ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19816, 21 February 1936, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT PROGRAMMES. STATE THEATRE. As the danger-defying young rail- | roader who whispered by preference, but who could shout when he wanted to, George O’Brien returns to the screen in an action-filled story, “Whispering Smith Speaks.” The plot revolves about the love that arises between George O’Brien working as a railroad man, and Irene Ware, who manages a dilapidated old railway. The climax shows how the young adventurer turns a whole railroad system upside down, and race-s a switch-engine desperately for hundreds of miles when his girl is in danger. “The Affair of Susan," the gay comedy of what happens when two New Yorkers are lonesome for companionship, co-starring Zasu Pitts and Hugh O’Connell. Miss Pitts and O’Connell find and very nearly lose romance on roller coakters, on shoot-the-chutes, in swimming pools, and in the surf at Coney Island.. THEATRE ROYAL. Honours go to Harry Baur, as the peasant war profiteer in pre-revolu-tion Russia, in “Moscow Nights.” Ilis role is a strange mixture of shy tenderness and vulgar brutality, and he carries it through with admirable skill. Laurence Olivier makes a fine hero of the Ronald Colman type, portraying a Russian officer who loses his money to Baur and is then accused of treason. He has, of course, been making advances to • Baur’s fiancee (Penelope Dudley-Ward), and the climax of the tale comes when Baur has to decide whether he will damn or save Olivier by his evidence. The camera work in this picture is amongst the finest seen for a long time, and indicates some fine direction on the part of Antony Asquith. There are some fine pastoral shots, some telling war -scenes, while some of the fadeouts from Russian scenes to war scenes are the work of a master hand. There is some Russian dancing, singing and exotic music. CIVIC THEATRE. As the sweetheart of the south, and the darling of the north, Shirley Temple is starred in her first dramatic role in “Thp Littlest Rebel.” Adapted from the ever-popular play of the same name, “The Littlest Rebel” presents John Boles, Jack Holt, Karen Morley and Bill Robinson, Shirley’s old tap-dancing friend, in the supporting cast. The scene of the picture is old Virginia at the height of the Civil War, with Shirley and lier parents loyal supporters of the losing Confederacy. That lovely song, “If All Your Endearing Young Charms" is sung by Shirley and John Boles in the picture. Another song, “Polly Wolly Doodle,” was especially composed for the little star by B. G. De Sylva, associate producer for the picture, and Sidney Glare. Direction of the Darryl F. Zanuck picture was done by David Butler, who directed “Bright Eyes.” The popular little star has full scope for all her talent in "The Littlest Rebel,” and again wins all hearts with her winsome charm and great gifts as an actress and singer. The rest of the cast give good support. REGENT THEATRE. In “Escapade” there are dramatic high spots, much comedy, romance and spectacle. William Powell, as the debonair artist, plays the role engagingly and with a Continental savoir-faire. Luise Rainer, a brilliant new personality, with unusual charm, enacts the demure sweetheart. She plays scenes ranging from, gripping drama and high emotion to whimsical comedy. Frank Morgan handles the role of the suspicious doctor with deft and clever comedy, and Virginia Bruce is delightfully flirtatious as his playful wife. Drama is contributed by Mady Christians a-s the jealous sweetheart, who is grippingly realistic in the shooting sequence; and Reginald Owen and Henry Travers provide whimsical laughter as the absent-minded musician and the gardener with the toothache. Mathilda Gomont is also laughable as Mathilde, the maid. Delightful music includes a new song hit, “You’re All I Need,” -sung by a new lyric soprano, Lorraine Bridges. Laura Hope Crews plays the gay old Countess. Robert Z. Leonard adds another triumph to his long list as director of the new picture, his skilful handling of its effervescent action adding greatly to its charm.

ROXY THEATRE. Boris Karloff, the grotesque creature of the original "Frankenstein,” is seen again in "The Bride of Frankenstein,” a sequel to the first picture. In this strange drama the Monster is seen in adventures of a hair-raising nature. "The Healer” is an absorbing story dealing with the career of a remarkable man —a doctor with extraordinary curative powers—a kind cf modern “miracle man.” The harmony of liis peaceful existence is rudely shattered by the intrusion of a wealthy, sophisticated socieby girl, who, cured by “The Healer," takes a fancy to him and lures him away to a more lucrative and pretentious medical position. The story has a line climax.

THE COMING WEEK. Sunday.—“ Manon,” opera in five acts, from IYA at 8.30 for entire evening; talk by Dr. Keith Barry, “The Story behind the Hymn/’ and Sheridan’s “Rivals” presented by W. S. Wauchop and Company from 2YA; recordings of Gigli, Paderewski and W. H. Squire from 3YA; recordings of Alfred Cortot, piano and Kreisler from 4YA. Monday.—“ The Flowers are Not For You to Pick,” brilliant radio tragedy, from IYA, and “Dust of the Ages,” dealing with Louise of Prussia; talk by the Rev. W. S. Rollings on “How Abyssinia Nearly became an Italian Dependency” from 2YA; further collection of Hebridean folksongs sung by Miss Russell-Fergusson from 4YA. Tuesday.—“Eb and Zeb,” Japanese Houseboy and quarter-hour with the Kingsmen from IYA; miscellaneous symphonic programme at 8.0 and further talk by Dr. Keith Barry from 2YA; “Great Marches and Their Story” and recordings of Alfredo Campoli from 3YA; Richard Tauber, Gracie Fields and Foden’s Motor Works Band from 4YA. Wednesday.—Recordings of Heinrich Schlusnus (baritone), Kreisler, Dame Clara Butt and John McCormack from IYA; Peter Dawson and also an Edgar Wallace thriller, “The Ringer” from 2YA; Lotte Lehmann, Rex Harrison and Arthur Rubinstein, piano, from 3YA; Miss Russell Fergusson in further Celtic folksongs, also Gitta Alpar from 4YA. Thursday.—Continuity programme, “Among the Baritones,” and recorded band music by H.M. Coldstream Guards from IYA; “Music Round the Campfire,” also talk by Dr. Keith Barry and 8.8. C. recording of Scottish variety from 2YA; “Peace and War” pageant, and dramatic play, “Sarajevo,” from 3YA; 8.8. C. Symphony Orchestra from 4YA. Friday.—B.B.C. Symphony Orchestra and recordings of Elisabeth Schumann and Arthur Schnabel, piano, from IYA; “The Highwayman,” drama about famous diamond, from j 2YA; Harold Williams, Lilian Hanham, soprano and Alfredo Campoli • from 3YA; Miss Russell-Fergusson! again from 4YA and the Max Scherek i Quartet. Saturday.—B.B.C. recording, • “Old Words to New Music,” Clapham and Dwyer, the Hill Billies and John Tilley from IYA; Allan McElwain in ten minutes of mimicry and Gil Dech and his Syncopators from 2Y'A; Dora Labette, Paul Robeson, Essie Ackland, Bobbie Comber, comedian, from 3YA; “The Easy Chair” programme of songs from 4YA. WORLD-WIDE BROADCAST. JUDGE RUTHERFORD’S ADDRESS [ * Waikato listeners interested in the biblical prophecies and addresses of Judge Rutherford, the well-known American speaker, will have an op- 1

portunity of hearing him on Monday, when he will speak from the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, U.S.A., for a world-wide broadcast. Short-wave listeners will probably find good reception of the address by | tuning-in to E.A.Q., Madrid, but the I address will also be rebroadcast from! most of the Australian B stations at I approximately 6 a.m. on Monday in, the case of New South Wales, Victorian, and Queensland stations. Judge ! Rutherford’s subject will be “Separating the Nations.”