ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 38, 14 February 1930, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE,

Should a woman tell when the secrets oC her ])ast haunt her-married life? That is the. problem sot out in "Jealousy," an all-talkie picture, starring Jeanne Eagels, which commenced screening at the Regent Theatre to-day. "Jealousy" tells tho tragic love, story of a girl who had a fashionable dress shop in Paris, was the darling of a rich old man, and tho wife of a poor young man. The dress shop and the residence of the characters, both Interior and exterior ' scenes, aro particularly faithful to tho French manner. "Jealousy" Is a drama, laid in a glamorous Parisian background with models, artists, and the idle rich who use lives as pawns. Jeanne Easels, as Yvonne, marries a poor artist, concealing a questionable past from him. Encountering financial difficulties sho goes to her former lover for aid, but in the meantimo he has been Killed iv unusual circumstances. A mystery within a mystery and a supreme love combined give Hiss Eagels opportunity to display her amazing dramatic talents and make "Jealousy" as great a milestone in pictures as was her former success, "The Letter." This remarkable film is a domestic melodrama of strung emotions. As a stage play it has been presented on both side of the ocean. The New York version was tho season's trickiest bit. of stagecraft, a play which set the town talking because only two characters were shown, yet thousands saw it. It lias been expanded on the screen, introducing in person tho principal names mentioned on the stage, yet it preserves the original atmosphere and treatment. The gowns strikingly illustrate the tendency of the changing mode of dress. There will be an excellent all-talking supporting programme. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. With greater attendances than ever for tho third week, "The Desert Song" enters into its fourth week's presentation at the Paramount Thcitrc with to-d&v's two scrcGiiiiifis. It is stated that this coming week must be regarded as the nnal, one as the booking in other centres quite precludes the possibility of further season extension. Night after night large audiences acclaim "The Desert Song"—a complete ■ screen operetta, with music, songs, choruses, dances, dialogue—as one of the most remarkable films yet shown in New Zealand. Tho producers were fortunate in being able to select a cast of such excellent singers, most of whom ■ have had both stage and screen training. John Boles, tenor lead, sang tho same role m the stage presentation of "The Desert Song.' Car- , lotta King, lyric soprano, is a concert and radio artist of note. Their voices register perfectly on Titaphone, are truo in tone ana sweet iv quality. Mario Wells, Robert K. Guzman also give splendid singing performances. Others in the excellent cast are John Miljan, Edward Martindel, Myrna Loy, Jack Pratt, Otto Hoffman, and Del Elliott. The large chorus is well trained and possesses fine singing voices. Boy Del Ruth's direction is splendid, and the photography is magnificent. The story is wel known and has been admirably transferred to the speaking screen. KING'S THEATRE. Another return season attraction is being seen and heard at tho King's Theatre, screening twice dally. "Madame X" is a successful alldialogue adaptation of tho stago play, ana stars Ruth Chatterton. Tho cast is a large and a notable one witli many stago and screen celebrities'. Lewis Stone, a famous stage actor before he adopted the screen as his medium of dramatic expression, plays tho hard relentless Florlot, the husband of Madame X" who casts her off for her one indiscretion, causing her downfall, a gradual degradation that reaches the depths of murder. Raymond Hackett plays her son, whom sho abandons in babyhood, and does not sco again until he is a practising attorney at tho French Bar, and, without- knowing who she is, pleads her ' case at the Court of Justice. Others in the cast are Eugenic Besserer, who plays the Kmuhearted nurse; TJllrie Haupt, the scoundrel whom "Madam X" kills when he plans to blackmail her husband and bring disgrace on her son, Holmes Herbert, Mitchell Lewis, John 1. Edington, Sidney Toler, Richard Cane arroll Kye, Claud King, and Chappell Dossett. QUEEN'S THEATRE. Two really good features are contained on the Queen's new programme, which opens tonight. Nancy Carroll and Richard Arlen appear in "Slanhattan Cocktail." "Manhattan Cocktail" starts fast and finishes faster unwinding with a verve that should make it one of tho finest entertainments in mouths. A special dancing company of sorao oi tlio world's most beautiful'women was gathered together by Marion Morgan for the prologue of "Manhattan Cocktail," which depicts a story of ancient Crete. Tho second attraction s "Playthings," a powerful depiction of modern lives, loves, and intrigues. Estello Brody heads an accomplished cast of players. DE LUXE THEATRE. The widely discussed British all-dialogue mystery drama, "Blackmail," is to be presented at the De luxe Theatre twice daily for Ihc season of one week, commencing to-day. This production has met with success wherever screened. If Alice White, tho daughter of a London shopkeeper, had not been angry with her lover, who is a member of tho flying squad, this story would never have been told. They go to the Ico Rink, both angry witli eacii other, where they meet a handsome stranger who offers to take Alice round, as Frank, cannot skate. Later he sees that the newcomer has grown very friendly' with Alice, and leaves the pi."co in a-huff. Aice leaves shortly after with the stranger, who describes himself as an artist. They go to his fiat, and he attempts to assault her hut in the struggle sho. grabs a knife from tho table and kills him. In escaping she is seen by a man who enters the place after her. In tho morning at the shop she •meets Frank, who is in charge of tho case. He shows her a glove she left in the apartment and decides to keep the matter a secret. The man of tho night next appears, and produces the other glove. He demands money for his silence, and they pay him oil for the iime, but the woman who had seen him oitcring around the studio has reported him o the , police, who identitfy him as a notorious blackmailer, and set cut ofter him. Frank becomes fed-up of paying, and also puts the I'lymi, Squad on the trail. The chase finishes on tho roof of the British Museum, where the quarry falls through the glass dome, and dies with hi" secret untold. There is an unusual ending; The leading roles in this picture are played by John Longden, a stage player of considerable note, Army Ondra. Donald Calthrop, also well-known on the West End stage, and Cyril Richard. The supporting progranimo consists of a number of all-British talking singing, and sound subjects. .Box plans for 'Blackmail" are available at The Bristol and Aitken s. GRAND OPERA HOUSE. Two big features are announced by the management •of the Grand Opera House for their programme which commences to-day. Hie first is the all-talking picture, "So This is College," and the second "Half Marriage. In the first, Elliott Nugent, Robert Montgomery, and the new find, Sally Starr, occupy the principal roles, while in the second Olive Borden and Morgan Farley aro at the head -of the cast. "So This is College" outlines the life of a student from tho moment ho steps off the train to the day ho says goodbye to Alma Mater. The foibles of schoolastic and fraternity life are amusingly developed. Sam Wood, director, used a real college campus "for many of his outdoor sound locations, and the football ground in the final scenes is jammed with 100,000 cheering spectators. It is one of the raciest and brightest college films which has so far been produced, and the younger generation can rely on it for the type of entertainment they Hko best. Everything in tho picture is- young, bright, intelligent, and full of ideas. The second feature film, "Half Mariage," is a story of mad Manhattan youth, and was adapted from George Kibbe Turner's magazine story, "Companlonate." • Youth is the dominating theme. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. Olive Borden conies to' tho screen at the Kilbirnio Theatre for a two days' engagement in Victor Schertzinger's production of "The Secret Studio," based on the newspaper serial by Hazel Livingston. Miss Borden delineates the role of Rosemary Merton, tho New Jersey village girl, who decides to give up a college career and become a wage-earner in New York city. In the course of her activities she becomes the model for an artist who gives an elaborate ball In which he introduces tho girl as the most beautiful model of the season. It is in this, sequence that Miss Borden wears some beautiful costumes. The second feature, "Tho War Horse," starring Buck Jones, Is a thrilling romance of a Western cowboy who goes to tho front and wins distinction. SHORTT'S THEATRE. Buster Keaton battles with rum-runners, navigates a burning and deserted ship through a storm, wrecks a theatre and a night club, and indulges in other strenuous and hilarious adventures in his latest comedy, "Spite Marriage," which is now at Shortt's Theatre. It is the story of a tailor who poses as a mil(ionaire in the plumage of his customers, marries a beautiful actress, and then is utterly submerged in comical griefs, woes, mishaps, and adventures. Dorothy Sebastian is tho heroine as tho actress. "All at Sea," the new Karl Dane-George K. Arthur picture, is the second big picture. It is one <// Ilio best comedies this famous team have yet screened. ARTCRAFT THEATRE. Florence Vidor is again'given the opportunity to display her talents as a comedienne in "The Magnificent Flirt," a Frencli farce which is now being shown at the Artcraft Theatre. Miss Vidor plays the role of a flirtatious woman of wealth who gets tho attention of a count the undo of tho boy who loves her daughter. the boy asks Mtss Vidor for the girl's hand, and she- consents. He Is so happy that he kisses Miss Vidor. This kiss is seen by the count, who refuses to allow the boy to marry her daughter as a result. The uncle does not know that it was his own nephew he saw kissing Miss Vidor. The boy defends her, and the count decides to put the "magnificent flirt" to a test. The second attraction is "What a Night," featuring Bebe Daniels and Neil Hamilton. OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. "Embarrassing Moments," starring Reginald Denny, is the chief attraction to be shown at Our Theatre to-night. It deals with the introduction of the idea of "trial marriage" in a small community that holds to the oldfashioned matrimonial ideal. 'Die second feature, "The Body Punch," starring Jack Daughcrly, is a thrilling drama and provides a contest between a boxer and a, wrestler.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. "Weary River," tho first talking film in which .lllchard Barthelmcss has appeared. Opens to-day at tho Majestic Theatre. It is a First National picture of exceptional merit, and has that degree of imusualness in plot, locale, and action which makes for entertainment of the first rank. "Weary River" has given Barthelmess an. unusual role to play. Ho has been given an exceptionally dramatic story to tell, a real, living, breathing character to portray, and situations brimming with extraordinary histrionic opportunities. And lie takes full advantage of every one of them. "Weary River is tho story of a man who was framed, sent to prison, disillusioned, inspired, finding himself in song and music, winning fame, fortune, and lovo via tho radio. It is strictly modern, teeming with action and movement, and altogether designed as a great - picture. In the cast Is Hetty Compson, who gives one of her finest performances In "Weary River" Barthelmess talks in a -«Aloguc sequence and plays the piano. A Vitapi.oo test of the star's voice proved it of cxcellem quality for Vitaphone reproduction Tra balance of tho cast render ttiem■iclvps worthy of the general excellence of the feature, with outstanding performances by (icoi-o Stone, Louis Natheau\\ Edwards Davis, Gladden James, Raymond Turner, Robert 0 Connor, and others. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. The management of His Majesty's Theatre announce an extended season ot the nutuuil colour, talking, singing, dancing picture •On With the Show," which, has drawn packed houses every night during tho first week ot Its run. Gorgeous costum.es and settings are suen in their own brilliant colouring, and the timings make the players all but living. Beside the great cast, "On With tho Show" has a chorus numbering over ono hundred, ■mere is not a siu"lp-scene in the picture winch is photographed the old-fashioned way. The clamorous stage and back-stage story is seen through tho medium of enchanting, ever-chang-ing colour. A new colour process is being used, which brings out each hue in its proper value. Jack L. Warner, vice-president in charge of the production, was quick to seize on this new art and combine it with \ itanhone The wedding of the two bids fair to start another revolution in the film Industry. Vitaphone, pioneered by Warners, it will bo remembered, eliminated tho silent picture Robert Lord did tho screen adaptation, the cast includes Betty Compson, Arthur Lake, Sally O'Neil, Joe X Brown Louise lazenda Ethel Waters, William Blakewell, laubaiiks Twins, Sam Hardy, Wheeler Oakman. Lee Moran Otto Hoffman, Harry Gnbbon, Purnell B Pratt 'Josephine Houston, Henry Jink, Thninas Jefferson, and Tom O'Brien. Alan Crosland directed. CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. A famous tribe of Soudanese natives, who are known as the most reckless fighters of tho Soudan, appear in many spectacular scenes in llie Four Feathers." These scenes were filmed on the actual location of tho story by the two adventurers, Merian Cooper and Ivrnest B. Schoedsack, who on their return to Hollywood incorporated these scenes in tins drama of British courage. Included in the cast of the picture, which comes to the Capitol Theatre tonight, are William Powell, Richard Aden, lay Wray, Clive Brook, and Noah Beery. A musical score accompanies_ the picture. N EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. Tho main picturo on the double feature programme at the Empire Theatre to-night is RSliow People," starring William Hames and Marion Davies. The story is tho romance ot a girl who comes to the film colony, enters pictures by the comedy route, becomes a dramatic star, nearly loses everything because her success goes to her head, and is saved at last by the machinations of William Haines. Other famous stars in the picture include John Gilbert, Douglas Fairbanks, Charles Chaplin, and Mary Pickford. The supporting attraction is "Let 'er Go Gallagher," starring Junior Coghlan and Harrison Ford. An excellent Hal Roach comedy, "Wrong Again," starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, will also be shown. NEW QUALITY THEATRE. Mary Piekford's first talking picture "Coquette" is now being shown at the New Quality Theatre The story tells of a young daughter, who falls in love with a young man from the hills. . "'er father does not. approve of this. A quarrel follows, and there is a dramatic sequence.