most important work occurs in scenes with the mother, whose relationship she never suspects, and the quiet simplicity of her acting lends a finer touch of pathos to the position oC tho older woman. Dudley Diggs, detective and foster-father to Nancy, Alls a prominent role with great strength, while Pat O’Brien raises an appropriate feeling of antipathy in the role of the unregenerate Frank Deane. “OLD VIENNA." The'tunes of Old Vienna, the glamourous period which followed the overthrow of Napoleon and the meeting of the victors In that city to try and reorganise the world, is the atmosphere around which UFA have wound the beautiful love story which is shortly to delight picture patrons at the Theatre Royal in “Old Vienna," the remarkable Continental film. It was a period of -spendthrift hospitality and magnificence, and in this picture the screen once again comes into its -own as a medium for spectacle on a lavish scale.

STRAND THEATRE. Gene Gerrard has, since Ms outstanding success in “My Wife’s Family,” been voted one of the most popular British screen comedians. Now iiis admirers are able to see him at the Strand Theatre in another laugh-raising film entitled, “Lucky Girl.” In this him lie plays the part ol' a young man who suddenly succeeds to the throne of a small and impoverished Kingdom, and his subsequent adventures when be enedavcurs to “raise the wind” on the Crown jewels, causes endless amusement. Another favourite, Molly Lamont, plays tho leading feminine role. The cast also contains Lesley Wareing, Spencer Trevor, Tonie Bruce, lan Fleming and Ireland Gutter, and three popular comedians, Gus McNaughton, Ilal Gordon and Frank Stanmore. “England Awake,” presents inspiring glimpses of Britain's great national Industries, not only in their genesis many years ago, but in their gradual development and eventual achievements in the markets of the world, with many fascinating scenes of giant steel works, busy coalfields, sheep-farming, lumber-camps, dambuilding, and general feats of engineering. “HtS ROYAL HIGHNESS.” : Boisterous, good-humoured fun of tire type that has made George Wallace famous on the stages of Australia and New Zealand bubbles through "His Royal Highness,” which will be screened at the Strand j Theatre on Friday. In a story written Iby himself, the popular comedian ! gives a performance which entitles him to rank among the comedians of the world. He might well be termed the “George Robey of the Southern Hemisphere." The announcement that George Wallace will tour New Zealand at Christmas time lends added interest to the film.

CIVIC THEATRE. On account of the theatre being otherwise engaged there will be no pictures at the Civic Theatre to-night and to-morrow night. The newspaper atmosphere has been vividly captured In “is My Face Red?" which will open at tho theatre on Wednesday. Many newspaper dramas have been shown lately, but this one strikes an entirely now note ‘that cannot but intrigue the film-goer. The picture deals with the career of a newspaper columnist, who deals In scandal for a living. The principal artist Is Ricardo Cortez and he i 3 supported by Helen Twelvetrees, who Is cast as a show girl, who provides her lover with many of his tips. ROXY THEATRE. “Tar/.an, the Ape Man," based on the hair-raising story of jungle adventure by Hdgar Rico Burroughs, is the attraction at the Roxy ! Theatre. Johnny Weissmuller, world's champion swimmer and considered vj I have one of the finest physiques of [any man living, plays Hie title role of | the strange white man who lives in | Hie jungle like the apes. Prominent i roles arc taker, try Moil Hamilton, .Maureen O’Sullivan, C. Aubrey Smith, Doris Lloyd, Forrester Harvey ami I Ivory Williams. I I “ RUDDIGORE ” TO-IMIGHT. I "Ruridigore," to he singed at, the ! Civic. Theatre to-night and to-morrow | night by the boys of Southwell School, I is one of the most musical of Hie (Hlj‘fieri ami Sullivan operas, and has : plenty of humour and niimti drama. !It is a 'brilliant burlesque on old-time I melodrama, with the bold, bad villain, I the sweet village •maiden, the manly 'hero, and all liie other characters i complete. There is some excellent j material at the school 'this year, and ; judging by the manner in which re- • licarsais have proceeded a splendid performance is assured.