ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19662, 23 August 1935, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT PROGRAMMES REGENT THEATRE. Seldom have audiences seen such a light-hearted and tuneful musical comedy on the screen as “Naughty Marietta.” Never before has the vivacious and beautiful Jeanette MacDonald been seen in a ro'e which so suits her charming personality, and in which she is given so many opportunities of displaying the perfection of her soprano voice. "Naughty Marietta” is romantic operetta, with a colourful background that gives striking point to the story, while tho delightful music composed by Victor Herbert lends it a savour that is particularly appealing- In ail her moods, p'ayful, coquettish. slightly melodramatic, thoughtful or passionate, Jeanette MacDonald maintains finesse In her character drawing. Second only to the principal character looms the figure of Nelson Eddy, the possessor of an excellent, baritone voice, which he is given generous opportunity to use. Eddy’s study of Captain Warrington, the leader of a troop of mercenaries in French Louisiana, who first rescues Marietta and a number of other girls after they had been captured by pirates, and then falls in love with her, unaware of her truo identity, is a tine piece of work.

STATE THEATRE. “Air Hawks” is a sensational story dealing with a death-dealing electric ray which can cause aeroplanes to burn in mid-aid. Ralph Bellamy is cast as the owner of an aeroplane line that is competing with another company for lucrative airmail contracts. The rival line, desperate for the contracts, employs a mad scientist, who has perfected the death-ray, to bring down Bellamy’s planes. After a series of thrilling incidents, the executioner of the skies is doomed with his infernal machine. The late Wiley Post, famous airman, is featured as himself in making a crosscountry stratosphere flight for Bellamy’s company. “The Awakening of Jim Burke” shows Jack Holt, man of virile action, distressed to be confronted by a weakling of a son, and it is beyond bis comprehension that the boy would rather handle a violin Ilian a gun. Nevertheless the violin prodigy proves his mettle in an outdoors story. “CHARLIE CHAN IN EGYPT.” The popular Charlie Chan (Warner Gland) will return to the local screen to-morrow, when he will be seen in “Charlie Chan in Egypt,” an exciting mystery story packed with sensation, romance and comedy.

THEATRE ROYAL. To-day “Forgotten Men," the great film made up from films taken on battle fronts during the Great War, and kept since then in the secret irehives of the Allied and. enemy Governments concerned, is being .creenecL Such famous, men as Sir iohn Itamerton and General Sir lan damilton assisted in compiling this picture which is described as a terrible record of the war. Writing in the Christchurch Star-Sun, John- Storm says of it: “Though its subject is war its theme is peace- It has been made with the assistance of the Governments of 14 different countries, and with scenes chosen from the official war films of each, all of which were banned for public exhibition until recent months.

“The picture has been very cleverly aranged by the producers entrusted with these records. Terrible as they are, we may ponder the theme of them without being overpowered by the actuality.”

CIVIC THEATRE. A mystery thriller that dispenses j iaughs and suspence In equal measure jis offered in “The Great Hotel Muri der-” Edmund Lowe and Victor Mc- [ Laglen, that popular team of easy- • going buffoons who have appeared j jointly in eight pictures since “What I Price Glory,” are co-featured in this I comedv-drama. It is a merry, mad adventure they start on, McLaglcn as a house detective with plenty of brawn, and Lowe as a mystery writer with a logical brain. Rosemary Ames holds the hey to the mystery they set out to solve in the dc luxe hotel where the crime occurs. The sleuths agree there is a mysterious case for their attention, but on all other details they disagree. With its mystery that baffles, its adventure that thrills, and its mirth that delights, “The Great Hotel Murder” is warmly recommended for its unusual entertainment. Fine performances are rendered by the entire cast, which includes Rosemary Ames, Mary Carlisle, Henry O'Neill, G. Henry Gordon, William Janney, Charles C. Wilson, John Wray, John Qualen, Herman Bing, Madge Bellamy, Robert Gtecklcr and Clarence H. Wilson. ROXY THEATRE. Vienna is famed for many tilings, j not the least of them the beautiful waltzes that have been written there • or dedicated to that city. In the! screen operetta “Viennese Nights” j there is a beautiful Vienna waltz-; “You Will Remember Vienna” is the | name of this. It has the same irre- j sistlble swing, the same singing melody, that characterises its predecessors. “Viennese Nights” tells the story of a lovo that defied time. Walter Pidgeon, Vivienne Segal, Alexander Gray, Jean Hcrsholt, June Purscll, Louise Fazenda, Bert Roach, and Lotli Loder are in the cast- Tho entire picture is in colour photography. TO-MORROW'S ATTRACTIONS. Two star features will lie screened to-morrow. " Behold My Wife,” featuring Sylvia Sidney and Gene Raymond, is a very entertaining comedydrama, and “ Have a Heart," starring Una Merkel and James Dunn, is equally interesting. They will make an idea! week-end prograramc.