CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Issue 30, 4 August 1936, Page 5

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

, .- ~.,.. REGENT THEATRE. ''".' The';-rewriting of much of Jerome Kerns-musical score and the resetting of the-ayople piece .have made ','Show • BoaV'^.which continues to draw large crowds *to>the Regent Theatre, a film of universal appeal, and one which is j - particularly, popular to all who appreciate such favourites as "Ol' Man River." Paul Rabeson, Irene Dunne, I -. and.Allan Jones head a notable cast. ■ There.- is an .excellent supporting programme. "Desire." "Desire," Paramount's special attraction which .will start at the Regent Theatre on "Friday, is. an amalgamation of chucklesome comedy, piquant and daring, romance, and thrilling drama, and in each aspect it is outstanding. But perhaps even more outstanding is ( the acting of the two stars, Marlene Dietrich and Gary Cooper. "Desire" is easily their best picture to date, ac-cording-to leading critics. Expert assistance is given the two stars by a cast headed sb"y the suave John Halliday and the amusing Alan Mowbray. Miss Dietrich appears as an alluring i adventuress with a liking for other persons' jewellery. Cooper represents the ideal upright young man enjoying a-holiday on the Continent. Encumbered with valuable pearls ac- ' < quired in a •daring and hilarious coup in Paris, th«. girl finds the young ,man a useful ally.. They fall in love, of course,- and-- the concluding situation is no.;less.;brilliantly, amusing than all • those which .precede'it." , MAJESTIC THEATRE. A light-hearted whimsical comedy set in a background of Labrador snows is 1 brought to the screen in "Petticoat1 1 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 cori'fined in '. a lonely wireless post without seeing a beautiful woman for two years,, when ' two aviators, one of them a charming young lady,l descend from the skies , and crack up. their machine almost at his front door. Montgomery immedi- ■ ately 'becomes injected, with "petticoat . fever", .and schemes to keep the pair at his hut throughout the winter, mean- , while paying attention to the fair aviatritf Under the very eyes of her fiance. The supporting subjects include a coloured traveltalk, a Charlie Chase ~ comedy, and a newsreol. 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 banC dit, they try the-game themselves, only A to fall into his hands. Pressed -into , Diavolo's service in an attempt to steal . Lady.Pamela's jewels at'the Cucu'lnn. ■ ,'. 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. The whole of'the first of-the programme 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 acted and hilariously funny in dialogue, "Mr. '"Deeds Comes 1 to .Town.1' no\y- screening at the Para- •• mount' Theatre.1 provides excellent en- , tdrtainment.'j - Gary. Cooper as"- Mr. -' Deeds, the', small town 'gentleman who inherits a -fortune and is plunged headlong into the fast-moving life of' New York, portrays his role, with charac-teristic-ability. Opposite him is Jean • Arthur, "who as a newspaper reporter , first tries to play up to him in order .i to, gain a fron* page story concerning „ the "Cinderella Baby," but .ultimately a falls in' love^withThim. j.The Support', -* ing, players include H. B. Warner, George' Bancroft, and Douglass Dumbrille.- A; good supporting programme '' is" also screened. KING'S THEATRE. In-"Champagne Charlie," now stiowing at the King's Theatre, Paul Cay anagh,. teamed with lovely Helen ' Wood, plays the role of man whose life is devoted to the -' gaining tables and the appreciation of golden wine. Compelled , to". repay' his backers/ he'1 turns to. courting an American heiress. The picture .follows their strange mad courtship' through the gay pleasure! haunts of. Europe to the United States J Embellished with new songs, laughs,l and pathos, "Song and' Dance Mari.V. .the -Fox picture of backstage life£:,is » also on "the programme. Claire Trevor,Paul Kelly, and Michael Whalen arer starred. ■ * REX THEATRE. The unique and lavish musical spectacle, "Caravan," produced for Fox Film by the celebrated Continental director, Erik Charell, opened today at the Rex-Theatre. Outstanding are such song numbers as the "Wine Song," "Ha-cha-cha," arid "Happy, I ?Am Happy.'^A.briliant cast in this romantic loye'-'story of the -Tokay wine harvest includes Charles": Boyer; Loretta Young, \ Jean, Parker, Phillips Holmes, Louise Fazenda, Eugene' Pallette, C. Aubrey-Smith, Charley Grapewin; and Noah -Beery. The second feature on the bill is "Call It Luck," a fast action comedy-romance ■ featuring. Herbert Mundin- : and "Pat" Paterson. Both these: productions ,are being screened at,half-price.. ; . ROXY THEATRE. The turbulent' drama of a mad mutiny, is the motivating .theme of Columbia's "Hell-Ship Morgan," now screening at the Roxy Theatre. The Jeading 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 Jory, Morgan's first mate and third member of the emotional romantic triangle that grows °ut of their fateful meeting aboard the ship. The second attraction. "Unknown Woman.,' featuring Marian Marsh and Richard Cromwell, is a delightful story of young love with an unusual background. iKILBntNIE KINEMA. "The-Ghost Goes West" and "Mary Burns,' Fugitive," conclude tonight at the 'Kilbirnie Kinema. In 20th-Century's spectacular musical film;' "Thanks a Million," coming to the Kilbirnie Kinema tomorrow, there are a dozen great- stars, recruited from screen, stage, and radio. ■ With Dick Powell and Ann Dvorak heading the cast'in- the romantic leads. "Thanks a Million" presents Fred Allen, Patsy Kelly, Paul Whiteman and his band with Ramona, Rubinoff and his violin, Raymond Walburn and the Yacht . Club Boys. "Stormy Weather," the Gaumont-British comedy based-on Ben Travers's play, will also be shown. It features Tom Walls. Ralph Lynn, Robertson Hare, Yvonne Arnaud. and Andrews Engleman. ." REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. Tonight at the' Regal Theatre "We're Only Human" will..head the programme. It gives the real truth about the forces of law and order and their heroic battle against the criminal classes. Special supports will also be screened. • • I 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. 1 CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR.' A romance carried on in an eerie atmosphere and leavened with hilari--1 ous comedy, forms the basis of "Seven Keys to Baldpate," screening finally 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.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

I. DE LUXE THEATRE. ) I~A stirring drama .of small-town » bigotry and intolerance is the Warner , Bros, production, "I'Married a Doc- [ tor," now' showing at the De Luxe ~ Theatre. The picture is based on a . | novel by Sinclair Lewis which caused 11 a furore throughout the country by , | exposing the cruelties resultant from ■ the attitude of self-righteous smalltown people who judge others by their own narrow standards. It is* filled with pathos and tragedy and dynamic scenes, enlivened by romance, sparkling dialogue, and comedy. Pat O'Brien and Josephine' Hutchinson have the romantic leads. Bette Davis, who won the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences award for the best performance by any actress in 1935, is coming to the De Luxe Theatre on Friday in the First National production . "The Golden Arrow." She follows her success in The 'Petrified Forest" with an entirely new portrayal—that of a charming young American girl who yearns for •romance. The picture is a story of love in -high society, set in a background of luxurious yachts and resort hotels. 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 and .is acted by-the famous trio. Tom w n r»S> «? al? h Lymi' and Robertson Ha£l' the. t fun mak?s the picture the success it is.. The "pot" so disrespectfully referred to in the title lILJ 1" "^Secant-looking but price'rtntvF hm, ese vase, which forms the centie of attraction in an art exhibition which is under the inefficient supervision of Ralph Lynn. The inwl,i ba v man, ma«ages to lift it, but help is handy for the luckless Lynn in the person of Tom Walls, as Detec-tive-Inspector Fitzpatrick, just retired from Scotland Yard. Included in the thof,oM SUpp°£- ing' Pr°gramme- 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 :n love with his mother's personal maid, make the, story of "Private Number" now screening at the State Theatre. Robert Taylor and Loretta Young are the, stars. Unemployed, but never having done domestic service, she Vis compelled to apply for ,J? Position as maid to the wealthy Wmfields, where the servants fu Beli u,nder the 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 niaid and the son of the house fall in'love and marry secretly. The subsequent developments make an arresting film. There is an entertaining supporting programme. NEW OPERA HOUSE. Two films that 'have -been" very successful individually combine to make a double-feature programme of unusual merit at the New Opera House. The brilliant^ repartee, the cynicism, and dled^ crUelty of Noel Coward in his The,\ Scoundrel," -which culminates with strong ■ pathos -and drama,. are offset- by,.,,that delightful comedy Trouble in Paradise," in1 which have been featured several stars. Kay Francis. Herbert- Marshall, Charles Ruggles, Edward E.. Horton, and others are shown in fast-moving, subtle fun. 1 Marshall is the handsome, whimsical'international thief who wins his way-into the of Madame Colet.--rich widow-of the > French perfume: :manufa'Q.turer\\ (Kay Francis), with his charming pickpocket friend, Miriam Hopkins, as, the typist. PRINCESS THEATRE. In "The Story of Louis Pasteur," the main feature at the Princess Theatre, Paul Muni paints the turbulent life of Louis .Pasteur,'that amazing French scientist whose battle for humanity against'ignorance and prejudice is one pi the most astounding chapters in mod-ern-history in-an amazingly colourful picture. Anita; Louise " ■ v and. Donald' Woods are also in the cast . Robert Donat makes his latest appearance in •SThe Ghost Goes -West"- Alexander Kordas 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. SHORTT'S THEATRE. '•"> V " • Paramount's. "Come On ' Marines!" which features Richard Arlen and Ida .Lupino, and "Accent on Youth" starring Sylvia Sidney and Herbert1 Marshall, are theattractions at Shortt's meatre. • - , ■ Universal's weird and- , thrilling drama of murders during and after a gay .Long Island party in Universal's Remember Last Night" comes on Friday .to Shortt's Theatre. Universal s gay and colourful "King Solomon of Broadway" will'also be shown. Edmund Lowe, Dorothy Page, Edward Pawley, and - Pinky Tomlin are the principals.' Jan Kiepura in ,"My Heart « Calling" will .be the attraction at Shortt's 'Theatre on Friday week. OCR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. The final presentation of "Charlie Chan at' the Circus," with Warner Oland as the imperturbable Chinese sleuth,. and "Limehouse Blues," featuring George Raft as the half-caste silk smuggler, takes place tonight. Tomorrow and- Thursday there is a further "reduced prices" programme, headed by Richard Barthelmess in one of his finest'characterisations in "The Bitter Tea of General Yen." Prices will be stalls 6d, circle. Is, with 6d for children to all parts. STATE THEATRE, PETONE. "King of the Damned" will be1 screened finally tonight at the State Theatre, Petone. commencing omorrow, with a matinee at 2 pjn., a first-class doubleleature programme will be screened at the State Theatre, Petone. A gang-.1 ster, hunted by the police, boldly hides I in one of the most brilliant aim puolic I corners of the world. Yet the chances I ffe two billion to one in his favour' that he will escape detection, for out, of all the people in the world only one' woman could recognise the sinister personality, of the killer beneath the 'handsome mask of an actor. That isl the situation which leads to brisk action and broad satire in "Another Face, when romance and vanity i bring the two together in a film studio. Sharing feature honours with | Wallace Ford and Phyllis Brooks. Brian Donlevy portrays the gangster. "Baboona," Mr. and Mrs. Martin Johnson's latest adventure film, will be the associate feature. Supporting featurettes .will be screened from 7.30 p.m. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. ' "13 Hours by Air" and "Fang and Claw" conclude tonight at the Grand Theatre, Petone. Commencing with a matinee at 2 p.m. tomorrow, the main feature at the Grand.Theatre, Petone, will be "Mary I Burns, Fugitive," which 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. The second feature is RKO-Radio's "Alice Adams," which stars Katharine Hepburn. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. "If You Could Only Cook" concludes tonight at the Palace Theatre, Petone. Two' outstanding favourites of the screen, Ann Harding and Herbert Marshall, are united in "The Lady Consents," which commences a threenight season tomorrow night at the Palace Theatre, Petone. In this sparkJ'ng comedy .drama, gossining backfires and puts a wife, defeated by a love pirate, in a position to regain her home and husband. A splendid associate programme will be screened. I

TIVOLI THEATRE. Jan Kiepura .and Gladys Swarthout are starred in Paramount's "Give Us ihis Wight," a new musical romance wmcli" opens tonight at the Tivoli Theatre. Phillip Merivale and Benny Baker head the supporting cast. "Give Us This Night" is the story of a young Italian fisherman's rise-to fame on the opera stage through the efforts of a beautiful girl star and a middle-aged. composer. , The tenth- - Charlie Cnan picture, VCharlie Chan's Secret," which | will also be shown, stars Warner Oland as the rotund detective who uses Oriental subtlety to solve a murder mystery. Rosiria 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 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, the French penal camp off the coast of South America,' is now. showing at the Rivoli Theatre, with Victor Jory, Florence Rice, and Norman Foster in the leading roles. The story tells the ironic tale of two men in love with the same girl joined to the death in their desperate escape from the infamous tropical prison. The cast of "Woman Trap," the associate feature, is headed by Gertrude Michael, George Murphy, Roscoe 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 'frontpage reporter and a thrill-seeking girl. COMMUNITY SING. The Community Singing Committee announces that in connection with this week's sing, which will be held in the Town Hall tomorrow, at 12.30 p.m., that the song-leaders will be Messrs. Harold Hmdle and Charles Proctor. They will have the - assistance of a guest song leader from Australia, Mr. Vincent Ryan, who is at present doing a tour of the national broadcasting stations in New Zealand. He is one of the bestknown and mbst .popular community song leaders in Australia. Mr. Frank Su ow,the^ win be at toe Piano and Mr. Charles Collins at the organ. Tickets for the model yacht and dressed doll will be on sale at the sing. The proceeds will be in aid of the Mayor's Fund. HUTT VALLEY KENNEL CLUB. h«u? c -fHutt' VaUey.Kennel Club will hold its annual show at Lower Hutt "? the new Horticultural Hall near the G.P.O. on August 19 and 20. Entries close on August 5. The hall is a particularly fine one and will be an attractive and interesting sight. The schedule is an excellent one, and special' prizes tor all breeds and many valuable cups are offered for competition. Novice exhibitors are being given a special class, and every veteran competing will be presented with a drinking bowl and, the winner with a valuable cup and special prize.