ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 127, 27 February 1928, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

DE LUXE THEATRE. “Very Confidential,” Madge Bellamy's latest comedy-drama, is the feature now showing at the De Luxe Theatre. Briefly, the tun concerns a strong-minded salesgirl, who doesn’t recognise defeat when she encounters it. She has set her heart upon winning the love of a man who seems beyond her reach. He is a good-looking football hero. The other girls in the sporting goods store where Madge is employed chide her when she confides her secret ambition. They wager she will never have a “look in.” The picture is superbly “dressed,” and Miss Bellamy is given an opportunity Io wear some beautiful outfits in demonstrating tho wares of the store to prospective customers. The plot is cleverly done, and the director finds a way Io bring happiness to the plucky little salesgirl in a most startling finale. Good supports are also shown and the usual excellent musical programme is also supplied. “THE KID BROTHER.” Harold Lloyd celebrates his fifth year as a producer of feature-length comedies by giving his followers “The Kid Brother.” which ranks high among his finest contributions. This picture will be screened at the Do Luxe Theatre for the week commencing Friday next. If past successes count for anything, the bespectacled comedian knows exactly what his public demands, because in the five years that have elapsed sine that immortal classic, “Grandma's Boy,” he has made one continuous string of successes. Lloyd holds the unique distinction, according to those who have follow box-oUice figures for the last decade, of being the only player in motion pictures who has never produced a financial failure either for himself or the exhibitor. In “The Kid Brother,” Harold’s latest Paramount release, he is said to have another of those certain laugh-getters, reminiscent in theme of “Grandma’s Boy.” with its inferiority complex theme. Lloyd’s five-year record is one which defies comparison. Starting with “Grandma’s Bov.” he produced “Dr. .lack." “Safety Last.” “Why Worry.” “Girl Shy.” “Hot Water.” “College Days,” and “For Heaven’s Sake.” For the last three years, beginning with “Girl Shy,’ lie has been producing independently. “The Kid Brother” is a Paramount greater movie season attraction. REGENT THEATRE. Starring Adolphe Afenjou. supported by Shirley O’Hara.. Arlotte Afarchal and Nicholas Saussanin, “A Gentleman from Paris.” is the feature now at the Regent Theatre. The story revolves round a rich marquis, who possesses a perfect valet; a y r uttg fiancee whom he hopes to marry. The comedy for the most part explains his innumerable amours with Parisian devotees. He strives to make them all happy and still avoids suspicion. Chief among them is the wife of tho valet. Here complications set in. with a plan of revenge on the part of the valet. The story is light, but it is deftly and cleverly unreeled, with many sparkling touches. In support are a gazette, comedy, and cartoon, with excellent incidental music by’ the orchestra. Tlie vaudeville turn is supplied by the amazing Kwang Sing Wah troupe of Chinese inagieiaus, conjurors, acrobats, and balancers, who for nearly half an hour mystify and astound their audience. “BARBED WIRE.” Adapted from “The Woman of Knockaloe.” Sir Hall Caine’s dream-inspired drama of eternal peace, “Barbed Wire,” Paramount’s sensational masterpiece,, will be screened at the Regent Theatre on Friday next It is a scathing indictment of war from the pen of the great master. Produced by Erich Bommer, with a cast of real international importance and calibre, “Barbed AVire” is the monarch of melodramas. It is not a war picture iu the sense that there arc batlies and bloodshed; it is a plea for eternal peace, a drama enacted far from the bitter, hostile lines of the opposing armies, enacted in a prison camp far away from the thunder of the guns. A specially selected cast is headed by Clive Brook, with Pola Negri, Einar Hansen, Clyde Cook, the Australian comedian, and many others. That distinguished, quick-change artist, Owen McGiveney, now astonishing Auckland amlieuees with his superb artistry will open a one-weck’s season on Friday, ns another sensational J. C. Williamson celchritv vaudeville attraction. Afy. yfcGivenev will play a lightning sketch, “Rill Sikes,” from Dickens, in which hr- will portray e-yh of tho five characters—hku-iu, Sikes, Nancy, Afonks. nnd the Artful I)o<l~er. Commenting on bis performance, an Auckland critic said: “It seemed incredible that one man could change with such rapidity." KING’S THEATRE. The popularity of “Ben-Hur,” Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s wonder picture, continues unabated. Tho management states that both on Friday and Saturday evenings, the great film showed to the biggest houses ever registered at the King’s Theatre. This is an achievement to be proud of, for “Beu Hur.” in its first Wellington season, “broke all records” at the De Luxe Theatre. As the many beauties of the film unfold, spectators wax enthusiastic, and it is but seldom that such marks of approbation are showered upon a motion picture, as those which reward “Ben Hur” nightly. The season will continue throughout this week and next week. Special matinees will is presented daily al 2.36, and the evening screenings are timed for 8 p.m.. bo•’inning with the prologue. “The Star of Bethlehem.” with Mr. William Goudie ns soloist Tn date. “Bon Hnr” has shown in only 15 towns in New Zealand, vet the management vouches for the fact that well o-er 221.0 M natrons have seen the film. This record is reported to lx*- unprecedented. Box plans are at the Bristol, and seats may also be reserved without booking fee over theatre phono 22 212. HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. The Joe Brennan Revue Company, called in from “the road” to fill a gap, is making good at His Majesty s Iheatre, where it is likely to run tor weeks to come. There were at least three instances on Saturday evening where Mr. Brennan demonstrated the possession or unusual talent, as the nerve-shattered man in the green light, as Terry Kemble, the actor, in the farce All the World’s a Stage,” aud as the idiot boy in the sketch with Miss Ida Newton and Mr. Desmond. The farce mentioned was verv amusing. “Dismal” Desmond has a more'stolid line of humour to offer, and his “dame patter” suffered through long exposure to the public, though it still produced many a laugh. Mr. Desmond was at his best in “A Sad Tale of a Dog.” Always bright and debonnair. Mr. Gus. Dawson filled tue bill in several sketches and dancing interludes, including “Steamboat Sal” (in which the ballet builds the ship), an effect that made a decided hit. Sir. George Corelli’s unusual quality as a tenor served to make him popular in “Mary of Argyle,” and the pretty scena, “A Flower From An Old Bouquet.” The company includes a dancer of quite uncommon talent in Aluriel Wilton, of Wellington, and the public were quick to recognise tho qualitv of this girl’s performance. Miss Linda Dale is a dainty singer of better-class songs, her contributions lending a gleam of tone to the programme. Aliss Ira Vanda also assisted, and Peggy Sharpe and Dell Barnes danced an intensely modern pas rle deux with nil tiro grace and virility of youth. The Cabaret Kittens of the Brennan show are particularly capable, and their bathing ballet in the Riviera scene was really excellent. Aliss Ida Newton made her chief success in her song. “The Modern Flapper.” She is also invaluable in sketches and those chatty intercourses with Mr. Brennan which moan so little nnd cause so much laughter. Frank Crowther’s orchestra is always helpful, ’[lie triple-tongued trombone polka .solo of Mr. Frank Croft deserves kindly men I ion. EALPFFISS THEATIIE. To those interested in boxing, the Heeney-Sharkey fight film, which is now showing at the Empress Theatre, should prove o f great interest. There was much discussion on tho verdict given in .the big fight, and all those who son it can judge for themselves. "Millionaires." the other big feature, is a. first-rate comedy. The story suggested by the E. Phillips Oppenheim novel. “The inevitable Alillionairee,” tells the amusing tale of an

East Side tailor’s adventures, with his family, in the atmosphere of. I'ifth Avenue, when they oeeonto millionaiies overnight. George Sidney. Louise Fazenda and Vera Gordon are featured in the east which also includes Helene Costello’. Nat Carr, Arthur Irobin, and Jane AVinton, all giving excellent performances, Herman Raymaker directed tins entertaining comedy-drama with unusual sympathy nnd understanding, and as a result “Millionaires” makes a decidedly worth-while film. Good supports and incidental music complete tiro programme. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. “Brigadier Gerard.” the feature him now showing at the Paramount Theatre, is a film version of the famous novel of Sir Arthur Conan Dovle, “The Adventures of Gerard.” This is one of Hie author’s most thrilling and ahsorltin" of historical novels, has held the reading public for years, nnd the film is fullv worthy of the book. The s.ory deals with young Etienne Gerard, a country boy who desires to be an officer in Napoleon’s army, and who meets the Countess de I.atmay. one of Napoleon s secret agents, nnd falls in love with her. The famous minister Talleyrand is bribed to intercept tho countess in the Pyrenees and steal some documents from her. Gerard discovers this, and for frustrating the plot he is awarded a captaincy in Napoleon’s army. Jits adventures there, the scheming of lalleyrand against him. and the progress of Gernrd s love aftuir tovtu an enteitainilig picture. A special and attractive singe prologue to the film is given, and there are excellent supports, a comedy, scenic, and the latest Fnghsh gazette The incidental musical score, plaved bv th® Orchestra Paramount, under Afr.‘ L. D. Austin, is nn additional attraction. The liox plan is at the theatre daily from 10 a.m.. and the phono number 21 —842. QUEEN’S THEATRE. “Fast Side. West Side,” the Fox Films’ screen version of Felix Riesenberg s powerful story of New York, is the big feature now showing nt the l.iueen’s Ijieatre. It is the kind of picture which has long been needed to give the world an authentic conception of New York, for the average film shows but. one side, and that the night life, of that great city’s many-sided life. Its Ghetto, with the chaotic jumble of bryss shops, push carts, and colorful Hebrew types, has remained practically unknown. So also, has the shifting procession of barges, great liners, and small craft that plies back and forth on its rivers, and never before, has anv one picture shown so many abases of its life as this, from shun to millionaires’ quarter, and all that vast region which lies between, all is depicted' with a skilful hand, and woven into it is a powerful storv. In supnort are a ”azette., a narlie’/arlv funny Max aud AToritz comedy, while appropriate incidental music is supplied. m>n \Nr rvciTAL. At the Town Hall last evening Mr. Bernard F Page (city organist) gave his customary organ recital. Ibe ”rngramme comprised: Largo in G (Handel); Sonata No. 6 (Mendelssohn): Im-nrovisation-Canrice On- 37. No. 9 JJongen): (M Reeit d” Pechuer (The Fisherman's Song). (1A Pantomime (Manuel de Falla 1R76-1: Serenade (No. 5) (GouvyPave)'; P’ elude (Act D. “Tristan and Isolde” (Vfa gne r) ,