THE BAND DISPLAY. ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 24, 29 January 1934, Page 3

THE BAND DISPLAY.

ENTERTAINMENTS

The night-band display,'postponed from December 20 owing to the unfavourable weather, has been fixed for the evening of Saturday., February, 3, at "the Basil! Reserve. The elaborate programme previously arranged will be carried out, in fact the extra time allowed by the 'postponement has enabled the organisers to perfect the various evolutions and displays. The parade of massed bands should bo a spectacular affair, and the torchlight procession, in which some 250 torchbearers will take part, should make a dazzling display of colour. To the accompaniment of the bands, evolutions will be carried out by the Civil Service girls, Marist School boys, Legion of Frontiersmen, the Mystery Band, and Anton Kool/nau with jiu-jitsu wrestlers and several novelty items. Powerful searchlights will be used to enhance the spectacular effects. Those who have already purchased tickets arc asked to note the date and place. Britain** national postbng for the 12 I months, omled March 31 last, contained 1 CW0.000.000 ■ letters aud other postal I l-packets. J

REGENT THEATRE,

Charles Laughton invests the principal role in "The Private-Life of Henry VIII,V now in 11s second week at the Regent Theatre, vvltli ill those rich dualities which hlstovy relates were possessed by the merry monarch. He steps into tho part as into a different personality from his own, and never departs one lota from the Idea of a kingly figure, bluff, robust, tyrannical on few occasions, gentle md conslderuto in the main, and amorous to v degree which provides the main theme of :he picture. But his amorous adventures do lot depreciate his greatness as a monarch who ivas among the first to realise England's netd )f naval strength. A remarkably fine portrayal )f a queenly wife who repents too late is given iy Biunicr Barnes, who has the part of Katheryu rloward, Henry's fifth wife, and Elsa Lauihester. who enacts the role of the. shrewd Vrnie of Cleves, also does splendid work. There ue scenes about tho court that are particularly ippropriato, and the settings themselves are aithfully carried out. . Laughton displays re;tralDt In a part which must have been extrairdluarily difficult to fill, and he lias never teen seen to finer advautage than In his game if cards with Anne of Cleves, and, some time ireviously, when he hears of the birth of Ills ion. Supporting Laughton. In addition to Slsa Lanehester and Biuulo Barnes, are Everey Gregg, Kobert Dovot. Jlerlo Oberon, FrnnkIn Dyall, Miles Jlander, Wendy Barrio, Clamlo Ulister, Lawrence Hanray, Jolui Turnbull. and uany others prominent in the British film forld. The other features on the programme nclude- newsrcels and a "Silly Symphony" by Valt Disney.' Eddie Cantor in "Whoopee." "Whoopee," the most spectacular musical omedy ever produced, will be revived at tho tegent Theatre next Friday. "Whoopee," with he screen's funniest comedian, Eddie Cantor, he superb Zlegfeld girls, and the glorious echnicolour, is still the world's finest cntcrulnmcut. DE LUXE THEATRE. "Only Yesterday," bow showing at the Do Aixe Theatre, Is an outstanding picture both n the excellence of the acting and in the ibsorbing nature of the plot. The claims nade concerning that newcomer to the screen, ilargaret Sullavan, were by no means . e.vravagant, and it is as a polished actress if unusual charm tlVat she appears iv her list picture. Her role la a long and .dilll■uit one, being the portrayal of the char.cter of Mary Lane over a period of eleven ears. John, Boles, as the forgetful lover ■ho is left at last with an empty life, arrics his part in his usual capable namier. Reginald Denny and Billie Burko re the -sophisticated couple who try and onceal their .affection beneath a cloak of licery worldllness. The story starts in 11)17, ilicii a wartimo romance springs up bcwecn Mary Lane, a girl of l'J, arid Jim Imcrson, n young lieutenant. He is sent to ho front without notice, and, when he reurns on tho signing of the Armistice, ho eems to have forgotten his '-former swccleart. Later, he marries a society lady (Ucn'ltn [time), and Mary Lane Is" left to bring up or child, with tho assistance or Aunt Julia Blllio, Burke). How she docs so, and' her utiifo encounters with Jim Emerson (with horn she Is still In love), form a story which roduccs drama of the highest order. Jimmy Hitler, as Jim, juti., the ten-year-old boy, ives a flno performance Among the plx.vcis ro Edna May Oliver,' George Meeker, June lyfle, Oscar Apfcl, Jano Harwell, and Tom ondon. Paul T. Cullen, tho popular orgnnt,; gives a splendid . medley oil tho Wurtzer organ. Newsreels and' a very clever carion entitled "Merry Old Soul." in which Any screen celebrities aro caricatured, comlete tho programme PARAMOUNT THEATRE. A crowded house from which numbers hail to 3 turned away , was impressed by\ (ho tine rltlsli masterpiece, "Homo Express," at the aramount Theatro on1 Saturday evening. The ritlsh l'ress has enthused over this) produc- . iion, tho "News of tho World" going so far as' to say: "'Rome Express', is not only tho finest talking.picture wo have seen from a British studio. ■ It la also among the finest talking pictures wo have had from any studio. It places British production on an international scale." It has a dazzling cast of stars, and fho porlrayals aro wcll-uigh. perfect. Sir Ccdrlc Hardwlcke's performance of Alistalr McBane, the. Scottish millionaire," is strongly Impressive; Conrad Veldt gives a great interpretation of Zurta, chief of a gang of criminals intent upon stealing a Van Dyck masterpiece; Gordon Harker as a talkative-.and affable boro Is at his best; Donald Callhrop gives a splendid impression of a nervous crook; Harold Huth and Joan Barry are perfectly placed as an eloping couple; Hugh. Williams has a part of appealing power; and Esther Kalston, as Asia Marvclic, an American dim star, Is better than ever in association with British actors. So far as' direction is concerned, "Homo Express".:'ls a triumph for, Walter Forties His "Homo Express" completely destroys tho theory that an alliance wltli any other country Is necessary for better British pictures.' Four very interesting short subjects aro shown., in. the first part of tho programme. . KING'S THEATRE. 'New York with Its'up-to-tlic-mimite swirl of gay life is the sparkling background against which is etched tho drama and comedy of "They Call It Sin," the First National picture which is now showing at the King's Theatre. The blending of drama, comedy, and music is made possible by (he story which takes it? characters behind the scenes of musical comedy production) night club and penthouse party life, and portrays the love of three men for one girl who, in turn, loves1 a man she cannot have. Excellent fcaturettes Include a Mickey ( Mouse cartopn, and Fox (Aust.) News. Box plans are at the D.I.C. and theatre. ' The King's new admission prices are: All stalls. Is; dress circle, Is Gd; children half-price, except Saturdays and holidays OUEEN'S THEATRC. There aro two big all-British attractions now showing at the Queen's Theatre, The name of Alfred Hitchcock has long been an insignia of quality, anU "No. 17," a new and delightful presentation, of the ever-popular thriller, is no exception. From the story by Jefferson Farjeon, which has run for so many years in the West End, • "No. II" boasts the' well-known Leon JM. Won in his original role of "lien," supported by a cast whose names are ones with vvhich to conjure, such as Anne ■ Grey, John Stuart, Donald Calthrop, Carry Marsh, Ann Casson,' Barry Jones, and Henry Calnc. The. second attraction, "The Indiscretions of Eve," is a sparkling musical comedy with a hilarious story. It is an alluring romance, mixed with frenzied, furious frivolity, during a wild scramble for a fortune that leads from autoglros' to boudoirs. . ABTCRAFT THEATRE. "The Man Who Played God," featuring George Arliss, Is being shown at the Artcraft Theatre "I • Loved You Wednesday" • will be screened tomorrow. Vlckl Meredith (Ellssa Landl) has completed a year's arduous ballet school work In Paris and with her lover, Kandall Williams (Victor Jbry), plans a Brittany* holiday. Word of the impending arrival of Randall's wife, whose existence Yield has never imagined, upsets'their plans. Vlckl bravely tries to treat the situation as inconsequential, quoting the lines, "And If I loved you Wednesday, what is that to you? I do not love you Thursday—so much is true." She joins a theatrical trou'po- booked for South America. There she meets Philip Fletcher (Warner Baxter), handsome engineer. He has just completed a great engineering project, and is returning to the States. Vicki, stranded, accepts his offer to pay her passage to America in tho spirit In which It is offered—comradeship. The voyage north'sees the beginning of a romance, and. then events move quickly.. ■■'.',' ;■ BRITANNIA THEATRE. tI; Will. Kogers \is featured, in "Doctor -\v Bull" at .the Britannia .Theatre As m Dr. George Bull, the hero of tho story, Rogers portrays'a village doctor who is a shrewd re phi lO3dphcr and has seen time's shifting par- x ado bring new faces and new conditions luto g| the life of his village. The second feature is n , "Arizona to , Broadway," with James Dunn, D( Joan Bennett, and Herbert Mundin in the leading roles. The story revolves around a smalltime gambler In a Western carnival who comes to the rescue of « beautiful-girl. The girl pl Is about to be "taken in" by a group of *j other confidence men, when he sets out to c) 1 protect her interests. He succeeds In what ]tn he sets out to do, but his plan is knocked jtc awry by tho fact that ho falls in love with w the girl. ' .' . W; KILBIRNIE.KINEMA. •"Tho Squatter's Daughter" will be screened at the Kilbtrnlo Kinema. tonight. The colourful romance of' the-great'.wool industry is J cleverly Interwoven with real-life thrills in j "The Squatter's Daughter," 'which also de- v lightfully reveals all the glory and grandeur j of Australia's great natural wealth and beauty, f Jocelyn Howarth, who ptays the title role in t I'The- Squatter's Daughter." is a beautiful v blonde, and is certain to be a great favour- n ite. Tho cast Is headed by Grant Lyndsny, ( i and Fred Mac Donald ("Dare" of "On Our b Selection"). PRINCESS THEATRE. i The main picture at the Princess Theatre at' Is "Melody' Cruise." which is not a musi- la cal comedy in the accepted sense of the an word, but tho first musical movio conform- tin Ing to screen rather than singe stand- tte ards. It features Charlie lluggles, Phil Hiir- wil rls, Greta Nlssen, and Helen Mack. This \e picture marks an Innovation In motion picture musical productions. There are thirtysix glittering beauties In assembled rhythms and Incidental songs which weave easily into tho continuity. The thirty-six girls who provldo the brilliant background havo bit roles in tho picture. By clever devices tho sougs Us are made part of the story; musical dialogue £ a supplants spoken dialogue. w( shoivtt's theatre. a Barbara Stanwyck's burning childhood de- "^ slro to be a missionary was almost consum- w< mated In- her role In "The Bitter Tea of ta General Yen," a Columbia picture, which Is show- „,, hig at Shortt's Theatre. "Almost consummated" bocnuse her accidental capture by tho war-lord, Pc tho fascinating General Yen, Immediately, upon til her arrival In China, temporarily waylays her ou purpose for belug In China. And then— . when she Is free to go and marry her mis- l" slouavy nnd devote her life to religion—she stf no longer desires to be n religious worker. ;l n The second attraction is "Mussolini Speaks." * An assemblage of some ot tho world's great- ly cst figures fcuxrouad Mussolini in this- film. J Jl