ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 189, 7 May 1940, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS

State Theatre Fresh material for those who enthuse about mystery films will be found in "Inspector lloinleigh on Holiday,” the main feature at the State Theatre. As in others of the Inspector Hornleigh series, Gordon Harker again plays the inspector, and Alastair Sim the Inspector's grumbling but ungrudging assistant. Sergeant Bingham.

As if the presence of the Jones Family itself wore not sufficient clue to the uproarious hilarity to be derived from “Too Busy IO Work,” the other feature. Joan Davis is found in a top role. Mayor Jones’s neglect of his family and business is the inspiration for much'of the story of “Too Busy to Work.” “I Was a Spy” and “City of Chance.” A re-issue of the very successful "1 Was a Spy” will be the main feature at the State Theatre from tomorrow. The east is headejj by Conrad Veidt, Madeleine Carroll, Herbert, Marshall. Sir Gerald du Maurier, and Edmund Gwenn. In its essentials, the story of “I Was a Spy.” has all the simplicity of greatness. The actions of a young Belgian woman, Martha McKenna, in the last war, provide the subject matter. The altering forever of the tenor of eight lives during eight thrill-packed hours behind the bolted bronze doors of an exclusive gambling club is the theme of “City of Chance,” the other feature to be. Lynn Bari. C. Aubrey Smith, Donald Woods, and Amanda Duff are the prominent players. Regent Theatre Deviating only in the slightest from the first half of the original story by Dean Jonathan Swift—and it is only that half with which it deals —Paramount's cartoon version in. colour of “Gulliver’s Travels” is being warmly appreciated-at the Regent Theatre. Following the adventures of Lemuel Gulliver, the English seaman wrecked on the shores of a land of miniature people “somewhere in the South Seas,” the film shows how be gains the confidence of the natives, becomes their leader through his amazing feats of strength, promotes a romance between a love-struck prince and princess, and averts a war that threatens the peace of the land. De Luxe Theatre The theme of “Seventeen,” which is the main attraction at the De Luxe Theatre this week, is the falling in love of n smalltown boy with a philandering young woman from the city—to the worry of his family, and to the discovery by himself that he is not So grown-up after all. The principals are Jackie Cooper and Bettv Field. “Hopalong” Cassidy. (William Boyd.) rides yet again in the interests of justice in the associate attraction, “Law of the Pampas.” “Hopalong” this time opposes* cattle rustlers. St. James Theatre The pathos of James Cagney, newspaper reporter, and George Raft, callous criminal, cross in “Each Dawn 1 Die,’ in the second week of a season, at the St. James ’Theatre, when the reporter :s “framed” on a manslaughter charge, anti sent to a pententiary lor a long term. Raft, who has been a man of some importance in the underworld, has finally been caught and is in the “pen” for life. Rebellious because ot the injustice done him, Cagney is a difficult prisoner for the authorities to handle. Ho and Raft become friends when he saves Raft from an attempt on his life made by an enemy in the prison. Raft eventually pays his debt to Cagney, with interest, when lie lays down his life as the outcome of ins efforts—which are successful —to. obtain evidence that will prove Cagney s innocence of the manslaughter charge. Others in the cast are Jane Bryan, George Bancroft, Maxie Rosenbloom, Stanley Ridges, Alan Baxter, Victor Jory, Edward Pawley, and Emma Dunn. King’s Theatre A richly emotional and tensely dramatie story of the migratory ranch workers of California is told in “Of Mice and Men,” presented this week by the management of the King’s Theatre. Burgess Meredith, Lon Chaney, jun., and Betty Field are the principals. The setting is Aguora Ranch. George and Lennie have travelled the ranches ot California for years, with George devoted to Lennie, whose brute strength and weak mind have invariably upset their “best laid plans.” Then, at long last, it seems as if their dream is to become reality—they have saved enough money to buy a small farm of their own and live "off the' futta the iau’.” But they have not counted on Mae, the only woman on the. ranch, married to Curley, the owner’s - son, for. she it is who ruins the materialization of their dream —and brings the story to a climax that is as unexpected as it is Stun-nnig; "Of Mice and Men,” based the novel of the same name by John Steinbeck, and which was adapted lor the Broadway stage by Eugene Solow, was produced, and directed by Lewis Milestone.

Plaza Theatre The Ritz Brothers are a trio of out-of-work vaudevillians wiio enlist for service with the British in the World War and are sent to France on a transport as ‘•nursemaids” to a herd of army mules, in “Pack Up Your Troubles,” this week, at the Plaza Theatre. Arrived in France, the Hitzes make friends with a young French girl. Collette (Jane Withers), by way of their pet mule, while Angel Face” Walker (Stanley Fields), the sergeant under whose charge the ltitz.es are, takes into his company Yvonne (Lynn Bari), who later turns out to-be a spy. Of the subsequent events, some are hilarious, other less cheerful—but none dull. “Day-time Wife.” Gav comedy and romantic revelry are the keynotes of “Day-time IV ife, shortly to be released at the Plaza Theatre. Ihe principals are Linda Darnel , memorable for her performance tn ’ Hotel for Women,” and Tyrone Power, and othera in the east are Warren William, •Binnie Barnes Wendy Barrie, and Joan Davis. Linda ami Power are east as husband and wife, ami Wendy us the husbandH secretary, who almost breaks up the happy home. Majestic I’hcalre P,lending laughs with thrills ami mystery with mirth in their memoral e and d< lightful fashion, the “T htn Man pair, Nick and Nora Charles— played by William Powell and Myrna. Loj appear again in “Another Thin Man wwh is being shown al Ihe Majestic 1 bra re. The two preceding episodes of rhe Lhin Mmh*’ s?i ,r a—‘‘The Thin Man and Alter the Thin'Man”—set a high mark in entertainmeni value and also a new stylt in mvsterv films, and “Another I bin Mau. set in New York, is it worthy successor. Tudor Theatre About a famous cricketer nml mati-aboui-towii t played by David Niwnl who leads a life of secret crime lor the Inn ami adventure. "Kahles' is the main him al t |,e Tudor Theatre. Otliera in the cast a,.,. Dame May Whitty. Oltvtrt de Haulhind, and Dougins \\ alloii. . \ blackout in Paris is the signal laat plinimwflmrlie I’ban into a tense mystery of deadly intrigue in “Charite < han in City nf Darkness." the associate him. Suburban Theatres KINEMA (Kilbirnie). —“The Young in Heart.” with Janet Gaynor and Douglas Fairbanks. Jun.: and “Blind Alley." with Chester Morris and Ann Dvorak CAPITOL I Miramar).— “Angels With Dirty Faces." and “The Jones Family in Hollywood." TIVOLI (Tlrorndon).—Elsa Maxwell’s

Meteorological Reports

Che following reports based on observations taken throughout New Zealand were recorded at the Meteorological Oilice, Wellington at 3 p.rn. yesterday:— .Norfolk Island.—Bar.. .1014; ther., 65; S.W., gentle breeze; cloudy; sea rough.' Cape Maria Van Diemen.—-Bar., 1004; ther., 55: W., strong breeze; overcast, passing showers; sea rough. Auckland.—Bar., 1000; ther., 57; W.N.W., fresh breeze; overeast, passing showers; sea slight. East Cape.—Bar., 1002; ther., 55; N.W., gentle breeze: cloudy, passing showers; sea slight. Gisborne. —Bar., 1000; ther., 56; S.E., gentle breeze; overcast, passing showers;sea slight. Chateau ’Congariro.—Bar.. —; ther., —; E., light air; blue sky, cloudy. Cape E'gmoni.—Bar.. IH17: ther., 53; S.E., moderate breeze: him: sky, cloudy; sea moderate. Napier.- -Bar., 1001: ther., 52: S., light air: overcast: sea smooth. Wanganui.—Bar.. Oil!); liter.. 5(1; S.E.. moderate breeze: blue sky. eloudy; sea moderate. I'.-irewoll Spit. Bar., 1001: ther., 50; E.S.E.. slight breeze; blue sky, cloudy; sett slight. Stephens Island.--Bar., 1000; ther., -IS; S.E.. fresh breeze: blue sky, cloudy: sea rough. ■ Wellington. Bar., 1002; ther.. -til; S.S.E., gentle breeze; blue sky; sea moderate. Cape Campbell.--Bar., tool; ther.. 52; N., slight breeze: blue sky: sea moderate. Westport.—Biir., 101)0; ther., 51; W., moderate bri-eze; blue sky, eloudy; sea rough. Grey-mouth.—Bar., 1002; ther., 53; N.W., li.elu air; overcast: oca considerable. Akaroa Lighthouse.—Bar., 1)07; ther., 13; S.W.. fresh breeze; overcast, mist; sea rough. Nugget Point.--Bar.. 1004; ther., 13; S.S.W.. gale; overcast, steady rain, squalls, mist : sea very rough. Bluff.—Bar.. — ; ther.. 13: E.-.5.E.. gale; overcast, steady rain; sea rough. Puvseaur Point.— Bar.. 1012: liter., 1(1; S.E.,' high wind: cloudy, squalls- sea rough. Cuatlmm Islands.-—Bar.. lOUtl; ther.. is*: N.E.. high wind: overeast, passing showers; sea very rough. Sydney.—Bar., 1027: ther., 51); S.S.E.. gentle breeze: overcast, steady rain. Hobart.- -Bar.. 1037: tiler.. 51: S.S.E.. slight breeze; overcast. “Hotel For Women," with Anu Sotliern und Linda Darnell: ,-trnJ "They All Come Out.” VOGUE ( Brooklyn i.—“ The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” with Mickey Rooney; and “Blackwell’s Island,’ with John Garfield. KING GEORGE (Lower Hutt).— “It’s in the Air,” with George Formby; and “I’m a Criminal.” with John Carroll. PRINCE EDWARD (Woburn).— "’rite Hit Parade." with Phil Reagan and Frances Langford; and “The Forgotten Women," with Sigrid Gurie. DE LUXE (Lower Hutt) —‘ Yes, .My Darling Daughter." with Priseilia Lane and Jeffrey Lynn 1 and “The Witness Vanishes,”’ with Edmund Lowe.