ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 291, 7 September 1942, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

Puramount Theatre,—When Vivien Leigh made “Dark Journey,” the chief film o-u the programme, «he had not then ■been selected by Solznick for her epoch-making role as Scarlett O’Hara. But discerning fllmgoers could see in her acting the sparks of genius and, in her role as the beautiful but inscrutable woman who played the game of espionage and death, she set her feet firmly on the path which has led to the topmost peaks of stardom. Equally important is the role played by that great European actor. Conrad Veldt. Elizabeth Bergner is the star of “Catherine the Great” tn which the pomps and frauds and pageantry of the great court of old Russia are sbo-wu for what they are worth in this Korda drama.

St. Jarnos Theatre. —“Ships With Wings” ■is a picture with thrills enough to stir the blood of every man-jack in the audience, with sufficient meat to make It an outstanding compliment to the I ieet Air Arm and with enough real heroism for it to become a moving tribute to the men of the Empire who have lost their lives in this, the youngest branch of the Silent Service. John Clements, Leslie Banks and Anu Todd are three members of a long and capable cast.

Majestic Theatre.—"The Chocolate Soldier” is well cast, full of rich musical numbers, beautifully mounted, and with a story which would stand the test without music or big names. Nelson Eddy, singing better than ever, has at last been freed ‘from hfs usual saccharine parts, and is allowed to clown and become a figure of fun. Else Stevens, a newcomer, not •over-beautiful has a magnificent voice and an enigmatical face.

De Luxe Theatre.—"Dr. Broadway" may not contain the sort of plot that could be likened to the dally life of Mrs. Jones in Miramar or Mr. Smith in Seatouu, but It i« good exciting stuff of the type in which the De Luxe specializes. There are gangsters who are after an hefrese’s money, a girl who is about to jump from the ledge of a Manhattan skyscraper, and a doctor, who has a busy time protecting his patients from themselves and himself from the patients. The second feature is "The Affaire of Jimmy Valentine.”

Tudor Theatre.—One would hardly expect Carole Lombard and Jack Benny to be on the screen together, least of all In a film directed by Ernst ' Lubltseh. It is strange that Lu'bltsch’s “To Be or Not to Be,” set in wartime Warsaw, should be a romantic comedy that gives the stars ample scope. The second feature is “Girls Under 21.”

King’s Theatre. —In to the shores of Tri. poll a precocious young man named Withers is eent by his father, a cuptaiu In the last war, to be trained as a marine. The young man rubs his sergeant the wrong way, puts himself in badly with the commanding officer’s niece, talks too much, and generally behaves much as Kobert Taylor did in “Flight Command"; but in the finish, In a scene that eould scarcely happen even in a Ruritanian musical comedy, all Is happily straightened out. The acting prize belongs to Randolph Scott, last seen in Wellington in “Paris Calling.” Now he plays a sergeant, tough, efficient, and proudly sentimental of the traditions behind the corps. ,

'State Theatre.—Sound—and Improved photography-rare the chief differences between “Valley of the Gun” and the redskin films which had such a vogue 23 aud 30 years ago. Redskins ride again, and cowboys and settlers repel them, with powder burning, and thrills aplenty. Lucille Ball and James Craig are in the lead and Lean Jagger and Sir. Cedric Hardwleke support them. "Weekend For Three,” the second feature, brings Dennis O’Keefe, Jaue Wyatt, Ed. Everett Horton, Zasu Pitts, and Franklin Pangbotn into a hectic threeday comedy tangle.

Plaza Theatre.—ln “A Date With the Falcon,” the latest contribution to the series, George Sanders has the support of the lovely Wendy Barrie in a ■deliciously fiery role—and who can blame her, for she ■is a fiancee who gets left in the lurch every few hours—the droll Allen Jenkins and Jame 9 Gleason. As the storv simply oozes mystery from start to finish, it is not proposed to tell anything about it in this review. Suffice to say that the interest never Jags for a single minute—and there is a savouring of snappy humour,

Opera House. —“A Woman’s Face,” that excellent film which is back at the Opera House, deals with a little group of people in Sweden—a woman blackmailer whose judgments and impulses have been warped by a repulsive scar which sprawls across her face. The other characters are subsidiary, but they all help to build a story which is as compelling as any the screen has known. Joan Crawford pulls herself right back Into the front rank with her splendid performance. Melvyn Douglas gives of his best as the doctor who removes the scar.