ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 146, 16 March 1939, Page 14

ENTERTAINMENTS

“Hold That Co-Ed” Ends At Plaza Theatre George Murphy, one of. Hollywood s more nimble-footed dancers, plays a young football coach in the new 20th Century-Fox comedy. "Hold That Co-ed, which will end at the Plaza Theatre today. Murphy fashions a national championship team for the State University, sponsored by the politics of a vote-chas-ing governor, played by John Barrymore. Bette Davis is featured. ‘‘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 the writer of “the best written play .of the year"—“Pygmalion." This recordsmashing comedy will be shown for the first time in Wellington at the Plaza Theatre tomorrow, when four screenings will be given. It comes to Wellington while it is still sustaining memorable runs in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland and Christchurch. About it, the Christchurch ‘‘Press’’ writes (February 10, 1939) : — "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 retd dialogue, written by one ot the greatest dramatists of the age. 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."

“Say It In French” Begins At Regent Theatre

“Say It In French,” which will begin at tlie Regent Theatre today, is a tangle of domestic situations. It shows the complications that arise when a young American society man (Ray Milland) returns from abroad with a French bride (Olympe Bradna) only to learn that he must shield his marriage from the world and announce his engagement to u New York heiress to prevent his 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 surmount their difficulties.

The play upon which the film is based was written by Jacques Deval, famed French playwright and author of “Tovarich.” One of Brotlaway’s most famous actors of a generation ago plays the eccentric shipping magnate in the film, he is William Collier sen. This name was once as familiar to theatregoers as those of Clark Gable, Gary Cooper or Ronald Colman are today.

Last Day Of “The Lost Jungle”

At State Theatre

"The Lost Jungle,” starring Clyde Beatty, great animal trainer, and "23| Hours’ Leave,” a story of the United States Army, starring James Ellison, will show for the last time at the State Theatre today. i

“Road Demon” and “While New York Sleeps.”

The spectacular failure of a new steering gadget placed on a racer driven by Tom Beck is one of the exciting highlights of “Road. Demon,” second in 20th Cen-tury-Fox's sports adventure series, which will be the main feature on the State Theatre programme beginning tomorrow. The film features the Gambini Family, headed by Henry Armetta, who won much acclaim with their first appearance in “Speed to Burn.” Rapa Gambini finds himself in the auto racing business when Henry Arthur induces him to buy the wreck of an experimental car, recondition it, and enter it for a race. The second feature, "While New York Sleeps,” begins innocently enough with Michael Whalen and Chick Chandler starting for a month’s vacation in the countrj;. They are hardly inside lhe cottage, however, when the telephone rings and the city editor of their newspaper informs them that Steve Marlin, insurance detective and friend of Whalen’s, has committed suicide.

“Listen, Darling,” Concludes At Majestic Theatre “Listen, Darling,” will conclude a season at the Majestic Theatre today. It concerns 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 Shining Hour.” Heralded ue one of the outsatndiug productions of the season, "The Shining Hour,” with Joan Crawford. Margaret Sullivan, Robert Young and Alelvyn Douglas will begin at the Majestic Theatre tomorrow. Based on the New York stage success by Keith Winter, the drama j resents Joan Crawford in her first dancing role since “Dancing Lady.” “The Shining Hour," is the story of a dancing star who attempts to escape from her surroundings through marriage wilb a Kansas farmer. The resulting family entanglements provide a plot rich in dramatic action.

The production wag brought to the sevreen by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. Fraiilt Borzage directed. A full programme will include an "C>ur Gang” comedy, “‘Alfalfa's Aunt, ’ a Metro musicla. “Dream of Love,” and ii cartoon, "I’etunia Natural Bark.”

St. James Has “Stablemates” Wallace Beery and Mickey Rooney arc seen travelling round he country with an injured racehorse. which Rooney has accepted as payment lor services, to save the horse from being destroyed, in * Stablemates.” which is showing at the St. JameTheatre. Beery, a former veterinarian, operates, and tile animal is ready for the track again. Beery is an escaped convict; and Rooney learns of the fact, though he does not allow his friend to know it. He tries to keep Beery away from the big race so that he will not lie captured, but fails. There Beery meets the man who framed him into prison and who actually committed the murder for which Beery had been convicted and imprisoned. The man turns out to be the former owner .of the racehorse and he takes it because Rooney cannot show ownership papers, 1 be horse wins the big race, but not with Rooney's colours. Things take a change for the better in a thrilling finish, which, however, is not without its pathetic repercussion. “The Young In Heart” Shows At King’s Theatre Showing al the King's Theatre is “The Youg Ip Heart." Living by their wit.-, and their charm, the Carleton Family are the subject of the film. There is Rather “Sahib" Carleton. an ex-actor whose family loyally support him in the preposterous myth that he is Colonel Carletch, late of the Bengal Lancers (the role is made to order for Roland Young) ; there is charming, twittering “Mnrmy.” played to the life by Billy Burke; and I here are the two children, George-Ann (Janet Gaynor), who has become engaged to a sober, wealthy young Scot, who fives through Ihe family and says so. and the son (l.)ouglas Fairbanks. jut). I who has met a girl rich enough to take care of the entire family foiHthe rest of their lives. \

Building Of Suez Canal Pictured At Tudor The building of the Suez Canal is pictured in “Suez.", winch is showing at the Tudor Theatre. Il depicts also the supreme effort of the elements to prevent the joining of the Mediterranean with the Red Sea. in this Him is proof that earth, air. and water —-once thought to be the elements that constituted man ami his environment —are among the basic elements of man's entertainment. Tyrone Bower. Annabella, and Loretta Young, have the prominent roles. Featuring June Lang ami Lynn Barf, “■Meet Ihe Girls" is the associate att raid ion. De Luxe Bills Two Pictures As an “undercover" man who conceals a motion picture camera in a radio and thereby procures visual or oral evidence in “Gambling Ship," which will show at ihe Be Luxe Theatre lor the last time today. is- Robert Wilcox. The supporting film, "Daredevil Driver" shows the rivalry between two bit- 3 companies. Till an honest two-fisted racing driver, played by Dick Purcell, enters the situation, there is foul play between the companies. “In Old Mexico” and “Illegal Triflic.” With William Boyd in "In Did Mexico,” and with J. Carrol Xaisli in 1 Illegal Trallie." these two film stars will head tlie vasts of tile films on the De Luxe Theatre's new programme which will begin tomorrow.