ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 21091, 24 May 1930, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAJESTIC MATINEE AND TO-NIGHT.

TWO ALL-TALKING SPECIAL FEATURES. The original Eve may have known all about apples, snakes and the Garden of Eden, but when it comes to men, this modern Eve has forgotten more about this species than mother Eve ever knew or honed to know! “The Fall of Eve,” a brilliant farce-comedy of entangled domestic relations, commencing at the Majestic to-day, is a glittering eem of entertainment that sparkles with mirth. “Light Fingers,” the thrilling. crook drama, also appearing in this theatre to-day. is something different in the way of hundred per cent, talkies. “Crook” dramas were the most popular type of entertainment in the silent days, but since talking "ictures became the vogue no real attempt has been made to put such melodrama on the screen until Columbia produced “Light Fingers.” It comes as a refreshing change to the mystery drama which has monopolized talking picture vehicles. The story takes so many sudden twists that the audience becomes completely absorbed and 75 minutes’ ment flashes past just as if it bad been a quarter of an hour. lan Keith is not very well known to screen fans, but he has a great stage reputation. If he can be induced to stay on the screen there is undoubtedly a great future before him. He certainly has “it” for talking pictures. Plans are at the Bristol Piano Company, Dee street, or reservation mav be made over telephone No. 738. THE REGENT. RONALD COLMAN AND ANN HARDING IN "CONDEMNED”; RENEEADOREE, CLYDE COOK, ALAN HALE IN “THE SPIELER." The new two-star programme at the Regent will feature Ronald Colman, the English actor, who makes his second talkingpicture appearance in “Condemned. Provided with a background quite new to the screen, “Condemned!” is one of the strangest and most compelling romances to reach the screen. The central figure of the story, the part essayed by Colman, is a fearless, loveable young theif who, having been caught with the goods, has been committed to Devil’s Island. How chance takes him from his desperate companions and brings him under the refining influence of a lovely woman who conspires to assist him in effecting an escape makes th epicture unusually fine, entertainment. Devil’s Island is the place to which the worst offenders in France are sent. Isolated in a shark-infested sea and overrun with a dense tropical jungle teeming with insects, serpents and savage Indians, this natural inferno allows small hope of freedom to the man who succeeds in eluding the guards. Moreover this prison exile breaks men so fast that within little time their strength is gone and they are an easy prey to disease. They do not spend all their time in the puny, vermin-ridden cells; they work tight hours a day digging drains or doing other such work. The reason for the time limit is because of the guards, who find that eight hours is all they themselves can stand of the blinding heat. In view of this it is small wonder that the prison is a hot-bed of intrigue and conniving. From the time he enters the convict thinks of nothing else but escape. Escape! It is this seething ferment of unrest that provides the big climax in “Condemned!” when the half-crazed desperadoes plan a daring jail break. Their plots and counterplots provide some thrilling situations and some gripping dialogue. ‘ But all is not an ordeal in the prison. There is the romantic and the heroic side to it as well. Bound together by common sufferings, the prisoners develop strong friendships, in the interest of which even life itself is risked. Such a relation is established between Colman and his criminal buddy in “Condemned!” The other feature is “The Spieler,” a story of carnival or as we know it “side-show” life, in which Renee Adoree, Alan Hale and Clyde Cook have the principal parts. The opening of the story shows Alan Hale and Clyde Cook in jail because they have been caught grafting on one of the lots. As soon as they finish their term they 1 join the Cleo Show, which is run by a woman who is trying to keep her show free from graft and fires'anyone that she has the slightest suspicion about. Flash and Luke (Hale and Cook) decide that this will be a perfect haven for them for the cops will never think of looking for them with a straight show. They manage to get' jobs and discover an old friend in Red Moon (Kohler) who is an out and out bad egg who wouldn’t stop short of murder to achieve his ends. A pleasing romance develops between Flash and Cleo, who is the star performer in a troupe of diving girls and Red eventually meets with his just desserts. A Fox Movietone News will also be shown on this strong programme.

THE CIVIC.

DOLORES DEL RIO AND CHARLES FARRELL IN “THE RED DANCE” and EDMUND LOWE WITH LOIS MORAN IN "MAKING THE GRADE.”

If you happen to be one who appreciates a good laugh be sure to see “Making the Grade,” which is to open at the Civic today. George Ade is responsible for the story, and the director, Alfred E. Green, seems to have grasped the real Ade spirit and transplanted it to the screen. The film is refreshing. It is based on a theme that is not new —in fact, we might say that at moments one is reminded of the idea behind “The Taming of the Shrew” except that in the present case it is a young lady who does the taming. Lois Moran, as the little tearoom girl with whom the snobbish young millionaire falls in love, proves herself a very subtle artist. Edmund Lowe plays the part of the snob and he gives the characterization just the restraint necessary to put it across. The picture gets right down to laughs from the beginning. Situations follow in rapid order and finally culminate in bringing the high and mighty young snob from his superior world in the clouds down to solid earth. The transformation is accompanied through many amusing situations which Green Has developed with fine finesse. The Fox feature, “The Red Dance,” is guaranteed to thrill and hold the interest at high tension throughout. The story of this latest Fox feature deals with the Russia of the revolution and shows the turbulent scenes, of the times in a logical story.- Dolores Del Rio as the famous “Red Dancer” of Moscow, is seen probably in the most colourful role of her career. Charles Farrell, as Grand Duke Eugen, again scores as he did in “7th Heaven” and “Street Angel.” Ivan Linow, a burly six-foot-four bulk of a man, plays his part of the peasant who becomes a general with humour as well as a' certain ferocity. He it is who fully appreciates the topsy turvey state of affairs of the times, when he says that it is strange that he should be a general, Tasia a dancer in the Moscow theatre, and the village barber a Minister of Education—that is when he can read the appointment. Some of the sequences, those showing Del Rio performing her Red Dance, are made in colour. There are plenty of thrills, a fine romance and scenes of unusual historical interest in this production.