ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 108, 31 January 1935, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

State.—“My Old Dutch.” Plaza.—“Tiie Gay Divorcee.” Paramount.— “ Spitfire.” Regent.— " Blossom Time.” Grand Opera House. — Frank Neil's

Revue. Majestic.—“ Man of Two Worlds.” St. James. —“Now And Forever.” De Luxe.—“ Babes iu Toylamj.” Hing’s.—“The Silver Spoon.”

“Blossom Time” Still Popular at Regent

Franz Schubert lives again in. the person of Richard Tauber iu the picture "Blossom Time," at the Regent Theatre. Said to be remarkably like Schubert in appearance, Tauber impersonates him with an artistic realism which leaves one with a vivid idea of the character of that illustrious composer. “Transatlantic Merry-go-Round.”

•■Transatlantic Merry-go-Round,” Reliance’s sparkling new comedy-drama, with melody, mystery and romance,staged aboard a palatial liner, comes to the Regent Theatre to-morrow. A great cast’of screen and radio stars, headed Jack Benny, Nancy Carroll, and Gene Raymond, is seen in this Harry M. GoetzEdward Small production, which Benjamin Stoloff directed for release through United Artists. Benny is seen as a genial master of ceremonies, broadcasting from the high seas, while Nancy plays Sally Marsh, the star of his troupe, and Raymond is seen as a young Raffles who falls in love with her. Among the famous screen and radio personalities who take part in Benny’s broadcasts are Mitzi Green, in her first grown-up role; Frank Parker, the Batswell sisters, Patsy Kelly, Jean Sargent- and Jimmy Grier and his orchestra. Benny’s famous satire, “Grind Hotel.” is a high point of the programme. The passengers aboard the liner include Sydney Howard, who is known as England’s Chaplin, playing a happy, harmless drunk; Sid Silvers as Raymond’s comic confederate working as a steward ; Sidney Blaekmer as Lee Lother, a scoundrelly Broadway racketeer who is pursuing Sally; Shirley Grey as a married woman who is infatuated with Lother; Ralph Morgan as her suspicious husband ; and 'William Boyd as an escaped gunman who is stowing away aboard the liner. The mystery develops when Lother is found dead in Sally’s cabin. Suspicion falls on each in turn, and it takes a second murder to solve the first. Four tuneful song hits-are introduced iu the production. Sidney Clare and Richard Whiting wrote “It Was Sweet of You.” "Rock and Roll.” and ‘‘Oh. Leo 1” while Mercer and Malnick contributed “If I Had a Million Dollars.” Sammy Lee anti Larry Ceballos directed the dance and musical numbers. Final Screenings of “Gay . Divorcee” at the Plaza Divorce in the gay atmosphere of a lavish musical extravaganza forms, a colourful background for “The Gay Divorcee.” which is in the second week of its season at the Plaza Theatre. The picture has an exceptionally strong cast, the leading roles being entrusted to such well-known comedy actors as Fred Astaire and Edward Everett Horton, who show what they really can do. given the opportunity. “A Cup of Kindness.” The Walls-Lynn combination and their Ham of supporting players, reach the high pinnacle of comedy and burlesque with their latest Gaumont-British picture, "A Cup of Kindness,” which comes to the Plaza Theatre to-morrow. A feud between two suburban families, the Tutts and the Ramsbotbams, comes to a crisis when Fred Tutt discovers that his sou. Charlie, has fallen in love with Betty, daughter of his hated neighbour, Ernest Ramsbothaiu. Charlie, entirely asinine, but well meaning, has been sacked from at least twenty situations. Charlie at length finds employment as a share seller for a shady Mr. Finch, and old Tutt, after many an acrimonious dispute with Ernest, consents to the wedding. Immediately after the wedding ceremony Charlie is invited by a deflective to go to Bow Street to answer a charge of selling worthless shares. Charlie is liberated on bail, but there is now a fresh bone of contention between the Tutts and the Rainsbothams, Charlie aud Betty quarrel, and sleep at their respective homes. Charlie dreams lie is back in the Stone Age with skinclad Tutts aud Ramsbotbams quarrelling over their children’s love affairs and with iiis father vigorously emphasising his point of view on Ernest Ramsbotham’s sconce with a club. Awaking, and inspired by the dream, he goes to Betty’s house to bear his bride away, caveman fashion. Old Tutt, who has been dining out with Tilly ■Winn, a charming nurse who had been looking after old uncle Nicolas Ramsbothaiu, arrives home soused and in a spirit of generosity influenced by the liquor he has taken, determines to effect a reconciliation between the families. His efforts are successful and the families fraternise, but resume their quarrel when Tutt discovers that old Nicolas was lesponsible for the fraud charge. “Babes in Toyland,’ 1 Comedy at the De Luxe Theatre Laurel i.ind ll.irdy’s latest hit. “Babes in Toyland,” which is at the De Luxe Theatre, easily eclipses any of their former triumphs. Kot only is the film (which is adapted from Victor Herbert s Magic : Operetta) hilariously funny, but it is also ingeniously conceived. Miss Iris Mason is at the Wurlitzer organ. “Dr. Monica.” Au unusual theme, original treatment of the hackneyed love triangle, reaching a thrilling climax, with charming and talented Kay Francis in the title role, supported by such outstanding players as Warren ' Williams. Jean Muir, and Verree Teasdall. This is a description of “Dr. Monica,” commencing at the De Luxe Theatre to-morrow. Good ■ supports will also be screened, and Miss Iris Mason will be at the Wurlitzer organ- I “My Old Dutch” Screens at the State Theatre •’My Old Dutch.” the GainsboroughBritish film at the State Theatre, io a really welcome change from the many glittering and sophisticated stories Unit have been presented of late. "Hell in the Heavens.” Described as a thrilling and spectacular | story of desperate war in tlie air, the newest Fox film starring vehicle for Warner Baxter opens at the State Theatre tomorrow. "Hell in the is tlie title of the new film, and it is said to offer one of tlie most absorbing and romantic war dramas yet produced in Hollywood. It tells a story of during men—not afraid of death but afraid of fear; desperate for life, yet each day braving destruction in tlie skies. This time lie is cast as an American flyer in tlie Lafayette Escadrille, who is promoted by deiitli to fill his captain’s place. Haunted by "the fear that he will be afraid," the lieutenant struggles to combat it. Love helps, in the form of dashing Conchita Montenegro. At length Baxter meets the "Baron.” most daring and dangerous of German aces, in close conflict high above tlie clouds —and solves his destiny through courage. Preview audiences in Hollywood voted "Heil in tlie Heavens’’ the most powerful picture Warner Baxter lias had in seasons, and advance reports indicate that it is a film of unusual dramatic quality. Conchita Montenegro. who appeared with Warner Baxtor in tlie memorable Fox film "The Cisco Kid,” is once more his leading woman in “Hell in the Heavens.” Other notable members of a large east are Russell Hardie, young Broadway leading man. Herbert Mundin. Andy Devine, William fuelling and Ralph Morgan. Vince Barnett has an outstanding comedy role, it is said. He and Mundin are seen as a pair of orderlies attached to the American eseadrille and quartered at a French chateau. J. Carrol Naish and Johnny Arthur are other well-known screen

“mimes” who have roles in the picture. “Hell in the Heavens’’ was directed by John Blystone, with Al Rockett as producer. Byron Morgan and Ted Parsons fashioned the screen play, adapting it from a play by Hermann Rossmann titled “The Ace.” "The Ace” was a huge success last season on the London stage. “Spitfire,” Notable Film at the Paramount Theatre “Spitfire,” a story of the superstitious backwoodsmen of -Carolina, ends its season at the Paramount Theatre to-day. “Yon' Belong to Me.” A story of the heart-break, pathos and human drama that goes on behind the curtains of the vaudeville z stage, "You Belong to Me” will head the double-star programme at the Paramount Theatre to-morrow. Heading the east are Lee Tracy, Helen Mack. Helen Morgan, the latest juvenile star. David Holt. Lynne Overman, and Arthur Pierson. "You Belong to Me” presents Lee Tracy as a brokendown vaudeville comedian who looks after the welfare of Florette Faxon and her fatherless son. The second attraction will be "Crime Without Passion,” starring Claude Rains, the utar of "The Invisible Man” fame. Miss Iris Mason at the organ is a further attraction. “Man of Two Worlds” at the Majestic Theatre An old problem in a new setting is presented to patrons of the Majestic Theatre. "Man of Two Worlds” is the story of the savage who, half-tamed, is introduced to civilisation. Some savages in such a situation might become home-sick and weary of their new life, but Francis Lederer, a? Aigo. the great Eskimo hunter. has acquired just enough experience of his English environment to wish for more. "The Return of the Terror.” Coming to the Majestic Theatre tomorrow is "The Return of the Terror.” the film version of Edgar Wallace’s best seller. John Halliday, Lyle Talbot, an 1 Mary Astor head the cast of this thriller. “Now and Forever” at the St. James Theatre “Now and Forever,” ar St. James Theatre, stars that fascinating child actress. Shirley Temple. “The Barretts of Wimpole Street." Superbly acted. "The Barretts of Wimpole Street” comes to the screen as powerful. absorbing drama, off the beaten track id’ picture entertainment, and having boih the requirements of tine artistry and the earmarks of a smashing commercial success, says “Variety.” of the attraction coming to the St. James Theatre to-mm-row. It has the basic emotional elements which usually spell mass appeal, and at the same time makes special bid lor discriminating patronage. Norma Shear .-r as Elizabeth Barrett. Charles Laughton as the monstrously tyrannical father. Fredric March as Robert Browning, and Maureen O’Sullivan, another of the Barrett sisters, magnificently lead the cast. This group of performances, with I’va O'Connor in the same rank, and others not far behind in their lesser roles, w-d unquestionable get high critical praise “Silver Spoon” and “Purchase Price” at the King’s “'rhe Silver Spoon” and "The Purchase Price" will conclude screening at the King's Theatre to-day. The first is a mystery comedy and the second a romantic drama. “Dark Hazard." “Dark Hazard.” .starring Edward G. Robinson, supported by Genevieve Tobin and Glenda Farrell, comes to the King’s Theatre to-morrow and for the first time shows dog racitg as the background for what is stated to be a dramatic picture. The theme of the story deals with a man's passion for gambling, which costs him love and home.