CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22511, 20 September 1938, Page 3

CITY THEATRES

CIVIC

"FOUR MEN AND A PRAYER" COMING

; t'Four Men and a Prayer," starring Loretta Young and a new star, Richard Greene/, with. Aubrey Smith also in the cast, will be the next attraction at .'the Civic. The theme is an inspiring departure from the usual run of film stories. ; Four stalwart young men, with a soldier-father, are bound by a gallant pledge to rove the world to avenge his dishonour and death. This theme per,vades the entire story. Yet the beauty of Loretta Young and her love for one of the brothers, Richard Greene (a ■•' sensational new star discovery, by the way) provides an additional interest. / I "

Loretta Young gives a notable performance as the American girl who covers, her intense loyalty to the brothers' cause with an "American" flippancy which amazes her British fiance most of all, but more than anything puts; spirit and vigour into the -grim- quest. - There are superb characterisations in the ..cast. . Special mention should go to George David Niven, William Henry (the other three brothers). C. Aubrey: Smith (the father), J. Edward Bromberg, John Carradine, Alan Hale, Reginald Denny, Berton Churchill, and Barry Fitzgerald. The screen play by Richard Sherman, Sonya Levien, and Walter Ferris, was prepared from the book by David-Garth. Kenneth Macgowan was associate producer. "Wise Girl," at present showing at the Civic, is a totally different kind of .film. The Bohemian life of artists usually, provides: amusement for those who are used to a more prosaic type of existence; and this, combined with -plenty of action, romance, and comedy makes."Wise Girl" a film which should appeal to most; types, of ; pictur£goers. ; Miriam Hopkins, who plays the lead-ingrplej-aS an actress who undoubtedly brings: colour and freshness ;to the fClms-in-jWhich she acts, and Ray Mil-land,'who'plays-opposite her, ably supports her/in .these respects. The story has, amusing, situations and sparkling : dialogue. ;

MAYFAIR

~ "KENTUCKY MOONSHINE"

;; .In • "Kentucky Moonshine," a, hilarious -^comedy '■■'■' now at "the'" Mayf air Theatre,--, the "Ritz. brothers are at thejtop of ,'ttieir form. In the opening scenes: thte ' organisers of a sponsored •, radio ;. programme are at their wits'- end to find some new feature that will appeal to the public ,A_ . way ...out is. found by the sßitz. brothers and -Marjorie Weaver, Who have failed xa. repeated attempt' .to get, contracts with the radio orga hisatipn,.- arid., are in equally difticull because they have not earned renoiigh to pay their board.

k,:,.:.;,'.....p1aza

"THE! GREAT BARRIER" AND

*«PEPPER"

:': Now:, showing.: at -the .Plaza are M Pepper," starring Jane Withers, and "The Great Barrier," a story of the finding of a pass through the Canadian Rockies "through which to run the Canadian-Pacific Railway.

Pepper,. played by' Jane Withers, is the. undisputed., leader of a.gang of children- in the lower streets of "New-- York"..-'who stops at nothing when she ' makes up her mind- to get some money to help a ~ fri°nd. Fifteen weeks in Canada was.needed .to make "The Great. Barrier" a fastaction film.

CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS

LIMITED

An exciting story of romance and adventure, "Test Pilot," with Clark Gable, Myrna Lby, and Spencer Tracy, is in its gecorid week at the Regent. ■ The season of "On Our Selection, the Australian classic, starring Bert Bailey" and- Fred MacDqnald, at the Majestic, has been extended for another week. "Aussie," the boxing 'kangaroo," is appearing on the stage. f At the Tivoli, "The Awful Truth," -starring Irene Dunne and Cary. Grant, is the current'attraction. The film is "an entertaining, romantic, comedy. At' the Liberty "Dark Journey, Starring !Conrad, Veidt, and Vivien Leigh, and "Love From a Stranger." ■starring : Ann; 'Harding, are being -shown.- ■.'■:'■"■"-■•'-■.'-'■■.■' "■?• '•''',"'.'' ' •At ';the,. Grand, . this . weed's programme presents "The Princess Comes ; Across,"*starring Carole "Lombard and ■Fred MacMurray,*and "Fatal • Lady," starring: Mary/. Ellis.

.",' Germany, has concluded a contract "With the Mexican Government for the exchanged of 25,000 tons ,of -newsprint for 500,000 barrels of oil. _

AVON

"THE PERFECT SPECIMEN"

"The Perfect Specimen," which is now at the Avon, is polished, witty entertainment from start to finish. The I story has that spice of variety so necessary to give the appeal of| novelty, its action never flags, and all the important members of the cast are established favourites. At the head. of the cast are Enrol Flynn and Joan Blondell, and supporting them excellently are Edward Everett Horton, Hugh Herbert, May Robson, and Allen Jenkins. The "perfect specimen" Is Gerald Beresford Wicks, brought up in seclusion.by his multi-millionaire grandmother, and the fun of the story ii provided by his reactions when he comes abruptly out of his seclusion

CRYSTAL PALACE

"THE JONES FAMILY" AND "HAPPY LANDING"

Sonja Henie's film, "Happy Landing," which is having a return . season at the Crystal Palace, has the happy gaiety which has become well known in all its predecessors. This triumphant star has hardly had time enough for her career to be called a career, and yet she has hurled herself to the foremost position in the musical comedy - film world with the same grace and speed with which Jhe is seen pirouetting on the ice in huge ballet scenes in "Happy Landing." The first presentation in Christchurch of "The Jones Family in Paris' comes with "Happy Landing," and this good comedy takes up nearly all _ the first half of the programme.