ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 90, 10 January 1935, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

Rpueiit.— -“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.”

STATE THEATRE

“Richest Girl in the World”

“The Richest Girl in the World," al the State Theatre, presents a novel interpretation of the age-old maxim that money can’t buy everything. Dorothy Hunter’s riches could not gain her a taste of true love. The action moves at staccato tempo to a rousing finish. Joel McCrae is splendid in his role of Tony Travis. A fine supporting programme includes a picture of Ngaufuhoe in one of its wildest moods. . "Judge Priest."

To-morrow’s change of programme ul the State Theatre will bring to Wellington “Judge Priest,” in which Will Rogers is the stur. According to advance reports, the film gives Will the finest and most human role of all those he has played on the screen. Preview audiences in Hollywood and New York have hailed it as the most notable of all Rogers’s gallery of American characters, and there seems little doubt that it will register throughout the country as the star’s most successful picture to date. The popular series of stories by Irvin Cobb has been used as the basis for this screen history op the shrewd and wise Kentucky judge who flourished in Paducah, Kentucky, in the late years of the past century. Rich human interest, it is said, blends with laughter and tears in this tale of a sleeny southern town, which still is not too sleepy to cradle stirring drama. Will Rogers, from all accounts, contributes to the film a memorable portrait of this ex-Confederate soldier, who dilutes justtice with the milk of human kindness, and who saves from disaster a helpless’girl and tho father whom she lias never known. John Ford has directed “Judge Priest.” He is said to have brought to the story a deep humanity and an amazingly accurate flavour of the Old South, in its difficult days of transition. The cast recruited for Rogers’s support includes such names ns Anita Louise, Tom Brown. Rochelle' Hudson, Henry B. Walthall, David Landau and the ever hilarious Sepin Fetchit. Dudley Nichols and Lamar Troti fashioned the screen play from the Cobb stories and Sol M. Wurtzel was the producer.' REGENT THEATRE “Monte Cristo” Continued “The Count of Monte Cristo,” which is to continue screening at. the Regent Theatre until the commencement of the "Blossom Time” season, which had been announced for to-morrow, but which is now postponed, follows iairly closely the story by Dumas on which it is based. The acting is excellent, find the photography superb Robert Donat plays the part of Edmond Dantes, the Marseilles snilorman, who on the threshold of marriage to the lovable Mercedes, portrayed by Elfesa Landi, ’s incarcerated by his unscrupulous enemies in the grim Chateau -I’lf. the prison island across the harbour from Marseilles, with no chance of trial or communication with the outside wogl.l. But in jail ho encounters the venerable Abbe Faria (O. P. Heggie), who is tunnelling his way io freedom. The old man shares his imprisonment with Dantes, educates him, and discloses to him the secret of a vast board of treasure. Dantes escapes and destroys his enemies, hut is almost thwarted by his affection. Cleverly concealed, for Mercedes and her son. Tho story has a happy denouement. The characters are well chosen, ■ the ncliug is excellent throughout, and tho numerous scones are done with a magnifieance rarely seen during recent years. MAJESTIC THEATRE “She Loves Me Not” “She Loves Me Not,” nt the Majestic Theatre, provides drama, farce, cynicism, romance, satire and music. Besides allowing Bing Crosby _to siU£ several songs, and Miriam _ Hopkins to display her personality, it has its audience laughing at some of the eccentricities of American life. Most of the scenes are in the students' quarters of Princeton University. The supporting programme is especially entertaining, an ! includes a picture of the recent royal welding. “Wagon Wheels” and “Here Comes the Groom.” Two features will be included in the programme which will commence screening at the Majestic Theatre to-morrow. They are Zane Grey’s "Wagon Wheels,’ described as the successor to “The Last Round Up.” and “Here Comes the Groom.” Randolph Scott,, Monte Blue, Raymond Hatton and Gail Patrick have important roles in “Wagon Wheels. “Here Comes the Groom’’ is a comedy featuring Jack Haley and Mary Boland. ST. JAMES THEATRE “Desirable” Jean Muir, a new star. appears for the fir#t time in Wellington in “Desirable, row at. St. James Theatre. George Brent end Miss Verree Teesdale are admirable players in a competent cast. “What Every Woman Knows.” Helen Hayes has ,eturned to the Screen in “What Every Woman Knows, the famous romance by Sir James Barrie, which will be seen at the St. Jaims Theatre to-morrow. Surpassing all oi. i-er previous efforts, Misis Hayes is said to have achieved a new strength in emotional portrayals. Her appeal seems to reach out from the screen to actually stir the spectator in sympathy with the character she plays. The charming plot concerns the efforts of a retiring but capable Scotch woman to find romance, although handicapped by what she calls “lack of charm." PARAMOUNT THEATRE “The Trumpet Blows” George Raft is featured in "The Trumpet Blows,” a thrilling romance of old Mexico, finally showing to-night at the Paramount Theatre, “Upper World.” Warren William is said to be supported by a large and well-balanced east and one of unusual strength in the Warner Bros, picture, “Upper World,” which comes to the Paramount Theatre to-mor-row. He shares honours with, two leading ladies, Mary Astor and Ginger Rogers. the former taking the part of his wife, for whom lie has a deep-rooted affection, and the latter portraying his sweetheart, for whom he ha# a passing infatuation. The picture is based on the ’hrilling story by Ben Hecht, famous novelist and playright. GRAND OPERA HOUSE “The Crime of Helen Stanley” ' i “The Crime of Helen Stanley.” at. the Opera House, is a murder story with a limitless field for speculation, while for those just content to follow the theme (here is entertainment of the best type. “The Hayseeds.” The outstanding success and enthusiastic reception of such Australian prodiietions as “On Our Selection and Ihe Squatter’s Daughter,” everywhere presented, has led to the prediction of a gol- ( den future for the rapidly expanding Ans-

tralian industry of motion picture production. Now comes ‘'The Hayseeds,” Australia’s latest film achievement, to earn further laurels for the young Indus, try. “The Hayseeds” will commence screening at the Grand Opera House to-morrow for a return season in Wellington. In many respects “The Hayseeds” sets a new standard in entertainment, for it enters and exploits new fields. It combines mirth, melody, ballets, beauty and scenic splendour so skilfully, that all these delightful forms of entertainment become integral parts of the story. PLAZA THEATRE “My Song For You’’ “My Song for You,” in which Jan Kiepura takes the leading part, will be shown to-nignt for the last time at the Plaza Theatre, The film is a medley of song, comedy, and romance, and Jan Kiepura sings not only the leading theme song, but excerpts from tho opera, “Aida.” “Ave Maria, ’ is a feature of the concluding scenes. He is excellently supported by Sonnie Hale and Emlyn Williams, who do clever comedy work. Pretty Aileen Maison makes an enchanting heroine. “Princess Marina’s Wedding” gives closeup views of the assembly of the grace and chivalry of Europe in London for the Royal wedding. “Tho Fountain.” A story of great love, "The Fountain,” is to be shown at the Plaza Theatre tomorrow in the form of a film which has attained considerable success abroad. The film is from Charles Morgan's famous novel, and has been made a significant screen drama. Ann Harding is featured with Brian Aherne and Paul Lukas. Another considerable attraction in the programme will be the featurette in new technicolour, “La Cucaracha,” an atmosphere production of South American music. DE LUXE THEATRE “Outcast Lady” A story of the emotional adventures jf an English girl whose love is thwarted at every turn is told in "Outcast Lady,” which will be screened at the De Luxe Theatre to-night for the last time. Constance Bennett and Herbert Marshall, an actor and actress of high repute, are the stars. “The Gay Bride. Carole Lombard and Chester Morris are co-featured. in leading roles of “The Gay Bride,” which will be shown at the De Luxe Theatre, commencing to-morrow. Tiie picture speeds along through one madcap situation after another. The plot concerns a young adventuress who decides to go gold'-digging among some 01 New York’s most high-powered racketeers. When repeal comes in. the mobsters discover that the menace of police was a vacation compared to what a clever blonde eonld do with a band of “mugs."

KING’S THEATRE

“Straight is the Way” and

“Paris Interlude”

To bo seen finally this afternoon and tonight at the King's Theatre, are Frnnehot Time, Karen Morley and May Robson in “Straight Is the Way,” and- Madge Evans, Robert Young, Una Merkel and Otto Kruger in “Paris Interlude." Jean Parker in “Have a Heart.”

Jean Parker, who will be remembered as "Beth” in "Little Women,” will be seen ut the King's Theatre, commencing to-morrow afternoon, in “Have a Heart, with the supporting roles tilled by James Dunn. Una Merkel and Stuart Emvm. The story denis with the love between a little doll maker who is a cripple and an energetic young man selling iee cream. Jean Parker is shown as a, healthy, actin' girl giving dancing instructions to cln.dreu. Through an accident -'he is forced Io give up dancing and wear a loot brace. Tho plot reveals a stirring climax.