ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 32, 7 February 1931, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

■"* REGENT THEATRE AND GRAND OPERA HOUSE.

Modern warfare on land has been depicted on the talking screen In several pictures, notably "All Quiet on the Western Frout," and fighting In the air has also provided scope for scenario writers In more than one production, but none of these has surpassed in realism "Hell's Angels," which commenced Its local season at the Regent Theatre and Grand Opera House yesterday. Tho picture is intended to illustrate the part played in the Great War by the air corps, and tho scenes It contains give a striking insight Into the hazards which faced the aviators and tho work they were called upon to perform. The prologue gives pre war glimpses of a German holiday resort and Oxford University, the central figures being two American students, Monte and Boy Rutledge (Ben Lyon and James Halli and a German student, Karl Arnstedt (John Harrow). Monte is a lady-killer lacking the physical courage of his brother, and Karl is a peace-loving youth who has developed during his years at Oxford an affection for "the English people. The outbreak of hostilities; finds Earl recalled to fight for the Fatherland, and Boy and Monte (tho latter falling a victim to a pretty female patriot, who offered kisses in return for signatures to recruiting forms) joining the British Air Force. •The next scene—an awo-lnspirliig one—deals with a Zeppelin raid on London. Karl .is let down from the airship at the end ofJi steel rope to give the signal, for the .dropping, of • the bombs, but cannot bring himself to loose death, on to tho harmless city and, at his direction, the projectiles fall Harmlessly into tlie Pool of London. Monte aud Roy are in ene of the 'planes sent up to bring the Zeppelin down, and the impressions caused by tho Bight of the 'Planes chasing the Slant tube can only be gathered by seeing and_ hearing the strange fight in the clouds. A series of thrills which include the dropping of men from tho Zeppelin in an endeavour to ■. lighten_ her load and enable her to Increase hCr altitude culBilnate in the self-sacrificing crash of a British airman Into the gas-filled envelope to bring it down in flames. The remainder of •♦Kb action is laid In France, and all tho motion photographer's art is brought into play to Resent with startling realism battles waged thousands, of feet above the by squadrons of opposing 'planes. The picture leaves Its audience .silent and thoughtful, so powerfully dramatic is it, and it should not be missed by any who desire; to see something well out of the ordinary. The love interest doVnot greatly Intrude, but. Jean Harlow s mostly responsible for it as Helen, a blonde who felt that life was short .and should be made as sweet as possible. "Hell's Angels occupies practically the whole of the programme, but in addition to a nowsreel consisting of items gathered from various ■ parts of the world, there are the first motion pictures to be shown in Wellington of the earthquake. DE LUXE THEATRE. "Call of the Flesh." a Metro-GoldwynrMayer romantic drama with music, is now showing af the Do, Luxe Theatre. Dorothy Jordan acts as the heroine. The story ls t a, vivid drama of the life and lovo of a Spanish opera singer, tho role played by, Ramon Novarro n the picture. Renee Adorec, who played with lilm in "The Pagan," plays the rival sweetheart as a fiery Spanish dancer. Lruest rorrence is seen as the singer's aged teacher, a former opera star, and Mathilde Comont, French Btage actress, appears as another former opera Btar also aiding in launching tho young singer to success.: Nance O'Neil-is seen as the Jlother' Superior in the convent scenes, and Kussell Hopton, stage actor, plays a talking gcreen role as the heroine's brother- . In addition the first authentic picture of the Jfapler-Hastlngs earthquake; disaster will Be Screened. i ' PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Bessie Love, Hugh Trevor, and a strong company of featured players, give a splendid representation of spectacular mystery melodrama In "Conspiracy," now being shown at the Paramount Theatre. Ned Sparks, noted for Sis comedy ability, plays a new and surprising part in this picture. Cast as a wealthy, eccentric author, whose hobby is the solving of current crimes, Sparkß adds forty years to pis; age. The result is a startling change in Bis- appearance. The supporting . programme contains some interesting featurettes and talk- ' fctg gazettes, also the first authentic" (picture !*f the Hawkes Bay earthquake disaster. KING'S THEATRE. "ShovV of Shows," which heads the }iew bill at the King's \ Theatre, has Jri the cast a staggering number of Btars of stage and screen, half a thousand Supporting people, magnificent settings, melodies, dances, witty dialogue. It is a sort ef "Field of the Cloth of Gold," an intricate .-'Arid yet restful and invigorating design like that of an Oriental rug, or a Gobelin tapestry. John Barrymoro gives a touch of tho. tragic in his splendidly delivered soliloquy of the Duke of Gloucester, from King Henry VI. Ho Ss supported by Mr. Ratcliffo and Mr. Bushell and thirty others. France Is represented by two of her most captivating personalities. Irene Bordonl and Georges Carpentier, and Patsy Ruth Miller, Alice White, and,a hundred or so athletic beauties go through some amazing callisthenics. Then there are the Adagio Dancers, yed Lewis' and his jazzboys. Beatrice .Llllle. <ef tho London music halls, and others QUEEN'S THEATRE. Many screen players of reputation and popu-' ferity appear In "Pardon My Gun," which epened last night at the Queen's, Theatre. . The list includes among the more notable, George Duryea, Sally Starr, Robert Edeson, Mona Ray, lee Moran, and Ida May Chadwick. ' The scenes of the comedy are located In the wide open spaces of the west.' . There is a rodeo which attracts ranchers,and their families, who watch the breath-taking exhibitions of broncho tiustlng, bull dogging, and trick riding. There Js--a charming love romance in which Miss Btarr and Mr. Duryea are the central figures* ARTCRAFT THEATRE. "Why Leave Home?" is the title of the hllarlfeu's musical farce which heads the bill at the Artcraft Theatre. With its snappy Helodles by the famous team of Conrad, Mitchell, and Gottler, aud an entertaining and fast Jnoving story of modern life,' college boys, fchorus girls, flirtatious husbands, and neglected wives, "Why Leave Homo?" is said to be the iuimlest ."talkie" that Hollywood ha 3 yet offerid. : Walter Catlett plays a featured role. Suo Carol and Nick Stuart have tho other leading |iarts. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. " Metro-Goldwyn's super comedy special Short," starring Marie Dressier and folly Moran, is being screened at the Empire , Theatre. The story concerns Marie • and Polly, a pair of improverished New York landladies. Polly experiments with the stock jmarket and entices Marie Into tho mystic mases ftfWall Street. BRITANNIA THEATRE. - "The Sea Bat," a marlno melodrama, Is showing at the Britannia Theatre. Sea bats, those .giant rays weighing two tons or more Which infest tropic waters, are the monsters Which supply the excitement of this tale, ihe tangled romances of Charles Blckford, Baquel Torres,. and John Mlljan form a dramatic overtone. . SHORTT'S THEATRE. Paramount has woven an Intensely humau fctory around the Wartime aviators in France in "Young Eagles," at Shortt's Theatre to-day. The film Is built on the novel theme of the affection and friendship which springs up between two enemy aces. In "Young Eagles" this admiration, which amounted almost to friendship, is shown between Rogers, as an American pilot, and Paul Lukas, an enemy »cc. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. Gay revues, vaudeville skits, song hits, and (Other phases of New York's "Tin Pan Ally" ire amusingly pictured In Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's »ew all-talking, singing, and dancing romance, ''Children of Pleasure," at the Regal Theatre. JUrilllant portrayals upon tho part of thu cast Jjelp to make this picture something better (han the ordinary movie. OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. " "Flight," the Columbia all-talking aviation Jricture, Is to be shown at, Our Theatre tonight. It is/a mighty drama of adventure in the sky, featuring the most sensational air feats ever photographed. A capable cast is eaded by Jack Holt, Ralph Graves, and Lila Jtieev . SEASIDE PICTURES, LYALL BAY. "Street of Chjraco," starring William JfoweU, will be screened at the Seaside Pictures, lyall Bay, to-nlgbt. It is a powerful drama of a gambler who takes a big chance to: stop his brother from gambling and who lose* his life in the attempt. Excellent sup-, porting subjects will also be screened. Scats tuay be reserved by telephone. OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. "Splinters," the British war-timo revuo, Which has continued to achieve success on the English stage since the Great War, has now lieotf produced as a talking picture, and will be .presented at Our Theatre to-night. The famous revue features the original British players, and is another of tho great comedy hits that Britain has produced. There are excellent supports. DE LUXE ASSEMBLY. The De Luxe Assembly holds Us popular dance every Tuesday and Saturday night at the Victoria Hall, Adelaide , road. Starting from Tuesday, of this .weok the Assembly .will hand over , the whole of its profits of two nights per week until further notice to the Earthquake Funds. STAR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. Laura La Plante, in "Midnight Sun," and BUI Cody and Sally Blanc, in "Eyes of the thiderworld," constitute tho programme for toBlght at tho Star Theatre, Newtown. "The Midnight Sun" is a dramatic love story of the premiere danseuse of the Imperial Russian ballet and a young officer or tho Grand Duke's Guard, combined with the efforts or the Grand Duke and Russia's greatest banker to possess the girl. The other film is an American story of intrigue with the inevitable lovo jneroe.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. "Tho W Plan," tho Majestic's new feature, has been described as tho best film yet produced which has tho Great War as a background. It must bo admitted that a more thrilling "talkie" has seldom been heard In Wellington. The original , story, written by Lieutenant-Colonel Graham Soton Hutchison, D.5.0., M.C., of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders,, was thrilling enough, but. the "talkie" screen version Is able to add much that the written word could, only hint at. It Is a British spy drama, with Brian Aherne as the hero. Madeline Carroll is the leading lady, Gibb M'l/aughlln has a Scottish comedy role, and Gordon Barker is Private Waller. The London cast of English-speaking players Includes many other well-known names. The action begins, fast and furious, when on a dead German officer Is discovered a curious plan. To discover what this plan means, a Colonel is sent across into the German lines, being dropped by aeroplane.1 Ho finds out that, vast galleries have been dug right under the British front line, even as far as Aye miles behind them. It is the Intention of the Germans tp blow up the front line and to pour out thousands of troops behind the British lines. How this plot Is discovered and circumnavigated, and how the Intrepid British spy finds In Germany the girl he loved before hostilities broke out, form the. subject of the picture. Overlooking tho many improbabilities in the story, one may praise it as a fine British production, action, romance, and humour being well blended. Tho supports are good, and Include earthquake scenes. - ST. JAMES THEATRE. Barely has controversy been more justified in regard to a picture than iv the case of "Young Woodley," which, commenced a season at tho St. James Theatre last night.. As a portrayal of conflicting emotions the picture is excellent, but as a tangible story from life there'seems at times to be' something lacking. It is most difficult to believe that a school boy of eighteen could be Infatuated, with his. headmaster's wife to such a degree as the picture would suggest, any more than' the headmaster should appear in the character, as played ,by Sam. Llvesey. Here the master is even .more burlesqued than in tho play, which appeared in Wellington' several months ago; It might be possible, but scarcely probable, that he should seek to bully and discourage the boys of his school, and at the same time go out of h s way to make a laughing-stock of them to their fellows by sneering and sarcastic remarks. However', the- restraint and skill with which Madeline Carroll handles the character of the headmaster's wife (Laura Simmons) merits nothing but admiration. The story is essentially one of the schoolboy. and Young Woodley (Frank Lawton) is a prefect at a large English school. With his three fellow-prefects he feels out of touch, and he turns to the headmasters wife with an ungovernable passion. Woodley tells her of his love In the headmaster s absence, and the latter returns at the critical moment. He intends to expel the boy, but his wife threatens to leave also, and there is an Impasse. Later, in a fit of rage, Woodley attacks two of the protects with a knlto after being chaffed unmercifully for visiting Mrs. Simmons. Expulsion is the only remedy, and Woodley departs to.a better understanding with his father. The supporting cast Is excellent. A graphic picture of the ruins of the towns affected by the recent earthquake disaster, and numerous good supports, are also Bhown. OE LUXE THEATRE. "Call of the . Flesh," the' .Metro-Goldwyn-Mtfycr feature which began its season at the Do Luxe Theatre last evening, bears a title too strong for the compound of sentiment and devotion which fills the picture. It is, the story of a convent' girl who runs away, attracted- by the1 exciting outside world,, and who finds love. Kamon Novarro scores a great success; for his impish ways, even with the girl Maria Consuelo, to whom he is devoted and to whom he plans marriage, his overpowering vanity, extravagance of language, and gesture create something recognisable. This nomad singer is a striking and likeable fellow. His ambitions turn to the opera, and whilo he'falls to Impress an Impressarlo-because of his lack of feeling, self-sacrifice and the Influence of Maria Consifteo's brother enable her to be returned to the Convent of San Augustin, while her lover goes through a period of suffering which makes his appearance at the opera a triumph. Feeling Is not lacking in his singing now, and with the inevitable happy ending the gay, attractive fellow Is left on his way back to health and marriage. The supporting Alms Include a comic absurdity, "Thundering Tenors," a Metrotone Sound News, and a picture of the recent Hawkes Bay disaster. At the organ, Mr. Paul T. Cullen plays "La Paloma," and a fantasia from "Maritana." CAPITOL THEATRE. MIRAMAR. "The White Hell of Fltz Falu," now showing at the. Capitol Theatre, is one .of the great achievements of the motion picture. .Never before have such breath-taking spectacles been presented on tho screen—mighty avalanches that sweep a climblug party into a terrible crevasse; the quest of the rescuers into the depths of that ghastly chasm of ice; two men and a girl trapped on an Icy ledge; and a daring airman's flight that directs the rescuers to the imprisoned humans. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. "Whoopee," the delightful comedy which had such a popular run in the city, will open at the Kilblrnle Kinema to-day. Produced by Samuel Goldwyn and: Florenz Ziegfeld, this brilliant musical rfomedy makes a gorgeous spectacle on the talking colour,screeu. •<: