ENTERTAINMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17972, 18 March 1930, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

STRAND THEATRE. TO-NIGHT’S PROGRAMME. A picture that 'holds the audience in thrilling suspense until the last monient, "The Drake Case,” Universal all talking sensation, now showing at the Strand Theatre, establishes itself as vastly different from the run of most murder trial courtroom films. “The Drake Case” is realty The trial of The People vs. Lulu .Marks, an intriguing character, accused of the cold-blooded murder of a wealthy woman, Mrs George Morgan Drake. In “The Drake Case'” the audience in the theatre be.'om.es tTTe audience in the courtroom listening to a trial (.hat is marked with irama, tears, laughter, thrills and -uspen'se. It has everything that feaures the trial of a celebrated murder case. “The Drake Case” has an allstar cast Including Gladys Brock-well, Forrest Stanley, Robert Frazer, James Crane, Doris Lloyd, Bill Thorne, Eddie Hearn, Tommy Dugan, Byron Douglas, Francis Ford, Ilenrv Barrows, Amber Norman and Barbara Leonard. THE CIVIC.

New songs, new dances by stars of i screen and stage, lots of “gags” and | abundant laughs, tuneful melodies and sparkling dialogue—and don't forget the girls. “The Hollywood Revue,” a huge musical speclacle staged and screened by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, which had ils first showing in Hamilton last night at the Civic Theatre, has them all. It is a revue, a huge vaudeville-show, staged with gorgeous settings, 20 musical umbers, a huge dancing chorus and a galaxy of stars. .Marion Davies appears as a singer and dancer in a highly amusing sketch called “Tommy Atkins ou Parade.” John Gilbert and •Norma Shearer do Hie Balcony Scene from Shakespeare and then jazz it up to modern tempo. Bessie Love appears in her own singing and dancing. Conrad Nagel makes his screen singing debut and is the interlocutor of a minstrel number. Busier Keaton, frozen faced comedian, does an Egyptian snake dance. It's immense. Joan Crawford croons a song and dances as only Joan Crawford can. Marie Dressier and Polly Moran, famous eomedienns of screen and stage, arc teamed as funny women j for the first time. Many other stars I are seen in Varied numbers. ] TALKIES AT CAMBRIDGE. j i From extra girl to one of Holly- j wood's leading screen actresses —in four brief years! That is the ac-hie- t vernent of Janet Gaynor, eo-featured with Charles Farrell in “Sunny Side j Up," which is drawing crowded houses j to the Cambridge Town Hall. Miss j Gaynor, innately modest and retiring, ; would be the last person in the world to advance a claim to cinema fame. ■■ But the fact remains that just recently i she was awarded the gold status of i the Academy of Motion Picture Arts j and Scientists for the best performance | of any screen actress during 1928. j Her unforgettable performance in j

"7th Heaven” won the award. Miss Gayner turns her talent to musical comedy l'or tiie first time in “ Sunny Side Up.” When DeSylva, Brown and Henderson, authors of eight highly successful Broadway musical comedies and scores of popular song hits, prepared ‘ Sunny Side Up” for Fox Movietone, they had Miss Gaynor in mind, and cleverly wove her personality into the highly interesting story which forms the hackground for the production. No fewer than .seven new song hits are played and sung in the course of the screen and musical comedy. A thirty-live piece jazz orchestra, under the direction of Howard Jackson, a forty-two piece boys’ band, a society charity show, water carnival, an East Side Fourth of July block party and a beauty dancing chorus of GO are unusual features of “Sunny Side Up.”

THEATRE ROYAL. “Words and Music” is drawing large audiences to the Theatre Royal. The "Shadows,” sung by David Percy with Lois Moran taking part, was written by Uon Conrad, Sidney D. Mitchell and Archie Gotti er, who provided the songs for the “Fox Movietone Follies of 1929.” Harlan Thompson wrote the words and Dave Stamper wrote the music for these songs, listed with those who render thorn: “The Hunting Song,” sung by Percy to Miss Moran with an ensemble of -10 taking part; "Take a Little Tip,” interpreted by 20 boys and as many girls; ‘ Too Wonderful for Words,” sung by Percy to Miss Moran; “Beauty,” sung by Miss Moran; "Yours Sincerely,” sung by Miss Moran and 12 boys. William Kernell contributes words and music tor two songs, “Steppin’ Along” and

"Good Old .Mary Brown.” The former is sung and danced to by Tom Patrieola, who has originated a new dance of Hie same name, and Bubbles Crowell. Tiie latter number is presented by an ensemble of college boys. That makes eight songs in all. and ail arc desfinod to be hits. “Steppin’ Along" particularly is expected to inspire a dance vogue outrivalling that of "The Brake a way,” ‘Black Bottom” or "Varsity Drag.” FRANKTON’S OWN. " Celebrity,” an interesting drama, will head the programme. A funny comedy and a Gazette are also included.