PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 22145, 27 September 1935, Page 15

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE Lavish in its different sequences of amazing beauty, entertaining in its novel settings, and attractive throughout because of gay music’s close relatioh to story and background, ‘ Flirtation Walk,’ which commenced this afternoon at the Empire, is one of the best of the many pictures of its type to- emanate from Hollywood. There is an all-star cast headed by the inimitable songster, Dick Powell, charming Ruby Keeler playing the romantic lead opposite him, and Pat O’Brien in the role of a hard-boiled Army sergeant. There are two great specialty numbers that are said to outdo anything ever presented before for originality and novelty. One is an authentic Hawaiian love feast, with its traditional unique native dances performed by 60 Hawaiian beauties and as many men. Age-old folk songs are sung to the rhythmic beat of gourd drums in a setting of a moon-lit cocoanut grove and a rippling lagoon. Dick also sings a Hawaiian number to the accompaniment of Sol Hoopii’s famous native orchestra. The second big specialty is the presentation of West. Point’s hundredth night play by members of the cast, in which there are more beautiful girls. In this number Powell sings three catchy original songs by the famous song team of Allie Wrubei and Mort Dixon. These include ‘Mr and Mrs Is the Name,’ the_ title song, ‘ Flirtation Walk,’ and ‘ No Horse, No Wife, No Moustache.’ The West Point graduation ceremonies, in which officers and cadets participate, the .parade grounds, the lovers’ promenade, Flirtation Walk, with its Kissing Rock, all come in as part of the plot. The story is a romance of glorious youth, and is filled with thrilling adventure and dramatic situations. The novel dance numbers were directed by Bobby Connolly, noted Broadway musical comedy producer. STRAND Something quite new in psychological crime films is seen in ‘ Journal of a crime,’ which was screened for the first time at the Strand this - afternoon. Ruth Chatterton, in the role of a love-cheated wife, Francoise, gives onb of her most outstanding performances, and treats the part with the sympathy and skill that is necessary to make it so intensely real. As the husband, Paul Molet, a successful playwright who has fallen in love with the leading lady in one of his plays, Adolphe Menjou gives a clever portrayal in a part which would be exacting on the talents of any actor. Claire Dodd takes the part of the ambitious young actress who has aroused the almost insane jealousy of Molet’s wife, and it is she who is dramatically murdered while taking _ ‘part in a rehearsal. The murder is attributed to a fugitive bank robber who has been tracked to the theatre, but the real culprit is left to suffer the torments of. conscience, which must inevitably break down the resistance to which she has steeled herself. When the robber, Costelle, “confesses” to the murder he has not' committed, Francoise decides to confess her guilt, but while on her way to the attorney to give herself up she meets with an accident which results in the loss of her memory. .Miss Chatterton gives a wonderfully polished performance throughout, and is a truly tragic figure until, with the loss of her memory and of the past, she finally regains her husband's love and her happiness. The bright and entertaining comedv, ‘ The Church Mouse,’ is also screened. REGENT ‘ It’s a Bet,’ '& sparkling English comedv full of laughter and action, opened at the Regent this afternoon. Bene Gerrard gives a splendid performance as the Gay Rollo who takes up a challenge to disappear and remain hidden for a month while the police force and the Press are doing dieir utmost to find him. Rollo disappears into the country, and for a while things go smoothly, but when be reaches the stage when he has to steal eggs from a poultry farm in order . to provide his morning; meal, the comic element reaches its climax. The -outlowed man has a staunch supporter in Clare, a girl who befriends nhu and aids him in his hilarious attempts to frustrate the brains of the police force. When a reward is offered for his capture Rollo is continually pursued by crowds of citizens eager for the money, and finally finds a temporary refuge as the driver of a roundabout in a fair. Recognition; is inevitable, and so once again he is forced to take to the fields. The romantic side of the story is well catered for, Judy Kelly taking the part of Rollo’s fiancee in the opening scenes, and Helen Chandler that or the girl he meets when he is trying to keep out of the clutches of the law. Thrills are fast and furious, and the pace of the picture is maintained to the end. Another feature that will appeal to many is the typically English atmosphere which characterises the production. On the supporting programme is an outstanding list of newsreels, and also a bright comedy. The birthday of Mickey Mouse will be celebrated at the matinees to-morrow afternoon.

MICKEY MOUSE'S BIRTHDAY. To-morrow at the Regent Mickey Mouse will celebrate his seventh birthday. Perhaps no other star has been accorded the same honour as Walt Disney’s famous little entertainer.. This week 15,000 , theatres throughout the world are paying homage to Mickey on his birthday, and thousands and thousands of children will get a thrill out of the’ birthday celebrations. Carefully • selected programmes are being presented from one end of New Zealand to the other for admirers of Mickey Mouse, and the Regent Theatre, in addition to a picture programme which, of course, includes a Mickey Mouse cartoon, will stage several little acts by Miss Lily Stevens’s clever pupils. These will include ‘ Topsy Turvy,’ ‘ When My Pomeranian Mot Your Pekinese,’ ‘ Over the Garden Wall,’ and last, but not least, ‘ Mickey Mouse ’ will give a Russian dance. The big birthday cake will be cut up at the theatre by “ Mickey’s chef ” in the presence of “ Mickey Mouse,” and every child attending the matinee will receive a slice. • STATE Grace Moore, made famous by her singing in ‘ One Night of Love,’ enhances her reputation in ‘ Love Me Forever,’ the musical romance which began a season at the State this morning. In her latest film Miss Moore’s voice is heard to advantage in memorable selections. Those who heard her sing in' ‘ One Night of Love ’ were impressed with the range and sweetness of her voice, while those who heard her for the first time to-day had only one regret—that they had not heard her before. ‘ Love Me Forever ’ is a picture that most people would appreciate, no matter bow many times they saw it. The song, from which the picture takes its name, was specially written for Miss Moore by Victor Sehertzinger, who was largely responsible for the success of her earlier film. Other songs include

excerpts from grand opera and lighter selections, all given in the same joyous, effortless manner. The story binding the songs together is interesting in itself, and deals with a music-loving gambler, proprietor of a cafe, and a girl who lias to earn her own living. The principal male role is played by Leo Carillo. Michael Bartlett, a lyric tenor of New York and Continental repute, and Robert Allen, also from the New York stage, arc associated with him. Comedy is provided by Luis Alberni, the excitable assistant to Tullio Carminati in ‘ One Night of Love.’ After seeing 1 Love Me Forever ’ one can easily see why Miss Moore was honoured by the Aqademy of Arts and Sciences for “ conspicuous achievement in raising the standard of cinema entertainment.” There is an interesting supporting programme. ST. JAMES Patrons of the St. James cannot but appreciate the new programme which opened there this afternoon. Altogether it is varied and interesting, and what is more is a departure from the usual ran of films, which makes it more interesting still. The principal picture is ‘ Sequoia,’ which shows that the laws of Nature can be defied. Jean Parker, who is somewhat of a female Tarzan, while living with her father in the wilderness of the high Sierras comes upon a young deer and a puma. She and her father decide to raise the fawn and puma together, the father hoping to -find in this good material for his book. It is shown that the animals when not having to fight for existence live in iierfect harmony for about a year. Later, however, the puma begins to find his way afiout, and true to his ilk makes a hobby of nocturnal raids on farms. As a result it is decided to send both animals out again to fend for themselves in the wilderness. It is from then the picture captures the imagination of the audience, which watches keenly how the animals react to their lives in captivity and how they remember with a human intelligence subsequently the people who reared them. 1 Sequoia ’ is an educational film, though that was not Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s purpose in producing it. They set out to entertain in right royal manner, and they succeeded. In addition to this picture there is screened air excellent Laurel and Hardy comedy that is one big laugh from start to finish, besides the usual good measure of the latest newsreels that form such an entertaining feature of all the St. James programmes. - OCTAGON Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable, two of Hollywood’s most popular stars, are teamed together for the first time in the Columbia production *lt Happened One Night,’ which heads the Octagon’s new fare that opened today. Miss Colbert enjoys nearly as great a following as Gable’s, for her work in recent pictures has boomed her immensely, and she’s streaking upward like a skyrocket. Fans will remember her sterling performances in ‘ The Phantom President,’ ‘ Sign of the Cross,’ ‘Torch Singer,’ ‘To-night Is Ours,’ and ‘The Smiling Lieutenant.’ ‘lt Happened One Night 5 tells the story of a young newspaper man en route from Miami to New York by bus.’ On the road ho recognises Ellen Andrews, a runaway heiress, for whose return her father has offered a huge reward. The girl is totally spoiled and unable to care for herself, so he takes her under, his wing, protects her from would-be sheiks, and bluffs off others intent on securing the reward. He treats the' girl with indifference, tells her she’s spoiled, worthless, and helpless, but nevertheless insists on taking her to her newlyacquired husband in New York. They lose baggage and money, and are forced to proceed north on foot, sleeping in straw stacks, and pawning their belongings for enough to provide meals. They fall in love, of course—but that’s telling just a bit too much about the plot. Colleen Moore, in a pert and saucy role, such as she portrayed in ‘ Flaming Youth ’ a few years ago, appears to in ‘ Social Regis-, ter,’ the picture version of the successful Broadway play of the same name. ‘ Social Register,’ which is also being screened on the programme, gives Colleen Moore a splendid chance to display her sense of the humorous, for she romps through situations fraught with gay, uproarious comedy in an aura of romance. ’ GRAND , Among the most amusing of English writers is W. J Locke, and of his works the play ‘ The Morals of Marcus,’ takes a high place. The adaption of this play is at the Grand, and is sure of a warm reception by Dunedin audiences. The production comes from an English studio and has the vivacious Lupe Velez in the principal role. lan Hunter, who is rapidly becoming a screen favourite, is seen as Sir Marcus, and Noel Maddison, son of the famous Maurice Moscovitch, is the villain of the piece. The story commences in Syria,- where Sir Marcus has been conducting researches into the arclueology of the country. He has found a statue of great beauty which he is taking back to England. At the time when he arrives at the seaport from which he is to sail there appears on the scene Tony, a South American with a pronounced leaning to feminine friendships. Tony has secured a surreptitious peep into a local harem, and is full of the attractive subject. Marcus shows himself to lie more concerned with science than with wohien. All the tangles are finally straightened out and the romance comes to a satisfactory conclusion. MAYFAIR The scene of ‘ Transatlantic Merry-go-round,’ concluding at the Mayfair to-night, is a palatial ocean liner, and the cast includes an unusually long list of celebrity players headed by Jack Benny, Nancy Carroll, Gene Raymond, Mitzi Green in her first grown-up role, Frank Parker, the Boswell Sisters, Patsy Kelly, Jean Sargent, and Jimmy Grier and his orchestra. Four melodious numbers are introduced in the course of the film. LAURIER, PORT CHALMERS By bis inimitable personality and individuality, the celebrated character actor George Arliss does full justice to the difficult part of the Duke of Wellington in the spectacular film, ‘ The Iron Duke,’ which opened a short season at the Laurier to-day. In creating such a vivid picture of the great sol-dier-statesman, Mr Arliss is aided by notable portrayals of such important parts as the Duchess d’ Angoulame (Gladys Cooper), Louis XVIII. (Allan Aynesworth), and Blucher (Frank Dyall). three characters that stand out in a large cast of talented players. The settings, too, are unusually good, scenes such as those in the House of Lords and at Versailles, of the ball on the eve of Waterloo, and the battle itself, rounding off what must ho the most graphic historical play yet to reach the screen.