CENTRAL
METHEATRE HA
SHOWING TODAY At 2.30, 5.10, 7.15 & 9.20 p.m.
A ghostly romance, of a haunted house of a thousand horrors which turned into a home of
love,
Cat Creeps
while the canary sleeps
NEXT CHANGE
A 1931 Paramount Comedy
THE SILVER SCREEN.
QUEEN'S THEATRE.
"REDUCING."
Those who laughed till thoir sides ached at "Caught Bhort" were out in fored last night at the Queen's Theatru, to greet "Reduc ing" the newest Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer comedy to co-star those two quons of comedy, Marie Droster and Polly Moran.
"Reducing," na ita namu in- dicaton, tolla a tale of beauty par lours and pekés pleasant fun at those who would cse, or gain woiglit.
Marie and Polly gainbol through it with oven groater facility of laugh getting than that evidenced in their earlier effort. The direc tion of "Chuck "Riesner, who alsc did "Caught Short," still further confirms the place of this mega- phoner as one of the masters' of the comedy genre.
A double love story is woven through the laughs of the produc tion and gives it a smooth drama- tic tone. The protagonists are Anita Pago, "Buster" Collier, Jr., Sally Eilors and william Bakewell These four are convincing and easy" to look at in a well-hand:ed and highly dramatic situation.
Lucien Littlebold, always an excellent character actor, outdoes himself as Elmer," the mail-car- rier husband of the buxom Marie, The story cf "Roducing" tells what happens when Marie visits her sister Polly, proprietreas of a New York.beauty parlour...*
"THE BACHELOR FATHER.”.
HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1931.
KINGS
HONCKONG'S FINEST CINEMA
THE MOST COMFORTABLE AND THE ONLY AIR-COOLED THEATRE IN THE COLONY
FINAL SHOWING TO-DAY
At
2.30, 5.10, 7.15 and 8.80 p.m.
INA CLAIRE and FREDRIC MARCH
"THE ROYAL FAMILY of BROADWAY
With
MARY BRIAN
Mad, Merry, Modern!: Their escapades make head-lines-but their private lives and loves are now revealed to you! America's darlings as they are with
off the lead of his partner while they were hunting the dynosaur who' bothered them at night. Very few.. have admitted, much less boasted, their lack of reasoning power, most of them have fought to hide it..
It took the dizzy twentieth cen-
an
Did you over nec 825,000 brace- let? Marion Davies wears one in.tury to produce the man who a scene in "The Bachelor Father," glorios in the title to such her
amusement Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer extent that he made the ден starring vehicle, which will open world call him "The Perfect Foci." to-morrow at the Queen's Theatre, That man is Ed Wynn, who, after When the scene was first filmed a sintillating comedy career on with a "prop" bracelet of paste the Broadway stage. makes his diamonds, the lack of genuine lus. talking screen debut in "Follow
the spotlights off
NEXT CHANGE
ED WYNN
IN
FOLLOW THE LEADER"
Booking at the Theatre. Tels: 25818, 25380.
OPPOSITION IN LORDS.
MARQUIS OF SALISBURY' CEASES TO LEAD
London, June 10-The Marquis of Salisbury, son of the former Conservative Prime Minister, has ceased to act us leader of the Oppo- sition in the House of Lords and has been succeeded by the former Chancellor, Lord Hailsham. Liberals in the Lords
have also
"THE SOCIAL LION" tro and sparkio was acticed by the The Loader," the next feature at lost their fender, East Beauchamp
Starring
JACK OAKIE
with
Mary Brian & Skeats Gallagher.
SENATOR FALL'S CONDITION.
cameraman.
The bracelet of real diamonds, sel in platinum, was then used for the occasion, carefully placed in a vault between scones.
Robert Z. Leonard directed the new film from an adaptation of the Belasco ago success written
Edward Childs by
Carpenter. Ralph Ferbes plays opposite, the
star.
KING'S THEATRE.
THE ROYAL FAMILY OF
BROADWAY,"
the King's Theatre.
CENTRAL THEATRE.
"THE CAT CREEPS."
having retired. Lord Reading is spoken of as his successor..
Representation BU),
London, June 16-In the House
!!!
of Lords to-day the Representation. of the People bill passed ita second reading by 50 votes to 14. The measure provides for a method of alternative vote at Parliamen tary elections when there are more than two candidates.
The management of the Central Theatre, where the all-talking screen mystery "The Cat Creeps" is now being shown, has issued an" appeal to those who have already seen the picture, asking them not to reveal to their friends any hint Lord Pasefield, Dominions Sec- of the plot's solution, because much retary; moving the second reading of the pleasure of witnessing a mo- expressed his belief that the mea- tion picture of this kind lies in sure if carried would lead to not the "inability of the audience to more than a miscroscopical change fathom the mystery, and their con in the balance of party representa- which sequent interest in trying to urtion and he equid net guess
party, if any, it would favour." But there had been 409 three-cornered contests out of coughly 600 at the Inat general election and in over three hundred cases, a member woe returned by a minority vote.
rive at a solution.
TOO POOR TO PAY FINE: TOO ILL FOR PRISON.
Washington, June 18-While at Marion, Ohio, President Hoover to- day was dedicating a million dol
Four actors have become actors lar memorial to the late President Warren G. Harding, officials here for the sake of a play. Ina Claire, arranged for a medical examina Fredric March, Mary Brian and tion of Mr. Albert B: Fall, the Henriette Crosman are the actors, former United States Senator who was the Secretary of the Interior and the play in which they act the in Mr. Harding's administration.
Mr. Kell, who is now at his parts of actors is "The Royal ranch in New Mexico, was convict Family of Broadway" now show ed of accepting bribes and ofing at the King's Theatre, otherwise becoming involved in the
"The Royal Family" is the in- oil scandals of the Harding admi- nistration. The Supreme Court of timate, amusing and, at times, the United States upheld his sen hilarious presentation of a mythicclusion, and don't spoil their comed would lead to a fairer repre tence to one year in the peniten-al family" of roiguing performers plote enjoyment of the picture, sentation of constituents.
tiary and to payment of, a 08100,000 fine.
Medical Eamination.
The medical examination which was arranged for while President Hoover was declaring that Mr. Harding was betrayed by his a850- ciates, is to determine whether Mr.
This Universal production is
a remarkable success as a mystery story, and its ending furnishes a most startling surprise, so let your friends seo for themselves how the baffling story is brought to a con:
The alternative vote, he contend-
But his heb zobbing with the
on the American stage. It ròveals. "The Cat Creeps" is adapted their private lives, their family from the stage thriller "The Cat. pride in the great tradition of and the Canary," and has in its their clan and their oyalty to the cast such screen favourites 400 of the town gives him high- stage they have so long dominated. Helen Twelvetrees Raymond Miss Crosman is sconce the Hackett, Neil Hamilton, Lilyan Fall is able to serve his peniten-stately grandmother of the Caven: Tashman, Joan Hersholt and Mon-
dish clan. Miss Clarie is her tagu Love. daughter, the leading emotional
"tiary sentence Physicians at Mr. Fall's New Mexico ranch insiet that he is too weak to enter prison, that ho would die within a few weeks netrus of the stago; Miss Brian "is if the contence is executed. Should the official medical examination the grand-daughter about to on confirm the contentions of the Newtor the life of the theatre; March Mexico physicians it is expected is the family's, representative in that the courts will parole Mr.
"THE SOCIAL LION."
Jack Oakie, Paramount's laugh
Fall, who also contends that he is the movies-headstrong, impulsive, maker, will be seen and heard in too poor to pay the fine stipulated lordly, a master of both comedy and tragedy, a genius possessed of when he was convicted.
and
his first starring vehicle, The Social Lion," which is to be shown Mr. Fall is now 70 years of age the amusing, mannerisms
on Saturday at the Central Thes. Since he was first involved in the
tre. The picture is based upon, the oil scandals he has been seriously
Octavus Roy Coben story, "Marco ill. When he has not been standing
"The Royal Family of Broad- trial in the courts he has been re
Himself." of comedy, ceiving medical treatment either at way" possesses a wealth
idiosyncrasies of the typo,
"י
into the "inner-circle” by means of hat ideas and he tries to crash
the entree so has gained through bis polo-playing. This provides a number of very amusing situations and dialogue,
The finale is a happy one, for
our hero Anally realizes that the plain little girl and the plain life are the girl and the life for him.
Jack Oakie, of course, is the pugi-
MOVIELAND
FOR
THE WEEK.
(STAR)
FINAL SHOWINGS TO-DAY AT 2.30, 5.20, 7.20 & 9.20.
Came Kirby
A Song Filled Movietone Romance
of the Old
Sonth
ALE
TALKING,
WORLDS
¡Ár 2.80, 5.15, 7.15 & 9.20 WARNER BAXTER
1.
In
BRITISH "TALKIES.
THE KING'S TO SHOW TWO EXCELLENT FILMS.
| "SPLINTERS”, AND “ROOKERY NOOK,"
Through the courtesy of the mani agement of the King's Theatrej
embora of the Press were given,] " a proview of the two big British Alms, Splinters" and "Rookery Nook" yesterday morning I was fortunate enough to be one of the provileged ones and was greatly. impressed by both films. There was something different to the usuni talkies served out to film fans in Hong Kong, the most outstanding fosture being the pure English and perfectly modulated voices of the actors, especially in "Rookery Nook,"
"Splinters."
First of all, we saw "Splintora."? As is generally known, this is not only a revue, but also a real litá romance. It first started in France, in the dark days of the war when it was organised chiefly to give the boys something other. than fighting to think about. 16 became the First Army Concert Party and after the war continued as a revue for eleven years. It has now been made a “Talkie,”; the production of which is indood
frodit to British film industry.
The producers of the film, wore fortunate in securing the services cf two of the original members of the Party, namely Hal Jonca and Rag Stone who play their original roles. The latter reveals himself; as a female impersonator of no mean merit and has quite a pleas-. ing volco toc., his rendering of I'll Be Getting Along" and "En-" cora” being particularly well done. Hall Jones scores a big hit with his "Lankie Carrie From Lancashcer”, and "There's a Room In My Heart," while the "chorus gifle": de their stuff, admirably. Hu- mour, and plently of it is suppli ed by those two versatile comme- dians, Nelson Keys "and Sydney:
MOVIELAND
FOR THE WEEK
QUEEN'S
FINAL SHOWINGS TO-DAY AT 230, 5.10, 7.15 & 9.20.
a thousand laugh for every pound
Mane
DRESSLER Polly MORAN
* THE PERFECT
*** COMEDY TEAM:
They're even funnier than in "Caught Short,” You must come over!
with
Anita PAGE
Lucien LITTLEFIELD
Howard; it was a little burd, I -ADDED ATTRACTION
thought on those poor. "lead-swing
ers" that the enemy should elect
to attack just when they are start- ing their turn at the concert, especially as it had meant so much preparation on thoir part.
"Splinters" is a rollicking good "talkie," and every film fan iu' the Colony, especially servicemen and "old soldiers," ahould make it a point of going to sco it when it comes on at the King's on Sun- "day. To many people, "splinters": will serve to remind them of some of the bright, times behind the lines moments which were all too few and far between in those days
"Bookery Nook,"
"Most of us have read "Rookery Nook," and some, the more for- tunate ones, have seen it in London where it had no less than 100 per formancess, at the Aldwych Thep-: tre, but no matter whether we have! read the book, or seen tho play,!
we will certainly want to see the screen version.
The film is typically English, and the acting and dialogue are won- derfully clever. We, have the olderly woman (Mary Brough) who! comes into the house as the "daily help
and this particular one,
like the rest of her kind, is an ox-
tremely nosey person cf very generous proportions! Winifred
list-polcist social lion aspirant, He The ARIZONA KID" | soft and benntifully modulated
hie home in El Paso, Texas, or at satire, romance and pathon. It is It is the hilariously funny story little girl, and Olive Bordon 1 Rookery Nook" is far and away his ranch at Three Rivers, Now a picture among pictures, a Mexico,
Mr. Fall is convicted of accepttrinmph of the new era of talkion ing a bribe of G.$100,000 with which to pay for his Three Rivers ranch from Mr. E. L Doheny, oil megnate, to whom valuable, neval oil lands were leased during the Harding administration and while
Interior.
FINAL SHOWINGS TO-DAY Shotter, who takes the fome's land, is an extremely pretty girl with & very winsome way about her and that was perhaps the reason why she was called a "bad weman”by the gossips in the district. She plays her part very well and hus
voico: Ralph Lyon, as Gerald never had a funnier role Skoote
Popkiss, is very funny though, Gallagher is the partner and pal of Oakie; Mary Brian is the plain the night in the house. Then the somewhat ungrateful in the way
fun begins
ho turns down his later in law's “motherly” offer" to fake to fake
Caro the ritzy daughter of society who the best picture I have seen for a
Der tries to make a map out of Jack, long time and if it is a sample of bim until his wife arrives. but fails. Others in the excellent the stuff that British producers are pite his protests, abe calls at nigh supporting cast are Charles Bellon, that the cinema-houses in Hong
offering those days, let us hope to sop tint he is quite comfortabls Cyril Ring, E. H. Calvert, Jamos Kong will give us more British and again the next morning when help tells her that Gibson, William Bechtel, Henry Almus. It is strange that we did the
hot have cokery. Nook" zoonar
"uspy, pown the road Roquemore Richard Commingas, it was classed among the world's and Jack Byron. rasakakapa þest aight pictures of 3030—F.M.A.
"FOLLOW THE LEADER"
of a young garage mochanie and would be pugilist who gets a place on a country club's polo-team be cause he is the town's most pro- floient mallet wielder, having There have pren fools of one kind learned polo when he was serving Mr Fall was the Secretary of the and another since the first cavean.onlistment in the army
man accidentally bounced his club (Continued af fool of reat column.)
THE
DOG COMEDY
"So Quiet on the Canine Front "
“TO-MORROW
Marion
Larion Davies is here
in her greatest comedy per- formance.
The Belasco stage hit is now a talkie riot of unusual wit and speed-try and støp laughing at it!"
with Ralph
Marion
AVIES
Forbes ~0. Aubrey ***Smith ****
Based on the play by Edward Childs Carpenter
The BACHELOR FATHER
ALLTALKING
MARION DAVIES
production Directed by Robert Z. Leonard
IT'S
WOW!