ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 69, 18 September 1930, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE.

"I'hß Divorcee," featuring Nornm Shearer, is the main attraction at tho Regent Theatre. As the fascinating Jerry, Norma Shearer decides, when she does marry, to be the true and faithful wife. Three years of married life find the couple still happy and contented, but it ia not long before ' trouble arrives. With a Eflrty which has arrived to eelebraw the anniversary is a certain .Amice, and much to Jerry's amazement sho «wpnses her hurtand and Janice lovemakuig. Jwr husband insists that "It didn't mean a thing, and his wife endeavours to adopt the v lewpoint of her husband, but she is only parJally successful. She seeks other company, and her husband ultimately leaves her. A divorce follows, and both set out to "forget. At this stage a third (and now married) admirer of Jerrr's appears, and suggests leaving his wife in fsvottt o* Jerry. Tlio latter assents, and tho pair aro on tho point of departure, when the other wife makes a plea for a more honfliirable course. After having seen her marriage wrecked, Jerry accordingly sets about to mend matters, and tho concluding portion of the story relates how she successfully accomplishes her designs. The supporting programme fs good.

ST.. JAMES THEATRE,

"£he Stirring all-technicolour dramatic and Suusical-'play. "Song of/the . West" the-story *if which tells of, the Calif orman gold-rush da>s ft 1849 >and the trek' of thousands of wouldfis fortune-hunters to tlio Western wonderland, $inj which has for Its background Jsatnrcs picturesque settings of mountain, gulch, canToa, and plain, will close its soason at St. laatM TbMtre with to-night's screening. Inr.ldental to the play are quite an unusually lares number of pleasiug melodies which are Admirably rendered by John Boles and Vivleuue <laeaL. Joe E Brown, the popular comediau, Scores In Us doleful ditty, "The Bride was Pressed in White." Sir Benjamin and John Fuller announce for frr-morrow at St. James Theatre the aU-techl-(itiiowt singing, musical, and dancing photoWay. "Show of Shows." This production is laid to be one of the most pretentious yet Brought to the talking screen. It is described as being "a connoisseur's collection of tlic supreme examples of almost every form of stage and screen entertainment.' Every manner of dance Jmo-wn, and many new creations or those wizards'of the light fantlstic, Cavallos and Haskell, are included in the glittering and melodious spectacles of this mighty wctvava""nnza. Every sort of theatrics lias its special •snot' during the panorama of tinselled glory. The cast is claimed to be of amazing Jength i and strength. The principals include 7o stars of the talking screen. John Barrymorci presents a sccno from Shakespeare's* Isms Henry VI." Irene Bordoni sings her "sheik' songs in her delightfully broken English; Winnie Lightner" (of, "Gold Diggers of Broadway fame) presented her tomfoolery wilh the aid ot Bull Montana; Myrna, Loy and Wick Lucas the magic of the East and in 'which are songs, tuneful and haunting; Georges Carpentier and a. hundred athletic maidens do riilisihcnlcs in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. 'I. bo grand finale includes specialty "dancing teams, 350 dancing girls and men, 150 negroos, culminating in a rainbow throng of amazing beauty. Box plans are at the Bristol. ■

PARAMOUNT THEATRE. *$¥a"taed" will be shown finally at.the Parafeflfiat Theatre to-night. The story is' that nf a daughter of a crook who was .railed during an encounter with the splice. The • girl believes that the rjMef of Police was the indirect murderer m: her father. She swears revenge, but five Shears elapse before she gets her chance, ifbe picture is full of exciting and dramatic Situations. ... j "Born Reckless," the Vox Movietone drama, •w-hich opens'to-morrow at the Paramount Theatre, ia said- to set a new record in film hisiory. Breaking away from the conventional representation of gangsters aR soulless and inhuman monsters, this John Ford production Jihows them as they really are, with absolute fidelity to their lives and emotions. "Born feckless" may shatter some cherished superstitions concerning modern racketeers, but it 3» an absorbing and exciting screen offering as .well as an Illuminating study of tho real Underworld. Edmund Lowe casts aside his Starine uniform to appear as the gang leader, •'Louis Beretti," and his remarkable performance 5s aided by a strong cast that includes Catherine Dale Owen, Lee Tracy, Marguerite Churchill, Warren Hymer, William Harrigau, and Frank Albertson in the featured roles, supported by Eddie Gribbon, Ben Bard, Paul Page, Roy Stewart, and other screen celebrities. Ford's direction equals that of his noteworthy "Adventure of Sl3" and "Four Sons," and' Dudley Nichols has written a vivid screen play from the best sellirie'novel of DonB}d Henderson Clarke, '.'Louis Berctti."

KING'S THEATRE

"High Society Blues" will be shown finally st- the King's Theatre to-night The Granger family go to the East to enjoy life, and buy an estate next door to that of tho Divines. Efforts of the Grangers to be neighbourly with the Divines are rebuffed. However, the daughter of one and the son of the other family flud a common ground. Complications arise, but by the time the son and daughter have settled ruatters In their own wa3', there is the happiest of. endings. - ,' Albert Conti, regarded as one of the most finished artists in sophisticated roles, and one of the most sought after actors in Hollywood, portrays the role of Paul Strohm, secretary to Ludwig Kranz, in "Such -Men -Are Dangerous," all-talking drama, adapted from Elinor Glyn's widely-read story. which<% the attraction at the King's Theatre, starting to-morrow for a popular return season. "Such Men Are Dangerous" is a Fox Movietone production in which the leading characters are enacted by Warner Baxter and Catherine Dale Owen, and their support, in addition to Conti, includes Hedda'Hopper, Claude Allister, and Bela Lusosi. The sensational and highly dramatic story deals with au ugly-looking mulU-inUHon-nire who is deserted by his beautiful bride on-' tho night of their wedding, after which he disappears from his luxurious aeroplane while crossing the English Channel as part of his plan for revenge. Baxter portrays the role of! the wealthy but repugnant bridegroom, and his make-up Jn the early sequences is said to be. a work of art —ono that might axcito the envy of a Lon Chancy or a Paul Muni. In the end he is transformed into his own handsome self by means of plastic surgery.-. Xot since he made screen history .is the Cisco Kid in "In Old Arizona" lias ho been so perfectly cast.

QUEEN'S THEATRE,

f'Xight. Parade" will be shown finally at the Cueen's ' Theatre to-night. The picture srips the emotions, and Hugh Trevor and Lloyd Ingraham as the father and »;son rise to dramatic heights. The picture is a thrilling and romantic story Cor ■ the . prize-ring and New York's night life. i Monte Blue, known 'the world over as a *tar of Warner Bros.' pictures, is tht proud possessor of one of the finest of "talkie" speaking voices in Hollywood. Blue's Titaphone "mike" tests were so successful that the Warner Bros, immediately made arrangements for him to appear in a number of I heir talking pictures. The star's first "talkie" was Ihe epic story of South Polar exploration, "Conquest." "The Greyhound Limited," which is- Monte's second Vitanhone picture, depicts 1:1 mas a happy-Ro-liirky. inn-hslwi "railroad '■■njinecr whose one aim in life is to protect liis rather wayward pal. His pal is ablr played by Grant, Withers. "Thu Greyhound Limited" is a. talkie, andjfias proved immensely popular with audiences wherever it has been screened. The production opens a season tomorrow night at tho Queen's Theatre.

EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY.

t-mveml's screen epic, "All Quiet on the «csiern Front," vrfll be screened at the Emjiirn Theatre to-nighl. Tlie story of "All Quiet is based on the experiences and observations of Remarque, tho author, who went to » i-.,ont as a schoolboy. The battle scenes of All Quiet," in which moro than two thousand soldiers participated, are most spectacular. Through all the stark realism of war siud tho shattering of tho lives and illusions of JSemarque's schoolboys runs tho golden thread nf human understanding and true comradeijjiip. A huge cast is headed by.Lewis Wolheim, Lowis Ayres, John Wray. and Slim Sunimer-"s-itle.

SHORTT'S THEATRE,

In "The Hate Ship," at Shortt's Theatre, Ver ■ toon. Wolf is the owner of a steam yacht. Wolfe plans a coup to obtain wealth and power, and j,hvites a number of wealthy people for a cruise, but before the ship lias1 booh' five days out Arthur Warden is found-badly wounded in the smoking-room. Count Boris is Wolfe's deadly enemy, and Wardcll is shot iv mistake for Wolfe. The method of the crime is ingenious, a concealed gun being accidentally fired by the striking of a certain chord cm .the-saloon piano. She theme song of the piece is instrumental in fyie shooting. The Count.'after shooting Wolfe. Bives himself up, revealing-(hat Wnifu liad shot liislather. There are good sniiiinris.

SEASIDE PICTURES, LYAt-L BAY

"■The Vagabond King," to be screeiitid :it the Seaside Pictures,'.Lyall Bay, to-night is perhaps the most outstanding iirndiictlon Unit Ims reached thn screen since the inccpliun of InU;ins. pictures. The. cast is headed by Dennis King, an English artist. Playing opposite is Miss Jeanotto MacDonolil, who played in "The .Lovo Parade." Splendid supporling subjects, inehiding a sound cartoon, will nlso lie screened.■' Seat,s may bo reserved by telephone.

CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR.

"Embarrassing Moments," .. starring Keginald Denny, the popular English comedian, will have its final screening at the Capitol tonight. A double-feature programme, headed by "Xavy Blues," commences to-morrow. This comedy is William Haines's first all-talking picture, and is * riot from start to finish. In

"Hi 3 Glorious yiight" John Gilbert can be heard £or the fir*; time. "The Haunted House," a Mlc/jy Mouse e^-jrtoon, w ;jj a ] so f> e asjcenecl.

PRINBESS THEATRE.

Equipped with the latest talking picture Installation, the Princess Theatre is showing

"The Golden Calf," iv which E! Bren.dc], Sue Carol, and Jack Jlulhall hare the chief parts. Jt is a sparkling musical comedy replete with souk arid dance hits. This picture had a most successful season in Wellington a short timo ago. A strong supporting programme is hilled. The thrafre, which is njien cnnMimcmsl.v from 11 a.m. to JO p.m., h*s been complete)? Tcnpytcd. Scats nyy he

MAJESTIC THEATRE,

"Evidence," which, ia unusually well acted by I Pauline Frederick, William Courtcnay, Lowell Sherman, Myrna Loy, Conway Tearle, Alec. B. Francis, and the very clever boy actor, Freddie Bourkc Frederick, terminates its season at the Majestic Theatre to-night. The play has merit and the performers high dramatic skill. v It took the British studios some time to get going in the production' of "talkies," but recent releases, such as "Rookery Nook" and

"Splinters," have' shown that once they did make a start they were capable of more than holding their own in the talking production field. It Is novc claimed that they have gone oo« better wirli a novelty offerivjs entitled "Baise the J?pof," wh«ch is tho WST feature trf to-morrow night's new programme at the Majestic Theatre. "Raise the Itoof" breaks ndw ground, ny.d is said, to bo as ililike anytMng Insofar as plot and treatment is concerned hitherto seen here. It was made at Elstree, England, and is enacted by well-known Londou players, many of whom were concerned in the stage presentation of tho play. The mission of "Raise the Roof" frankly is to produce the heartiest possible kind of laughter. It. deals with the vicissitudes of a London revue' company which, driven' from Its metropolitan home by the advent of the talkie invasion, is forced to tour the small provincial towns with sad'results from'the box office point of riew. An ambitious young aristocrat, with a flair for acting, invests money in the show, hut his lack of experience only leads to further disaster. His fattier, desiring to cure his son's Infatuation for the stage, bribes the unprincipled heavy villain to completely cripple the company by sending its : wardrobe baskets astray, thus" leaving the company to face the first crowded house of the tour without any stage clothes. Betty Balfour, the bright nartlcular^star of the combination, rises.to the occasion and all manner of makeshift wardrobe is brought into use with the funniest possible results. The London "Era" describes "Raise tl»o Koof" as "the funniest farce comedy In talkies—the laugh hit of the year." A special late shoppers' session will commence to-mor-row afternoon at 5 o'clock and finish at V. Box plans are ■at the. Bristol.

OE LUXE THEATRE,

"Harmony Heaven" will be shown finally at the De Luxe Theatre to-night. There are .good song numbers, and the dancing is as excellent as British dancing can be. Polly Ward, a musical comedy personality, the exotic Trilby Clark, and Stuart Hall are the leads in this story of back-stage life, and they are seldom at fault. The numbers are good, the stars capable, and the colouring ,of the film excellent. An. example of perfect casting Is in evident? in the "Fox Movietones talkie, "So This Is London," starring Will Rogers and directed by John G.- Blystone. Three very essential roles are those of a family of titled British foil;. Lord and Lady Percy Worthing'and their daughter, Kllnor Worthing. Lumsden Hare, who has been 50 years on stage and screen, the major portion of his experience on the London stage, and an Englishman, plays the role of Lord Worthing;' Mary Forbes, 100 per cent. English, plays.the role of Lady Worthing; and Maureen O'SulHvan, who won fame in John M'Cormack's 'first starring picture for Fox Movietone, the role.of Elinor. Obviously Rogers is ideal as the Texan owner of a largo cotton mill. Irene Rich perfect as his wire, and surely a typical American son of an American father is Frank Albertson. Add to that Bramwell Fletcher, an Englishman, who started his career on the London stage, and has only recently-come to' America, playing the role of Alfred Honeycutt, and the idealism is complete. ..' "So This is London," which comes to-morrow to the Do Luxe-Theatre, was written for Movietone by Owen Davis, sen., from the stage play which George M. Cohan so successfully produced. "So This is London" is declared to be one of the season's most bril-' liant comedies.

GRAND OPERA HOUSE.

"Rookery Nook" is raising many laughs at the Grand Opera House. Without'a doubt, it is one 'of the finest pictures that have ■ been shown since the talkie era set in. Delightfully English In atmosphere, the cast is also English, and with such polished players as Ralph, Lynn, Tom Walls, Winifred Shotter, and Mary Brough .handling the main parts, the wit of Travors, often most whimsical, flows as smoothly a3 a rippling stream, and it starts to flow right at the beginning and does not stop until all the complications which have been developed have been cleared away. A charming girl, driveD from home by her German stepfather who moro or less thrusts herself, clad In pyjamas only, on Gerald Popliiu3 and his cousin Cllva ropKlss, is responsible for it all. And then there Is the presence of a scandalmonger person, Mrs. Harold Twins (Gerald's sister), a wonderful old busybody Mrs. Leverett, otherwise known as the "daily woman," and one or two 'others, who do their share towards stirring the fun. There, is a good supporting programme to "Rookery Nook," comprising several sound featurettes. Box plans may bo obtained at the theatre.

"HOLD EVERYTHING."

"Hold Everything." the sensational English ■md American " success iv the musical .comedy field, which ,T. C. Williamson,? Ltd. are producing in conjunction with Richard Whito and Eric Edgley at the Grand Opera. House next Saturday afternoon, for seven nights only. Is endowed with a snappy story winch knits together a riot of rollicking humour and superb dancing. Clem Dawe, who gained sucn favour in his" last musical comedies, 'Love Lies and "So This Is. Lore," will again have a part that is in every sense so. suited for his own -inimitable style": of comedy. ,71m Brookes, played by Michael Cole, is the challenger for a boxing championship, and'his chances are fancied so much that the opposition camp has found it necessary to "square" the referee to give the verdict to the other felloiv if they were both on their feet at the ond. Jim s manager has misguidedly given instructions which would play into his enemy's hands, but, fortunately, he had a- brainy and bewitching daughter who loved the pugilist. The girl, played by Betty Eley. realises that only a knock-out can win the light for her beloved, so she incites him to a mood of fury by the cock-and-bull story that his opponent has Insulted her. :The infuriated Jim proceeds to make' mincemeat of his antagonist, and all ends happily. Associated in this delightful show are. Bobliy Gordon. Dan Attar, Marie Eaton, Paul Plunket, Mona Barle, Kitty Stewart, and a daring specialty dance by Mona Zcppel and Will Delane.v. Box plans aro at the Bristol.

KUBEUK'S FIRST PROGRAMME.

The opening programme for- :lio Jan KubeHk season, commencing in the Wellington Town Hall on - Saturday, 27th SopteinlKjr, under the aegis of Messrs. J. and N. Tait, will have a universal appeal to all music-lovers. It includes Mendelssohn's famous Concerto for tho violin—one of the finest masterpieces of violin literature. The lovely Andante is as expressive as- anything Mendelssohn has composed, its inspired melody being pervaded by exquisite tenderness. Other items on (>. magniflcent programme, will be Beethoven's F.orancc; Bach's Praeludium for violin only; the Itondo Capriccioso of Salnt-Saens; Paganini's Canipanella; Wieniawski's Souvenir de Moseou, and two pieces by Kubellk himself, Ballade and ~a charming Burlesque. It will be seen that'the great man will make his initial bow in a prodigious feat of violin-playing. In response to a great number of requests, encores on the opening night will include Schubert's Aye Maria and Bach's Air for 0 String. The booking arrangements are at the Bristol, where box. plans are now opeu,for the tu:o reserved sections. A limited number of students' concessions are available for the season, which. % definitely of three nights only, and the special forms mriy be obtained at the box office. The famous violin on which Kubelik plays,. 'The Emperor," will be on view at tho Bristol on Thursday autt Friday of next week, from 12 till 2 p.m., under the guard of the owner's Hindu servant.

BRITANNIA THEATRE.

Trapped iv- a crippled subniariue 1)5 feet Mow the surface—with water slowly entering through an inaccessible leak, aud the torpedo tubes, tho only avenues of escape, fouled, by the collision which sciit the vessel to the bottom—is the perilous situation confroatirig the players in "Adventures of Sl3,'' ■ -now showing at the Britannia Theatre. Kenneth MacKenna and Frank Albertsou handle the leading roles in this Fox Movietone feature, with Farrell Macdonald, Walter M'Grail, Paul Page, Warren Hymer, Stuart Erwin, and George le Guere in the principal supporting chnracterisa-

KILBIRNIE KINEMA

Leonora Ulric, in "South Sea Hose!" her second Fox Movietone all-talking picture, will be the attraction at the Kilbirnie Theatre tonight. The supporting cast of several stage and screen favourites include Charles' Bicliford, Kenneth SracKennn, and Tom Patrlcola, and many others. Sound featurettes will ;ilso bo presented. Reserve at Theatre Confectionery, Tel. 14-202, and Bristol Piano Co. Book now for "The' Lone Star Hanger." siTeeniiig next Friday, Saturday, and Mondaj'.

OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN

| William Haincs is to be seen to-night at Our Theatre iv his first all-talking picture. l-'Wavy Blues." It is a love story with the ■comedy and adveuture of navy life as a'buckj ground, and much of it is actually filmed .oji. a j I destroyer. Anita' Pago, as the heroine of Haines's exploits, and Karl Dane, as his buddy, contribute- no little to the film's many Uushs. Excellent sound supports complete the pro-