ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 61, 13 March 1934, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. Entertainment right above the average ia prorided at the popular Regent Theatre this week, where Ann Harding and Cllve Brook are co-starred in a poignant drama of motherlove, and Rene Rich, a gifted violinist and Rex Desmond, saxophonist, put on a delightful stage entertainment. "Gallant Lady" lives up to «very prediction of the producers, and tells a heart-reaching story of a woman who has loved not wisely perhaps, but too well. The father of her child, an aviator Is killed in a crash, and the girl, Bally Wynyard, is befriended by a down-and-out doctor who has defied medical and legal law by putting an incurable patient out of his misery. The two enter Into a kind of platonie partnership, and the child is adopted, through Doctor Dan's efforts, by a wealthy friend. Philip Lawrence'and his wife Sally becomes a fashionable decorator of homes, and Incidentally a leader of fashlon in women's clothes. A visit to Italy brings her the Infatuation of a count, but in Paris she meets, accidentally In a hotel, her own son. Following on Lawrence's decision to marry again (his wife having died). Sally disapproving of his choice, determines to marry her boy's adopted father, and despite expectations on the part of the audience that the kindly Dan might come into his own with Sally, so strong is the mofher-love of the woman that she sacrifices her freedom In order to preside over the future destiny of her hoy. -The programme also includes a Disney cartoon, fchanghaled ; a wonderful picture of animal the'-Ure and "'e "eWS service exclusive t0 the "Loyalties." The film version of the late John Galsworthy's famous play "Loyalties" will be presented soon at the Regent Theatre. The play is not a defence of the Jews. Nor is it an attack upon them. Herein lies Its greatness; that it shows with wonderful sympathy and intuition, the surge of the forces in both directions. Basil Rathbone, Heather Thatcher, Miles Mander, and Joan Wyndham have prominent parts. GRAND OPERA HOUSE. At the Grand Opera House the main attrac- ■ ?i !? ." The End of the Rainbow," in which the famous tenor, Richard Tauber, scored such a success when the picture was in Wellington before Ha Is seen as a genial Innkeeper in a village on the snow-capped Bavarian Alps and, Is -discovered" by an Impresario and taken to Berlin, there to achieve a triumph hfs home" 5- 8 ''" ■"le K<;r"n °"era House But he returns 'to his native Village^ "Reachlng' Uthere lust in time to see his sweetheart married to another Tauber is heard in seven songs, and his performance substantiates the claim that he n. n hWi°? hS F Mtcst iM "B tenor. Incidental peeps behind the scenes at the Berlin Opera House, Alpine views, and quaint Bavarian folk dances lend colour to the picture, which should h-e-,p SM en ? y ,V' erZ muslc-I °v«- The second attraction is the tlrst screening In Wellington of the official sound film of Archbishop Redwood's episcopal Jubilee celebrations. To the many who were not present-at the various functions. lr ve,' as. f «ie thousands who were, the pichPin* i ml!S h more than Passing Interest, being a splendid record of a great occasion. Sir Hubert YVilkins. w't'n 0' 1' ln F teref. t l3 beiflS taken in the coining Hnhirt u-iwho tamous Polar explorer, Sir Hubert Hilkins, at the Grand Opera House on irlday next. Sir Hubert's record is an unusual one. During his forty-five yeirs he has travelled all ovtr the world In various capacities and on various tasks, and by routes over which no one else has ventured. Ho was nine times wounded In the wa», and won the Military Cross with a bar Sir Hubert was with Stetran3on's to the Arctic, the British mperial Antarctic Expedition, and Shackleton s Quest Expedition. He went to Russia Investigating famine conditions In that country. Two expeditions to the Arctic Ocean by aeroplane followed. In 1028 YVilklns and Lielson made their great flight from Alaska' over the North Pole, to Spltzbergen. One of hts most spectacular exploits w.is his voyage In the submarine .Nautilus to the Arctic. Xow he has just returned from me -Lincoln- Ellsworth expedition to the Antarctic. DE LUXE THEATRE. In "One Man's Journey," the De Luxe have been" ~e a P'cture In which tiiere potentialities for an appealingly "lumifn^story to be found in the life of a family doctor In a country township, and also a picture In which one of the screen's greatest character actors, Lionel Barrymore. Is seen. In what must rank among his most successful roles Barrymore takes the part of Dr. Eli Watt, who is driven by a series of misfortunes including the death of his wife in childbirth, to practise In his native town. 111-luck detrimentally affects his prospects, and he has to rely for his patients on the very poor, among whom he becomes almost an institution. When his work in a smallpox epidemic re-establishes his reputation and provides the opportunity for continuing the studies ncelected for years. he flnris there are ties binding him to the community very hard to break. There is an excellent supporting programme, and Mr. Paul Cullen nlays "Serenade" on the Wurlitzer organ' In addition to accompanying himself in a number of songs. "Captured!" which advance reports Indicate to be one of tho most important pictures of the year to come out of the Warner Bros.' studio, is said to be a powerful drama with an unusually strong love tale Hint is laid in the lierman military prison camps during the t „,"•■"■■ n °'lens next Friday at the De Luxe Theatre with Leslie Ilowanl, Douglas Fairbanks, jun., . Paul Lukas. and Margaret Lindsay, of "Cavalcade" fame, as the stars. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. A story that has universal appeal, and one which teaches a lesson In patriotism, comrade-r-m ha« d se,', f-sai;rince, Is contained in the British film, "Reunion," which is being shown «L i* f l>aramount Theatre. The picture tells the flirt S ,h f an.ex' armyofflcer < who after the war finds that changed conditions have made life much more difficult. He buries himself in the country but one day receives an invitation from his old company to be the guest of honour and take the chair at a reunion. With what remains of his money he redeems his dress clothes and goes to London. The dinner Is a tj'pical get-together of old comrades—sing-songs and amateur turns and speeches. The padre makes an appeal for an absent comrade who has fallen on evil days, and the guest of honour starts tho collection with all the money he has got—the money wheh was to have been his return fare. At tho end of the dinner he goes out into the night consoling himself with the reflection that a "man Is never deserted until he deserts himself." An Intelligent and understanding performance is given by Stewart Rome, the start of the picture. Prior to the screening of "Reunion," Mr. Herbert Wood sings favourite songs. Xext Friday will see a grand revival, by special request,, of tho beautiful picture triumph, "Tell Mo Tonight," with Jan Klepura, Sonnle Hale, Edmund Gwenn, and all members of the fine cast in the performance they have made so popular. "Tell Me Tonight" Is the film which holds the long-run record of Australia and Los Angeles. SHORTT'S THEATRE. Superb performances by an excellent cast, intriguing music, and a story charged with originality contribute qualities to Columbia's My Woman," now showing at Shortt's Theatre. The cast Is topped by Helen Tirelvetrecs, Victor Jory. and Wallace Ford Most of tho action takes placo in a big radio broadcasting station. This setting provides an ideal spot for the excellent music, composed by the director, Victor Schertzinger.' The second feature Is "The Circus Queen Murder," starring Adolphe Mcnjou. QUEEN'S THEATRE. It was a great reunion for the two old cronies, and knowing that Harrison was an excellent horseman, Tim McCoy promised his friend a job in the movies before the evening was over. As a result. Red joined tho cast of "Man of Action," McCoy's latest release for Columbia now showing at the Queen's Theatre. "Man of Action" is a story of a mystery In a small frontier town of the West. Tho picture was directed by ficorge Melford from a story by William Colt MacDonald and a screen play by Robert Quigley. The second attraction Is Jacß Holt's sensational drama, "The Wrecker." KING'S THEATRE. Slim Summerville's latest picture, "Horse Play," In which Andy Devine Is co-starred, is the main attraction at the King's Theatre. The tale of "Horse Play" might be aptly called the "tale" of a horse. It tells- how, through the mad manoeuverings of Slim and Andy, two Western cowboys, tho animal Is finally presented amid royal splendour—through a maze of roaring circumstances—to the girl who Is secretly tho apple of Sllm's bashful eye. Also showing is "King For a Night," featuring Chester Morris and Helen Tivelvetrees, and "Mickey Mouse In "Mickey's Pal Pluto." Box nlano are at tho D.I.C. and theatre. PRINCESS THEATRE. "Tho Girl in 419," a romantic drama set against the background of a police emergency hospital, is now being shown at the Princess Theatre. James Dunn and Gloria Stuart have the leading roles. "The Girl In 419" centres around a young physician who heads the police division of an emergency hospital In a large city, and around a girl who is picked up half dead from a heating and brought back to life by the former's skilled care. A wardrolje of fifty gorgeous gowns and the persistent attentions of a royal prince of Europe precipitated the film career of Lily Damita lovely Viennese star, who Is featured in Paramounts "This is The Night," which Is also to be screened. BRITANNIA THEATRE. Nerer has beauty had such an amazing champion as tho beast which fights for Fay Wray in RKO-Radio Pictures' "King Kong " » ' attractloli at the Britannia Theatre. But the terrors that beset the girl and Robert Armstrong and Bruce Cabot, in the jungle, are magnified when they take the great ape to Ae,T York. "So This is Harris," starring Phil Harris, will also be screened. Walter Catlctt heads the cast In support of Phil Harris, famous on the air and at Los Angeles's celebrated Coconut Grove, for his singing and bis band. Helen Collins. June Breivster, James Finlayson. and a hevy of beauties who sing and dance make up the cast. MAJESTIC LOUNGE AND CABARET. Farewell appearances are being made each evening this week at the Majestic Lounge and Cabaret of Tommy. Stratton and his popular band. From Saturday evening next Ivan Perrln s Band of nine musicians, selected from all parts of New Zealand, will hold sway.

STATE THEATRE. eter-increasing variety of war-novels, wardramas, and war-pictures. "1 Was a Spy " now showing at the State.Theatre, is, however, a masterpiece of a different type. It Is more S?™ ln. tone. and more likely to serve its purpose ot entertainins the public, for its main ofTwrnn?!" 63 i,ra, Und u the s J-mMa«i«lc figure or a woman It is the woman who serves to soften many or the bitternesses of human discomfort, so that It is not without some degree of justice that Marthe McKenna should have been left to tell the story of her life "I Was a Spy" has the merit, however, of not transgressing generally accepted probabilities and while tense In its drama and characterisa«nri" Jnn reti amV hose eleraents of Human pathos and comedy that always lend a particularly keen sense of realism. The picture has been staged un a very lavish scale, some of the sets being the last word in completeness of detail and comprehensiveness The cast, which includes many hundreds, Is excellent, the principals particularly being worthy of note for their fine acting Madeleine Carroll achieves the finest f'inr»rt i' Sai lon ,Of btr career as Marthe. while ,°J, . ei"l glves a reallv remarkable portrayal of the commandant. The story Is set in Belgium In 1915, and through a series of highly 'iramatlc situations It moves to a climax of self-sacrifice and peace. In the choice of supporting pictures the State has again displayed fine taste there being a wide variety of news and sporting reels, together with another of those atractive descriptive pictures, this time dealing with Ludlow, in Shropshire. England. ST. JAMES THEATRE. "Female." now showing at the St. James Iheatre. is the picture of a woman with a business brain by dav, and a woman ot passion Dy night—by day a money-fin-fu n ■'tho?t sc"timent, and by night a female Don Juan Such was the woman that Alison Drake thought herself to be. In her great motor factory, her male employees were her industrial slaves, but some of them she singled out for lone favours In the evening (after the fashion that history or legend attributes to a great Roman Empress and to a great Russian Empress), only to throw them m'Srni "V ustrial slavery in the factory next morning Men. argued Alison Drake, have always treated women like that—have treated "omen as slaves and playthings—and she would Br n »'ni Samei Wll K. men- Cooper (Johnny Mack Brown) was in this way fooled by his employermistress, and so were other men, but her pride ™ iL V , ■ whcn she trled the same tricks Bremi |Sn E?i mß fie? B, lnel r' llm Thorpe iGe0 ™a iirent). In the finish, the.super-woman climbs down. la the first part there is n very original and varied musical record, "The Xo ?!,»% i G» S f, ly lea'Js a c<"nedy. "Turkey ln the Rain. The sculpture and ■ art of Italy are shown in a beautiful series ending with the wonderful Milan Cathedral. The gazette features Mussolini, llamsay MacDonald, and the Codex lately acquired by the British .Museum. Suavo William Powell returns to the type of role that first won him recognition in "Private Detective 62," which is'to commence at the St James Theatre on Friday. Once again this polished star portrays, as the title suggests, a detective, but one of a different order from his Plulo Vance characterisations of the past In this thrilling, highly entertaining offering Powell is a more interesting spy on erring wives and wayward husbands. Powell's work in "Private Detective 62" is seconded .by that of Margaret Lindsay, who may be remembered for her role aa the girl on the Titanic in "Cavalcade." MAJESTIC THEATRE. Life in the offices of a successful criminal lawyer od the upper floors of a skyscraper in .New York City, if it is to be Judged from the Counsellor at Law" at the Majestic Theatre, must be a hectic affair. Streams of suave and polished commercial rogues and others besiege an army of clerks and assistants to gain audience of George Simon (John Barrymore). There Is a direct ruggedness about the self-made Simon that draws his stall of crooks many of ™.1, he, has saveaVvfrom gaol, strongly to him. Of the skeletons in his cupboard the most ever present is his society wife's boredom with him. He is unable to accompany her to Europe because he Is faced by a political opponent with the exposure of a faked alibi. This Is easily straightened out by one of his clerks, a former burglar, who, secures a wad of incriminating documents from one of the secret homes of the opponent, but In the meantime his wife lias started the trip to Europe with somebody else, and he is just about to Jump from the twelfth storey, window when he is restrained by his stenographer (Bebe Daniels), who it then becomes apparent, has loved him all along. CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. Showing at the Capitol Theatre tonight is "The Keyhole," which stars Kay Francis, George Brent, and Glenda Furrell. The story is of an unusual nature, and concerns a jealous husband who employs a private detective to spy on the movements and intrigues of his beautiful wife. There are many tense situations and highly dramatic moments. OUR THEATRE. NEWTOWN. Benltii Hume and Adolphe Menjou have the featured roles in "The Worst Woman in Paris " the Fox,production to be shown at Our Theatre tonight. • The story concerns a Parisian beauty whoso scandalous affairs on the Continent brand her us (he worst woman In Paris. Excellent supports complete tlie programme. EMPIRE" THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. "Night of tho Garter," starring Sydney Howard, is tho main attraction at the Empire theatre this evening. The story, adapted from the stage farce "Getting Gertie's Garter," Is built round the character of a. butler named Bodger. Winifred Shotter and Elsie Randolph play ,he leading roles. An excellent feature travelogue, entitled "Wings Over Africa " will also be screened. On Wednesday and Thursday "Whoopee" will be shown. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. With a cast of stellar names said to be the largest ever assembled for a screen production of its type, "Dinner at Eight " the much-discussed Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer championship- production, is to have a season of two days at the Kilbirnie Kinema. The plot tells of a brief section in tile lives of a group of various people drawn together at a dinner party. Romance, tragedy, comedy, and self-sacrifice find their place as the picture progresses. There are no noble-minded heroes, no simple, pure heroines, no double-dyed villains. Each character comes from life, with human virtues and human fallings. A-RTCRAFT THEATRE. "King's Cup," an "air thriller" based on a story by Sir Alan Cobham, having as its theme tho progress of civil aviation In England, and coming to a climax in tho annual air race round Britain will be screened at the Artcraft Theatre tonight. In order to present authentic scenes of the "King's Cup ".Air Derby," the race was filmed when It took place. In addition, two aeroplanes which figure In the picture were entered in the race. One, a Puss Moth, was entered by its owner, Lieu-tenant-Commander Geoffrey Rodd, who also flew it. The other, a Hawker Tom-Tit, was entered by Herbert Wilcox, Director of Productions to British -and Dominions. The navigator of the aeroplane was Harry .Milton, himself an exmember of the R.A.F., who plays the male lead 111 the film. SEASIDE PICTURES, LYALL BAY. At the Seaside Pictures, Lyall Bay, tonight there will bo seen James Dunn and Claire Trevor in "Jimmie and Sally." It Is the romanco of two youngsters, living across an apartment-house well who, because they lack money and have extravagant ideas, must postpone their marriage. The more they postpone the marriage date the more their quarrels increase, lie is the publicity man for a large corporation, whose attempts al putting across what he considers to bo sure-ftre stunts, continuously gets him into hot water. After a number of these stunts ho finds himself without a job. Meanwhile, his sweetheart tells him she doesn't like his non-marriage ideas and finally breaks with him. Then he heads west, and while (here he realises what he has failed to appreciate. Ben Lyon and Zasu Pitts will also be seen in "The Crooked Circle." It is a story packed full of mystery and thrills. Telephone 16-393 for reservations. ■ ST. PATRICK'S CONCERT. Arrangements have been made to include the Jubilee Choir on the programme for the St. Patrick's Day Concert, which will take place at the Town Hall next Saturday night. The public Mill, therefore, have an opportunity of enjoying the items rendered by this choir during Archbishop Redwood's jubilee celebrations. The choir will be assisted by talent drawn from the various schools in choral, concerted, elocutionary, instrumental, drill, and ■ dancing items. The choir will be under the conductorship of Mr. Frank J. Oakes, with Mr. Maxwell Fernie at the grand organ. The box plan is now open at the D.I.C.