ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 2, 4 January 1932, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. Now in Its second week at the Regent Theatre, "Palmy Days" ts proving very popular with Wellington picture-goers. The star is the Incomparable Eddie Cantor, who scored such a hit in "Whoopee." Cantor plays the part of the man behind the scenes in a crooked fortuneteller's apartment. Through messing up the table rapping and spirit voices during a seance tie is flred, and becomes an efficiency expert in a baking establishment. Eddie is right and loft hand man to the manager; in fact, he .is treated more* as the manager's son than . anything else. AH sorts of improvements to the bakery come from his fertile brain, but the interference of his former employer, the crooked fortune-teller, rather upsets his equilibrium. The picture is set in gorgepus surroundings. Charlotte Greenwood shares the comedy role with Cantor. Supporting "Palmy Days" is a bright collection of gazette features and a picturesque description of the Taj Mahal. GRAND OPERA HOUivE. One of the greatest pictures of the year, "Tabu,", is now showing at tho Grand Opera House. To make the film, F. W. Murnau, the German director, journeyed to the South Seas and chose an all-native cast, and the result is a brilliant piece of work. A dramatic and moving story of tho tabus of native life, it deals with the tragedy of two young lovers. The girl, Red, Is the maiden "chosen for ser-. vice to the gods, and a messenger is sent to take her from her Island to the main island of the group. This being so, . she becomes "tabu" to all men, and it Is the desperate defiance by Rerl and her lover Matahl of the law of the tribe which paves the way to tragedy. In every way this ,1s an extraordinary film, . and the • frank acting of the natives, perfect physically and performing wltli great feeling, reveals how much can be done by ; a director of genius. This, incidentally, is Murnau's last picture, as he was killed in a motor accident in London a few months ago. The supporting bill includes. the latest nnwsreels, and in addition the management has decided that.the Mickey Mouse fantasy, which was being staged in tho afternoons for children, shall be performed in the evenings as well. Tho tiny children who perform in some of the numbers captivated the audience. " (' ■„ DE LUXE THEATRE: The comedy-drama, "Mother's Millions,": heads the programme at the De Luxe Theatre. A rather ■ unusual ' picture, "Mother's Millions" marks the screen#debut of. May Robson, one of American's foremost character actresses, who'played ' the title role with great success on the legitimate stages Comedy is the main forte of the picture, but there "ire clever dramatic touches and other elements which go to make an attractive production. May Robson dominates the story, which tells of the loves', manoeuvres, and fights of,the family of "the richest womao in the world." A judiciously selected supporting cast Includes Lillian Banner, James Ball, Lawrence Gray, and Frances Dade. The incidental programme to "Mother's Millions" is'also good entertainment. • . PARAMOUNT THEATRE. "Riders .of the Purple Sage," adapted from the well-known book by ,Zane Grey, Is now being shown at the Paramount Theatre. It is a story, of George O'Brien, a lone rider of the chaparral, who seta out in search, of a young sister who bad strayed away from home. In the course of his search he finds his sister at a ranch, and then follow scenes of a man's single-handed .fight to protect the life and interests of a ■ beautiful girl,: threatened by. a band of outlaws; A cattle stampede, asd. a breath-taking race of relayed horses are Included In the many spectacular .moments of the picture. {Excellent supporting pictures complete an ■ entertaining- programme. ■ '■■-.; ARTCRAFT THEATRE." Mark Twain's Immortal novel of boyhood, "Tom Sawyer," with Jackie Coogan in the title role of the lovable:bad boy,l is now at the top of the programme at the ' Artcraft Theatre. -Blitzl Green is Tom's light-o' love, Becky Thatcher, and Junior Durklnplays Huck Finn—Buck ,Flnn, who : didn't have, to go to school, wash his neck, or anything. As produced by Paramount on the talking screen, "Tom Sawyer" depicts the, refreshing charm of youth. The high spots of Mark Twain's ''Adventures of '■■ Tom Sawyer" have been,'dramatised on the screen to great effect, and pieced together Into a well-knit, delightful story, in a manner that docs the Mark Twain classic full justice.: ■ •-..■•■ ■■;■.'.'. KING'S THEATRE. /V Gene Gerrard, assisted by Muriel,Angelus, Dodo Watts, and Jimmy Godden will be seen in ','My Wife's Family," Vnow 7 showing at the King's ; Theatre. It 'is said to be one of ' the most ' expertly -';• produced... and uproariously funny talking pictures presented. Added attractions on the programme are the specially. selected sound short subjects. Box plans are at the Bristol and theatre. UUEEN'STHEATRE. ' The For Films' hilarious offering, "The Brat," is now showing at the Queen's.' Theatre. With the elfin Sally O'Neil in - the r title role and a distinguished cast, the film: deals with the surprising results of a Bowery girl's" Invasion of society. Frank Albertson. and Allan Dlnehart have the principal masculine roles, and there are also such favourites as June Collyer, Virginia Cherrill, and William Collier. The picture is based on Maude Fulton's noted play. . : .. . " v . .regal .theatre; JkARORi:,;: "Young Sinners" heads the programme' to be screened at the Regal Theatre to-night. The story concerns a lad who is taken from a too wealthy family and placed in the company of a rough;'yet wise, physical instructor. The trainer encourages the - boy to take serious interest in the great outdoors. . Ultimately he makes a man of the youth.- A large cast Includes Thomas Melghan, Hurdle Albright, Dorothy Jordan, and James Klrkwood. An excellent comedy and" two Fox' 'Movietono Newsreels will also be shown. On Wednesday arid Thursday "Beaching for the; Moon"- will be;screened;; ;■ -'■'..■.:..■ '■'."■■ ::- ' -;.:•' SHORTT'S THEATRE. ; , i "Call of rtiie .Flesh" is the principal' picture at Shortt's Theatre. "In.- thi» whimsical little story of Spain Ramon Novarro does some of his finest film work, playing.first of all the part of a cate'rfree, clowning boy. . The dramatic situation takes form suddenly, and it becomes one of the most gripping, poignant pieces of action the talking screen has seen. Novarro's acting is superb arid his voice v ts glorious. Dorothy Jordan plays opposite him; ; OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN;:' A big British double-feature programme is to be presented to pur Theatre patrons tonight. The first! feature, "The School i For Scandal," is a society comedy with Madeline Carroll and Basil Gill heading a splendid cast of, English stairs. The second feature,' "What a Night," stars the laughter-maker Leslie Fuller. The story deals with the adventures- of an enterprising. If tactless, commercial traveller in a supposedly haunted Inn. ~ CAPITOL THEATRE. "The Secret Six," Metrb'-Goldwyn-Mayer's dramatic exposure of' American political life and tho underworld; is screening at the Capitol to-night. The story traces the rise and fall of a crooked city political boss, who rulesthe underworld,: to .use At as a tool to gain political power. Wallace Beery plays the leading iole. The large cast.jncludes Lewis Stone, Johnny Mack Brown, Jean Harlpw, Marjorie-Rambeau, Paul Hearst, Clark Gable, John. Mlljan.''■-■..■' C v ' ~~ BRITANNIA THEATRE. ■ The youngest cast, ever assembled for a feature motion picture Is being presented at the Britannia Theatre Jn "Sfctppy," from the cartoon strip by Percy Crosby. The cast, of juveniles is headed by Jackie' Cooper, aged six, as Skippy,/and Robert Coogan (five) as; Sooky. Other leading child - parts are played by Mltzl Green, nine .years of age, Jackie Sear], and Donald Balnes. But while it Is designed to appeal to children, "Sklppy" has much to attract the adults. NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. ■ «? Claudette Colbert and Fredrlo March are co-starred in a comedy drama, "Honour Among Lovers," at ' the New Princess. Theatre. Alos prominently cast and lending a gay note to the proceedings are Charlie Buggies and Ginger Rogers. , "Honour Among Lovers" is an intensely interesting story which builds -. dramatic suspense with each succeeding sequence.' Briefly it tells I tho story of a young girl who marries only to discover that she ha s - always really been In love with her employer, a wealthy Wall street financier. ;•■'■ ...■ : /. >. ■■■'..■.;■..■■■ ■ .; ; WIRTH BROS.' CIRCUS.; \ Even though times have changed and some forms of entertainment which used to delight not so many years.ago have disappeared, the circus retains'a fascination —a very, definite appeal. There is magic in th« word; the romance of- the old sawdust ring Is still there, as a visit to Worth Bros.' big show in the Winter Show. Building,' John street,.will serve to illustrate. Over the past, fifty years Wlrth Bros. liaTe built up a fine reputation, and whenever thoy come this way keen interest is taken in their appearance. Heading Uie long, programme of twenty-four items, although, of course, there might ha some other act which to some has a greater appeal, are the amazing feats of horsemanship introduced by Kazberg's troupe of Russian. Cossacks. Where this act differs from other equestrian turns Is that everything is done with horses travelling. at. break-neck, .speed-;.around the ring. The performance of the riders gives a big thrill, but notably one stunt by one of the troupe ..who climbs underneath his galloping mount and on to the saddle again. The Four Sylvesters, juvenile acrobats, put on a good * turn, -and Miss Yvonne - introduces something new in the contortionist line. Another ' fine '-act ■■ is that ■ presented by the Four Ueßsems, equilibrists, or, as they are billed, "The boys who defy gravitation." There are performing bears, lions, and elephants, and a clever jockey act by Mr. Philip Wlrth, junior. Lcs Quatre Blrondelles, or the ' four swallows, introduced by the four Misses Wlrth, is a spectacular and thrilling aerial . act, with an effective flnalo in which a coloured spotlight Is used to good purpose. The "big show" has several really good clowns in whom children' will-find much entertainment. The performance will bo : repeated to-night,' and .there will be a amUne# so S'ednesday,

ST. JAMES THEATRE. There is an appealing simplicity about "Merely Mary Ann," which is captivating audiences at the St. James Theatre. Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell gain in popularity at every fresh appearance. Their unaffected charm owes much to the purity of their speaking voices, and in this case, to the delightfully pleasing dialogue •as well.' It seems fitting that the romance of "Merely Mary Ann" should be set against English backgrounds, and that there should be unmistakably an English note about the whole piece. It is well acted by all the cast headed by that superb character actress. Beryl Mercer whose characterisations, are. always a treat to sea and hear. In this production she portrays the shrewdish suspicious tyrant of a landlady to perfection. An excellent first part completes a flrst-rate holiday entertainment. MAJESTIC THEATRE. ■, Saturday night's large and enthusiastic audience at the Majestic Theatre fully endorse «,e,,, pr!7se J ,? es 'owed upon "Got Rich Quick Wall ingford,". by Auckland critics. A most POPi w.iTCharan te, r of flction Is Wallingford. and William Haines In the title-role makes a most likeable character out of the quickwitted^ confidence , man who is able to dupe the highest of financiers with ease The picture from beginning to-end Is full of the gay, confident, humorous spirit or the principal character. Although Hainea dominates the scenes^ the supporting parts are well sustained. Playing opposite him.: Leila . Hyams tfrnm . a n slnce. re aiy convincing performance. Jimmj. Durante is the light-fingered ally whose irrepressible uesiro to pick pockets and borrow" motor-eus.-, leads the trio into some awkward scrap's. . SEASIDE PICTURES, LYALL BAY. "Tarnished^ ■ Lady," ■; featuring Oie stage favourite,. Tallulah Bankhead,- is belie shown at the Seatside Pictures, Lyall Bay. She is co-starred with Clivo Brook the suave English actor; The story isa smart and intriguing one of a young society girl who marries a wealthy financier, although secretly in love with a struggling author. EMPIRE THEATRE. ISLAND BAY. H»'!s. UShA'i?^ nv?>" B % ta'ril >B Joan Bennett and Hardie Albright, will be screened at the EmPi r« eflS eaf^ t°; n'eM- The story, concerns the fight of aN girl to save her husband's happiness and love, the sanctity of her home and the future of her baby. The supporting cast af "coL 0™ M?T- Myraa I-oTand Doi- }?„„? f" two-reel comedy, a novelty item, and two Fox Movietone Newsreels will complete the programme... On Wednesday and Thursday, "East, of Borneo'Vwill be screened! KILBIRNIE KINEMA. " n p«»e w'S 18 s"?ele 'picture "East ot Boralthe nrln t °Se, H. ol)act: ™d Charles Bickford tonb cK Pine nma Pal Pa yerS- ' ta »*»>' the X""