PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 21750, 19 June 1934, Page 6

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE Fifty beautiful chorus girls, a cast which includes such popular screen players as James Dunn, Lilian Roth, Cliff Edwards (“Ukulele Ike”), June Knight, Charles (“Buddy”) Rogers, Lilian Bond, Dorothy Lee, and Lona Andre; a battery of song writers and lyricists, and expert direction combine to make ‘ Take a Chance,’ the new musical extravaganza, at the Empire, one of the delights of the current season. ‘ Take a Chance ’ must not be classified as “ just another back-stage romance.” Its scenes range all the way from a carnival sideshow, through a lavishly-appointed gambling club, out to the homes of the socially elite on Long Island, arid back to Brqadway. Beautiful music, beautiful girls, outstanding work by the all-star cast, and, lastly, a strong plot gives it qualify of entertainment of its own. Opening at a small town carnival, the picture follows the careers of the four irrepressible youngsters safely through the villainies of a crooked gambler and a jealous actress, and ends with a double romance between Dunn and Lilian Roth and Charles (“Buddy”) Rogers and June Knight. Robert „ Gleckler, as the gambler who plots the ruin of June Knight, and Lilian Bond, as the actress who wants to force Rogers to marry her,' provide both thrills and laughter throughout the story. Prominent on the supporting programme is a Cinesound record of Miss Jean Batten’s triumphal arrival at Sydney, while the remainder of the short subjects, including a news reel, an hilarious cartoon, another section of the popular Screen Souvenirs, and a novelty presentation provide entertainment of a standard fully in accord with the worth of the featured attraction. ST. JAMES Nearly every British radio star of note does a turn in ‘ On the Air,’ at the St. James, the result being a variety show produced by a company much more talented than can usually _ be got together for such an entertainment. There is a plot sufficient to hold the interest of the audience between items. Dave Burnaby and Reginald Purdell are seen bidding farewell to the listeners and leaving the 8.8. C. building for a quiet holiday in the country, during which the word “ radio ” or anything connected with it will be strictly “ tapu.” The charms of the barmaid at the first village inn at which they stop prove their undoing, however, for while they linger there they are recognised by the local vicar and placed on the programme for his charity concert. The concert is certainly a good one for a country village, with Clapham and Dwyer, comedians, and Teddy Brown playing the saxophone, xylophone, and drums. At the close of the evening they discover that the cabaret has been “ on the air ” and their holiday vows have been broken. Those who like camera studies of wild life will consider that ‘ Tembi,’ the cinematograph record of a journey through Central Africa, is in itself sufficient attraction for an intelligent audience. Not only does it show some rare studies of the larger animals, lions, cheetahs, elephants, crocodiles, baboons, giraffes, and gazelles of various species, but it includes also some wonderful “ closeups ” of insect life, ants building their nests and locusts swarming in millions. STATE Any attempt to list the delightful and thrilling innovations introduced in ‘ Flying Down to Rio,’ at the State, would be futile. Dolores Del Rio gives perhaps the best performance of her career as a Latin -American beauty. Raul Roulien, celebrated Spanish and South American star, also does very fine work, and his tuneful tenor voice lends enchantment to many of the romantic melodies written for the film. The picture also marks the film debut of Fred. Astaire in a big part; Idol of the London and New York musical comedy stage, and one of the best character comedians of the day, he is paired with Ginger Rogers in a humorous romance. Their exaggerated tangos are some of the brightest spots of the show, while the latter’s cov girl ride on the tail'of an aeroplane is distinctly entertaining. The film is elaborately staged against the colourful and architectural beauty of Rio de Janeiro, and native instruments and orchestras provide a haunting atmosphere. Featuring one hundred and fifty beauties, chorus routines are added attractions, and terpsichorean novelties are also largely displayed. Following in part the style of the famous curtainraiser, ‘ Trial By Jury,’ the comedy film on the supporting programme is a happy mixture of tuneful songs and clever comedy. GRAND Produced by Filmcraft Ltd., a New Zealand organisation, in conjunction with Trucolour Films Ltd. and the Publicity Department of the Government, ‘ Romantic New Zealand, - at the Grand, embraces practically everything of interest in this hjghly interesting little country. It begins at the beginning of things and furnishes instructive historical data, and then proceeds to a graphic description of the attractions of the country. People, cities, and towns come in for special mention, but the most impressive aspect of the production is the manner in which it brings before the people of the dominion the scenic- marvels of their own country. Bird life, sports and pastimes, hunting, fishing, and all the other diversions and hobbies of the people are fully presented, and they gain added effect and beauty from the liberal use of natural colours and tints. It is a film that no one should miss. Those who know their New Zealand will derive a special pleasure from seeing all the places they have visited, and those who have not yet explored the possibilities of their own country as a tourist attraction will hardly be able to witness this panorama of beauty and interest without determining that at some time or another they will go and sec for themselves what the screen has only now brought before their attention. There is a supporting film which is also of more than usual merit. It is entitled ‘ Ever Since Eve,’ and is a riot of farcical comedy and whirlwind burlesque. REGENT It could be truly said that ‘ Roman Scandals,’ the goggle-eyed Eddie Cantor’s latest musical-comedy at the Regent, is one of the most original and hilarious comedies ev'er produced on screen or stage. As the title implies, the film gives a musical-comedy insight into a few scandals of early Rome, the chief figures being an Emperor, an Empress, a favourite, and an odd slave or two. Cantor, of course, is the most prominent figure in the show. As a slave who is freed and who gets mixed up in all sorts of trouble at the court of the Emperor Valerius, the comedian gives a performance that eclipses even that which made him so popular in ‘ Whoopee.’ The picture starts off in the little town of West Rome, in the United States, where Cantor is seen as a grocer’s assistant, who is forever get-

ting into trouble. He is finally made to leave the town, and on doing so fervently wishes that he were in the real Home of days gone by—and lo and behold he finds himself there. Adventures follow adventures, and finally he leaves the city with dozens of enraged Homans in close pursuit in thenchariots. The show is most lavishly mounted, the various Homan scenes being particularly beautiful. A first-class list of supports is headed by ‘ The China Simp,’ Walt Disney’s latest Silly Symphony in colour. STRAND All round the programme at the Strand Theatre is an excellent one, and not only is the feature picture, 1 Bombay Mail,’ of gripping interest, but the supporting shorts are of a particularly high standard and cover a wide range. < Bombay Mail ’ is the story of a mysterious murder committed on a railway express travelling to Bombay, the victim being a British Governor in India. Except that he is murdered by poisoning. he plays little part in the story, which presents a delightful and perplexing problem for Edmund Lowe, as an inspector of police, to unravel. The whole of the action takes-place on the speeding train, and at least half a dozen passengers are under suspicion. There is some very severe questioning of the suspects by the inspector, and an attempt to murder a second person makes the mystery more baffling. However, the inspector, by a clever application of deduction, gradually eliminates all the suspects but one, and sheets home the crime to the guilty. Fastmoving incidents fill the picture with all the excitement and suspense that one could possibly wish for, and interest has no chance of flagging as revelation succeeds suspicion in the development of the engrossing plot. ‘ Bombay Mail ’ is a picture, however, which depends almost entirely on the performance of the players themselves for its effectiveness, and the producers obviously left nothing to chance in their selection of the cast. OCTA6DH The virulent Jack Holt, one of the most popular actors of his type that Hollywood has yet produced, gives a powerful performance in ‘ Master of Men,’ the current feature at the Octagon Theatre, while he receives excellent support from Fay Wray, who supplies the chief feminine interest. _ Holt, in his presentation of the principal character, gives one of his best performances to date as the rugged, shrewd, pushing mill hand, who succeeds through sheer force of character in gaining the control of one of the largest steel works in the country. How ho invades Wall street and makes and loses a fortune, and how he is eventually saved from ruin by his loyal wife and a staunch friend make a gripping and very human story that is well told and cleverly staged. Some of the scenes, taken in a huge steel mill, are triumphs of realism,' but all the photography is particularly good, and settings and plot are perfectly co-ordin-ated. Fay Wray, as the daughter of Garrett’s erstwhile employer, who marries the steel worker* and after sticking to him staunchly through good times and bad eventually assists him to rehabilitate himself, is cast in a part that suits her admirably and, gives a portrayal that is full of merit. The subsidiary parts are also capably handled. An unusually varied and interesting programme of short subjects is shown. KING EDWARD ‘ Shanghai Madness,’ which is now being screened at the King Edward Theatre, has Spencer Tracy and Fay Wray, m the most important roles. Society life of Shanghai forms the background for a story which contains adventure, thrills, romance, and intrigue, all blended together to form what is very nearly the perfect entertainment. Tracy takes the part of an impulsive young naval officer and Miss Wray also has a part which suits her to perfection. The adventures of the crew of a gun-running boat travelling up the Hoang Ho River, passing through the hazards of battling armies, provide some very exciting scenes. John Boles and Margaret Suflavan have the leading parts in ‘ Only Yesterday,’ which is the second feature on the programme.