ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 21101, 5 June 1930, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE REGENT. ?

“ON WITH THE SHOW.”

MAGNIFICENT NATURAL COLOURS.

Never since the coming of the talkies to Invercargill has there been such a stir in the motion picture world as there was yesterday when “On With The Show’’ commenced a season ’at the Regent Theatre. The whole picture is presented in natural colours, which seem to remove much of the flatness of the screen, and apart from that the story in the picture is a gripping, human drama, which has a wealth of appeal. The supports too, have never been surpassed, if equalled here. They consist of four features and each one of the four is a masterpiece. Frank Crumit is already well known through his famous records, but he gains a personal touch on the screen which has never been possible before. His well-known “Song of the Prune” is his opening' number and he follows it with another of his own, “I Miss You Lize.” He appeals just as strongly with other favourites. Brown and Whitaker, who have appeared here before, appear again in “In the Park,” a very clever humorous skit with a wealth of witty dialogue accompanied by a waltz from “Sylvia” and a catchy tune, “There’s A Cradle in Caroline.” The star item of the whole programme is the appearance of the Indian baritone, Chief Caupolican, who' has a magnificent voice with great range and remarkable power. He is without exception the finest yet heard on the screen, and expressions of praise could be heard on all sides during the intermission. He is the only Indian who has ever appearer! in grand opera. His songs were “The Bedouin Love Song,” “After Long Absence,” and “Pale Moon.” The fourth number in the supporting programme was Abe Lyman’s orchestra in “Among My Souvenirs,” “Varsity Drag,” and “Twelfth Street Rag.” A very clever and original dancer appeared in this act and some excellent solo “shots” were seen and heard. The cast in “On With the Show” is a large one and .the only previous production with which it could be compared is the “Hollywood Revue.” “On With The Show” has just as many magnificent scenes, just as many splendid dances, just as many catchy songs, just as much humour, but it has something the Revue did not have; it has a splendid story behind the scenes. Both the show and the story are fully shown and neither eclipses the other. They are well balanced and although the scenes change suddenly from one to the other they do not jar or clash. The principals are Betty Compson, Arthur Lake, Sally O’Neil, Joe E. Brown, Louise Fazenda, Ethel Waters, William Bakewell, the Fairbanks twins, Sam Hardy, Lee Moran and a host of others. T<he show starts out on its first night on Broadway hopelessly in debt and with, the artists unpaid but with a boundless hope and faith on the part of the producers. The show is being put over with great success and is practically assured of a long season when the financial backer withdraws his support because he cannot get his way with Kitty. Then the box office is robbed, and everything conspires to drive the stage manager frantic. Nita refuses to play her part as leading lady unless she is paid and Kitty takes her place. The show goes on to a successful conclusion and the financier, who is really the villain of the piece, receives his deserts at the hands of Nita. The programme is to be shown for an extended season, but it is.one that should not be missed and packed houses are practically assured. THE CIVIC TALKIES. OPENING ON SATURDAY WITH ZANE GREY’S “THE LONE STAR RANGER.” The announcement that the popular Civic will reopen on Saturday as a talkie house will be reteived with very great pleasure. Engineers are busy installing the very latest and most improved Western Electric equipment. It is confidently anticipated that tLe Civic will be one of the best houses in New Zealand for "sound,” and every measure is being taken to secure the very best results. A fine range of programmes has been secured for screening, Zane Grey’s “The Lone Star Ranger” having been selected for the opening programme. All the difficulties previously associated with outdoor pictures seem to have been overcome with this one for the reproduction is excellent. Much of the story was 'filmed in Arizona and the natural settings are beautiful appearing like a series of paintings before which the fast action takes place. George O’Brien makes a strong impression in the title role —he is idealjy cast and so is Sue Carol as the heroine. The supports —all from the Fox Studio—on this programme are said to _be excellent and worthy of the main feature. THE MAJESTIC. DELIGHTFUL COMEDY DRAMA. “TANNED LEGS”: ALL-TALKING MUSICAL REVUE. Splendid entertainment is provided in “Tanned Legs” an all-talking and singing comedy drama at present screening to large houses at the Majestic Theatre. Five new and tuneful song numbers are introduced, and the picture has all the sparkle and snap that goes with the idle rich on holiday. The story is set in the colourful surroundings of a fashionable Californian holiday resort, where those seeking rest and sunshine drift into indiscreet flirtations and intrigues with their new acquaintances. Instead of the usual anxious parents trying to keep their wilful children in check, we have the youthful daughter “Tanned Legs” Peggy Reynolds (June Clyde) trying to bring her foolish father and mother to their senses. Her sister Janet has written some indiscreet letters to a male friend of hers, and he refuses to return them unless her father pays him a large sum of money. Peggy overhears Janet trying to recover the letters, and attempts to procure them herself. She is seen leaving the man’s room, and is consequently the object of scandal. In desperation she commissions a friend of hers, Allen Kearns, to secure the letters, and this he does by staging a daring holdup of a theatre audience, one of the patrons being the man with the letters. The letters are recovered, but in the ensuing melee Peggy is accidentally shot. She recovers, however, and receives all-round apologies from her contrite family, upon which she is re-united with her boy friend Pudgy (Lincoln Stedman). The picture is full of songs and melody, the accompanying music being provided by Victor Baravalle and his orchestra. Ann Pennington displays her shapely knees to advantage in a specialty number, while a chorus of 40 Hollywood beauties supplies the spectacular dances. This is a picture that will have many admirers. The accompanying featurettes are of a very high standard, commencing with an interesting Paramount Sound News. The wide popularity of the clever sound cartoons may be gauged from the fact that two are included in the programme. Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, has many adventures with a piano, while his popular companion, Mickey The Mouse, also obtains novel effects from musical instruments in an accompanying sketch, “The Jazz Fool.” The ever-popular Collegians are also- seen and heard in a refreshing college picture; altogether an entertaining programme.