AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 228, 25 September 1940, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS.

"TEAR GAS SQUAD." ROXY-TIVOLI THEATRES. CAST Tommy McCabe Dennis Morgan Bill Morrissey John Payne Jerry Sullivan Gloria Dickson Joe McCabe George Reeves Sergeant Crump Frank Wilcox Lota Julie Stevens Director: Terry Hone (Warner Bros.) Also. "Pride of the Bluegrass," featuring. Edith FWlowi and James McCallion. "When bullets can't get 'em, tear gas can!" is an expression popular among officers of the law in the United States. - Something of the force of this statement is realised when one sees "Tear Gas Squad," which opened its season at the Roxy and Tivoli Theatres to-day. The story deals with the drama behind the men who fight crime with tears and reaches into newspaper headlines for material that is as entertaining as it is dramatic. The rich characterisations of the plot are in the capable hands of three of Hollywood's youngest players and they display a talent that would do credit to the veterans of many a prize-winning production.

Dennis Morgan has been seen in some worthy roles recently, but this is his first singing part, and opportunity has been taken for his fine baritone voice to be heard in several numbers written for him by i the composers of "My Little Buckaroo." Miss Dickson and John Payne do not fail in offering every support to the rising singing star.

"Pride of the Bluegrass," associate attraction, is an engrossing and touching story featuring Gantry, the famous blind racehorse. Even with his great handicap, Gantry can jump as surely and gracefully over steeplechase hurdles as any welltrained hunter with keenest eyesight—and this is the side of the filiit which will interest most audiences. There is no trickery in the presentation, as Gantry has been seen at exhibitions and fairs for several years, and is steadily gaining increased fame. The story, which correlates the life of its equine hero with the humans with whom it comes in contact, features Edith Fellows, James McCallion and Granville Bates in leading roles.

EMBASSY. Commencing a season at the Embassy Theatre to-morrow is Paramount'e comedydrama "Remember the Night," which, from all advance reports, should be one of the beet films of its kind seen in the city for some considerable time. It is claimed that the story could happen anywhere. In thie particular caee it happens in a small town in Indiana and concerns a girl wiho steals a bracelet and gets arrested. She comes up for trial just before Christmas, which is a time when juries hesitate to lock people up, so a postponement is arranged until after the Xew Year. During this period of grace, the prosecuting attorney, one Fred Mac Murray, of whom much hae been heard in the paet, begins to get that Chrietrnas feeling himself, and the resulting situations are said to be aa touching as they are appealing. Barbara Stanwyck, in main role, pairs off well with Fred Mac Murray, while Willard Roberteon and Sterling Holloway, who sings "Perfect Day" on Christmas eve in a manner that is guaranteed to call for handkerchiefs and running repairs are both excellent.

PLAZA. Continuing to entertain with "their own variety of slapstick comedy, Laurel and Hardy will once again make an appearance in Auckland in "Saps at Sea," which is scheduled to begin a season at the Plaza Theatre on Friday. Directed by Gordon Douglas and with an original story and screen play by Charles Rogers, Felix Adler, Gil Pratt and the one-time famous comedian of the silent screen, Harry Langdon, the picture ie eaid to be well up to the standard of many previous Laurel and Hardy successes. Ollie, while working in a horn factory, goes berserk from the constant tooting. He is advised by his doctor to take a sea voyage. After many adventures preparing for the trip, Stan and Ollie compromise by Liring a boat and leaving it tied to the dock, only to be ehanghied by an escaped murderer. Once on the high seas many strange and wonderful experiences come to the two who can be trusted to find plenty of mirthful situations out of associating with a self-confessed' murderer. Hal Roach was the producer.

CENTURY. The life, lovea and songs of a worldfamous actress are revived in "Lillian Russell," current attraction at the Century Theatre. Blonde and lovely Alice Faye portrays the first and greatest of America's glamour girls in the Darryl Zanuck production, which features also Don Ameche and Henry Fonda. Lillian Russell was famous for her marvellous voice as well as her splendid acting, and Alice Faye is heard in many of the old-time numbers which the great actress popularised. Don Ameche has the role of Lillian's composer husband, who struggled to author her greatest stage success, while Henry Fonda takes the part of Alexander Moore, the newspaperman who fell in love with the gorgeous Lillian, but failed to tell her about it. Fresh from his triumph in "The Grapes of Wrath," Fonda gives another stirring portrayal in a highly dramatic role. Additional realism-is lent by Irving Cummings, to; whom Darryl Zanuck assigned the direction of the picture. Cum- , ininge was Miss Russell's last leading man and knew many of the central characters in "Lillian Russell."

ST. JAMES'. A further account of the life of Thomas Alva Edison is given in "Edison the Man," which opens its Auckland season at the St. James' Theatre on Friday. It depicts the world-famed inventor between the ages of 22 and 35, except for brief moments at the beginning and end of the picture which show him at 82 being honoured on the 50th anniversary of the invention of the incandescent iamp. The story follows Edison's life faithfully through the period and leads, dramatically, to the climax—the making of the first incandescent lamp and the lighting by electricity of New York in 1882. Winner; of two Academy awards, Spencer Tracy dominates the picture in. a performance which compares favourably with those which won him previous laurels. Supporting him are Rita Johnson, as hie , wife, and Lynne Overman, who supplies comedy relief. Others in the caet include Charles Coburn, Gene Lockhart, Henry Travers and Felix Breseart. Picture biographies are steadily growing in popularity, and "Edison the Man" promises to be one of the greatest of them.

LYRIC HARMONISTS. Included in an interesting programme of part songs; mostly unaccompanied, at the Lyric Harmonists' concert in the Town Hall concert chamber to-morrow night, will be several" numbers by the'local composer, John Tait. The conductor will be Mr. Claude Laurie. Detail* are advertised.

REGENT. Heading the attractive double-feature bill at the Regent Theatre ie the sequel to last year's 'Tour Daughtere," "Four Wives." ia which Priecilla Lane, Rosemary ]jam>, Lola Lane and Gale Page play the title roles. The cast ie the eame as in the previous picture, including John Garfield, who died in the original story. This time he returns in vision form. Others in the original family portrait who are prominent are Jeffrey Lynn, Claude Rains, May. Robeon and Dick Koran. Warner Brothers' "Four Wives" has lie same* director, caet and all-round appeal as "Four Daughters," . but everything k better, especially the story. The associate' ■ attraction, "Cavalcade ©f Academy Awards," is an unusual presentation of more than ordinary, interest. The story ie told by the acknowledged cream of Hollywood's artists and '.illustrated with flashes from . .prize-winning pictures. Included are scenes from "Gone With the Wind/' about which so much hae been heard.

MAJESTIC. Lovable, laughable, Baby Sandy has come to town again at the head of a guaranteed mirth-producer, "Sandy ia a Lady," now showing at the Majestic Theatre. Sandy, two-year-old veteran of "East Side of Heaven," "Little Accident" and "Unexpected Father," is in herself always good for a continuous roar of laughter, but in her latest triumph she is surrounded by a cast whose talent in the light entertainment field is unquestionable. Taking part are Mischa Auer, Eugene Fallette, Billy Gilbert, Edgar Kennedy and Fritz Feld— by themselves they are a sure draw; together they are unbeatable. Aβ for the story, the baby star wanders away from the care of her youthful custodians. In her own blythe way she makes the acquaintance of Mischa Auer, cast as an eccentric inventor. The rest can safely be left to the imagination. Universal Films have cast discretion to the winds in this initial starring picture for Baby Sandy, and no one who enjoys laughing until it hurts should miss it.

CIVIC. Thrilling adventure against a spectacular background is provided in '"The Westerner,"' which is continuing its Auckland season at the Civic Theatre. In the bad old days of the West there was only one person the cattlemen bated more than a rustler, and he was a sheep grazer. The sheep grazers, however, were not to be deterred, and continued to push further and still further into the cattle country in the face of the cattlemen's guns. It is about this bitter feud that the story of "The Westerner" is told. As a hard-riding puncher, Gary Cooper has a role which he can make much of, while romantic interest is supplied by attractive Doris Davenport. Walter Brennan, as the notorious judge, Roy Bean and Lillian Bond, as the famous actress, Lily Langtry, are both excellent in important roles. The scenery alone, portraying the rugged back country, is well worth seeing. An excellent supporting programme includes a technicolour travel picture, "Petra."