" SILVER WINGS " .sx Romantic Musical Comedy .sx A COLOURFUL SPECTACLE .sx Although it would appear that there has been some clipping of " Silver Wings " for the provincial tour , the production at New Theatre last night revealed that the cutting has been cleverly and not too severely done .sx The story of a young English airman who crashes in Mexico and comes between Pablo Santos , a picturesque brigand and Inez , his intended but none too willing bride , is slight matter , indeed , upon which to build .sx But a spectacular structure is the result , and patrons will find much in the way of colourful scenery and dresses , chorus marching reminiscent of " Rose Marie , " and some excitement in the form of a realistic aeroplane crash on to the roof of a house in a storm .sx Chorus singing is made a big feature of the show , but unfortunately the music is so undistinguished that it does not give the singers much scope .sx The result is that quality of tone and the lights and shades of good choral work give place to lusty volume .sx There are only two numbers worthy of note - " Far Away , " which is thrust at us in each act , and " Indispensable You , " a snappy little dance tune .sx One feels that as good as the spectacular side of the show is - and the dancing by the female chorus does give opportunities for the display of an array of beautiful dresses - it is all very much ado about nothing .sx MILES AND SMILES .sx The comedy given to Mr. Tedo Miles and Miss Elsie Judge is perhaps the best thing in the production .sx Here are two artistes with sparkling personalities , and they work extremely well together .sx Mr. Miles has a whole batch of very witty things to say , and his smile is most engaging .sx Miss Judge presents a deliciously quaint and cute figure , and their burlesque aerobatic and ballet dancing is one of the high spots of the show .sx Possessed of a superb singing and speaking voice , Mr. Carl Melene brings just the right amount of swagger and bravado to the part of Pablo Sancos , and plays a long part with polish and point .sx We should like to hear him sing something really worthy of his voice .sx Despite the fact that Inez is a fiery and wilful Mexican , we thought Miss Helen Cooney was inclined to over act the part .sx But if this be so , she amply made amends with her singing , which was of good tone and charged with all the emotion commanded by the part .sx She obviously put her whole heart into her work .sx Mr. Billy Spurling is to be congratulated upon making the most of some very elementary humour , whilst Mr. Charles Gillespie gave us an easy and natural Philip Marvin , the airman .sx Other parts are taken by Mr. John Cole , Mr. Con Rich , Miss Helen Leal , Mr. Frank Wilson and Miss Ivy Pavitt .sx As we have indicated , the " effects " provide a big feature , and the scenery and dresses are well in keeping with the gorgeons colouring we associate with the Mexican country .sx PICTURE THEATRES .sx The Rendezvous , Magrath Avenue .sx Continuing its double feature policy , the Rendezvous this week presents two contrasting pictures , " Sunny Skies " a comedy drama , and " The Fighting Legion .sx " The " Fighting Legion " is a proof that the talkies have fortunately not completely killed the Westerner .sx The Westerner used , in the old silent days , to be one of the redeeming features of the cinema .sx It abhored sentimentality , had a story to tell which it told directly and with humour , and there was always plenty of action .sx With the advent of the " talkies " it seemed for a time as if the Westerner might be killed , but it has survived .sx " The Fighting Legion , " which features Ken Maynard , follows the good old tradition , though it is not certainly the equal of " Virginian .sx " It is in fact only part synchronised , and its dialogue is its weakest point .sx " Sunny Skies , " which opens in a college " campus , " is in the usual tradition of this kind of film .sx It is a pleasant enough comedy-drama , with Benny Rubin and Marceline Day in the leading roles .sx There is also a News film in the programme .sx Central Cinema , Hobson Street .sx If it were not for a too persistent inclination to sing on the part of the performers , especially the leading girl , the talkie version of " Hit the Deck " would be an ideal musical comedy with plenty of music , dainty romance , and spectacle .sx The other chief complaint , paradoxically enough , is that not enough is made of the more well known musical numbers , in particular " Hallelujah .sx " What there is of it , however , is thoroughly enjoyable .sx Having unburdened ourselves of this criticism , let us pass on to the merits of the film - and there are plenty .sx First and foremost is the humour .sx Sailors , besides having the reputation of possessing a wife in every port , are expected to provide humour , and from the time we first see " Bilge " and the other members of the U.S. Navy fun is guaranteed so long as they hold the stage .sx " Tender " romance , chiefly on the part of the girl , and always of the melancholy side apart from " Bilge , " also plays large part , while in the latter part of the film colour is introduced for the spectacular ball on the flag ship , and we note with pleasure that the " tomato coloured " skins have entirely disappeared .sx Little need be said of the music , as it is an old and tried selection with seaside bands , except that melody is well to the fore every time .sx " Hit the Deck " possesses all the merits of the stage production , and others besides .sx News and Mickey Mouse in " The Firefighters " complete the programme .sx The Kinema , Mill Road .sx The theme of " Dynamite " being shown at the Kinema - would appear almost impossible to believe if we had not met with it before in " The Yeoman of the Guard .sx " It concerns a wealthy girl who marries a miner ( condemned to die in a few hours ) in his prison cell , in order to take a " name " and win an inheritance .sx She is in love with a married man , whose wife is ready to barter him away at a price - in hard cash .sx To obtain this inheritance under her grandfather's will , she had by a certain date to be married .sx She reads a miner is condemned to death and in need of funds to support his little sister after his death , and conceiving the impossible , marries him - he will be dead in a few hours - and what is 10,000 dollars ?sx ! But fate is against her , he is innocent and is released just in time .sx He comes to claim his right , and breaks into her apartments to witness her hilarious party .sx The scene is revolting to him and he returns to his coal .sx The closing scenes of the explosion when she is in the pit , and how her lover sacrifices himself in dynamiting their way out , are well done .sx Kay Johnson , Julia Faye , Chas .sx Bickford , and Conrad Nagel are in the lead .sx " Circus Capers , " the comedy , is not particularly amusing , but the orchestra is good as usual .sx A racing story , " Warned Off , " heads Thursday's change .sx The Playhouse , Mill Road .sx A further opportunity is offered to film-goers to see " The Vagabond King , " which is paying a second visit to Cambridge this week .sx This is the first screen operetta , and it succeeds in making an ideal entertainment .sx This film brings to the screen the beautiful voice of Dennis King , who plays the part of Francois Villou , the poet , who became King of France .sx His voice records excellently , but in his duets with Jeannette McDonald he sang too loudly and was inclined to " drown " her .sx Miss McDonald's voice has improved immensely since her singing in " The Love " .sx The setting and colour are magnificent , the colour being easily the finest we have seen to date .sx The music is most melodious , being composed by Rudolf Friml , composer of " Rose Marie .sx " It offers line numbers for Dennis King and Jeannette McDonald .sx Lilian Roth also sings beautifully , her voice contrasting well with that of Miss McDonald .sx " The Vagabond King " is superb entertainment and should not be missed .sx The supporting programme includes Mickey Mouse in " Barnyard Concert , " Pathetone Weekly , and the News .sx The Tivoli , Chesterton Road .sx The grim , stark realism of " The Big House " is alone sufficient to make it rank as one of the outstanding productions to date .sx But that is not all , for the acting and the whole of the production is of such a high standard that the audience is held spellbound by something that has never before been encountered .sx The scenes completely overwhelm the audience , for the thrill is genuine , impressive and lasting .sx The crowd scenes of thousands of maddened convicts attempting to escape from the horrors of prison life amid deafening warfare are splendid .sx The effect is wonderful , and we can almost imagine that we are taking part in the turmoil .sx Throughout , the resignation of the convicts to their life and their feelings in this epic of American prison life is presented with gripping intensity .sx The acting is some of the finest we have had the pleasure of witnessing .sx There is the mighty Wallace Beery playing the part of his life , and he simply revels in it .sx Then there is Chester Morris , and his performance is also peerless in its impressiveness .sx Another convict is Robert Montgomery who has the yellow streak , while Lewis Stone is the stern prison warder .sx The slight feminine interest is provided by Leila Hyams .sx The management of the Tivoli is to be congratulated on obtaining such a picture in the first week of its general release .sx The supporting programme consists of a comedy and the news .sx " WONDERFUL ZOO " .sx Festival Theatre Production .sx IRONIC HUMOUR .sx The spice of bitterness with which Mr. Sladen Smith laces his comedy in " Wonderful Zoo " is all too rare on the stage at the moment .sx " Wonderful Zoo " is being produced at the Festival Theatre this week , and its irony proved as successful as its comedy .sx Last night's performance was announced as a " repetition generale , " but was well up to the usual standard of the theatre .sx It did , however , give us an opportunity of hearing a statement by the producer of his aims and his opinions of the play .sx Mr. Norman Marshall confessed to aiming at continuity with a frankly episodical play , and at presenting the mingled bitterness and comedy of the author's intention .sx To our mind the bitterness rather than the comedy was more successfully conveyed .sx " Wonderful Zoo " is slight enough , but typical of the work of its author .sx There is criticism of life in its fantastic commonplace , and criticism with a decided sting .sx Those who are already acquainted with " St. Simeon Stylites " and " The Invisible Duke , " both of which have been produced at Cambridge , will not need to be told that there is also wit .sx THIS FREEDOM !sx An escaped lunatic searching for freedom , and his gradual realisation that freedom was a thing the sane could not know , this in effect is the story of " Wonderful Zoo .sx " The people he meets are types barely sketched , caricatures , but brilliant caricatures .sx The play moves from place to place with him , exists only in and for him .sx In the first of his two aims , it must be confessed , Mr. Marshall does not entirely succeed .sx The play remains a structure of isolated episodes , just as its characters remain types .sx The part of the lunatic , whose desire for freedom is contrasted with the acceptance by the same of their bondage , was played by Mr. Noel Iliff , and is one of the most notable performances this term .sx The Man Mowing of Mr. T. G. Saville seemed undecided whether to speak with a country accent or not .sx The policeman of Mr. Joseph Gordon Macleod was more convincing than the stage policeman one sees in detective dramas .sx The Archbishop of Mr. Walter Tennyson was the nearest approach to a personality as distinct from a type in the whole play .sx Miss Dora Paston's Lizzie was yet another essay in the type of part she was so successful in in " The Adding Machine " and " Subway .sx " This had hardly their power , but the fault was not hers .sx