ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19663, 24 August 1935, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

TO-NIGHT’S PROGRAMMES REGENT THEATRE. With Jeannette MacDonald at her JoYeUest and singing he tier than ever, and Nelson Eddy making a very successful first appearance as actor and singer, “Naughty .Marietta” is a romantic and colourful production. A boatload of honest French peasant girls is being sent over- to Louisiana to make wives for the settlers; among them, but unknown to them, is '.Marie, Princess of Namur, who has taken this opportunity of escaping a loveless marriage. Her escapades comprise the •tory of “Naughty Marietta.” As the sailing ship with her human freight neaxs the mouth of the Mississippi she Calls into the hands of pirates, who take the women ashore; but here they are rescued after a realistic skirmish by the mercenary scouts. Marietta’s story is different. Sh.e is working in a marionette show when a special proclamation arrives from France putting a price upon her. llcr unsympathetic uncle and unwelcome suitor follow hot upon the heels of this announcement. For a time the outlook is black, but the spectator has a comfortable feeling that it will all come right in the end. Nelson Eddy, as captain of the soouts, is the possessor of a baritone voice of great beauty. His rendering of “ ’Neath the Southern Moon” and “Tramp! Tramp 1 Tramp!" will not easily be forgotten, and his duet with Marietta, “Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life” is one of the highlights of the film. Jeanette MacDonald seems to overflow with the joy of living, and to transmit iL to Ihose who watch her. Her singing can be clear and bcl 1-like or rich and emotional, and in the film are many examples of tlie variety of her range. The Governor of the colony Is very humorously played by •Frank Morgan. The part of ms who, a. woman with a shrewd and biting tongue, is taken by Elsa Lanchester,, wife of Charles Laughton. j The coloured revue, “It is Spring,”; a coloured travelogue of Los Angeles, and a Cincsound Review precede the feature film.

STATE THEATRE. Warner Oland, who created the photoplay character of Charlie Chan and brought him to his present popularity with lllmgoers, appears on the current programme in “Charlie Chan in Egypt." The famous Oriental detective finds congenial soil in that land of ancient curses. Ho grapples with death and mystery to unravel the tangled threads of theft from a 3000-year-old tomb in the Valley of the Kings, and comes through without a stain on liis professional reputation as the investigator no criminal has ever outwitted. How he pins murder and robbery to almost the last man the audience would dream of suspecting is one of his greatest triumphs. In this picture is Pat Patterson, a screen actress bound to achieve great popularity. As Warner Olahd’s leading lady in an all-star cast she is quite up to her 'task. The direction of “Charlie Chan in Egypt” is most capably done by Louis King. A strong feature is the well-managed dramatic suspense as Charlie Chan works out a m-odern mystery amid the miusty tombs and modern drug stores of Luxor. Stepin Fetchit, that artist in negro faint-heartedness, supplies a counterpoise of humour. \ ■ There is a varied programme of newsreels, comedies and novelty films. |

THEATRE ROYAL. To the youth of New Zealand, who are apt to view the Great War through the spectacle of glamour, romance and adventure, “Forgotten Men” is commended, because in the event of another similar conflict how many more millions of “forgotten men” would be added to war’s grim toll? This unique film of actual pictures taken at the various fronts by official War Office photographers bears the hallmark of authenticity, copyright photographs from the archives of the ■British War Office and the War Offices of other nations having been released for the first time. The picture, without story, without hero, without romance, without glamour, is invested with a stark and terrible reality. One leaves the theatre with the realisation that for the first time here is a picture which has truthfully separated tho horrors of war from the glamour with which pictures, memories, custom and tradition have in the past surrounded them. _ Hero are the tom bodies; hero are'th<j shattered limbs; here arc the men who died in mud

and filth; in fear; and what is worse, starkly alone witli their fear —for the fear which the gods of war inculcate is greater than the comfort which soldiers might lake from being in companionship one with the other. Sir John Ilammerton, the historian, tells the story throughout the screening, and ever and anon he calls to the screen bemcdalled men to recount their share in the great horror. Each had his own story—Mons, Passchendaele, Verdun, the air and the sea. Each counselled world peace, but the lesson came most strongly from him who sat with the stumps of both arms ■resting on his chair and gazed but of eyes that could not see. There is a good supporting programme.

CIVIC THEATRE. “The Great Hotel Murder” is a mystery thriller that dispenses laughs and suspense in equal measure. Edmund Lowe and Victor McLaglen, I that popular team of easy-going bufToons who have appeared jointly in i eight pictures since “What Price i Glory,” are eo-fealured in this eom- ■ edy-drama, and again score a great j success. II is a merry, mad adven- | lure they start mi, McLaglen as a house detective with plenty of brawn, ! and Lowe as a mystery writer with a j logical brain. Rosemary Ames holds ! the key lo tho mystery they set out ] lo solve in the dc luxe hotel where the i crime occurs. The sleuths agree ■ lhere is a mysterious ease for their ! attention, but on all other details they : disagree, with diverting results to the audience. Witli its mystery ttiat baffles, its adventure that thrills, and i its mirth that delights, “The Great ; Hotel Murder" is warmly rccommcndj ed for its unusual entertainment. Fine J performances are rendered by the ; entire east, which includes Rosemary I Ames, Mary Carlisle, Henry O’Neill, C. j Henry Gordon, William Janney, Chas. jC. Wilson John Wray, John Qualcn, i Herman Bing, Madge Bellamy, Robert | decider and Clarence H. Wilson. The I plot is a typical murder story of very ■ elcyer construction. Hie train of clues ! being very well concealed until the ! exciting climax. ! lii Hie supporting programme are j "’Object. Not- 'Matrimlony," comedy; “All Around the Town,” novelty film; “The Bullfight," Terry cartoon; and special newsreels.

ROXY THEATRE. Two feature films will be screened to-day. “Behold .My Wife,” a screen version of Sir Gilbert. Parker’s widelyread novel "Translation of a Savage," brings bark Sylvia Sidney and Gene Raymond in a most unusual story— Rial of die sou af wealthy uareuts

who married an Indian girl, with romantic and sensational results. The film works up to a very dramatic climax. “Have a Heart” is a delightfully sentimental and humorous film, which keeps llie audience entertained throughout. Popular Jean Parker and James Dunn have the romantic leads, and Una Merkel and Stuart Erwin provide the humour. Special newsreels and featurettes are also screened.

CAMBRIDGE THEATRE. It is doubtful If any British comedy star has more admirers than Jack Buchanan, and it Is certain at least that their number will not be lessened by his work In “Brewster’s Millions.” This is a lavish and lively musical comedy. In "Brewster’s Millions” a very successful attempt has been made to merge the best features of the spectacular Hollywood musical film with the traditional characteristics of English farce. The hero, who inherits tons of money amt has lo dispose of it at an incredible speed in order to qualify for a still bigger windfall, is about as well known as "Gliarley’s Aunt” and os perennially popular. A spectacular highlight of 11 1 e film is the performance of tho Caranga by hnindreds of native dancers. This is the biggest, dance sequence- yet seen in a British picture. The supporting cast includes Damila and Nancy O’Neill. “The Caranga," “Pull Down the Blinds" and “One Good Turn Deserves Another” arc among the song hits. “Let's Live To-night” is a lighthearted romantic comedy-drama, costarring Lilian Harvey and Tullio Carmiiiati. Carniiuati enacts the role of a charming man of the world who believes no one should take love seriously after his twenty-first birthday; but lie has difficulty in living up to this belief when lie meets Miss Harvey, c-ast as an attractive young girl eager for romance, and an entertaining story develops.

ST. PETER’S PLAYERB. The Gt. Peter’s Players will stage their initial production, “The Importance of Being Earnest," on Thursday, j at the Theatre Royal, and although the hooking lias been exceptionally heavy | a number of good seats are still obtainable. No doubt the interest aroused by Hie performance will ensure a large audience. A modern conventional selling lias been decided upon, and while Ibis sacrifice of'adventitious aids makes heavy demands upon the ability of the players there can be no doubt that it is eminently suitable for a fantastic comedy such ;is “Tho Importance of Being Earnest."; The Orphan's’ Giuh Orchestra will] play selections during the intervals, j