CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Issue 29, 3 August 1936, Page 5

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. ~The rewriting, of much of Jerome ■Kerns musical score and the resetting ■ of the whole piece have made "Show .Boat," which continues to draw large crowds to the Regent Theatre, a film of universal appeal, and one which is - particularly popular to all who appre-! -ciale such favourites as "OV Man i River." Paul Robeson's bass voice in ;>this number and "Ah Still Suits Me" i ,is like a diapasonic stop on a grand! organ. Beautiful Irene Dunne, as' Magnolia, sings "Make Believe," "After •the,Ball,"-'and'"'Can't Help Lovin' That . Man," .and .Allan, Jones, who has a ..mellow tenor ■■■ voice, ■ plays and sings .;the part of the attractive waster, Gaylord Ravenal. The story opens on. the ; banks of the Mississippi with the glamorous show boat of Captain Andy ;Hawks, a part vividly portrayed by .Charles Dinniger. His daughter, Mag•.noha, falls in love with Ravenal. Julie, ■'the'leading lady of the cast, is found .to be born of a coloured mother, and has to leave the cast. Magnolia. steps -'into the breach, and with Ravenal, ■scores a triumph. They marry. Flush! ;with money, Ravenal seeks the false! .gaiety of city life, but the money is; ■spent. He deserts Magnolia, who has • a desperate struggle for existence, but 'finally triumphs. Helen Morgan is notable as Julie, and Helen Weslley as I ;Parthy Hawks. There is an excellent supporting programme. "' ;" MAJESTIC THEATRE. • ; A light-hearted whimsical comedy set in a background of Labrador snows is -.brought to the screen in "Petticoat Fever," starring Myrna Loy and Robert Montgomery, at the Majestic Theatre. The film is based on the reactions of a.young man, who has been confined in a lonely wireless post without seeing | a beautiful woman for two years, when ' ■two aviators, one of them a charming young lady, descend from the skies and crack up their machine almost at his front door. Montgomery immediately becomes infected with "petticoat fever" arid schemes to keep the pair at his hut throughout the winter, meanwhile paying attention to the fair aviatrix under the very eyes of her fiance* Things become complicated when Montgomery's long-lost and unwanted fiancee comes to Labrador to seek her man after'an absence of two years. The supporting subjects include a coloured trayeltalk, a Charlie Chase 'comedy, and a newsre'el. ■ I ST. JAMES THEATRE. ; The return season of Stan Laurel and Oliver, Hardy in "Fra Diavolo" at ■the St. James Theatre is drawing good : attendances. Robbed on the road of "their life savings by the famous ban--..dit, they try the game themselves, only to fall into his hands. Pressed into ( Diavolo's service in an attempt to steal Lady Pamela's jewels at the Cucu Tnn. ' Laurel and Hardy reach fresh heights of ■ imbecility. There is also much diversion in. the courtship, of Lady Pamela by Diavolo,' who is after a fabulous sum .in paper money sewn into one of her {seven petticoats, but it cannot hold a 1 candle to Hardy and. Laurel teaching the innkeeper to play "earsey, kneesy, ;nd§ey." Whether the scenes are wood.land or inn, they are lavishly-staged. The whole of the first part of the pro-gramme-is taken up by "The Tough ■Guy,"-a wonderful story of a dog, a gangster, and a millionaire's boy (Jackie Cooper). ■ PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Superbly acte^d and hilariously ,funny in dialogue, "Mr. Deeds Comes to Town," now screening at the Para.mount Theatre, provides excellent- entertainment. Gary Cooper as Mr. Deeds, the small- town gentleman who :mherits a-fortune and is plunged headlong into the fast-moving life of New York, portrays his role with characteristic ability. Opposite him is. Jean "Arthur, .who-as a newspaper, reporter first tries to play up to him in brdeV to*gain .'.a fron 1 .page story concerning the "pinderella Baby," but ultimately falls in love with him. Many riotous-, ly funny situations occur as Longfellow Deeds inflicts his rural presence upon the city's society and business people. The supporting players ■ in* elude H.-.8. Warner, George Bancroft, and Douglass Dumbrille. A good supporting programme is also screened. Aj. ; - "KING'S THEATRE. !.■ A gambler with life—a Dlayer at love—that is the type of role debonair Paul Cavanagh portrays in the drama of love on two continents, "Champagne Charlie." now showing at the King's Theatre. Teamed with lovely Helen wood, Cavanagh, plays the role. of a ■ man whose ;life is devoted to the gaming tables and the appreciation of golden wine. Compelled to repay his backerSi he turns to courting an American heiress! The picture follows their strange mad courtship through the gay pleasure haunts' of Europe to Uie United States. When facts which ? et.?<J, not susPect suddenly come to iight, Cavanagh shows his courage and decemyin the surprising climax. Embellished with : new songs, • laughs, and pathos. "Song and Dance Man." the Fox picture of backstage life, is also SSi,?v ?i rOgrammf" x. Claire Trevor, Paul.Kelly, and Michael Whalen are ■ s.tarred. - : ■■ ; STATE THEATRE, PETONE. •;"King of the. Damned," a melodrama based on the convict revolt for better conditions'.at the penal settlement of c?+ SfiF 1?' lsn<?w showing at the State Theatre, Petone. Here is a story crammed with action and'big humanity portraying a man's stern r£ ?™? ?* duty.and a girl's unswerving !?i^ tnum? hlng over the chaos and v£&t y woti* heF environment. Conrad Veidt, Noah Beery and Helen Vinson head the cast. Early booking is essential. SEASIDE THEATRE, LYALL BAY "Strike Me Pink,"' Eddie Cantor's Jw Uai 1 .*muslcal for faraufl Goldwyn, is showing at the Seaside Theatre tonight. This lavish million and a half dollar production, features Ethel Merman, Sally Eilers Parkyakarkus, and William Frawley, and a glorious new array of Goldwyn girls. An additional feature will £t .War, ner 9Jand in "Charlie Chan s Secret," the famous -Oriental detective's latest thriller. The usual specially-selected programme of 'shorts" will be screened between 7 o'clock and 7.30. "Strike Me Pink" will commence at 7.30 p.m. { PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. >The world would be a drab place if it ; were not for personalities like Herbert Marshall, Jean Arthur, and Leo Carrillo, stars of Columbia's new romantic comedy, "If You Could Only Cook," which shows tonight and tomorrow night at the Palace Theatre, Petone. The exhilarating story concerns a disgruntled millionaire and a-, penniless, out-of-work young lady who answer an advertisement for a married couple to serve as butler and maid. There is a splendid supporting programme. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. Paramount's "Thirteen Hours by Air," a thrilling drama of romance and excitement on a transcontinental passenger aeroplane, is showing at the Grand Theatre, Petone, with a cast headed by Fred Mac Murray and Joan Bennett. .The second feature is "Fang and Claw," Bring-'Em-Back-Anve Frank Buck's newest film. There are numerous thrilling episodes and intimate camera studies of the denizens of the jungle. OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. For two nights only, Monday and Tuesday, Charlie Chan will elucidate another crime problem in "Charlie Chan at the Circus." Warner- Oland, the clever Chinese actor; Keye Luke, and the midget brother and sister George and Olive Brosno, are the leading characters in this murder mystery of the "big top." "Limehouse Blues" concerns the rivalry of two men, one of; whom is a half-caste Chinese, to control a smuggling ring; The drama is played out to an unusual climax by George Raft. Jean Parker, and Anna May,. Wong,

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

DE LUXE THEATRE. Pat O'Brien and Josephine Hutchinson are featured in "I Married a Doctor." the Warner Bros, film adaptation of the startling novel by Sinclair Lewis, now showing at the De Luxe I Theatre. The novel struck telling : blows at provincialism of thought and life, at scandal mongering, and at warped and narrow vision; the film | drama does likewise. It has all the ! vigour, the thrilling romance, the action, and the humour that characterised the book. . But it goes furtherit makes the people sketchily described by Sinclair Lewis actually live. The ■• supporting cast is headed by such well-' known players as Ross Alexander, Guy Kibbee, Louise Fazenda, and Olin Howland. The associate entertainment will include items by the Orchestra Ue Luxe and organ. Box plans are ||' the D.I.C. and theatre, telephone PLAZA THEATRE. Fun and excitement are about equally blended in "Pot Luck," the British picture now at the Plaza Theatre, and as the story was written by Ben Travers ?"V S acted by the famous trio, Tom Walls, Ralph Lynn, and Robertson Hare, the tun makes the picture the success it is. The "pot" so disrespectfully referred to in the title I s an _ insignificant-looking but priceless Chinese vase, which forms the centre of attraction in an art exhibition which, is under the inefficient supervision of Ralph Lynn. The mcc5 vl. tabl, e bad man manages to lift it, but help is handy for the luckless Lynn in the person of Tom Walls, as deDonair as ever and now with a fruity Irish accent to fit his part as Detec-tive-Inspector Fitzpatrick, just retired i£ om.. Sc,?, tlimd..yard- The chase after the pot is hilarious in the extreme. Included m the bright supporting programme is a thought-provoking depiction of -the fight of modern-science and industry to conquer time and space. , STATE THEATRE. Social inequalities and the consequences of a young man's falling in I love with his mother's personal maid, make the story of "Private Number" n°w screening at the State Theatre. Robert Taylor and Loretta Young are the stars. Unemployed, but never having done domestic service, she is compelled to apply r i,2 £?- sitJ on as maid t0 the wealthy Winfields, where the servants suffer under the tyranny of Roxton, the butler (Basil Rathbone), and where Patsy Kelly, also of the domestic staff, becomes the new maid's loyal frirnd. While -on a summer holiday at Maine, the maid and the son of the house fall in love and marry secretly. Ellen persuades Dick Winfield to return to college and break the news to his family later,, which he does. The subsequent developments make ah arresting film. An entertaining suppcrhn", programme includes charming shots of the small Prince Edward of Kent with his parents' in their garden. NEW OPERA HOUSE. Two films that have been very successful individually combine to make a double-feature* programme of unusual merit a,t the-New Opera House. The brilliant repartee, the cynicism, and studied cruelty of Noel Coward in his "The Scoundrel," which culminates with strong pathos and drama, are offset by that delightful comedy "Trouble in Paradise," in which have been featured several stars. Kay Francis, Herbert Marshall, Charles Ruggles, Edward E. Hbrton, and others are shown in fast-moving, subtle fun. Marshall is the handsome, whimsical international- thief who wins his way into the secretaryship of Madame Colet, rich' widow of the French perfume; manufacturer XKay Francis), with" his charming- pickpocket friend, Miriam Hopkins, as the typist. Miriam adores him because-he knows how to rob and filch scientifically, and he likes' her because she could steal a pearl from an oyster without opening it. In "The Scoundrel" Noel Coward is a prominent publisher whom no one likes-^behind his back—by reason of his outspoken .and; cynical comments. His ■ heart-breaking/ cruelty, however, earn him his punishment in a finelyconceived and imaginative ending, although he finds, naturally, happiness. ■ :"' REX THEATRE. The adventurous career of that benign detective, Charlie Chan, very neany comes to. an untimely end as Warner Oland, again playing Chan in "Charlie Chan in Shanghai," screening finally tonight at the Rex Theatre, ventures, into China's roaring metropolis to break up a dangerous gang of international opium smugglers. Featured with Warner Oland and Keye Luke are Irene Hervey, Charles. Locher, Russell Hicks and Halliwell Hobbes. The second feature, "Mary Burns, Fugitive," stars Sylvia Sidney and traces the tragic experiences of a girl caught in the web of the law through an innocent friendship with a man she did not know was a public enemy. Melvyn Douglas, Alan Baxter, Pert Kelton, Wallace Ford, and Brian Donlevy., are in the cast. PRINCESS THEATRE. "The Story of Louis Pasteur" is the main feature at the Princess Theatre. In a tense, smashing drama replete with action and romance, Paul Muni gives much more than a fine characterisation, he has painted the turbulent life of Louis Pasteur, that amazing French scientist whose battle for humanity against ignorance and prejudice is one of the most astounding chapters in modern history in an amazingly colourful! picture. Anita Louise and Donald Woods are also in the cast. Robert I Donat makes his latest appearance in "The Ghost Goes West," Alexander iiordas gay romantic comedy which forms the additional feature. Jean Parker and Eugene Pallette head the supporting cast. The featurettes include an-Irene Bordoni musical revue. ROXY THEATRE. The turbulent drama of a mad r!s£k-" *fe: "gttvating theme of Columbia's "Hell-Ship Morgan," now screening at the Roxy Theltre. The £?#?€ characters are Captain "HellShip Morgan, played by George Bancroft; a^ waterfront waif enacted by Ann Sothern, who marries the swashbuckling Morgan out of gratitude; and the handsome Victor Jorv, Morgan's first mate and third member of'the nm°-,f°?h 1- rT? ti ti? trian6le that grows ■Shin Their iatef"\ meeting aboard the ship. The second attraction, "Unknown I Woman, featuring Marian Marsh and Kichard Cromwell, is a delightful story groundll2 With an un"sual ba<*SHORTT'S THEATRE. Paramount's "Come On Marines'" showing now at Shortt's Theatre features Richard Arlen and Ida Lupino and reveals the hilarious plight in which a number of marines find themselves when they attempt to rescue a group of beautiful girls from the Philippine jungle. A pungently humorous story is revealed in Paramount's Accent on Youth," which is the associate feature. Starring Sylvia Sidney and Herbert Marshall, the picture revolves about a man in his forties who thought that he was too old for love, until he found out that no man in love is ever old. j ' ____» | EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. ! A double-feature programme will be' screened at the Empire Theatre this evening. The first attraction is "Mills of the Gods," starring May Robson and featuring Fay Wray and Victor Jory. The second feature, "That's Gratitude," features Frank Craven, Mary Carlisle, and Arthur Byron. CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. A romance carried on in an eerie atmosphere and leavened with hilari- j ous comedy, forms the basis of "Seven ' Keys to Baldpate," screening at the Capitol Theatre tonight and featuring Gene Raymond, Margaret Callahan. and Grant' Mitchell. "Yellow Dust," with Richard Dix, Leila Hyams, and Andy Clyde, is also.on the bill,

TIVOLI THEATRE. "The Petrified Forest" and "Miss Paciric fleet" conclude tonignt at Uic Tivoli Theatre. Jan Kiepura and Gladys Swarthout. are starred in Paramount's "Give Us This Mght,'1 a new musical romance which opens tomorrow at the Tivoli • Theatre. Pnillip Merivale and Benny Baker head the supporting cast. "Give ' Us This Night" is tne story of a young I Italian fisherman's rise to fame on the ; opera stage through the efforts of a beautiful girl star and a middle-aged i composer. It reaches its climax when the two men struggle for the love of the girl. Erich Korngold and Oscar Hammerstein II wrote the musical score for the picture, which, in addi-'' tion to half a dozen popular-type hits, h includes a' complete original opara, written especially for the picture. The ■ tenth Charlie Chan picture, "Chax-lie Chan's Secret," which will also be shown, stars Warner OJand as the;rotund detective who uses Oriental ; subtlety to solve a murder, mystery. j; ■ Rosina Lawrence and Charles Quigley ! 'head the supporting cast in romantic ■ roles. Weaving his web in a house of.: death, Chan solves San Francisco's most baffling murder mystery in this i' new picture, while he defies a band of ■ sinister killers. \ RIVOLI THEATRE. "Escape From Devil's Island," a ' Columbia film of the dreaded Devil's ! Island, tha French psnal camp off the i coast of South America, is now show- ' ing at the Rivoli Theatre, with Victor Jory, Florence Rice, and Norman Fos- i ter in the leading roles. The story i tells the ironic tale of two men in love ' with the same girl joined to the death in their desperate escape from the in-: famous tropical prisbn. Others in the l cast are Stanley Andrews, Daniel " Haynes, Frank Lackteen, Arthur Ayles-11 worth, and. Noble Johnson. The cast of "Woman Trap," the associate feature, is headed by Gertrude Michael, " George Murphy, Rcscoe Karns, Akim ! Tamiroff, Samuel S. Hinds, Sidney Blackmer, and Dean Jagger. The story ; deals with a gang of desperadoes who < hide behind the romance of a front- 1 page reporter and a thrill-seeking girl. Thrill follows thrill in a crescendo of ' dangerous situations, with death from!: | the bullets of a gang of fugitive des-1 | peradoes facing Gertrude Michael- and i' George Murphy in their perilous rom- i ance. DOUBLE WRESTLING BILL. An outstanding wrestling attractioi ! will be presented at the Wellington •' Town Hall tonight Two professional , I bouts, each of five ten-minute rounds will follow the amateur preliminaries, i Lofty" Blomfield (New Zealand) will meet Jack Forsgren (Canada) and Joe KopacK Woods will meet Paul Boesch. - There is exceptionally keen rivalry : between each pair of wrestlers, J and the matches between them ere bound to be of the type which appeals most strongly to enthusiasts. All of them ; are ready to "mix" it in aodition to being able to acquit themselves exceptionally well in straight wrest- , ling. Blomfield and Forsgren car. be relied upon to exploit to the utmost 1 their pet holds, the octopus clamp and Boston crab, while the other , match will largely be decided.on eloow jolts' against dropkicks. Particulars are advertised.' , . ■ , KILBIRNIE KINEMA. 5 i Robert Donat, the handsome young ' English actor, makes his lat- < est appearance in "The Ghost Goes < West," Al'j"iander Kordrj's gay romin- ) tic comedy now screening at the Kil- ' I birnie Kinema. Jean Parker and,' liugohe tWlette head the support- ' ing cast. The story follows the amazing and amusing adventures of a hand- ; some and amiable "spook" who haunts an ancient Scottish castle, and reinhes ■ a surprise comedy climax. "Mary |' Burns, Fugitive," which is the other ' feature, ■> traces the . tragic experi- ! ences of a girl caught in the web ' of the law hrough an innocent friend-i' ship with a man she did not know •' was a public enemy. Sylvia Sidney, | Melvyn Douglas, Alan Baxter, Pert i Kelton, Wallace Ford, and Brian Don- 1 levy are in the cast. . J REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. I Tonight at the' Regal Theatre "We're :« Only Human" will head the pro-h gramme. It gives" the real truth about ) the forces of law and order and their i heroic battle against the criminal < classes. Special supports will also be < screened. ' — • i