CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22508, 16 September 1938, Page 7

CITY THEATRES

CRYSTAL PALACE

' “HAPPY LANDING” AND “A

TRIP TO PARIS”

cpnja licnie has introduced a new vinfl --f slar to the screen, and has Achieved a popularity that is all hen |j vn She appears again with Don i-echc, in h " r third hit, "Happy landing." which begins at the Crystal Palace mr a return season to-day. Cesar Rumcro. cast as an egocentric orchestra leader who, with his. comtjanion. Don Ameche, flies across the Atlantic, starts this musical on a fastiroving pace. An ocean fog puts the -irmen oil their course and they land in Norway, where Jean Hersholt’s five daughters' (one of them Sonja) are happily engaged in a “brides’ fair” festival. The local custom that a young man who dances twice with a girl is proposing to her gets Romero involved in a love affair which is all hero-wor-ship on the P art of tlle lovelorn Sonja, and all basking in the ever-satisfying warmth of egotism by Romero. ’ ■The two airmen swing from Norway to Paris. Miami, and New York during the story. How Romero finally is caught provides a really entertaining ending. „. _ . The second feature, “A Trip to Paris.” presents the popular Jones family in a new setting. When dad Bets seasick aboard a France-bound finer it is not the first nor the last ♦Sne he regrets being talked into a trip tn Paris. Cousin Willie .(Harold Huber) meets the family, at Paris and conducts them on a highly expensive sightseeing tour, gladly creating the impression that his relatives are W Ybung Jack (Ken Howell) has become very interested in Joan Valerie, the daughter of a French countess whom he met on the boat. Roger (George Ernest) is absorbed only in bis candid-camera hobby.

AVON

“THE PERFECT SPECIMEN”

“The Perfect Specimen,” which begins at the Avon to-day, has an individuality of its own, arising from its thesis that a man could be reared in isolation to a state of perfection, but would soon show his human frailty and become a much more likeable fellow when brought into' contact with the outside world. The idea in itself is a bright one, and it becomes much brighter through the acting of Errol Flynn and Joan Blondell, and a supporting cast which includes several of the studio’s most competent players. , Errol Flynn isJ charming and efficient in a fightj-comedy, manner as the apparently spineless young multi-mil-lionaire who iS brought up a virtual prisoner oh the estate by a dictatorial grandmother. Under her direction he is schooled in all the arts and sciences with a view to excelling all of his 10,000 'employees when the day shall come for him to take control of his fortune.

He even submits to his grandmother choosing a fiancee for -him. But it is inevitable that the old lady’s plans will g£.-astray when Joan Blondell, a fascinating little minx, crashes into the hothouse in which the “specimen” is heiog nurtured, and tempts him to join her in gaining- a taste of the fun that normal, imperfect beings enjoy. Their runaway adventures make up the rest of the film, and include a prize fight, an encounter with a mad poet, and a great deal of amusing chasing about the cojlnthyside in a motor-car. While the “specimen” is at large his grandmother is firmly convinced that he has been kidnapped, and 'urges on the police force of the'whole nation to frantic efforts.

CIVIC

“WISE GIRL**

Wealth and position and artistic temperament cause a romantic, mixup in “Wise Girl,” which stars Miriam Hopkins and Ray Mill and. It begins to-day at the Civic. The romance concerns two natural enemies—a tempestuous Park Avenue beauty and a defiant Greenwich Village artist. The girl has pfoipised to help her wealthy father togain custody of his two orphan grandchildren who live with , their uncle and legal guardian, a youth with a precarious income.

Upon this premise.... are built the story’s dramatic and-comic situations, the chief of which is the love affair between Milland and Miriam Hopkins when the latter, posing as a destitute actress, meets .the arti.st with the idea of double-crossing him, but suddenly finds herself in love with him.

Tense moments arise when - the grandfather, in spite of the girl’s protests, carries out his scheme to. gain custody of the children, whereby MiHam Hopkins’s real identity and ber apparent treachery are ■ revealed to the artist. In a hilarious climax the heiress manages to convince him cf her love and at the same time forces him to mend his idle ways.

MAYFAIR

“KENTUCKY MOONSHINE”

The Ritz Brothers can be counted oh to provide plenty of fun, and they certainly do so in “Kentucky Moonshine,” which begins to-day at the Mayfair. .Interpolated through the plot of "Kentucky Moonshine” is a romance between Tony Martin, the popular radio (and more recently screen) crooner, and Marjorie Weaver, who has come a long way toward stardom since her '‘break” in "Second Honeymoon.”

. The story of “Kentucky Moonshine”. vrf 5 that of a group of unemployed enV Marjorie Weaver, waiting - cr turn for an audition at a radio Station, overhears a conference at Which it is decided to send Tony Martin to the mountains of Kentucky w get “real” hillbilly talent. Marjorie Weaver foregoes her audition to rush rack to the theatrical boarding-house and apprise the Ritz Brothers of the »dio company’s plan.

CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS.

LIMITED

‘ An exciting story of romance and adventure. “.Test Pilot." with Clark Gable. Myrna Loy, and Spencer Tracy, begins “S second week at the Regent to-day. season of “On Our Selection.” jpe Australian classic, starring Bert and Fred Mac Donald, at the Majestic, | has been extended for another week. “Aussie,” the boxing “angarooi is appearing on the stage. At thei Tivoli, “The Awful Truth,” P*ralng'4rene Dunne and Cary Grant, ragins to-day. The film is an enter“taing komantic comedy. *At the! Liberty “Dark Journey,” ( warring iconrad Veidt and • Vivien Jfigh, and “Love From a Stranger,” •wring Harding, to-day. _At the (Grand, to-day’s' new programme Presents ‘The Princess Comes g?oss.’l starring Carole Lombard and f r *d MacMufray. and ‘The Fatal , starring Mary Ellis, ’ J

PLAZA

“THE GREAT BARRIER” AND

“PEPPER”

The Intensity of a highly dramatic story and the hilarity of comedy arc combined' in the new double - programme beginning at the Plaza to-day. * The Great Barrier,” which is being shown _ with “Pepper,” starring Jane Withers, is the story of two young men in search of adventure, named Hickey, played by Richard Arlcn),and Steve (Barry Mackay), who find their way to a small town in Canada on the track of the Canadian Pacific Railway, which is in the late stages of construction.

Mary Moody (Antoinette Cellier). daughter of one of the “railway bosses,” is here, and they meet her, Steve making up to her; but she rather likes Hickey, who, however, affects lack of interest in women. Through a fight in which they become involved at the “Rat-Trap Tavern,” where the charming Lou (Lilli Palmer) entertains them, they are arrested, and through lack of money to pay the fines, are forced to work on the railroad. With Irvin S. Cobb and Slim Summerville as her hilarious henchmen, Jane Withers starts trouble everywhere in “Pepper.” The film opens in a wild rush of excitement and comedy as Jane leads her "gang” through the streets, celebrating the Fourth of July by creating havoc in the neighbourhood. The fun ceases abruptly when Jane comes upon a family being evicted from the tenement flat.