ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 43, 14 November 1940, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

State Theatre’s Ncav Programme

Following its policy of presenting every now and then a return season of films which have already proved extremely popular, the State Theatre is now screening Bernard Shaw’s “Pygmalion” as its main attraction. After seeing this film for a second time it is not to 'be wondered that it was so successful in its first season. Those who have not seen "I’ygmalion” should lake this opportunity of doing so. and those who have will surely be entertained if they go again. The story concerns Eliza Doolittle and Professor Higgins... The professor is more than interested in voice production, and when he meets Eliza, the flower girl, he is horrified at her dreadful Cockney accent. The idea of an experiment comes to him and he takes Eliza into his home, telling a friend that ho will convert Eliza into a ‘'lady” in a matter of months. Poor Eliza, much to her disgust, is first given a bath and clean clothes. Then starts a period of harassing endeavour for Kliza and quite a lot of ba<l temper for the professor. When Eliza's father, a dustman, appears on the sceue and demands an explanation the professor has a hard time of it. But the experiment is carried through and Eliza is finally made to speak as the professor thinks she should. Eliza, however, is a very human person, and, when the grime is washed off. very beautiful. She has ideas, too, and resents being treated as a "guinea pig.” In the long run the professor, much against his will, is forced to look on Eliza as a person, and the film ends in a slightly different manner front the play, .with all the stray ends tied up nicely.

Leslie Howard as the professor and Wendy Hiller as Eliza carry most of the film on their competent shoulders, but Wilfred Lawson as the dustman is so good as almost to swamp the others in the short scene in which he appears. The scene at the tea party when Eliza utters a word which so shocked the theatre audience of another generation is as good as. ever, and the scene at thg ball is worth going to see on its own. In the su.pport.Lng film, “Earthbound." AVarner Baxter, married to Andrea Leeds, ■becomes involved through no fault of his own with it former sweetheart (Lynn Bari), who shoots him in a jealous rage. To cover up her crime the sweetheart’s husband takes the blame, and’ is tried and convicted. This makes things difficult for Baxter's soul which is not able to leave the earth till justice is done. ■How justice is done and Baxter’s alter ego freed makes an interesting story. Included in the programme is a striking short called “London Can Take It," which came by airmail to New Zealand, and so is fresh as news. The calm American voice of Quentin Reynolds, of “Collier's AVeekly,” states the case of London and its people tinder bombardment even better than J. B. I’riestley could have done it. “London Can Take It” is a film that will arouse the feelings of any audience.

De Luxe Theatre. — “Dust be my Destiny,” a story of two young “nobodies” who marry but find the road to happiness hard and long, heads the De Luxe programme. "My Irish Molly” is the associate film.

Action is the keynote of Para mount's latest “Hopalong Cassidy” romance, "The Showdown,” which is one of the two new films which will begin at the De Luxe Theatre tomorrow. It. has action as the action fans like it —hard riding, hard fighting, hard playing, and AA’illiam Boyd, who plays the part of the redoubtable “Hopalong.” proves himself a master portrayer of the silent man of the west who sees justice prevail. The story concerns the machinations of a band of crooked gamblers and horse thieves who come into a frontier community and attempt to run it —till Cassidy catches up with them and winds up with a thrilling, runaway and capture. This is performed and photographed in the best manner of Producer Harry Sherman, the man who is responsible for lifting the AVestern out of the old “chase” tradition into legitimate motion picture entertainment. The east also includes Russell Ilayden, Britt AA’ood, Alorris Ankrum, lovely Jane Clayton and “The King’s Men.” cowboy singing quartet of radio fame. The story is based on characters created by Clarence E. Mulford, topnotch writer of western action fiction. The second film. “The Night of Nights,” stars Pat O'Brien, Olymite Bradna, and Roland Young in a moving story of Broadways’ theatre world.

St. James Theatre. — Affording AVallace Beery another colourful characterization, “20 Mule Team” will conclude at the St. James Theatre tonight. A story of the Death A’alley pioneers who dug borax and hauled it to the railroad, 162 miles away, by mule trains across blistering desert sands, and through sun-baked canyons, “20 Mule Team” finds Beery in the role of Muleskinner • Bill Bragg, best driver on the route by his own admission.

“When the Daltons Rode,” Universal’s story of frontier America, in the days of the celebrated Dalton gang, comes to the St. James Theatre tomorrow with Randolph Scott and Kay Francis heading a distinguished east. Based ou the exciting book of the same name, the film traces the careers of the Dalton boys as ranch owners who are led into spectacular crime by the persecutions of a land company. The story reaches a climax with the historic raid on Coffeyville, Kansas, in 1892, when the gang was destroyed while staging the old West’s only double bank robbery. Miss Francis, portraying the first action role of her career, appears as the winsome telegraph operator of Coffeyville, a character based on the real-life sweetheart of one of the Daltons. Scott plays a frontier lawyer who befriends the Daltons and helps bring the land company agents to justice. The four Daltons are portrayed by Brian Donlevy, Broderick Crawford. Stuart Erwin, and FrankAlbertson.

Regent Theatre.—The new Paul Muni starring picture. “We Are Not Alone, ’ will begin a season at the Regent Theatre. today. Written by the author of “Good-bye. Mr. Chips,” names Hilton. “We Are Not Alone” has all the elements which mark a great production. A Muni film is alwavs a red-letter event, for the star who leads the entire field of dramatic acting makes only one a year and that one is certain to be worthy of his genius. Appearing with him in the cast are Jane Bryan, who received the role as a,reward for her brilliant dramatic work in ‘/he Old Maid,” Flora Robson, noted British star of stage and screen, and a host of others. “We Are Not Alone” starts in 1914 But the little country doctor in a small English town is not concerned about the world outside, for his own world is troubled enough. He is deeply concerned about his son. a sensitive attle fellow who is completely misunderstood bv his mother, a severe, forbidding woman. One night the doctor is called to attend a little Viennese dancer, travelling with n third-class theatrical troupe who has broken her wrist. From then on the storv tells with dramatic fire how the idle' tongue of cruel, irresponsible scandal leads the little doctor and the dancer along the road to tragedy and doom.

.Majestic Theatre. —'1 ' ou Vain,” which is at the Majestic llicatre, briivv William Powell and Myrna Loy together again in one of the funniest pictures of their careers and the first m some time without the “Thin Man tag. 'The two are east as husband and wile, but the fact that the marriage 'ook place during an eight-year attack ot amnesia ou the part of Powell and that he does not recognize his wife, his home, or any of his friends when he comes out of it, makes for hilarious comedy.

Plaza Theatre. —Fifth in the popular series of thrillers based on the colourful modern Robin Hood character created by Leslie f’harteris in his widely read novels. "The Saint 'Takes Over." which will conclude tonight at the Plaza, again presents George Sanders in the role. Lovely Wendy Barrie is seen ns his romantic interest in this exciting film. In the farce. “Too Many Husbands,’ which will begin at the Plaza Theatre tomorrow. Jean Arthur is seen as a lonely wife who is suddenly provided with two devoted husbands, played by Fred MaeMiiirav and Melvyn Douglas Mac-

Murray is east as the first husband, whose errant wanderlust has kept him from his wife, though they love each other deeply. AVhen he is reported drowned at sea. his wife turns to his former business partner and best friend. After the marriage the first husband suddenly returns. From this point the situation becomes more amusing with every scene and events move rapidly and hilariously to an ingenious climax.

King’s Theatre.—Against the colourfu. and adventure-filled background of the Old West, in the day§ when justice was administered at the point of a gun and roystering Judge Roy Bean loomed as the “Law West of the Peeos,” “The Westerner,” with Gary Cooper in the title role, is showing at the King’s Theatre. The setting of the story is Vinegarroou. Texas, in the roaring days of the eighties when there raged a bitter and long-pro-tracted battle between the cattlemen, original settlers of the land, and the homesteaders, who sought to till the land which they- homesteaded under the law.

Opera House.—A stirring dramatic document is provided in "The Alortal Storm,” which is at the Opera House, with Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart. Robert Young and Frank Alorgan heading an impressive cast of screen personalities. The screen play, adapted from the novel of Phyllis Bottome, tells the story of a family torn asunder by political forces. It is a frank, truthful presentation, free from exaggeration or any attempt tit sen sationalism.

Tudor Theatre.—Romance and drama, songs and dances, spectacular scenes and novelties are all in “Irene,” the film based on the famous stage success ot the same name, and in its last day at the Tudor. Anna Neagle and Ray Millaud

SUBURBAN THEATRES

Ascot. (Newtown). —"The Proud Valley,” Paul Robeson; “Call on the Presi-

Empire (Island Bay).—“Private Affairs," Nancy Kelly and Roland Young; "Millionaire Playboy,” Joe Penner, Tivoli (Thorudon). — "Remember.” Robert Taylor and Greer Garson; “Sandy is a Lady,” Baby Sandy and Mischa Auer.

Kinenia (Kilbirnie). —“The Man m the Iron Mask,” Joan Bennett and Louis Hayward; “Peck's Bad Boy At the Circus.” Tommy Kelly and Ann Gibb. Rivoli (Newtown). —"Winter Carnival,” Ann Sheridan and Richard Carlson ; "Cross Country Romance.” Wendy Barrie and Gene Raymond. Vogue (Brooklyn).—“Al] At Sea, Sandy Powell and Kay Walsh ; "Private Detective,” Jane Wyman and Dick Foran.

Capitol (Miramar). —"Honeymoon hi Bali.” Madeleine Carroll and Fred MacMurray ; “Double Alibi,” Wayne Morris and Margaret. Lindsay. King George (Lower Hutt). —“Earl ot Chicago,” Robert Montgomery and Edward Arnold. Prince Edward (Woburn). —“Convicted Woman,” Rochelle Hudson anil Lola Lane; “The Marshal of Mesa City. George O'Brien. De Luxe (Lower Hutt). —"Golden Boy." Adolphe Menjou and Barbara Stanwyck; “The Law West of Tombstone.” Harry Carey and Tim Holt. Regal (Karori). —“House of the Seven Gables.” Vincent Price and Goorue Sanders; “The Little Adventuress. ’ Edith Fellows and Richard Fiske.