ENTERTAINMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17985, 2 April 1930, Page 11

ENTERTAINMENTS.

JOHN DUNN TO-NIGHT. John Dunn, the English violinist w’ho will give a recital at the Victoria Hall (Regent) to-night, belongs to the classic school of violinists who submerge personality in music. Mr Dunn’s readings, of course, differ from those of other instrumentalists, but they are never clouded by eccentricities. This artist's playing may be summed up as clean and clear-cut as crystal without the disfigurement of frills and fancies, ancL above all always thoughtful and musicianly. He is a great artist through whom music speaks for itself. His fiddle, a “ Strad,” costing £3,000, is a wonderfully mellow instrument that sings in the player's hand. The harmonics are as clear as a bell, and can be heard in the farthest corners of the hall. STRAND THEATRE. With picturesque backgrounds !hat brng to. the talking screen sights and sounds from the four corners of the earth, and with dialogue which serves tu unfold a compelling mystery story, “Behind That Curtain,” opened last night at the Strand Theatre. It was adapted from Earl Derr Biggers’ novel of the same name —one of the five Lest sellers of the year. With this splendid material and a casL of ouLstan.iing excellence, Irving Cummings, director, has brought about a creation which promises to rank among'the best alltalking pictures of the year. Warner Baxter, Lois Moran, Gilbert Emery and Philip Strange, artists of wide experience on the speaking stage as well as on Lhe screen, portray the leading roles. Biggers’ story opens in London, with the mysterious murder of a barrister whose investigations into their private affairs promise to involve two of the principals, John Beetham, an explorer, played by Baxter, and Eric Durand, an adventurer with a shady past, portrayed by Strange. There ensues a series of thrilling events in which a prominent figure is Sir Frederick Bruce, head of Scotland Yard, a role splendidly depicted hy Emery. Running counter to the mystery element is a generous love theme, of which the principals are Eve and Beetham. The picture preserves the swift movement, the thrill of mystery, and the lender romance that have made “Behind That Curtain” such a success as a novel. Baxter is superb, and Miss Moran is all that could be asked for. THE CIVIC. The change of programme at the Civic Theatre to-night should draw a large audience, for it is one of outstanding merit. It is headed hy “The Girly from Havana,” which tells a delightful story of romance and sensation, holding the attention of the audience throughout. The cast is an excellent one, and interprets the intriguing story with great power. Some splendid short subjects are included in the programme. These are always a popular feature. “SHOW BOAT” COMING. One of the most moving romances ever told on the screen, as w’ell as one of the most spectacular productions ever made, will be offered patrons -of the Civic Theatre when Universal’s sound and dialogue superfilm, “Show Boat," begins its season. This colourful epic of the Mississippi Valley and of Ghcago in the last generation, embodying the glamorous love story of Magnolia, the young show boat girl, played by Laura La Plante, and Ravenal, ' the romantic i young gambler, played by Joseph j Schildkraut, is based upon the inter- | nationally famous novel of the same j name by Edna Ferber. Included in j the presentation-are the movietoned highlights of the celebrated New York j musical production, “Show Boat” staged by Florenz Ziegfeld, with noted Broadway stars.

TALKIES AT CAMBRIDGE. “The Cock-eyed World” is proving a very popular attraction at Cambridge. The film features Victor McLaglen, Edmund Lowe, and Lily Damita—Lowe and McLaglen again the fighting marines, but now, in times of peace, confining their chief battles to passages at arms ever their various lady loves. The story takes the marines to Russia, to the tropics and to New York and Coney Island. Lily Damita, more fascinating than ever, is their girl of the tropics; Leila Karneily their Russian girl, and Jean Bary their New York girl. Quelling an uprising in the tropics is their only opportunity to do the battling the marines are noted for, and Walsh has even in this comparatively minor engagement, eclipsed for drama, force and thrills any battle Of “What Price Glory.” “The Cockeyed World” has every ingredient thatmakes for real pastime—humour, sparkling dialogue, hectic love scenes, tense drama and a happy combination of all those things that appeal from the screen. The supporting cast is excellent, with El Brendel, former starof musical comedy and vaudeville, reaping plenty of honours with his incomparable portrayal of a Swede marine, “Olsen.” In addition to the dialogue there are several song numbers.

THEATRE ROYAL. It is seldom that a spectacular super-feature comes to the screen able to justify all the promises which have preceded it. That is why “Broadway,” the Universal special which opened at the Theatre Royal last night, was found so completely satisfactory. For “Broadway” not only justifies but exceeds every anticipation. Naturally it was assumed that “Broadway” would have to be an exceptionally good picture, if only because of the obvious excellence of the play from which the story is taken, which ran in New York for almost two years. The all-rouncl picture achieves dramatic and spectacular effects patently impossible on any stage. The most elaborate of all these are the sequences which ocur in the gorgeous dancing and dining hall of the Paradise Night Club, which, although merely referred to in the play, arc shown willi indescribable beauty in the film. A huge, strikingly executed example of cubistic art is presented in all its dazzling colourings, The while a top-price revue, in marvellous costumes, features many cleverly staged song-and-dance numbers. Glenn Tvron, as Roy Lane, (he young “hoofer” of (he Great While Way. and Merna Kennedy, as Billie Moore, his partner, give finished performances, carrying throughout the drama of the underworld plot the (Continued in next column.;

thread of a tender love story. Evelyn Brent Is superb as Pearl, the revuegirl avenger of her murdered gangster lover. Robert Ellis, as Steve Crandall, the “heavy,” is well cast in a role which calls for many very -difficult scenes, and Otis Harlan and Marion Lloyd (the latter was in New Zealand in “The Best People”), in [he comedy characterisations, supply lighter moments most satisfactorily. The rest of the cast is also excellent, and the intimate scenes of chorus girl life are delightfully done. FRANKTON’S OWN. To-night’s programme is headed by the feature, “Man Made Woman.” There are good supports, including a gazette and comedy. ORGAN RECITAL. The second organ recital of the series will be given by Mr E. H. Apthorp in St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church on Saturday night. A special feature of this recital will be excerpts from Bizert’s immortal opera, “Carmen,” also Boccherini’s Minuet and Braga’s Serenata. The classical side of the programme will include Mendelssohn’s “First Organ Sonata,” and Tschailcovsky’s “Pathetic Symphony.” The vocalists will he Mrs A. Lonsdale and Mr K. P. Fade.