ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 85, 4 January 1935, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

Regent.—“ Count of Monte Cristo.” State.—“ The Richest Girl in the World.” Plaza.—“My Sorg For You.” Paramount.—“ The Trumpet Blows.” Grand Opera House. —“The Crime of Helen Stanley.” De Luxe.—“ Outcast Lady.” St. James.—“ Desirable.” Majestic.—“ She Loves Me Not.” King’s.—“ Straight is the Way” and “Paris Interlude.” MAJESTIC THEATRE “She Loves Me Not” “She Loves Me Not,” which was shown at the Majestic Theatre yesterday for the first time, is a bright farce that gains its effects from the resourceful use of many new tricks with the camera and sound. It is yet another step away from the slapstick of the silent days towards a new type of entertainment that belongs only to the film. It. holds itself bound by no rules and whimsically takes twists and turns that an audience delightfully follows. Drama, farce, cynicism, romance, satire and music all have gone into the making of “She Loves Me Not.” It is impossible to come away dull from it. The picture covers a lot of ground. Besides allowing Bing Crosby to sing several songs and allowing Miriam Hopkins to display her personality it has its audience laughing at universities, the ways of American newspapers, of the men controlling the film business, at newsreels, and at the introduction of JJ new star to the film world. Most of scenes are in the students’ quarters of Princeton University. Two students of that famous Presbyterian institution have been persuaded by a chorus girl to shelter her from the police, whom she fears will lock her up for six months as n material witness of a murder she saw while dancing in a cabaret. They do, and then college authorities, a film publicity agent, gunmen, the fiancee of one of the boys, reporters and photographers all get into a gloriously funny complication. The supporting programme is especially entertaining and includes n pietnre of the wed ding of the Duke and Duchess of York. “Desirable” Begins at the St. James Theatre Jeane Muir, the new star who became famous from the moment her first cinema production, “Desirable,” was released, will be seen at the St. James Theatre today. The feature is said to he filled with higlily-dramatic and intensely emotional situations, with rapier-like dialogue, and a climatic clash between a woman of the world and her unsophisticated daughter. Miss Muir plays the part of a sincere and unspoiled girl who has been hidden away in a finishing school by her mofber, a reigning /beauty of the stage who selfishly fears the loss of her own popularity if it should become known that she has a grown-up daughter. Kiepura’s Second Week at the Plaza Theatre Audiences at the Plaza Theatre have been enchanted with the beautiful tenor voice of Jane Kiepura, and the outstanding performance of Aileen Marson, a blonde beauty, whb has an appeal of her own. The role calls for a superb singing of Gounod’s “Ave Maria” (among other songs), and this Kiepura presents with all the subtleties of expressing the light and shade to which the piece lends itself). The music is supplied by Kiepura and the comedy by Sonny Hale, who is cast in the role of Gatti’s secretary, a<»d whose resourcefulness, sometimes in the wrong place, is responsible for much hearty laughter. So far as Kiepura is concerned, there is only one thing to be said: he is at his best, both as a singer and as an actor. His theme song. Verdi’s “My Song For You,” is interwoven with .various phases of the story. “Count of Monte Cristo” at Regent Rarely is a film such a complete success as the film story of “The Count of Monte Cristo,” which continues ’to-day in its second big week at the Regent Theatre. With a wealth of careful detail “The Count of Monte Cristo” shows the deliberate “frame-up” of Edmond Dantes almost on the eve of his wedding, his incarceration in the terrible Chateau d’lf, his meeting there with the old abbe, and his incredibly exciting escape, hie finding of the Spada treasure and his subsequent inquiries into the lives of the three men who conspired to send him to the oblivion of prison. Rob ert Donat plays the title role to perfec. tion. Opposite him dainty Elissa Land! has the part of Mercedes, hie sweetheart. Paramount Theatre Screens “The Trumpet Blows” The tempestuous life and the equally fiery love of a Mexican who earns fame and glamour as a bull-fighter is the subject of “The Trumpet Blows,” a film which begins at the Paramount Theatre to-day. George Raft is the central figure, and he enacts a role exactly suited to his type of characterisation. In the picture Raft plays the role of a Mexican boy who returns to his country after completing his education abroad. Forced to prove his courage, he begins work under a famous teacher of matadors—that he may become a bull fighter. And it is the bull ring that does test his courage, which rises to heroic heights. Adolphe M;>njou. Francis Drake. Sidney Toler and Nydia Westman are featured. “Outcast Lady” at the De Luxe “Outcast Lady,” which JI-Gr-M opens to-day at the De Luxe Theatre, is an excellently conceived, beautifully developed, intensely entertaining screen vehicle. Particularly it offers an ideal medium for the presentation of its vivid star, Constance Bennett, and its rapidly rising leading man, Herbert Marshall. The story is a strong but simple one, a saga of love under difficulties; of a. woman who deliberately bespatters her own good name to protect that of the man who married her, then committed suicide on his wedding night. It has been directed with a firm, strong touch by Robert Z. Leonard, and it presents an important supporting cast which includes Hugh Williams, Mrs. Patrick Campbell, Henry Stephenson, Robert Lorraine, and Lumsden Hare.

'rhe manageement of the De Luxe Theatre announces the screening of the wedding' of the Duke of Kent and Princess Marina, which will commence tomorrow for one week only. This film is an authentic talkie of this great social event, depicting every item of interest, including the procession, the arrival of guests, and the service at the Abbey. “Crime of Helen Stanley” at the Grand Opera House A film said to be of very much greater and more gripping dramatic power than most of those which have preceded it is “The Crime of Helen Stanley,” which begins at the Grand Opera House to-day. It tells the story of a strange love that changed make-believe drama into grim tragedy. Ralph Bellamy, as Inspector Trent, takes an important role, and with him Shirley Grey heads a strong supporting cast, which includes Gail Patrick and Bradley Pagea. , Double Feature Bill at the King’s Theatre Franehot Tone, Karen Morley, May Robson, Nat. Pendleton, C. Henry Gordon, Raymond Halton, and William Bakewell are featured in “Straight is the Way,” first picture on the new double-feature Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer programme commencing this afternoon at the King's Theatre. Concentrating in heart interest and emotional values this film is tempered with excitement blended with laughs and tears and peopled with human beings. The story deals with the return from prison of Benny Horowitz. It pic-

tures his struggles to shake off his former disreputable associates. It is while trying to get free of his former girl that Benny becomes involved in the most dramatic episode of his life. How he gains his freedom provides a fitting and gripping Nimax to this excellent piece of entertainment. The second picture is “Paris Interlude,” an hilarious comedy of the goings-on of newspaper folk, fashion designers, artists, and others in Paris, and features Mudge (Evans, Robert Young, Otto Kruger, Una Merkel, and Ted Healy.

“The Richest Girl in the World” at the State Theatre

Stirring romance in the golden palaces outlie ultra-rich, some delightfully sugarcoated philosophy and a dash of sparkling coined}' are skilfully mixed in “The Richest Girl in the World,” a breezy entertainment beginning to-day at the State Theatre. The dashing, modern, title character —“The Richest Girl in the World” is in the capable hands of Miriam Hopkins, still the lovely blonde star. Her light comedy touches are splendid, her dramatic moods are fascinating, and her beauty is nothing short of bewitching. No wonder she dazzles the handsome Joel McCrea, who plays the male lead! Others in the cast are Fay Wray, Henry Stephenson and Reginald Denny. The story of “The Richest Girl in the World” deals with money’s inability to buy true love, with Miriam as the person who finds this out.