ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 90, 17 April 1931, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. Normu Talmadgc Is seen us one ol1 the foremost Heart adventuresses ever known in her new United Artists Picture, "l)u Barry— Womiui of Passion." showing at tlic Regent Theatre to-day. This makes her second appearance In talking pictures. The riso to fame of tlio young milliner who later, as Madamo JJu Bari'S'. ruled a king and the Hearts of the aristocracy, provided the material for one of David Belasco's most successful plays. Sirs. Leslie Carter played the lending diameter when the piece vVas presented at New York in 1901. In the company was Claude Gillingwiiter. who lias since risen to eminence in the Dims. I'ola Ncgrl Impersonated the famous siren in Krnst Lubitscli's .directorial triumpli. "Passion." which was produced in Germany and shown Here with great success. "Dm Harry" makes a bid for fiimc by marking the return to the screen of one of the silver sheet's most glamorous figures—William Farniim. Forced into retirement five years ago because of injuries sustained while making il picture in (ilazier National Park, Famum Has conic back to play the part of the idolising monarch opposite Miss Talmadge. This is Mr. Vanillin's first talking role on the screen. His many years on the speaking stage as a. leading man make him it splendid exponent of the new cinema art. A brilliant cast appears In the picture with Miss Talmadge. DE LUXE THEATRE. Romance, drama, music, and spectacle are all blended in the advent of a brilliant new personality to the talking screen, in the person of Grace Moore, famous American soprano and Metropolitan star. In her first Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture, "A Lady's Morals," a romance based on the life of Jenny Lhid and screening to-day at the De Luxe Theatre, she literally brings to life one of the greatest characters in the history of music, and through Her tells one of the world's sweetest love stories. Miss Moore is a gorgeous new screen personality, and her glorious voice is heard, In the new picture, in music that is an integral part of the drama, and ranges from florid coloratura opera arias to the simple "Lonely Hour, written by Miss Carrie Jacobs Bond. The picture itself is really a new type of screen entertainment. As the Swedish opera star, Miss Moore is seen in operatic triumphs, an nteusely dramatic scene being that m v.iilch she loses her voice following a strenuous rendition of the "Casta Diva." from the opera "Xorma." Others in the cast arc Reginald Uennv and Wallace Beery. There are good supports, and Mr. Paul T. Cullen plays the Wurlltzer organ. QUEEN'S THEATRE. "The '\V Plan" is showing at the Queen's Theatre. The story is based on a novel by I lout -Col Graham Seton Hutchinson, D.b.0., of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. It is a. highly romantic story, and Victor feaville, who produced It for British Internationa , had a difficult task to condense the material at His disposal" to make a smooth, continuous film. Briefly, the story tells how Colonel Duncan. Grant, after learning • from a dy tig German major of a plan to attack the British \rniy from the rear by means of tunnels—the "W"' plan—is dropped near Essen by an aeroplane. One of the first people he meets is a German girl, his sweetheart of pre-war days. Cirant has many hectic adventures— before ho is caught. Ho is made a* Interpreter to a company of British prisoners who work in tlio tunnels. Eventually, with their aid, he blows up one of the tunnels, and escapes to the British lines. KING'S THEATRE. A cleverly directed sequence of splendid variety turns/linked by wireless announcer and television device, "Elstreo Calling" will commence its session at tlio King's Theatre to-day, and is expecled to prove popular with patrons. Wcll-biilanced comedy, burlesque dancing, singing, and patter interludes follow one another in" quick succession and tlio comedy Is rich. As a. stage revue "Elstree Calling" is thoroughly enjoyable and one of tho most satlsfaclory pictures yet presented. Will. Fyne. Scotch comedian, and Teddy Ttrown and his band arc featured,, and a comedy, "Cockney Spirit In the War,'? Is also to be screened. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Gary Cooper is cast in Paramount's latest romance-melodrama, "The Texan," showing at the Paramount Theatre. Based on the famous 0. Henry story, "A Double-Dyed Deceiver," this picture is. endowed with-vivid action, dreamy romance and tho typical 0. Henry surprise twist.. Cooper is cast as the Llano Kid, a qulck-on-tlie-draw, likeable cowboy, who finds, unexpected adventure and love in the far-flung pampas of Souili America. Impersonating tho runaway son of a- wealthy, Spanish seuora, the Kid plans to work himself into the good graces of His "mother." and then under cover of tho night, steal the family gold. But two things stand in His way. One is his love for tlio beautiful. Consuclo. Tho other is the startling discovery he makes, revealing that it was He who killed the senora's real sou in a gun tight in Texas. Gary Cooper as the Llano Kid is perfectly cast. And Fay Wray as the beautiful Consuelo interprets the most important t roio she Has yet had ou tho talking screen. There aro good supports. Box plan at tho Bristol and theatre, telephone 21-812. SHORTT'S THEATRE. "Whoopee,", tlio Samuel Goldwyu-Florcnz Ziegfeld musical riot, starring Eddio Cantor, is shuwing at Shortt's Theatre, the season having boeii extended for a week. This famous pair of producers have exhausted every anglo of their art to make "Whoopee" memorable. Hilarious comedy from such experts us Eddio Cantor, and Ethel Shutta, tuneful songs of every variety, beautiful girls galore as only Zicgfeld can pick them, an affecting lovo story, and a general air of satisfying lavishness niako it a picture in a million. There aro good supports. . . . KILBIRNIE KINEMA. A double-feature programme will bo presented at the Klnema Theatre to-night and to-morrow. "This Thing Called Love," starring Edmund Lowo and Constaucc Bennett, is a drama with an exceptionally good story, well acted by a notable cast. Tho second feature, "Sailor's Holiday," starring Alan Hale, is a hilarious comedy of tho sea and seamen. OUR THEATRE. NEWTOWN. Paraniounfs "Love Among the Millionaires" which will be shown to-night at Our Theatre, introduces Clara Bow as a singing waitress in a railroad junction restaurant. She tails in love with a Handsome brakeman, only to Have him turn out to be the railroad president's son. Excellent sound supports complete the programme. NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. "Up the River" is now showing at the New Princess Theatre. Few funnier efforts have ever reached the speaking screen\ than this riotous Fox Movietone travesty of life in gaol. Spencer Tracy and Warren Hymer cause roars and howls whenever they appear, ami tho charming Claire Luce and Humphrey Bogart vi the romantic'leads contrast admirably with the hilarious antics of the other players. William Collier, sen., and Joan ("Cherle") Lawcs are the other featured players. Excellent supports and a,nothcr chapter of the "Spell o£ the Circus" serial arc further attractions. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. "Man Trouble" is showing at the Regal Theatre, Karorl. It is a Fox Movietone drama of intense interest and thrilling situations, stirringly directed by Berthold Viertel, depicting the adventures of a beautiful girl and a young man who struggle against the menacing influence of another. Dorothy Mackaill portrays the leading feminine role, and Mliton Sills appears as the night club owner., who dominates her. Kenneth MacKonna Is the loverJ BRITANNIA THEATRE. "The Uenson Murder Case," a new Paramount all-talking mystery play, starring William Powell, will show at the Britannia Theatre today. Five suspects aro .hopelessly involved with tho killing of a- stockbroker, and yet nothing can .he proved against any of them. Bach had his motivo for the crime; each had the desire to commit it; but only one of them did commit it, and that's where Philo Vance's brains are required to sift the mystery to the bottom. Vanco surprises everyone, and proves he is right in the end. CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. Bert Wheeler and ilohort Woolsley, the hilarious team of "Klo Rita," can be seen at tho Capitol to-night in their first starring comedy, "The Cuckoos." This bright comedy will be screened at the- matinee to-morrow, tomorrow night, and Monday, night. ARTCRAFT THEATRE. Jack London's story. "The Sea Wolf." is showing at the Artcraft Theatre. This is a vivid tale of a boy's regeneration against terrific odds, under the twin spurs of a woman's love' and a man's contempt. It deals with a down and out waster, shanghaied aboard a sealing vessel commanded by the toughest skipper on the seven seas; a mysterious girl or the Half-world, provocative, sympathetic, unfathomable—and the "Wolf" himself—a rugged, herculean brute, master of his little floating world, a heartless experimenter with human souls. Milton Sills In the title role is featured with Jane Keith and Raymond Hackett. Director Alfred Santcll actually filmed the principal sequences of tho picture at sea, an old sealing schooner serving as a unique talkie studio. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. An excellent week-end programme has been arranged at the Empire Theatre to-night. The main attraction Is "On Your Back." starring Raymond Hackett and H. B. Warner. Tho story concerns the use of a poor dressmaker who set out to achieve the heights for herselt and son. As a modiste of exceptional ability, she soon established Herself in an exclusive establishment on Fifth avenue. This background of luxury affords the opportunity to parade the latest fashions on mannequins of alluring beauty. The supporting programme includes a comedy, a novelty number, and two Vox Movietone Newsrecla. On Monday and Tuesday "Common Clay" will be shown. NEW aUALITY THEATRE. "Animal Crackers," ' n full length feature cumedy-ric-luxc, featuring flic famous Marx brothers, will hold pride of place in Hie new programme to be screened at the Xew Quality Thuiifrc, Island ISa.v, to-night and to-morrow night. This comedy Has delighted audiences wherever shown, and Is wonderful entertainment. The supporting programme includes the usual range of sound supports. A special mntince will be held on Saturday afternoon nt 2.00. Reserves may he. made »t Still's, fruiterers, Tin; Parade.

GRAND OPERA HOUSE. Inspired l).v v pretty and famous' woman athlete, produced by America's great stage generals, fllled with catchy songs, pepped with screamiiiß comedy, revelling In heart-tingling romance, "I-'ollmv Through" swept Broadway oil' Its Ictt, and for two yenr.i ■ kept Wehwab and Mundcl, its producers, hosts to an entertainment, hungry world. But now "follow Through" is on the screen, and to all the charms of the sensational since production Paramount has added those two delightful screen favourites, Charles Hosors and Nancy Carroll. "Follow Through" is n musical slice of country chili life, rippling with comedy situations, throbbing with n tluElinK love story, and it. is all In lechnlcoiour. It ironies to the lirand O|iera House to-day. l>aiireiicu Schwab himself journeyed to Hollywood to cn-dircct It, and he tool! with him two or Ills stage highlights, Zclinii O'.Vcal and Jiii-k lluley, the comedy love-duct that kept the laughs coming on Broadway. Then two juvenile joy distributors from the stage production followed Air. Kcliwnb to the West Coast and added their bits of convulsing foolishness to "Follow Through." They arc Margaret Tice and Don Tomklus. And Eugene I'alMtc brings his Sergeant Heiilli characterisation to the golf links and proves a panic us a ncw-rleb country club member. And the big climax comes in a tlinlllns champion coif match before a gallery of the most beautiful girls Hollywood could provide. ST. JAMES THEATRE. To-day will mark the start of the third continuous week of that wonderful comedy success, "Let Us Be Gay," at the St. James Theatre. The last, nix days are announced, however. Norrna Shearer has made a host of new artful frocklng in this picture, while the one and only Marie Dressier, who Is generally accepted as being the best character comedy actress In talking pictures, pretty well proves the fact by her splendid characterisation of "Mrs. Boucicaitlt" in "Let Us Be Gay." A very fine set of short subjects, which Includes amongst others Laurel and Hardy's latest comedy, "Another Fine Mess," and a delightful Burton Holmes travelogue, tlnds unusual favour. There is a heavy demand for seats, and intending patrons are counselled to avoid disappointment by booking at tho Bristol. MAJESTIC THEATRE. Popular William Halnes will open at the Majestic Theatre to-day in Metro-IJoldwyn-Maycr's hilarious comedy-drama, "Remote Control."- which reproduces Word for word the successful stage play of the samo title, and which had a very extended run on the legitimate stage at New York. Tho picture reproduces a bank hold-up, a sensational roof-top hotel robbery, with a radio station furnishing Hie background, and all the other episodes of the original production, including the very funny situations. William Halnes presents a one-man radio programme, which is said to be in. Itself worth the price of admission. He acts as radio announcer, and as such does a. bedtime story for kiddles, 'tells it "Two Black Crows" dialogue, and cuts all sorts of humorous mlcrophonlc capers, ably abotted by Polly Moran, Charles King, Mary Doran, John Miljan, and Koscoc Ates. One clever notion of the plot is the use made of the radio by the leader of a bund of criminals known .as "The fihost GanK," to keep in touch with his associates and instruct them under tho very noses of the Criminal Investigation Department. The usual late shoppers', session will begin to-day at 5 o'clock nnd finish at 7. Box plans are at the Bristol and also at tho Theatre. PIANOFORTE CONCERTOS. A concert of. an unusual type will be given in tho Concert Chamber on■ Wednesday evoiiing next. Mr. Gordon Short will present fourteen senior students in four very attractive pianoforte 'concertos with . orchestral accompaniment. Miss Ay.i Symons will lead the orchestra, and Mr. Gordon Short will conduct.