ENTERTAINMENTS.

Evening Post, Issue 51, 2 March 1931, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS.

GRAND OPERA HOUSE.* "Monte Carlo," Ernst Lubltsch's special production for Paramount, will be shown for the last time at the Grand Opera House tonight. - ■■■■'■• "PUTTIN' ON THE BITZ." Itlght out of tho way In style and entertainment, with something new in scones of backstage life, "Puttln' on tho Itttz," the United Artists' all dialogue musical extravaganza, starring Harry Klchmnn, begins at the Grand Opera House to-morrow. The pleturo contains not only tho conventional glimpses of rehearsals and dressing rooms. It goes deeply into tho llvea of that interesting and curious baud of golf—tho professionals—shows them as human beings. It depicts them in poverty and riches, leads the audience to the little nooks and crannies of boarding-houses and theatrical ..hotels which they call home, and makes them real personalities. An actor without money Is a.particularly pathetic flguro, say 3 Rlciiman; and he Is made more so by the boastful conversation and jauntlness of manner with which ho attempts to carry it off. The second feature on the programme Is "True to the Navy," with the famous Clara How as tho star. In this Paramount all-talking picture, Miss Bow Is a soda fountain clerk, with the reputation for having a sweetheart on every ship. REGENT THEATRE. The Devil's Holiday is the principal feature at the. Itegent, Theatre. Nancy . Carroll gives a convincing impersonation of Halite Hobart, the little "gold-digging" manicurist, who undertakes to "persuade David Stone (Phillips Holmes), youngest son of the old wheat-farmer, to place.a large order for farm Implements with a man,for whom she is working on a commission, basis. The. hoy meets her advances by immediately falling in love with her, and after his brother Mark (James Kirkwood) has shown Halite that ho regards her as a shameless woman, she agrees.to marry David as a means of revenge.. Halllo arrives on the farm and finds a manner of living ontirely strange to her, and the story develops to at satisfactory climax Jn an unusual and interesting manner..' One of the incidents deals with a quarrel between the two brothers which ends with Mark .-throwing David down a flight of stairs with the result that the latter suffered severe concussion, and the Austrian specialist (Paul Lukas) who was called in played a big part in- affecting a reconciliation. There arc touches of comedy in the picture, and in this Fespect Zasu- Pitts is Tory diverting ns the telephone girl in a big New York hotel. ( '.•.■•■ _ "Dlxiana." Cayetano's historic circus-theatre, the so- ; cial rendezvous of New Orleans in 1840, was reproduced in faithful detail for opening scenes of Radio Pictures' original melody play "Dlxiana," which begins at the Kegent Theatre on Friday next. Months of research and effort went into the consummation of the replica. Doublo tiers of lavishly fitted boxes, adjacent to a circular stage, form what was known in the days of Cayetano _ as the "diamond horseshoe.'* From these -boxes the bluebloods of the South viewed the circus performers in a. sawdust .ring In the heel of the "horseshoe." Alternate acts were shown on the stage. In this seauence, behind tho gas Jet footlights, Bebe Daniels as a Spanish- entertainer, makes her bow. In the colourful musical drama., Two nationally known entertainers, George Herman, famous contortionist, and BUI Robinson, foremost tap-dsneer of vaudeville fame, were brought from New York to appear in this particular "set" PARAMOUNT THEATRE. There is an excellent1 double-feature programme screening at' the Paramount Theare this week. Tho main attraction Is "Slmba," which-portrays the adventures of Mr. ana Mrs. Martin Johnson in the jungles and plains of Darkest Africa. A realistic Idea is given of the life of the natives, and their efficient use of primitive weapons. One scene shows a lion hunt,-in which half-naked natives armed only with their spears, surround and kill these savage beasts. Other amazing ■ scenes in the. picture area mad elephant stampede through the burning.Jungle, a river crossIng amid hundreds of savage looking alligators and crocodiles, and encounters with the ferocious rhinoceros and hippopotamus. There is not a dull moment in the whole «">. and th s Is due, no doubt, to the fact that Us thrills are real and not of the stereotyped kind Following the big picture is Fox Movietones production, "Oh! For a Man," starring J<*netw M'Donald and Kcsinald Denny. Tho film is a riot of sons and comedy. MAJESTIC THEATRE. "Murder Will Out," at the Majestic Theatre, is cleverly conceived,, skilfully constructed, and most capably acted byJack MulhaU, LUa Lee, Noah Beery. Alec B. Francis. Tully Marshall, Claude Alllster, and Hcdda Hopper. A Chinese Secret Society operating in and around 1 New York, a British Secret Service man, and a BUbmarlne becomo interwoven in this remarkable play in a manner that throws every bachelor off the scent of the mystery until the climax. "Dancing Sweeties" is another capital feature on the programme. Seats may bo reserved at the Bristol and also at tho theatre without extra cost for booking. ST. JAkiaS THEATRE. Winnio Liglltncr, in the all-technicoloui- comedy, "The Life of tho Party." is raising much merriment at the St. James Theatre. The comicalities of the other comedians assembled in the cast put to shame the comedy provided In other provious poctures constructed along somewhat similar lines. Right from the first sceno Winnie Llghtner'g attack Is marvellous1. She puts the picture on Its feet straight away with one of the best songs sho has ever sung, and the first hilarious scene is but the forerunner of tho many others of equal merit that follow on in rapid succession. Four short subjects, all well varied and of pleasing character, act as curtain-risors. Scats may be reserved at the Bristol or at the theatre without extra charge. KING'S THEATRE. , Prior to the downfall of the Russian Tsar, Anuita, "The Flame," a sort of Russian Joan «f Arc, sings a iory song to incite the people to revolt. Prince Volodya tries to capture her with his Cossaclc troop, but she. always eludes him, although she cannot help falling in love with him, and they end by working together to oppose the Communists.. That is the basis of 1 the drama, "The Song of tho Flame," which is being screened at tho King's Theatre. Bernice Claire and Alexander Gray are in the lead. 1 There aro excellent supports. QUEEN'S THEATRE. In "Way for a Sailor," screening at the Queen's Theatre, Wallace Beery and John Gilbert are featured in a picture which deals very largely with the British Mercantile Marine. Life on tho soa .has always providod rare scopo for virile entertainment by the modlum of moving pictures, and John Gilbert, who is appearing in his fltst plcturo for somo time. Is In I his element getting into and out of trouble. There is plenty ,of humour' and action in the picture, and the love interest is not lost sight | of. The programme is completed by some exceptionally good supporting features. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. "The Three Sisters," a Fox super special, is showing at the Regal Theatre, Earorl. Laid in the romantic setting of an alpine village during the later war period, the picture Is a very human one of a mother, and her three < daughters, and .it is ably screened aud acted. Louise Dresser, Joyce Compton, June Collyer, and Addle M'Phail'are . the main members of the cast.' Tho supports aro excellent. On Wednesday and Thursday "The Awful Truth" will be screened and will be followed by "This Mad World," which will be supported by another Mickey Mouse; Cartoon. . EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. "So This is Ijondon" will be screened at the Empiro Theatre to-night. The star is Will Rogers. It Is a story of a Texas cotton mill owner who despises Englishmen, and of an English peer who regards Americans as gum chewers. . Through the engagement of their children they come to the conclusion that people of all races are much the same. Tho supporting programme ■: includes a comedy and a nowsrcel. On Wednesday and Thursday "East Is .West,"-a picture of unusual merit, will be screened. CAPITOL THEATRE. MIRAMAR. "Anna Christie," starring Greta Garbo, concludes its season at tho Capitol to-night. A Laurel Hardy comedy and a Mickey Mouse cartoon are included in the programme. "This Mad World," a drama of war and romance, commences to-morrow. Basil Rathbone is seen as a French spy, and Kay Johnson as a German princess. Excellent supports are included. ARTCRAFT THEATRE. "Such Men Are Dangerous," by Elinor Glyn, is being shown at tho Artcraft Theatre. Warner Baxter portrays the role of the man, Ludwie Kranz, while Catherine Dale Owen, until recently a New York.stage star, enacts the role of the bride who runs away. The supportinc cast is a large one. .■*"*" fc OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. Richard Dix appears Jn "Lovln' tho Ladles," showing at Our Theatre, Newtown. It is his best hilarious screen success. There aro flrstclass supports. - BRITANNIA THEATRE. "Way Out West," starring William Haines, is showing at tho Britannia Theatre. Haines as a circus "sprulker" gets into trouble and Is forced to go to work on a Western ranch. His love: affair- with the feminine "boss" is ! enlivened by his education as a cowboy, a thrilling rescue race, an attempted lynching, and some riding feats that amaze. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. The comedy and instrumental specialties for which individual members of the Paul Whiteman Bond are famous are presented in "King of Jazz," the Universal super-spectacle, showing at the Kilbirnle Kinema to-night. Excellent sound subjects will also be presented. Reserves are at theatre telephone 14-202, and Bristol Piano Co. SHORTT'S THEATRE. "With Byrd at the South Pole," Pararaount's ihyilJliiK pleturisatlon of the Byrd expedition to the Antarctic, Is being shown at Shortt's Theatre. It depicts in dramatic story form one of the grandest adventures of all times. From first (o last it remains first and foremost a picture of vital; Vivid action. The supports are excellent, ■■■. ,■.

DE LUXE THEATRE. "Hie Princess and the Plumber" Introduces two noted players in their first picture together at the De Luxe theatre. Charles Farrell, one of the screen's most popular leading men, and Maureen O'Sulllvan, the attractive little Irish colleen. The opening scenes cloTorly establish the locale and tlio leading players, who meet without knowliiß. each other's real Identity. Their mutual, and horrified recognition later brings about plenty of hilarity, as well as starting the train of obstacles to the romance. These lncludo sophisticated villain, an.. American millionaire who unsuspectingly hastens the love affair, a case of mistaken identity, a hurried marriage under false pretences, and a kidnapped aeroplane, with everything coming out (rightly in the end, but not before the audience lias been thoroughly entertained with the swift situations. There are interesting supports. Also, at the'organ, "there is Mr. Paul T. Cullen. ■ NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. "Let's Go: Places" is being shown at the New Princess Theatre. There arc good supports.