ENTERTAINMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17978, 25 March 1930, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL. i I TO-NIGHT’S PROGRAMME. The current programme is proving very popular. In “Dangerous Curves,” t ] lc “It” girl of the screen. Clara Bow, made her re-appearance, and created a deep impression. It is a story of the circus, in which the popular Clara is seen at her snappiest. “The Waggon Master” tells of the adventures of the waggon freighters who carried supplies to the isolated mining camps and army outposts in the early pioneer days of the West. The Pjclure, which is all-talking, stars Ken Maynard, who, with the aid of his famous horse “Tarzan,” performs many of the daring riding stunts which have made him so well known to local audiences. As the “Waggon Master," Maynard strives against great odds to break a monopoly that is starving out the mining camps in the region. The singing of several cowboy songs by the principal adds much to the enjoyment of the production. STRAND THEATRE.

Casting for "Three Live Ghosts,” United Artists’ all-talking corned}drama, based on the sensational success of the New York and London stage, now showing* at the Si ran a Theatre, featuring an all-star cast, was not an easy matter, according to Thornton Freeland, the directoi. Beryl Mercer and Charles McNaughton were brought to Hollywood from New York to portray the roles they created in the New York stage Production. "The success of a play not only depends on its story, but its characterisations,” said Freeland, "and the same applies to talking motion pictures. It was therefore absolutely necessary that only the best actors and actresses available be considered to portray the characters in ‘Three Live Ghosts.’ ” It so happened that Miss Mercer had just concluded a New York starring engagement,, and McNaughton was preparing for a holiday abroad, when United Artists ofucials located them and persuaded them : to come to Hollywood. Robert Mono- , gomerv and Joan Bennett, who supply the love interest, likewise came to Hollywood from New York, Shayle

Gardner (the New Zealander) hurried there from 'London to work in “Three Live Ghosts,” his first all-talking picture- Claude Allister, London comedy favourite, who portrays toe difficult role of “Spoofy,” a sheelshockcd war veteran, had just coneluded an engagement, in «a Los Angeles stage play and was preparing Vo return to England, when he was prevailed upon to make a voi o and screen test. •

f . j TALKIES AT CAMBRIDGE. j “Flight,” the great film of the air, | thrilled another large audience at , Cambridge last night. Many thrilling 1 scenes in the air have been incorporated into the picture, which deals with the adventures of a college student who finds himself the butt of his fellows on account of his awkwardness on the football field. He runs away and becomes a recruit in the flying squad of the United States marines. The aviator under whom he is placed is so impressed with the lad’s ability that he invites him to join him in an expedition t.o Nicaragua to assist in quelling a bandit uprising. There the two become estranged through the instrumentality of a girl who attends the supply train accoin- : panying the expedition. Eventually, however, in the course of a skirmish :

with a company of bandits, the two j comrades arc reunited, and matters j are satisfactorily adjusted. The pic- j turc is particularly rich in realistic scenes of outdoor action. The battles between the bandits and the marines have been filmed with especial care, and in addition there are some sensational episodes showing the airmen in action. THE CIVIC. Cecil B. De Mille is always spcctacuar and always surprising—and spectacle and surprise are present in j overflowing measure in “Dynamite,” j which is drawing crowded audiences , to the Civic Theatre. This story by j Jeanie AfacPherson gallops merrily j from the haunts of Luxury to the depths of a coal mine; from the cars j of the “death” cell at Stale’s Prison, to a colourful Ladies’ Field Day at a : country club. The principal protagon- : ists are Charles Bickford, a coal miner, and Conrad Nagel, Kay Johnson and Julia Faye, from what is termed “high society.” It would not be fair to,'tell the whole of what is a very exciting and unusual plot. Suffice it to say that the marriage of I a society girl to a murderer on the ' eve of the hour of his execution is not tlie least of its thrills! The acting honours are equally divided amongst the four leads. As for the direction, Cecil B. De Alille is himself once more. After a long period with religious plays he is back to the exotic material in which he scored such a conspicuous eary success. 'There is even a glass bathtub in this picture. FRANKTON’S OWN. “The Night Flyer,” featuring popular jobyna Ralston and William Boyd, pleased the audience at Frankton’s Own last night.