ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 97, 18 January 1935, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

State.—“ Peck’s Bad Boy.” Plaza. —“The Gay Divorcee. ’ Paramount. —“Thank Your Stars.” De Luxe. —“The Case of the Howling Dog.” . . St. James. —“The Notorious Sophie Lang.” blajestic.—“Chained.” King's“A Very Honourable Guy.” Regent.—“ Blossom Time.” State Theatre Presents “Peck’s Bad Boy” To-day's attraction at Ihe State Theatre will be “Peck’s Bad Boy,” starring Jackie Cooper, who was featured in “The Champ” and “Treasure Island.” Also in the east are Thomas Meighan, O. P. Heggie and Jackie Searl. The supporting programme has been carefully chosen and should be most amusing, instructive and entertaining. “The Gay Divorcee” at the Plaza Theatre Plenty of humour is interspersed throughout the brilliant musical comedy, “The Gay Divorcee.” which will come to the Plaza Theatre to-day after a highly successful season at Auckland. The humour is quietly but effectively brought into the picture by Fred Astaire, whose association with Edward Everett Horton forms a strong combination. The audience is kept at high pitch throughout the screening, and the film promises to enjoy a successful run in the city. It is a lavish production, based upon the musical comedy stage, and serves to introduce a talented pair of dancers in Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire, whose new dance, “The Continental,” is executed with all the rhythm and grace ,of an accomplished dance team. Five new song hits are sung in the picture—“ Night and Day,” “A Needle in a Haystack,” “Don’t Let It Bother You,” “Let’s Knock 'Knees.” and “The Continental.” “Chained” Opens at Majestic To-day Sounding the modern note of intimacy and searching psychological reaction typical of the' Noel Coward period, one of the most important pictures of the year at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer boasts a cast of only four major players. And while the cast of “Chained” is small, it is also potent. Clark Gable and Joan Crawford are co-starred, with Otto Kruger and Stuart Erwin in support. The film will be shown to-day at the Majestic Theatre. There are other players of note on the official cast sheet, but the modern story deals primarily with these four. Written especially for. the screen and for the co-stars, as is the present trend, by Edgar Selwyn, noted director and producer, the photo story picks up the life thread of a wealthy shipping magnate, Otto Kruger, and 'the girl with whom he is enamoured, Joan Crawford. “Case of the Howling Dog” at De Luxe A new type of murder mystery drama has been introduced to the screen by Warner Bros, in “The Case of the Howling Dog,” which comes to the De Luxe Theatre to-day, with Warren William and Mary Astor in the chief roles. The plot is entirely different from the ordinary run of screen mysteries. There is a clear-cut case of murder to start, with, but to the police the case closes enshrouded with mystery. During the spectacular trial the criminal lawyer uncovers two other murders. Warren William has the role of the noted criminal lawyer and crime investigator, while Mary Astor plays (he part of the society woman, accused of killing her husband. Miss Iris Mason is at the Wurlitzer organ. “Thank Your Stars” at Paramount Introducing six new smash song hits, Ben Bernie and his famous American orchestra make their screen debuts in the Paramount comedy, “Thank Your Stars,” now showing at the Paramount Theatre. Bernie and his orchestra, featured throughout the entire film, are surrounded by a fine Hollywood cast, including Jack Oakie, Dorothy Dell, Arline Judge, Alison .Skipworth. Roscoe Karns, “William Frawley, Lew Cody and Paul Cavanagh. '’Thank Your Stars” concerns the adventures of two youngsters whose love for each other lifts them front their parts in a broken-down side-show to starring roles in America’s most famous radio hour. Specially selected feaurettes include Paramount News, a Betty Boop eartoon, “Jazz a la Cuba.’ musical novelty, and “Knockout Kisses.” a Mack Sennett comedy. Miss Iris Mason entertains at the Wurlitzer.

Regent Theatre Features “Blossom Time”

Franz Schubert, probably the loveliest melodist of all time, is the central figure of “Blossom Time,” Richard Tauberls first all-English picture, which comes to the Regent Theatre to-day. Richard Tauber is said to play the role of Schubert as though he were Schubert himself. His portrayal is masterly. In addition, his magnificent voice has never before been so gloriously recorded. “Not the least interesting feature of ‘Blossom Time,’ ” says the critic of the English “Cinema” in his enthusiastic review of the film, characteristic of the entire English Press, “is the amazing resemblance Richard Tauber bears to Franz Schubert”—and who better than the world’s greatest tenor of to-day to re-create the tender romance of this great composer of yesteryear? The. story, which opens in gay Vienna, in 1820, finds Schubert a bighearted schoolmaster, hopelessly in love with “Vicki,” the beautiful daughter of the dancing instructor, Wimpassinger. But “Vicki” has eyes for none but the dashing “Rudi,” Count von Hohenberg, a handsome young officer destined to wed a baroness as the orders of an imperious archduchess. Schubert asked permission of Wimpassinger to tell “Vicki” of his love, and the girl’s father, to pacify, tells him, “later, when success comes—when you have made a great name as a great ' music composer.” Schubert triumphs, but all his hopes are dashed to Ihe ground when he discovers f lint be has entirely mistaken “Vicki’s” feelings for him. . All honour, too, goes the way of her director, Paul Stein, 'flic big cast also includes lovely Jane Baxter as Vicki; Carl Esmond as Rudi; Paul Graetz, Lester Matthews. and Athene Seyler. “Notorious Sophie Lang” is the St. James Attraction A thoroughly modern and entertaining detective story, the chronicle of a charming, beautiful girl, who single-handedly outwits both tin- police and her rivals, Paramount’s “The Notorious Sophie Lang” comes to the St. James Theatre to-day, with Gertrude Michael, Paul Cavanagh, Leol Errol, Arthur Byron and Alison Skipworth in the featured roles. Miss Michael plays the title role as the famous international jewel thief who filches both genii mid masculine hearts, by eniploying her cleverness mid exotie charm. The story opens with a diamond, robbery in New York. When the inspector learns the thief escaped in a Rolls-Royce car, he knows that it is Sophie Lang, one of the smartest crooks in the world. Her exploits intrigue Europe’s most notorious criminal, Paul Cavanagh, and he sets out to beat her at her own game. “A Very Honourable Guy” al the King’s

Joo E. Brown is now appearing at the King’s Theatre in his latest picture, “A Very Honourable Guy.” This comedy by Duncan Runyon, noted short story author, is one of the most unique and laughable imaginable. Joe Brown lias the role of the gambler who is as stupid as he is honest, and Alice White is the gold-digging chorus girl, whose affections vacillate between the gambler

and a mad doctor, with their financial ups and down. “A Very Honourable Guy” is said to be a distinct departure froin the comedies in which Joe E. Brown has hitherto been seen.