ENTERTAINMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 115, Issue 19159, 20 January 1934, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

;THREE FEATURE FILMS.

AT THE CIVIC THEATRE. A three-feature programme was presented al the Civic Theatre yesterday. The revival of “The Millionaire ' brought back George Arliss in one of his most entertaining - films. “The Pied Piper” was one of those beautiful coloured cartoons by Walt Disney, end was appreciated by adults just as much as by children. It was very charmingly conceived and carried out. In “The Narrow Corner,” Somerset Maugham, noted English author, has told one of his most engrossing tales. A tale of the Malay Archipelago, it begins in Sydney, Australia, goes by ketch with Douglas Fairbanks, jun., by way of the colourful islands of this out-of-the-way group to the Dutoh East Indies, where an exotic romance and a mad adventure take; place. Outcasts, polite society might call the characters met with; devil's ■pawn, the missionaries might label them; but to Maugham they are the world’s most vivid people. There is old Swan, a blackbirder or slave runner; there is Frith, his son-in-law; Eric, the agent of a Dutch trading company; and Louise, Frith’s amorous daughter. It is in this setting that a passion springs up between the island girl and an Australian youth who is fleeing round tiie world because he accidentally killed the husband of a woman. Douglas Fairbanks, jun., as Fred Blake, has one of the best roles 1 of his career. Patricia Ellis, as Louise, the young girl on the island; and Dudley Digges, as Dr. Saunders, an outcast from his own land, are splendid. THEATRE ROYAL. George Gee was very popular in Williamson musical comedy in New Zealand some years ago, and his appearance in English Aims is therefore of particular Interest. In “Cleaning Up” the olever comedian is said to be very funny. The story of “Cleaning Up” is very entertaining. Lord Pumpford's son, Tony, threatens to upset the family traditions —he wants to workl To his father's insistence that he should follow in the footsteps of his ancestors and marry an heiress Tony replies with the family motto, “No Fear!” Later that day he sees a notice in a shop window: “Wanted — Man of Gentlemanly .Appearance to Earn £2OOO a Year.—Apply, the Mop-I-Tup Vacuum Cleaner Co.” He tears down the notice, officiously questions the slaff about the advertisement, gets to see the managing director of the company, and Informs him that he has decided to engage the firm. He is taken on, and equipped with a book of selling instructions he sallies forth to earn his living, with the most hilarious results—to the audience 1 BTRAND THEATRE.

Splendid entertainment is provided at the Strand Theatre, where the programme to commence to-day is headed by “Paddy, the Next Best Thing,” a delightful comedy of Irish life. The story, which is adapted from a very successful novel and stage play, concerns Paddy, the warm-hearted, hotheaded younger daughter of a carefree Irish squire. Her father plans to marry her elder sister, Eileen, to Lawrence Blake, a wealthy friend, as a means of restoring the family fortunes, and Paddy, indignant at what she considers to be the sacrifice of her sister’s happiness, tries to frustrate the proposed match by inventing stories about Eileen. When this fails she attempts to turn Blake’s attention to herself, with surprising results. The picture conveys the Irish atmosphere admirably, and the well-chosen cast is headed by Janet Gaynor and Warner Baxter, who appeared together in “Daddy Long Legs,” Margaret Lindsay, of “Cavalcade,” J. M. Kerrigan and Merle Tottenham. ROXY THEATRE. ‘‘One-way Passage,” dne of the films to be screened at the Roxy Theatre to-day, Is a strong comedydrama, with a cast headed by Kay Francis and William Powell and with Herbert Mundin in the chief comedy role. It tells a fascinating story of love and intrigue. “The Woman Accused," a second attraction, is of unusual interest, having been written by ten famous authors. The two films should make an ideal week-end attraction.