ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 18764, 20 December 1935, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT PROGRAMMES. STATE THEATRE. “Dressed to Thrill” -gives Tutta Rolf, the new star, ample scope for her acting talent in the difficult role of the tantalising coquette and the demure French dressmaker. It has hit tunes by Lew Pollack and Paul Webster to show off her rich, warm contralto, and it launches Miss Rolf on the road to assured stardom. Supported by suave Clive Brook, Robert Barrat, and Nydia Westman, Miss Rolf takes the role of a woman who seeks to punish the man who had forgotten her, but who fails because love is sweeter than revenge.

"Frontier Marshal," a second attraction, is an exciting story of the old days, with George O’Brien, the popular Western star, and Irene Bentley in the romantic leads. THEATRE ROYAL. From the secret flies of America's Department of Justice were drawn the facts and -data on which the story of “Men Without Names” is based. An exciting and colourful story which follows members of the secret service organisation of that country in their pursuit of criminals, “Men Without Names" stars Fred Mac Murray and Madge Evans. The action centres about the tracking down of the gang responsible for the daring armoured truck robbery. 1 Through Hie money they passed they are trailed to a small township, where the trail disappears. Mac Murray, disguised as an aviation executive, is assigned to the case. He falls in love with the young newspaper woman in Hie town and traces the gang. The criminals offer resistance to their capture. It is not until after a thrilling climax in which -Government forces are massed that the capture is accomplished.

CIVIC THEATRE. The story of the troubled and horrid lives that are being led in'Mrs Sharpe’s boarding-house and of the transformation that takes place when the Stranger pays a call is well brought out by Berthhold Viertel, the director, by Conrad Veidt, and by the strong oast of distinguished artists supporting him in the screen version of Jerome K. Jerome’s great play, 1 The Passing of Third Floor Back.” For more than a generation thousands of people have seen the play—it has been revived on several occasions—and it is certain that these, and many more, will want to see the film, particularly when they hear that it has clung so faithfully to Hie author's intentions. Two principles or powers are concerned in the story, an emotional and tragic battle developing between Hie two. The conflict, rapidly growingmore severe, is fought out in an ordinary Bloomsbury boarding-house, inhabited by an average company of residents. Evil dominated the whole of their lives until the Stranger, believing in kindness and the essential goodness in humanity, came. Apa’rt from the quiet acting of Mr Veidt as the Stranger, Mary Clare • (Mrs Sharpe), Frank Collier (Wright), Anna Lee (Vivian), John Turnbull and Cathlcen Nesbit (Mr and Mrs Tompkin), and Sara Allgood (Mrs de Ilooley) are outstanding.

REGENT theatre. Thrills and mystery are rampant and laughs and romance play hide and seek with creepy chills and fantastic happenings in "The Hands of Orlac, which introduces an amazing new personality to the screen in Peter Lorre. This Continental star appears as a mad surgeon, wo.rking uncanny medical magic, performing bizarre experiments, and figuring in an amazing plot. 11 is astounding attempt to ruin a husband to gain the woman lie covets is the basis of the stoij. 1 he action ranges from a Crand Cuignol horror theatre in l’aris lo Hie weird surgery where the mad doctor and his Oriental assistant work out their scientific wonders. Frances Drake plays the heroine Yvonne, and Colin Clive is Orlac, her husband. Hollo, I he murderer, is played by Edward Bropliy; Isabel .lewell is the apache girl accused of the murder done by the mad due I or. "THE HAY-OFF." "The Hay-Off," lo bead the new programme to-morrow, is au unusual

combination of thrills, laughs and romance. The players include the popular James Dunn, Claire Dodd and Patricia Ellis. ROXY THEATRE. y3fj,. I * # The story of “Cavalcade" is the story of the Marryot family—Jane, Robert; their two sons, Joe and Edward; and their servants, Ellen, Bridges; and their daughter, Fanny. While it is etched on a background of historical events of the last 33 years, the story itself is the principal feature; the family— its joys, loves and tragedies—is always uppermost. Its theme is (universal. Diana Wynyard and Clive Brook have the roles of Jane and Robert Marryot, Ursula Jeans plays Fanny, Herbert Mundin is seen as Bridges, Una O’Connor as Ellen, Irene Browne as 'Margaret Harris. Merle Tottenham as Annie,, Frank Lawton as Joe Marryot, and John Warburton as Edward Marryot.

TO-MORROW'S ATTRACTION

To-morrow’s programme will include “The Scarlet Empress,’’ featuring the glamorous Marlene Dietrich; “The Mystery Liner," an exciting drama; find “I Haven’t Got a Hat,” a spectacular coloured production.