ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 62, 14 March 1934, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

' REGENT THEATRE. '. Entertainment right above the average is -provided' at the popular. Regent Theatre this ,weeK,; where Ann Harding and Cllvs Brook are co-starred in a poignant' drama of motherlore, and Bene Rich,-a gifted violinist and 'Rex Desmond; saxophonist, put on a delightful stage entertainment. "Gallant Lady" lives up to every prediction of tha 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,, Sally Wynyard, is beifriended by a down-and-out doctor who has defied medical, and1 legal law, by putting an in- . curable patient outvof his. misery^ ■■'. The Wi> -.enter into a.kind or platonic partnership, aha ithe child is adopted! throiighv.Doctor Dan'sv'efIforts.by a wealthy friend, Philip Lawrenceand ; his,wife. . .Sally becomes a fashionable'decora- ; tor of. homes, and incidentally a leader of fashion 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 ■'■ *]} ■ ?»«W again (his. wife hiving died), Sally rdlsapproving of his.choice, determines to marry .her boy's adopted father, and despite expectations on-the partoof the .audience that the 'kindly Dan; might' come into his own. with Sally, ;jo.. strong is the mother-love of the woman ■ that she sacrifices her freedom in order topre:slda over the.future destiny of her boy. The ,programme also includes- a' Disney cartoon, ■ .Shanghaied"; a;wonderfull,picture of animal and tha news service exclusive to the ;theatre. ..< . , . ■■■. .' .. ; • . '. *ltf>raUles.T' '' ;; .',.' ..; - '>-'. The am .version' of, the law Johi'Galswor'thy's : famous, play "Loyalties" will be presented soon ;at the Regent.Theatre. The play is not a de- ; £ence of the, Jews. ■ Nor is :it .an .attack upon >them. Herein-lies Its greatness; that it shows, .■with wonderful sympathy, and intuition, the ; eaxgfi.pl the •forces,in' both airections. Basil . Bathbone, Heather Thatcher, Miles Slander, "'and: Joan Wyndham have prominent parts. j '..-•'- .GRAND OPERA' HOUSE. •'■ At the. Grand Opera-House the main attraction- Is "Tha End of the Rainbow," in .Which the famous tenor, .Richard Tauber, scored ::: such; a .success when the picture was in Wel;ltagton before. ; Ha is seen as\a genial inn- - Seeper ma village on the snow-capped Bavarian ;Alps, and is "discovered" by' an impresario \and taken to r ßerlin, there to achieve a triumph by;his-singing at.tue Berlin Opera House. But '.his.home calls him, and, ignoring his laurels ha returns to his native village,'reaching there rjust in time to sea .his sweetheart married to 'another. iTaaberis-heard in seven songs, arid his.performance substantiates the claim that he ■, la- the world's' greatest living tenor. Incidental 'peeps behind,the scenes at. the Berlin Opera ■ Bouse, .Alpina views; and quaint Bavarian folk ■• dances lend colour to,the picture, which should . be. seen byyavwy musiciloTer.. Tha second *t- .. traction is ,tha first 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, . as well-as-to., the thousands who were, the picture, is or.'much, more than passing Interest, being a splendid record of a great occasion. ; ' '! ' . 'Sir-Hubert Wilkins. - ■ ■ ■ \ Interest is belne taken in the coming lecture of the famous Polar explorer. Sir Wllklns, at the Grand Opera House ,on Friday next., Sir Hubert's record is an un- ■ usual one.- During- his forty-five years he has ■travelled all over the world in various capacl- . ties and. on.various tasks, and by routes overwhich no ona else has ventured. Ho wa3 nine : times-wounded ifci the war, and won the Military Cross wtth a bar. -Sir Hubert was-with Steffan3on'a Expedition, to the.Arctic, tb.9 British Imperial "Antarctic Expedition, and Shackleton's Quest Expedition. He went to Bussia Investigating.. famjne conditions In that country. Two expeditions to the Arctic Ocean by aeroplane!-followed. In. 1828 Wllkins and ;. Eielson made their (treat.flight from Alaska, over the Xorth,. Pole, to • Spitsbergen. One of his- most-. spectaciilM,- exploits- was his voyage to the submarine Nautilus, to-, the Arctic. Now che -. has.vius'f* returned : from tha-- Lincoln Elis- .; worth expedition., to ..the Antarctic • -:.■;•■ :{£ -.;■ de' luxe theatre. ....'•,. - -^'""'Ons^Sian's. Journey.": (the De Luxe Theatre hag-secured-a picture /In" which- there ;h4va,been developed to a very fine degree the . I potentialities for an .appealingly human" story • tc be'found In tha.'llfa-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- • takesitb.6 partoof Dr.. Eli Watt,' who;.!ssdrlv>e'tf; - by a series of misfortunes, including; the'-'death1 of Ws wifa.inr;childbirth, to practise-.ln' hia. native;t6wn. t%Jll-]uck detrimentally .affects hls:> •=' prospects, an(J?lw has.to rely fpt.jhis-patlents' ' on the • very -, poor, -among whom'he becomes' almost "an ilnstitution. When bis' wor^k in a' smallpox eDiaemio re-establishes his reputation: and provides~the;opportunUyfor;qontinuing the" studies •neglected for years,' he- 'finds; there are ; .ties binding him to the-community.;-very hard to break. There Is anexcellent supporting programme, andSlr.: Paul Cullen plays "Serenade" on the Wurlitzer organ, • Jn addition to accompanying himself in a num- ' ncr of' songs, v " •- -r -.. .•.*,... ~. "Captured!"- which advance,?reports Indicate ■ to be one of-the most important pictures of- : the year to come out of the \Varner Bros.' I etudio;, is rsald-torrbe a jiowerfui; drama-with' ;. aa unusualjy strong love tale thai* is. laid, Jn .the German military prison. camp's during the World War. -It; opens next: Fridsy at* the" Oe Luxe Theatre •with Leslie Howard. . Douglds Fairbanks, Jun;, Paul Lukas, and Margaret Lindsay, of "Cavalcade" fame,, as ;the stars. PARAMOUNT JHEATRE. ij* ; A^story that-has univeVsai';appeal,"and ."oae which teaches a-l«sson: In- patriotism,vcomradeg»P. J">& self-sabriace.i la contained «'ln - the British film, 'CReunion,^: whichl la Tselne shown at the Parampunt'Theatre. -The picture tells the story of an axr«my:offl«r; ;^rho alter tha 'war finds that changed;conditionshava made UfeVmuch more difflcult.^'Bs'buries himself ; In • the country, bufr.snapaky receives.an tnvlta.tlon from his old .company^to;'b«,7th»: euest of 'honour and talM.tha' chair' at a.reaniori, Wlth;what remain* of bis yaonejf he ■ redeems his dress. , clothesyandjQflSLtoliondon^; The dinner is a typical;getTt6gether>of bld'tcointades —sing-songs and.amateurkturnstanasspeeches. The 'padre makes'^tappeil^fo'i!::*ii; absent fepmrade who has falleaion.«jrtl;d»ys.iand'th'e guest of honour starts th.»'collection xrithVail the money he has got—th«.;.mphey,' when.' was to have been'his return fire.V. At the; end of tha dinner' he goes, out-Into.the night consoling himself with the/reflection;that,av"man: Is never deserted until he deserts himself." An Intelligent-and understanding: performanoa is. given by Stewart Rome, the start - of»: the Prior sf,to the screening of "Beunlpn,1.-.Mr.. Herbert. Wood sings favourite songs;w-J ■- - <J ;v ' The recbrd-breakinjj* musicals comedy 4-hiKh - created such a great- Impression^ when?lt <regiv tered its first four weekV^fionsecutlve .run at the Paramount Theatre will, be brought back by special.request for a flnal-season.inl'Wel-lmgtonof six days beginnins-, on FridaSffnext. . Jan Kiepura,. the golden-rotcedHenor,'will be heard once: more in the beaiitltui operatic gems which ■ captiyated all Wellington and also in the melodic theme number "Tell-Jle Tonight." All, the old favourites of .the cast." including Sonnie Hale,' the singing London comedian, and Edmund\Gwenn, the fine character ■ actor, in possibly the .best .performance' he has given to : the screen, will repeat their successes: All those whoVhave not yet.enjoyed this-delightful entertainment.should seize this last opportunity of doing so. ' . ■ -SHORTT'S THEATRE. Superb" performances by an excellent cast, Intrlgulnj music, and.. a story charged with originaUty contribute Qualities* to Columbia" My Woman," now showing, at Shortt's Theatre. The. cast Is topped by Helen Twelvetrees, Victor Jory, and Wallace Ford. Most of the action takes, place In a big radio . broadcastins station. This setting provides an Wear spot for ' the exceUent music, composed by tha director. Victor Scheitzlnger. Ths second feature is 'The Circus Queen Murder," starring Adolphe Meniou. •'■-■' ~ OUEEN'S THEATRE^;,-- -:^ It-was ..a neat ..rflunionkforf'tha two ..old1' • cronies, and' knowiri ß?thatfHsfriEon.:<iv&a»--excellent-horsem4n;:«Tim^McCPy-'Er;oaasa<J--liis friend a joh in the tinorW before' thT^ntai; was over. As.a result; Bed'.Jolnetf■the'-.casraf 'Man_pf Action," aic.Cpy'g latest foe: S?I umbIJ. now showing,>t thaQuien's..Theatre.' ,? P f Aefon Is *• story- of' aS'mystary In- a small fronOfflr.town. qf.t tha;.West■ Tha'. picture' h? ™K.ecte^ b,I Geors» M»lford-from a story *? ™"lam. Cott. MaeDonald-'ind a screen play by Bpbert Quigley., The-second attraction is Jack Holt's sensationar drama. "The Wrecker." The new programme to commence at the Queen's Theatre on Friday will present BuckJones in his latest Western feature "Unknown : valley." The second attraction will be "Cocktail iHbur,'*- a : Columbia production, with Bebe Daniel* in the starring role. This picture deals with the. ever; timely subject of whether a woman, should go out and taste life before she settles down C.to married, life. KING'S THEATRE. Slim SummerrlUa's"' litest picture, ' "Horse Play," in which Andy Deiine Is co-starred, is the main attraction it 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, the animal Is .finally presented, amid royal splendour—through a maze of roaring circumstances—to the girl who Is secretly the appla of Slim's bashful eye. Also showing 1» '^Klng For a Night," featuring Chester Morris and Helen Twelvatrees, and'ilickey Mouse in "Mickey's Pal Pluto." Box plans ,are at the D.T.C. and theatre. " EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. "Whoopee," the highly successful musical comedy that enjoyed such popularity in Wellington some, time ago, is to oa screened'for a return season at the Empire Theatre this evening.. Eddie Cantor plays, the main role, and.lt Is-his performance, combined with hundreds of beautiful girls,, gorgeous dance ensembles, snappy- song hits, and amazingly clear technlcolour' pbootgrapuy. that make "Whoopee" such a tremendous success. A Mickey Mouse cartoon,' an excellent featurette, and a TJ.F.A. Gem complete the programme. On Friday and Saturday Tom Walls will be seen in "The Blarney Stone." REGAL THEATRE.' KARORI. A splendid double-feature programme will.be screened at the Regal Theatre<-,tonißht. James Dunn and Claire Xrevor, in "Jimmy'and Sally " provide excellent" entertainment. The- second feature, "Uptown >'ew York," features Jack Oakie and Shirley Gtey. and Elves a' human stor.v of a girl who was just, human. A Fox Movietone >'ews will also be screened. On Trtday and Saturday "Stage Mother" will be screened.

■'■'■'""state" theatre;' "' ■ ' During the last few years there has been an ever-increasing variety of war-novels, war- , dramas, and war-pictures. "I Was a Spy." i now showing at the State Theatre, is, however, i a masterpiece of a different type. It ia more . human In tone, and mars likely to servo Its . purpose of entertaining the public, for Its main ' .theme revolves round the sympathetic Dgure of a woman. It Is the woman who serves to soften man; of the bitternesses of human disoomfort, so that it Is not without some degree of justice .that Martha McKenna should have '. been left to tell the story of her life.- "I Was a Spy"' has the merit, however, of not ' and while tensa in its drama and characterisa- ' tion, it retains those elements of human pathos ! and comedy that always lend a particularly ■ keen sense of realism. The picture has been I staged on a.very, lavish,scale, some of the sets ' being the last word In completeness of detail ■> and: comprehensiveness; The: cast, which in- 1 eludes many, hundreds, Is excellent, the prlncl- 1 pals particularly being worthy ot note: for their 1 fine acting. Madeleine Carroll achieves the finest characterisation of tier career'as Marthe, while Conrad 'Veidt gives a really remarkable portrayal of the commandant. The story is set In Belgium in 1915, and through a series of highly rtrnroatic situations it moves to a climax ot self-sacriflcß 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 rthe St. James Theatre, Is' the picture/ of a woman ■, with a business brain by day, and a woman , of passion By night—by day a moneymaker without sentiment, and by night a ' female Don Juan. Such was the woman that Alison Drake' thought herself to be: In her "j great motor factory, her male employees were her industrial slaves, but soma 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 back into Industrial slavery in.the factory next < morning. Men, argued Alison Drake, have ( always treated women like that —have treated ' women as slaves and playthings^-and.she.would . do the same with men. Cooper (Johnny Mack Brown) was In this way fooled by his employermistress, and so were other men, but her pride " came to a fall when she tried the same tricks on her. designing engineer, Jim Thorpa (George Brent). In the finish'; the super-^voman climbs : down- There are good supports,, Suave 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 Philo Vance characterisations of the past. In ] this thrllllnK, Highly entertaining offering Powell is a more Interesting spy on erring wives and '■ wayward husbands. Powell'3 work in "Private Detective 62" is seconded by that of Margaret . Lindsay, who. may be remembered for her tola as the girl on tho Titanic in "Cavalcade." "' ' ■'•.■..■ ". ___ •>■.'.•■ . ■ I MAJESTIC THEATRE. Life in the offices ,of a successful criminal . lawyer on: the upper floors of a "skyscraper in ■ Xew Tori City, if It is to ba; judged from the ; "Counsellor at Law" at. the Majestic Theatre, must bs a hectio 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 staff of crooks, many of them he has saved from gaol, strongly to him. Of the skeletons in his cupboard the. most ever present is his society 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 bis clerks, a former burglar, who secures a wad of incriminating documents from one ". of tha secret homes of the opponent, but. in tha meantime his wife has started the trip to Europe with somebody else, .and he is just about to jump from, the twelfth storey window whan he Is restrained by his stenographer (Bebe Daniels), who It then becomes apparent, has < loved him all along. ■;.;■:..'.. .. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. ■ With -.''a cast of stellar names said, to be the -largest ""ver assembled for a screen pro•ductlon- of. its type, "Dinner at Eight," the much-discussed Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer championship production, is to be shown finally tonight at'"the Kilbirnie Kinema. The plot teli3 of & brief section in the lives of a ■group of various people drawn together at a jijprtierjvparty. Romance, tragedy, comedy, and .self-sacrifice find their place as the picture : There .are no noble-minded heroes, ,no~ simple,, pure heroines, no double-dyed vililalns. -' Each ' character', comes frora.':life;;~,with ;hiririan virtues .and. human failings',;: ;■??',<"■■■, . '}>■■ : ' ARTORAFT THEATRE. .. ■;:"Ktag'S' Cup," an "air 'thriller" based on a', story by 'Sir .Alan 'Cobham, having as its theme the progress of civil aviation in England, and coming to a climax in the annual alrYfrace /round Britain'will ;be screened at the" Artcraft-"'.Theatre tonight.' In order ■to present authentic scenes of the "King's.. Cup ''Air Derby," the~racevfas filmed when it took place.. In addition, two-aeroplanes;whlch figure in .the picture were entered in ■■the.I.race. One,' a, JPuss ..Moth, was:entered ■'byiits 'owner, Lieu-tenant-Commander Geoffreyßodd,-whoi alsoffevr. it. The ojhef. "a Hawker Tom'-Tifewas'. entered by.-, iferberf;,SViiOox;.::Dti;e'ctqf.'^..^rpductlons A6> British, and 'HouUnions^ The "of the aeroplane was-; Party JllUon.y-Wmself an ,'.exmember of the.'R.A.F.' who playi'thei male lead vjn.yth'e. fllm< :; ;; .; ;• x'.-Sjjjy ■'!■ ■;■■ :■ /•■ -':BRITANNIA;iIHEATREy'^;; ' ;": Sever has beauty ; had^.such :an .'amazing champion as the beast'ivhlch fights-for ray Wray;;ln RKO-Radio Pictures' "King Kobe." the-->" attraction at the Britannia "So This'is-. Harris," starring Phil Harris, will also ba^ screened. ::-,,":• ' '\' '■-' Warner Baxter and Myrna • Loy ■ are,* the • featured-players in Arthur Sonier* Roche's "Penthouse,' 1, which is to be seen' on Friday at the "8.-itannla Theatre. As a scion "of aa aristocratic ..Xew York family,-. and.-,a. /society; lawyer who* chooses to defend • notorious racketeers, Warner Baxter js said to ;-give ione of the: finest performances of his' long'.mqflonpicture'career. As Gertie Wasted,"a beaiitlful night ' club girl, Myrna Loy: is reported to have',far; surpassed any of her/-triumphs in Previous picture productions. - Withi ;Vexotle roles now,. a part of her brlUiant/'jpast, in ."Penthouse":'she has taken command'< of one of the strongest and most lovable, .character:-. Isattpns" of her career, and her romantic'scenes with Warner Baxter will long be remembered. W.;S..,Tan Dyke, an "ace" director for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, was in charge of tha.production. He is- remembered for his .eiceptional; supervision of "White Shadows initha 'South Seas" and "Trader Horn." Phillips, •Holmes heads the supporting, east as.'.SlddaH^.'the' young man-about-town who is acciisediof.-.mur-der,, and others who play important"- roles* iuclude Martha Sleeper, C. Henry Gordbn>'Kat Pendleton, George E. Stone, Rob'erf:"Emmett O'Connor, Charles Butterworth, and.Eaymond Hatton. . ■ -. . . ."}■;.'. ■:, process theatre; Cy, "The Girl in 419," a romantlbwdtama; set against the background of a police emergency hospital, is.now being shown ■at t the.; Princess Theatre. A wardrobe of fifty:, gorgeous gowns and the persistent attentions sof -a 'royal prince of Europe precipitated the • film • career of Lily Damita, lovely Viennese;.'star,.-! who "is featured in Paramount's "This is The ; " Night." Lilian Harvey, internationally known ■■ screen star, comes to the Princess Theatre on .Friday in "My Lips Betray," her new production under the Fox banner. In "My Lips Betray,'' the diminutive star is said to have her ideal role. She is known throughout the world for her versatility as an actress of note, and a dancer and singer of unique ability. This Fox film, like "My Weakness," gives her splendid opportunities for the perfect-display i-.'^of all her talents. Her leading man is John Boles, who was personally selected by her. The story of "My Lips Betray" concerns the .adventures' of a young singer who becomes ,tlifC;Sing's favourite through a mistake of his .Jljisy. chaufTeur. Jluch against her better judg-'."ment-i'she .is forced to accept the situation 'or;arouse.,the condemnation of everyone. The 'fllni;ls'an;adaptatlon of the play "Der Komet," by--Attila,\,Orboiv.i Music and lyrics are by .LWllUam-'KernelU.. ..'' • ,'""'*-":'? P|CTURES. ' "Cavalcade"^ Is-, to be'shown tonight at the Brooklyn Theatre.-; The:cast. headed by Diana Wynyard and-CUve Brook, is magnificent. Miss Wynyard especially contributing an excellent performance In her role as Jane Marryot. Herbert Muiidin', Una O'Connor, Ursula Jeans, Frank Lawton, Beryl Mercer. Irene Browne, Merle Tottenham,' John Warburton, and Margaret Lindsay are perfectly cast in colourful roles. "OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. . Constanca Bennett is starred in tha R.K.O. Radtn picture "Rockabye," to be shown at Our Theatre tonight. Featured in the supporting cast ts Joel McCrea and-Paul Lukas. It is a romantic drama woven around the colourful career-of an actress—a career of many loves and a past and-a .great. sacrifice. Excellent supports complete the: programme. CAPITOL THEATRE. MIRAMAR. A very entertaining double-feature programme is being screened at the Capitol Theatre tonight. In "Crooked Circle" Ben Lyon. Zasu Pitts, and James : Gleason take the lead In a- most amusing mystery story written around a cloci which strikes thirteen, at which time someone In the circle always strikes trouble. "Handle with Care," the second feature, stars James Dunn, Boots Mallory. and El. Brendel. The story, of a romantic nature, tells of a young lady with a passion for adopting children who are always in the way. "Dinner at Eight" will ba screened on Friday night. SEASIDE PICTURES, LYALL BAY. At the Seaside Pictures, Lyall Bay, Sylvia Sydney will be seen in "Jennie Gerhardt." "Jennie Gerhardt" is tha story of a woman who, as the result of her beauty and attraction for men. is caught by forces far, too strong for her tobkttle against. But she is, at tha same time, ready to* sacrifice everything for the man she loves. . Her first contact with life comes,when an elderly senator, deeply impressed by. ber charm, pays court to her. When he saves her brother from an impending caol sentence, she tries to repay his kindness. The "senator promises marriage-1 on his return from a trip to Washineton, but he is killed in a railroad wreck. There are also excellent short subjects. TeienUoaß 16-393 for reservations.

MAJESTIC "LOUNGE AND CABARET. Farewell appearances are being made each evening this weelpat the Majestic Lounge and Cabaret of Tommy Stratton and his popular band. From Saturday evening next Ivan Perrin's Band of nine musicians, selected from all parts of New Zealand,- will hold sway. ST. PATRICK'S NIGHT CONCERT. . On St. Patrick's Night (Saturday) at the Town Hall the public-of Wellington will, have a further opportunity of enjoying -. the Items rendered by the famous Jubilee Choir' during Archbishop Redwood's jubilee celebrations. The choir ivill be under the conductorship of Mr. Prank J. Oakes, and Mr. Maxwell Fernie will preside at the grand organ. In addition to the choir's items, a varied programme of musical, elocutionary, dancing, and drill Items -will be presented. The prices for admission are low. and seats may now be reserved at the D.I.C.