ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 99, 21 January 1943, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

State Theatre.—The appearance of Roddy McDowall, who shone so brightly in "How Green is My Valley," at the State last night drew a packed house. His performance in "Ou the Sunny Side" was voted ri-bt up to tile earlier standard, and, apart from that, the story told in the film is excellent, too. A London boy, blitzed from home, find's sanctuary in America for the duration. With Roddy McDowall are Jane Darwell, Stanley Clements. Katharine Alexander, Don Douglas, Freddie Mercer, Ann Todd, and Jill Esmond. A second attraction in the programme is "Down Rio Grande Way, a story ot the Texas war. Charles Starrett and Russell Hayden have the leads.

De Luxe ThcuMre.—A new programme is presented at the De Luxe today, with “Jackass Mail” as the chief attraction and "Broadway Big Shot" as the associate feature. In the former, Wallace Beery and Marjorie Main star together again. Wallace Is back in trouble, of course, and has an uncomfortable time when lie finds himself by mistake, a hero. In "Broadway Big - Shot,” Ralph Byrd and Virginia Vale, with William Halligan, work their way through a tangle at a penitentiary. There is also a Walt Disney colour cartoon.

Paramount Theatre. —"Reap the Wild Wind” completes a successful term today and tomorrow is replaced by "Eagle Squadron,” which well deserves a further season in Wellington. The deeds of the famous squadron of the R.A.F., not long since merged into the L’nitcd States Army Air Corps, stirred and touched the hearts of all Britons, and this film, documentary as it is, preserves the memory of those Americans who fought and gave their lives in the defence ot Britain in the days before their own country got into the war. "Destination Unknown,” with William Gargan and Irene Hervey, is Hie second feature.

St. James Theatre.—Replacing "The Big Blockade." a story of the economic war on the Axis, which 'completes Its season to<lav, will be "Mr Favourite Blonde.” Bob Hope, the United States No. 1 comedian of the day. Is starred in this with Madeleine Carroll, and the story is one long gale of laughter, as Bob travels 3000 miles witli the incendiary Madeleine. There is a saying: "It's nice work if you can get enough ot it." "Well, Bob gets a little too much.

Majestic. Theatre. —"Mrs. -Miniver con. tinues to attract full houses, as it deserves. While there seems to be some dissension as to the correctness of its portrayal of normal everyday life in iditzed Britain, on account, of the particular family strata whoso storv it tells, there can be no two minds as to its high-grade entertainment value. It has moments of great, patiios and moments of great, joy, and the audience. through it. can gain some of tlie spirit in which the Battle of Britain was fought. As such it. is one of the best seinidocuinentary films tho war has produced. Tudor Theatre.—"Weekend in Havana” will la- screened for the last, time today. Tomorrow Kipling's "Jungle, Book” be* gins a return season for Wellington, ’the part of the half-animal, half-boy. Mowgli-, is played by Sabu. "Riders of the Badland." starring Russell Hayden and Ch.-irles Starrett, a western, is the associate feat uro.

Tivoli Theatre.—"How Gfcen Was My Valiev.” which translated :i popular novel of a ‘Welsh miner’s family and their village into an even more popular film, is now at the Tivoli. Also screening Is "Algiers," witli Charles Boyer.

Plaza Theatre.—lf you can overcome 11 natural refusal to believe that a famous New York stage slur wouut leap out ot a taxi pick a stray baby from the sidewalk and’ then proceed to shower embarrassing adoration upon it. you will see nothing improbable in tin- plot ot "'I lie laidy is Willing,” at the Pinza. Perhaps the producer did not intend to give the film any close relation to life. If this was so he lias succeeded admirably. Marlene Dietrich brings this bonny, ehorlling baby home and completely upsets her extravagant household.

Opera House.—" Sergeant lurk is it •'real picture because -I. has boldly striven to give Hie world more than a series of scenes with words. II lias looked down into n man's soul, and caught Hie first burgeoning* of conscience, tile .-nvakeiiing to Hie meaning of individual freedom and thought. York is a good soldier, but lacking when lie must reckon with his conscience. He sits alone ou a hillside, the Bible in one hand, a history of tlie United States in Hie other. Does one bear relationship to tlie oilier? Sergeant York does not. find tlie true answer till ho reaches tlie torn fields of Argouue in tlie autumn ot 1918.

King’s Theatre. —Charlie Chaplin is back again. The pathetic little figure, tlie symbol of tlie masses who laugh a little aud light and die witli wisiies ungranted, the man who, in becoming tlie world s greatest comedian has become almost fi-iglitell-ing in Ilfs interpretation of our civilization—Clinrlle Chaplin in ‘"l’lie Gold Rush, of which lie himself said nearly IS years ago. "This is tlie picture that I want to lie remembered by.”

SUBURBAN THEATRES

Empire (Island Bayop Smilli. \ mori'-an,’’ Robert Young, Marsha Hunt; Night a! Earl Carroll’s.” Rivoli ( Newtown h—-“ The .”>'.l Steps,” Robert Donat. Madeleine Carroll; "Hollywood Cavalcade.” Rinema <Kilbirnie». —"When Ladies Meet.” Robert Taylor, Greer Garson: "'l’hc Trail of the Vigilantes,’’ ITanchot Tone. King George ( Lower II ut I).—“Call a Cop." George I'ormby. Do Lij.vo (Lower Hu 11.“ Tugboat, Annie Sails Again,” Marjorie Ram beau, Alan Hale: Gene Autry in “Hide, Tenderfoot, Ride." Prince Edward ( Woburn !.—“A Dale With the Ealeon,” George Sanders, Wendy Barrie; "Klondike Fury,” Edmund I,owe, Ralph Morrison. Ascot 1 Newlow n).— “City I’or CunqueKl.’* James <’agney. Ann Sheridan; "Honeymoon Deferred,” Margaret Lindsay, Edmund Lowe. Regal (Karori). —"The Chocolate Soldier.’’ Rise St‘*veias Nelson Eddy. Capitol cMirnman. "This Gun I'or Hiro.” Veronica Lake, Alan Ladd; "Bandit Trail." Tim Holt. Ray Whitney.

s’<»gue (Brooklyn). I h• • Letter, Lt*l.< Davis. Herbert Marshall; "Murder By 1» vital ion." SValln'-e Lord. Marian Marsh.