CIVIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 894, 11 February 1930, Page 17

CIVIC

“CHARMING SINNERS” Seldom has any audience had such a good time watching a motion picture as the Civic Theatre audience had again last night while watching the marital adventures of Ruth Chatterton and Clive Brook in Paramount’s comedy drama, written by W. Somerset Maugham, “Charming Sinners.” The delightful comedy drama will play a few more days’ engagement at the Civic Theatre. A sparkling, intimate story of married life, beautifully acted by a group of outstanding cinema stars, made of “Charming Sinners” a particularly lively and entertaining show. Ruth Chatterton, as the wise wife, tired of her husband’s philandering, decides to punish him, once and for all. She chooses the dignified method of repaying him in his own corn by pretendng to gve her affections to an old admirer, William Powell. She fools her husband in clever fashion, reawakens some of the romance which appeared dead to her forever, and brings about a readjustment in her home, which no amount of scandal or ranting could accomplish. Clive Brook, as the husband, reveals new talents in a splendid characterisation. Mary Nolan, as the “other” woman, is delightful. A group of auxiliary players, recruited from the stage, including Laura Hope Crews, Florence Eldridge and Juliette Crosby, are artfully cast. The remainder of the programme is also most entertaining. It includes music by Fred Scholl at the grand organ, and by Ted Henkel’s orchestra, and a clever stage presentation. “Circus Kid,” introducing some burlesque items, dancing and a sensational trapeze act. CRYSTAL PALACE, MOUNT EDEN The current programme at the Crystal Palace Theatre, Mount Eden, will have its final screening this evening. This includes “Thunderbolt,” the powerfully dramatic talkie starring George Bancroft, also the accompanying talkie items. From tomorrow the Crystal Palace will present two entirely new talking pictures, and as both of them are 100 per cent, dialogue, this new programme is an exceptional one. The chief film is “Acquitted,” a battle of wits in which a girl combats forces stronger than herself, and triumphs. Margaret Livingston, Lloyd Hughes, and Sam Hardy are the stars in this exciting underworld story. The second big picture is “Light Fingers,” the thrilling adventures and beautiful romance of “Light Fingers,” the elusive cracksman who terrorised and baffled the police. lan Keith and Dorothy Revier are the stars.