ENTERTAINMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19315, 23 July 1934, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

“RIGHT TO HAPPINESS.”

TAUBER'S BEAUTIFUL SINGING. AT THE REGENT THEATRE. Richard Tauber’s beautiful singing was heard again at the Regent Theatre on Saturday, when the famous tenoi appeared in his latest film, “The Right to Happiness.” The story told is a simple yet interesting one of an opera singer’s infatuation for a worthless woman. He showers gifts upon her, and arranges to marry her and take her to America. Galling upon her unexpectedly, he finds her in the arms of another man. Embittered, he seeks forgetf ilness, but eventually he ilnds happiness with a charming girl, and thus the " happy ending ” beloved of audiences is attained. Richard Tauber, who has a likeable personality as well as a beautiful voice, gives a sincere performance as the artist and his little daughter and the other characters are played very naturally. The dialogue is in German, but there arc adequate “ sub-titles ” in English. Tauber’s solos included “ The Song of the Homeland,” “ Love is a Fairy Tale,” “ You Don’t Seem to Care," “ Once There Was a Baby,” and an aria from “ La Tosca,” all beautifully sung. The first part of the programme was particularly interesting, with American, English, Australian and New Zealand Gazettes. The latter brought the beauties of our own land home to the audience. COMING ATTRACTIONS.

Two great attractions will be provided this week. On Wednesday the sparkling musical comedy, “Let’s Fall in Love,” will be screened, with Ann Southern (a new singing star) and Edmund Lowe in the leads. It is a very entertaining production. On Saturday “Sorrell and Son,” which as a silent film had a great run and is very much more successful as a talkie, will be screened. 11. B. Warner appears in his original role of Stephen Sorrell. STATE THEATRE. As a story of idyllic devotion through the changes and chances of a modern world “All Men Are Enemies” ranks with the most interesting presentations of the screen. Two women and a man are the pawns in a game governed by fate, and although an unwise marriage is contracted by one of the parties to the romance the beauty of an abiding attachment is never lost. No more fitting environment for the development of a tender theme could be wished for than that provided by the Mediterranean Isle of Capri, in which landscape and seascape combine to give beautiful setting. Helen Twelvetrees has a captivating role as the youthful Viennese girl who falls in love with a young architect, only to be separated from him through the exigencies of war. A thoroughly artistic performance marks her as an actress of high rank. Hugh Williams is the architect who rebels against the mundane round of his profession and seeks the beautiful places of the earth for solace. Mona Barrie (daughter of Phil Smith, the wellknown Australian comedian) as the girl who could win the hero only by subterfuge, invests the role with appropriate qualities. Splendid comedy is supplied by the well-known Herbert Mundln (who was in New Zealand In the stage version of “Desert Song”) and Una O’Connor, and there is an unusually strong supporting cast, including Henry Stephenson, Walter Byron and Halliwell Hobbs. The supporting programme inclules the cartoon, “The Village Blacksmith,” Australian and American Gazettes, and two interest films—- “ Navies of the World” and “Filming the Fashions.” THEATRE ROYAL. "Son of a Sailor," Joe E. Brown’s most hilarious comedy, concerns the dventures of a dumb, bragging sailor. Other talented players in the cast Include Jean Muir, Thelma Todd, Sheila Terry, George Blackwood and Mcrna Kennedy. Sailor “Handsome” Callahan has such a vivid imagination that he just cannot help spinning yarns in which ho makes himself the hero. After boasting of his fighting prowess he is "framed" by other sailors Into a bout with a sailor from a sister ship. He takes a terrible beating and is nearly out when the radio tunes In on “The Star Spangled Banner.” Everyone conics to attention except “Handsome," who is swinging wildly. A chance blow lands on the Boslon Buster’s chin while lie is at attention and lloors

him for the count, making “Handsome” fleet champion. “Handsome" gets shore leave with other gobs and tells them he is to meet a famous actress, with the most amusing and exciting results. “Handsome” discovers that one of the guests is an imposter, and lias stolen naval secrets, and is racing to the airfield to make his getaway. He sets off in pursuit, and reaches the plane just as the spy lias started the motor. He gratis the tail and climbs aboard and manages to knock the spy out. Finally he jumps overboard in a parachute and lands headfirst in a smokestack of a target ship which the navy is to bombard that morning in manoeuvres! A musical revue, “Rufus Jones,” a comedy, “Here Comes Flossie,” and some news reels complete the programme. “THE BOWERY."

“The Bowery,” to be screened on Friday, represents in glowing feverish action that vivid neighbourhood uptown in New York, which 30 or 40 years ago was “the livest mile in the world.” Two leaders of contending gangs and rival volunteer lire brigades were Chuck Connors (Wallace Beery) and Steve Brodie (George Baft) who hated one another. Chuck’s big heart comes out in the way he looks after that alluring guttersnipe, Swipes McGurk (Jackie Cooper), and warns pretty Lucy Calhound (Fay Wray) from the slippery path. CIVIC THEATRE. A tense, dramatic story, reminiscent of the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby some years ago, is told in “Miss Fane’s Baby is Stolen.” Madeline Fane, glamorous screen star, has an ardent admirer in Mrs Molly Prentiss wife of a farmer, to whom she gives / 1 •

an autographed photograph. After 0 heavy day’s work at the studio Miss Fane drives many miles to hot Beverly 'Hills home, and after putting her baby, Michael, to bed retires for the night. When she awakens next morning she finds. Michael is missing from his crib. A fruitless search convinces Madeline that Michael has been kidnapped, and she tells her studio head, MacCready. After waiting in vain for word from the gang responsible, she telephones Captain Murphy, police detective chief. Then follows a nation-wide search for the kidnappers and the baby, with striking performances by Dorothea Wieck, Baby Le Roy, Alice Brady, “Spanky" McFarlane and others, ROXY THEATRE. Starting as a wrestling waiter In a beer garden in “Flesh," Wallace Beery wins the championship of Germany, but when he crosses the Atlantic in quest of larger honours he runs foul of conditions which savour of the well-known "racket.” Beery has to fight his way to a square deal, even at the hands of Karen Morley and Ricardo Cortez, who have the leading roles in support of the star. Others of note in the cast are Jean llersholt, John Miljan, Vince Barnett, Herman Bing, Edward Brophy and Greta Meyer. The secret of many a child’s success on the stage is revealed in “Stage Mother," drama of theatrical life. The picture deals with a little-known side of the theatre —the intense ambition that causes “stage mothers” to drive their children to success. The heartbreaks and laughs that are encountered by the' youngsters being “herded” on their way is brought vividly to the screen. “The Music Box" shows the popular comedians Laurel and Hardy at their funniest. CLEM DAWE’S REVUE COMPANY. To-morrow night, at the l’heatre Royal, Clem Dawe, the superlative comedian, will make ITis re-appearance here, together with his new revue company of over 110 international artists, in the stupendous London and New York extravaganza "Strike Up Hie Band,” in which they achieved their greatest triumphs during their record season in Auckland. “It is easy,” wrolc an Auckland critic, “to be enthusiastic about the whole production of ‘Strike Up the Band,’ for it is undoubtedly the best of its kind ever staged in New Zealand. Clem Dawe figures in a succession of hilarious episodes. He spares nobody Footballers, wrestlers, the orchestra, lotteries, gossip, journals, the audience Itself —all are fair game for the comedian’s brilliant wit. Whether he is a pathetic invalid, the owner of a new motor car, the ludicrous fireman, the newsvendor, the schoolmaster, or an eccentric doctor, lie is always the perfect artist." But although Clem. Dawe dominates the production, the other performers contribute to the excellent of the entertainment. The work of the ballet Is an outstanding feature of the production, and other features are the scenic and lighting effects. There has been an excellent demand for seals, and it is likely that a capacity house will witness the only appearance here of Clem Dawe and bis talented company in “Strike Up the Band.”