CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21417, 8 March 1935, Page 9

CITY THEATRES

PLAZA "TRANSATLANTIC MERRY-GO-ROUND" All the ingredients necessary foi good entertainment are present ir "Trans-Atlantic Merry-Go-Round,' which is now being shown at the Plaza Theatre, and so skilfully are they mixed that the production is full' oi interest from the first scene until the last. Tuneful songs with good voices to sing them, comedy, and drama alternating throughout, clever dancing and spectacular scenes are some of the many attractions of "Trans-Atlantic Merry-Go-Round." Gene Raymond and Nancy Carroll share the acting honours, and provide much of the love interest, relieved with some sparkling comedy moments. Sydney Howard, as a perpetually drunk passenger, and Mitzi Green, with some brilliant impersonations and some good songs, are screamingly funny, and the others in the cast are almost equally as good. "MADAME DL" BARRY" "Madame Du Barry," a masterly screen production, depicting the intimate life and loves of ' the famous beauty who ruled the court of King Louis XV., with Dolores Del Rio giving a suberb performance in the title role, will commence at the Plaza Theatre to-morrow. No pains have been spared in producing the picture, which is lavishly costumed, capably acted, and directed with real feeling and historical accuracy. Although the intrigues of the court, as in any story of Du Barry, will be apparent, the author of the current screen play has concerned himself more with the lighter side of the life of the king's favourite. Some of the reproductions are marvellous in their lavishness—- , the court, the palace at Versailles and the famous Colonade Gardens, where the grand ladies and resplendent courtiers disported themselves in gaiefy and luxury, while the people starved. Nor is the picture without its dramatic moments when Du Barry fights intrigue with intrigue, and usually outwits her enemies. Yet even in these more intense sequences, the irrepressible Du Barry usually manages to end them with a laugh—at the expense of the enemy. There is also a gorgeous and novel dance staged by the famous Albertina Rasch dancers. "Madame Du Barry" has an unusually large cast of talented players in the principal roles and hundreds of others in minor parts. Dolores Del Rio has the part of Du Barry, with Reginald Owen playing opposite her as King Louis XV. Others include Victor Jory, Osgood Perkins, Verree Teasdale, Ferdinand Gootschalk, Dorothy Tree, Anita Louise, and Maynard Holmes. CRYSTAL PALACE "LONDON SPEAKS" The London in "London Speaks," the film which is now being shown at the Crystal Palace, is the real London, the great metropolis throbbing with life and bright with a million lights. Greater Australasian Films have offered it on the screen, not as the setting for an entertainment, but as an entertainment itself; and it is almost certain to be popular. For London is always before us—in history, in literature, in the news of the day—and New Zealanders attach a certain sentiment to it. While it is a travellers story, 'London Speaks" is not a travelogue, it takes the audience into London, unfolds all the scenes of romantic intnrest—the Tower, St. Paul's, Madame TussaudV, Rotten Row, the Old Curiosity Shop—and leads on into exciting discoveries and adventures. Indeed everything that one has imagined one would do and see if a trip to London became a possibility is in the him. The adventure starts with the arrival of the ship in the famous docks, giving an opportunity of studying from the deck of the ship the perspective of London. Then it passes into the heart of the city and the audience realises the humour that London contains and sits back and laughs heartily at one of Britain's best salesmen in Petticoat Lane as he tries to sell a most intimate portion of ladies" apparel. Many famous people, from the King downwards, appear in "London Speaks." London's life, historic interest, and fascination, all arc cleverly blended. In addition, Mr Dave McGill aopcar:on the stage and sings a bracket of songs of old London. LIBERTY NEW DOUBLE FEATURE PROGRAMME "Heat Lightning" and "Last of the Duanes" will be shown finally to-night at the Liberty Theatre. "The Old-Fashioned Way," a smart comedy featuring W. C. Fields and Baby Le Roy, and Cecil B. de Mille's "Four Frightened People." will comprise the new double-feature programme at the Liberty Theatre tomorrow. I "The Old-Fashioned Way is an hilarious burlesque. W. C. Fields is seen as an impecunious actor-manager of an old-stvle vaudeville company and gives a brilliant portrayal of comic character. He dominates the picture, but other roles are also most capably filled. Outstanding among Ihc supporting players are Baby Lc Roy and Jan Duggan. The singing of'the latter in the part of Cleopatra Pepperday brings unrestrained laughter from any audience. This burlesque is rich in comedy, both slapstick and subtle. A powerful cast gives a vivid interpretation of "Four Frightened People " an exciting tale of adventure. Herbert Marshall takes the title role, supported by Claudette Colbert, Mary Boland, William Gargen, and Leo Carillo. True to its title, the story concerns "four frightened people" who are fugitives from a ship infected with bubonic plague, trying to make their v/ay through an almost impenetrable jungle in South America under the leadership of an English chief of a native tribe. The picture is crammca full of humour, absurdities and horrors, which make a gripping story. The box plans are now open at the D.I.C.

REGENT "CLEOPATRA" "What Every Woman Knows" wilL be presented finally to-night at the Regent Theatre. "Cleopatra," which, wherever it has been shown, has been acclaimed as Cecil B de Mille's most spectacular production will head the entertaining new programme at the Regent Theatre •r to-morrow. The picture tells the story n of Egypt's glamorous queen and her » intrigues with the Roman leaders, and ' some great figures in history pass across the screen. Critics abroad state y that "Cleopatra" is more than equal >f in splendour to such pictures as "The e Ten Commandments," "The King of ,„ Kings," and "The Sign of the Cross. No fewer than 8000 players were en- [" naged in its production. Nothing is l< too big for Cecil B. de Mille to ate tempt, and in "Cleopatra" he has c gone the limit in his endeavour to, i produce something of towering mag- - nificence. All the lavish spectacle of i Egypt, the magnificence and power of i Home, with 600 chariots, 500 black 5. slaves, 1000 steeds, and 300 dancing y giris Cleopatra's abduction to desolate h wastes of the burning desert, the ballet d of the leopards, Calpernia's banquet, y the Megs of Alexandria and its spece lacular battle, the astounding battle of Actium. the Egyptian serenade to the stars—these and more are presented on the screen, while the love romance of Cleopatra and C;esar and Marc Antony is unfolded. When Marc Antony, stalwart warrior and staunch friend of Caesar, sets out to capture v Egypt's beautiful queen, little does he realise how he will finally win her. " Not with sword and shield, but with s his heart. And when love changed a g queen into a woman the distiny of the whole world was changed. Staged against the background of Rome and e Egypt in their glory, "Cleopatra" a brings a faithful account of the une dying love story of these two great , figures to the screen. Claudette Col- " bert plays the role of Cleopatra. y Henry Wilcoxon Marc Antony, and g Warren William Julius Caesar. e Box plans are now open at the D.I.C. y s MAJESTIC e s s "THE CAPTAIN HATES THE SEA" ! ' "Menace" will be shown finally tos night at the Majestic Theatre, e An entertaining story of life aboard a pleasure cruise liner is contained in s "The Captain Hates the Sea," which y will head the new programme at the i Majestic Theatre to-morrow. Victor i McLaglen, Alison Skipworth, John e Gilbert, and Walter Connolly head a - cast of first-class players. Romance, t intrigue, humour and tragedy run s hand in hand in a story that is as 2 thrilling as it is laughable. From api pearances one might gather that the l peaceful-looking liner is filled with - delighted passengers enjoying a quiet 1 holiday. Actually, crime, tragedy, ;. love, and laughter are present during i the brief cruise. The captain himself I hates the sea, partly because he was . forced to take up that profession and 1 partly because he says the life is so 1 dull. The passengers present a crossi section of life in all its stages, and the mixing of these types provides one of the best productions of its kind vet filmed. There, is the typical fraud,"who arrives on board under suspicion, followed by a detective. The two are friends, and decide to play the game of cat and mouse during the voyage, while a woman accomplice assists the fraud. A Spanish general, who led an unsuccessful revolution also travels, but no one realises that it is his last journey. A ! writer leaves the girl he loves in an ■ endeavour to give up his drinking I habits while at sea. There is a wealth of ' humorous incidents and audiences will \ rock with laughter watching the captain trying to resist an irresistible ' prank. The nonchalant remarks of the writer and the bar steward concerning the outbreak of tire on board ; produce bright dialogue. Splendid ! photography and a continuity of action make an attractive production which j ' should not fail to draw large audi- | ; ences. Box- plans are now open at the D.I.C MAYFAIR "THE CAY DIVORCEE" The plot of the smart musical show, "The Gay Divorcee," starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, which will enter the second week of its popular run at the Mayfair Theatre to-day, is based on the theory that "love troubles are never funny except to bystanders." Complications arise when Ginger Rogers stages a love scene so that she might break off her affair with her lover and accept the advances of Astaire. However, she mistakes Astaire for the professional love-maker she has lured, and the most hilarious complications result. With the principals are seen an excellent group of other comedians, including Alice Brady, Edward Everett Horton, Erik Rhodes, William Austin, and Eric Blore. Brilliant ing demonstrations by Astaire and Ginger Rogers in one of which they introduce the latest, dance, "The Continental," spectacular and novel ensembles, together with music by live famous composers, enhance the show's comedy theme. There is an excellent supporting programme. Box plans arc now open at the D.I.C. "ONE NIGHT OF LOVE" The unusual combination of a beautiful soprano voice, an attractive appearance, and an engaging personality is possessed by Grace Moore, the Metropolitan Opera House singer, who has her third part on the screen in the glorious musical romance, "One Night of Love," which will have its Christchurch premiere at the Mayfair Theatre on Friday. March 15. Her first appearance was in a charming" film entitled "A Lady's Morals," in which she impersonated the famous singer, .fenny Lind, and her second film was the light opera, "New Moon." In her latest production, Miss Moore displays frequent flashes of piquant humour, and these are in keeping with the general whimsical tone which develops under the deft direction of the popular song writer, Victor Scherzingcr. Another feature which will gladden the hearts of all music-lovers are the excerpts from such wellknown operas as "Carmen" and "Madame Butterfly." Other members of a talented cast are Mona Barrie, the promising Australian actress, Tullio Carminati, and Lyle Talbot. TIVOLI "MAN OF ARAN" AND "THE BATTLE" "The Notorious Sophie Lang" will finish at the Tivoli Theatre to-night. Two great films will be presented at the Tivoli Theatre to-morrow. They are "Man of Aran," the production which won the Mussolini Cup for allround brilliance, and the psychological drama, "The Battle." "Man of Aran," which was filmed' entirely on the isle of Aran, ofT the west coast of Ireland, ! is a drama of courage and endurance. It is particularly notable for its fine ' photography and the fact that nothing <

about tlio production is "faked." The story deals in detail with the adventurous life led by a native of the island of Aran. "Man of Aran" brings to the notice of the world for the first time the story of the constant fight for existence of a few people who inhabit three small islands off the Galway coast. With only primitive weapons they wrest their food, for the most part, from the Atlantic, and the difficulties they encounter make a story of absorbing interest. Intimate drama and desperate fighting between a Japanese fleet and an enemy form the basis of the unusual picture, "The Battle." It may be described as a drama of conflicts, both psychologically and materially, and it has some particularly gripping scenes. The basis of the story is a Japanese naval officer's intense patriotism, which rises above his love for his wife. The three central figures are admirably portrayed by Charles Boyer (Marquis (Yorisaka), John Loder (Commander Fergan), and Merle Oberon (Marquise Yorisaka). The picture has been very skilfully produced, the battle scenes being startlingly realistic. Box plans are now open at the D.I.C. CIVIC "ARE YOU A MASON?" Now in its second week of an exceptionally successful season at the Civic All-British Theatre, "Are You a

Mason?" continues to attract and delight large audiences. Supported by a splendid mystery drama, "Passing Shadows," in which Edmund Gwenn is the star, this programme is one of the best to be screened in Christchurch for years. In "Are You a Mason?" one of the happiest teams of stars ever seen have been gathered together. Two established favourites, Sonnie Hale and Robertson Hare, head the cast, which also includes the cheery Dave Burnaby, Lewis Shaw, and a charming newcomer Gwyneth Lloyd. It is impossible to write of all the hilarious situations in this now famous comedy, but it is safe to say that any audience, whether young or old, will be kept in fits of laughter. Box plans are open at the theatre from 10 a.m. daily, GRAND "SHE LOVES ME NOT" "Manhattan Melodrama" will be presented finally to-night at the Grand Theatre. Bing Crosby and Miriam Hopkins achieve an unqualified success in "She Loves Me Not." which will begin a return season at the Grand Theatre tomorrow. Talented leading artists, an amusing and intriguing story, witty conversation, and plenty of catchy songs are features of this bright production. Crosby has been famous for a number of years on account of his j singing over the radio, and more re- i

cently audiences have seen him in short comedies and full-length fi:ms. In "She Loves Me Not," he proves his worth as an actor, apart from his singing talent. As a bright and vivacious actress, Miriam Hopkins is well known from previous successes, and she brings an air of lively attraction into many scenes. The supporting programme will include chapter 12 of the thrilling serial, "Gordon of Ghost City," starring the popular Buck Jones. Box plans are now open at the D.I.C.