ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 21090, 23 May 1930, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE CIVIC.

EMIL JANNINGS IN “SINS OF THE FATHERS” AND LOIS MORAN IN “JOY STREET.”

The silent screen will always appeal as long as it can offer the acting of Emil Jannings, who is playing one ot his greatest roles in the programme now showing at the Civic Theatre. As Wilhelm the waiter he is happy with his wife and daughter, but the arrival of a son makes him ambitious and he opens a restaurant of his own. He is prospering when an unscrupulous couple select him lor their victim, and he makes love to the “lady” of the partnership during a drunken frolic. The effect of his conduct kills his wife, who is suffering from consumption, and Whilhelm marries his temptress. She quarrels with his daughter and turns her out into the street, but she marries Whilhelm’s working man. The son grows up, but Prohibition comes and Whilhelm begins to manufacture illicit liquor. His son drinks some of it and loses his sight and the stricken father practically gives himself up to the police to expiate his awful crime. His punishment and his redemption give great scope for magnificent and moving acting, and the picture will be hailed as one of the best seen here for many a day. The other feature is a light story of gay youth, but it gives considerable scone for very dlever acting on the part of Lois Moran and Nick Stuart. Mary is a girl who has been educated in Switzerland and returns to modern America to be told that she is 10 years behind the times. She sets out to show that she is the most modern of the modern and a series of wild parties follow. Joe, who has been largely responsible for Mary’s outburst, strives to check her mad progress and finally succeeds, but not before the spectators are carried rapidly through a whole gamut of thrills. The programme will be shown for the last time this evening and all who like the very best in entertainment should make a point of seeing it. MAJESTIC. LAST NIGHT OF “BROADWAY SCANDALS.” A talking, singing, dancing musical comedy sensation produced on a lavish scale with an all-star cast closes at the Majestic to-night. It is “Broadway Scandals,” ’’ a Columbia production with Sally O’Neill, Jack Egan, Carmel Myers and Doris Dawson. Infectious song hits, comedy, gorgeous costumes and wonderful dancing make this picture a joy to the ear and the eye. The love romance behind this carnival of dance and song will grip you with its beauty and tenderness. The cast is excellent. Jack Egan, who plays the title role, is youthful, handsome and engaging. Egan, who served his apprenticeship in the theatrical game by playing eight years in vaudeville, makes a typical Broadway song and dance man. He is a great hoofer. Sally O’Neill, who recently danced her way into great popularity in Warner Brothers’ success "On With the Show,” plays the role of a little chorine with plenty of pep. The really splendid selection of all-talking singing and sound featurettes which accompany this programme will also close to-night. These include a Photocolour Operetta “In Dutch,” a comedy of music and song “Station 8.U.N.K.”, a Paramount Sound News reel and Screen Snapshots. Plans arc at the Bristol, or ring 738. THE REGENT. LAST NIGHT OF RAMON NOVARRO IN “DEVIL MAY CARE,” AND LAUREL AND HARDY IN “NIGHT OWLS.” “Devil May Care” will be screened for the last time at the Regent to-night. Ramon Novarro plays the part of Armand De Trevaille, an ardent Bonapartist of good family, who sheds tears on farewelling his beloved leader. In his enthusiasm for Napoleon’s return he is caught conspiring to that end, and is one of the many who are condemned to death for so doing by the Ministers of Louis XVIII. At the place of execution he escapes by a trick, seizes a horse, and when about to be overtaken at Grenoble, he scales a vine and lands in a young lady's room. Leoni,, then on her way to her cousin, the Countess Louise, screams out in terror, but the young soldier smothers her screams and then gets her to promise that she will not reveal his presence to the soldiers who by this time are searching the house. When Leoni learns that her refugee is a Bonapartist she—a Royalist—has no compunction in giving him away, but in the single combat which ensues in the wardrobe Armand disarms his man, steals his uniform, and as one of the Royalist troop, again sets off: This is only one of the series of thrilling incidents in the picture. A great anti-climax is provided by the scene showing Napoleon standing on the deck of a ship, with the wraith of the Old Guard passing before his despairing eyes, as they sing their inspiring marching song. Mr Novarro has two or three attractive numbers which he sings with marked artistry. Dorothy Jordon makes a sweet Leoni, but Marion Harris did not register well photographically, though a sweet singer. The programme also included a “Metrotone News,” George Lyons, the gifted singing harpist, “Carl Emmy’s Pets” (a troupe of trained dogs), and “Night Owls,” a very laughable farce.