ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 144, 14 March 1939, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

Double-Feature Programme At

State Theatre The world’s greatest animal trainer, Clyde-Beatty, is starred in ‘'The Lost Jungle,” which is the main feature at the State Theatre. He plays a role which, to him, is scarcely a role, because he is shown as an animal trainer in a circus, giving his most thrilling act, in which lions, tigers, panthers, and bears are all seen in the one cage, performing, at the same time. Further highlights in this enthralling film are a storm at sea and the wrecking of a dirigible. The United States Army is the subject of the associate feature, “234 Hours’ Leave.” James Ellison heads the cast. “Road Demon” and “While New York Sleeps.”

A film of action, “Road Demon,” a roaring tale of the race track, with Henry Arthur Joan Valerie, and Henry Armetta, will be the main feature which will begin at the State Theatre on Friday. “While New York Sleeps,” the associate feature, stars Michael Whalen, Chick Chandler and Jean Rodgers. New Angle On American Football In Film At Plaza With a woman as a full-back, “Hold That Co-Ed,” which is at the Plaza Theatre, presents American football from a new angle. Joan Davis, the screen’s most prominent comedienne, proves that she is also the greatest drop-kicker in the world! Others who add to the merriment of “Hold That Co-Ed” are George Murphy, Marjorie Weaver and John Barrymore. “Pygmalion.’-’ In addition to being awarded that much-coveted trophy, the Count Colpe Cup, at the Venice International Exhibition, George Bernard Shaw has now received the American Academy Award for 1938, as the writer of “the best written play of the year”—“Pygmalion.” “Pygmalion” will begin at the Plaza Theatre on Friday. The “Christchurch Press” of February 10, reads: —

“Those who saw ‘Pygmalion’ at a preview earlier this week, were so impressed by it that they pronounced it one of the few films they would gladly go and see two or three times. It is that kind of film, chiefly because it has a real story and a real dialogue, written by one of the greatest dramatists of the age. But in the hands of Anthony Asquith and Leslie Howard, two leading British directors, it has come alive in a way that makes it a memorable experience. Wendy Hiller's ‘Eliza Doolittle,’ ■ the flower girl, has made her famous.”

■> King’s Theatre Shows “The Young In Heart”

Boasting that they have been asked to leave only the best places from the Riviera to London, the Carleton Family are the subject of “The Young In Heart,” which is showing at the King’s Theatre. The family lives by their wits and their charm; there is Father “Sahib,” Carleton, an ex-actor whose family loyally support him in the preposterous myth that he is Colonel Carletch, late of the Bengal Lancers (Lhe role is made to order for Roland Young) ; there is charming, twittering “Marmy,” played to the life by Billy Burke; and there are the two children, George-Ann (Janet Gaynor), who has become engaged to a sober, wealthy young Scot, who sees through the family and says so, and the son (Douglas Fairbanks. jun.) who has met a girl rich enough to take care of the entire family for the rest of their lives.

Wallace Beery & Mickey Rooney

In Picture At St. James

Built round Terry (Wallace Beery), a broken-down veterinarian, and Mickey (Mickey Rooney), a stable boy, “Stablemates,” is the picture at the St. James Theatre. When Ladybird, the horse that Mickey loves, loses continuously Gale, its owner, is going to have it destroyed. Mickey pleads with him and gets the horse in lieu of his wages. He learns from Terry that the horse is suffering from an ailment which can be cured by a dangerous operation. He finally persuades Terry to operate. When the horse starts winning Gale takes him back. In a dramatic denouement Terry forces Gale to return the animal to Mickey, though in so doing he sacrifices his own freedom. “Gambling Ship” & “Daredevil Drivers” At De Luxe "Gambling Ship,” the main attraction at the De Luxe Theatre, combines the exposing of gambling racketeering with a romance between a girl gambling ship operator (Helen Mack) and a special investigator (Robert Wilcox) assigned to probe the racket. “Daredevil Drivers,” the other feature, concerns a bitter rivalry existing between two bus companies, one of them headed ■by a girl, Beverly Roberts, and the other by Gordon Oliver. “In Old Mexico” and “Illegal Traffic.” The next change of programme at the De Luxe Theatre will include “In Old Mexico,” with William Boyd, and "Illegal Traffic.” with J. Carrol Naish. Majestic Screens “Listen, Darling” Fully half of the action in "Listen, Darling,” which is screening at the Majestic Theatre, takes place in and round two trailers. The story is about a young boy (Freddie Bartholomew) and a young girl (Judy Garland) who “kidnap” the girl’s mother (Mary Astor) in the family trailer to prevent her from marrying the town banker (Gene Lockhart), and set out upon the highways to find a suitable husband for her. The supporting programme is particularly good and varied. “The Shining Hour.” “The Shining Hour,” which will be the next change at the Majestic Theatre, is an appealing combination of Broadway gaiety, with the lights ami music, contrasting with the tranquillity of a midwestern farm. Briefly, it is the account of a charming dancer (Joan Crawford) who marries u grave young farm expert (.Melvyn Douglas) for security aud peace rather than for love.

Regent Theatre Has “Jezebel” Bette Davis gives a brilliant dramatic portrayal in “Jezebel,” which will show at the Regent Theatre for two more days. Rarely has Mis-s Davis given so outstanding a performance as in the part of Julie, a beautiful but heartless girl living in New Orleans some years before the American Ciyil 'War. Julie delights in defying southern traditions. She smokes, drinks and enjoys having men light duels because of her, “Say It In French.” “Say It In French,” which will be the next change at the Regent Theatre, is a

story of complications that arise when a young American society mini returns from abroad with a French bride only to learn that he must shield his marriage from the world and announce his engagement to a New York heiress to prevent her father’s shipping business from becoming bankrupt. This unusual situation reaches the hilarious when the bride takes a job as maid with her husband’s family so that she will be near him till they iron out their difficulties. The stars are Olympe Bradna and Ray Milland. Tudor Theatre Bills “Suez”

The film billed at the Tudor Theatre, “Suez,” is about Ferdinand de Lesseps; builder of the Suez Canal. Loretta Young and Annabella share top honours, with Tyrone Power as Ferdinand de Lesseps, in portraying the two loves that drove the French genius on to the completion of this great project.