CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 85, 12 April 1937, Page 6

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

'' :': REGENT THEATRE. The inimitable Mac West scores another success in her latest comedy "Go West, Young Man," which heads the programme .at the Regent. The screen play was actually written by Miss.West and the dialogue at times is a riot of merriment with typical West' wise-cracks. Mac West's role is -forty:.years more advanced than in some-of her previous (Successes. Instead of being a highly-dressed beauty of- the "naughty nineties," she is a glamorous film staf of ultra-modern technique; A clause in the film coiitract which has brought her,.fame and fortune makes love and matrimony forbidden fruit for five years. This does-..not prevent her;,however, from playing ; wi,th fire, and the humour of her deft juggling with the hot coals without actually getting burnt gives ■the rfilm many.intriguing- and hilarious sequences." Closest peril of all is her intrigue withe the tall, blonde, and handsome inventor-garage hand, played by Randolph ;Scott, whom she all-but entices to: Hollywood.1 Lyie Talbot and Warren-William are others in- the cast. »The.supporting bill.is well varied and interesting. . ' ■ . ...

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

MAJESTIC THEATRE.

v "Libelled Lady," an entertaining - story of newspaper life, now in.- its ! third:\veek at the Majestic Theatre,; is >■'. outstanding- for the appearance of four - of the most'prominent artists on the - screen, William Powell,'Myrna Loy, .- • 'Jean: Harlow, arid '■ Spencer ~ Tracy. , Miss Loy-plays the part of a.society ■v heiress, who considers that an article ". 'about her in'- a; newspaper is libellous, ■ and proceeds.to file a suit for damages amounting tcr "five- million dollars. ■: Spencer Tracy; the editor of the.--ne.ws- -: paper, commissions the "star" reporter ; to \devise some method of haying the '■'.' suit withdrawn. ,:» The reporter is re- . '•■ presented: by, William; .Powell,: who. - gives a delightful "characterisation in I. this role. .■ The heiress starts V.to take ~ a more 'than:.friendly interest in. him, ', and matters; become /extremely: com; :: plicated. The supporting item's include '■ the- fourth : instalment of • the' "March ~ 6f Time" series for the year, and a :?■ Pete Smith oddity. "Killer Dog.''

ST. JAMES-THEATRE.

•i "Theodora,.Gbes Wild," now showing "I at--the St. .James.Theatre', is inrie of. the cleverest and wittiest comedies seen in ■ k years, and' Irene Dunne, iri the 'title -'■ role, excels r herself ' with some really -i fine acting.'" To play, the character t. of a-small-town girr who-; has done -:: nothing more exciting than play;, the >'■■ organ at church '. and ■-... assist in,the ': organisation:.of ■vbazaar's,. and ,to, make; "'it blend harmoniously with; that'ofthe "-' publicity-hungry novelists cited in two • divorce' actions, :is no mean feat.- ----• -Melvyri Douglas plays the young artist '-■ whose riame. is linked. eventually, .with - 'that of the notorious novelist, Caroline r Adams. The.story traces : the; happen- •'. ings' after- the: publication of .Miss k Adams's best-selling novel, "The Sin- "' her," and the authoress s eftorts \o keep up the rather lurid' reputation ■v the book has'Hiyen her., Newsreels and ''i' a' coloured, cartoon complete ■ the pro-•::■-gramme.- ;:■-■--','■-:-::•■;,■ '---•;W . ,

PARAMOUNT THEATRE.

■ With all the boisterpusness arid fresh- ; ness, of .youth, '"Three" Smart -Girls," 7 which'isin"its.second..week, at the i Paramount ■Theatre, -provides -some '-':: novel1 and^hurnorous situation's in- its ■■''■■"original and.-fcbmical story. .- Deanna ■ Durbin, Uhivef sal's new discovery, is a distinct success, in 'the leading- role, her •rich: singing .being outstandingly re- ■ 'markable for fourteen-year-old girl, . f. . while her" fra'rik; and impetuous man-, ;' ncr delights "all.'. Bitinie Barnes -■* as' -' the gilded "snake in the grass/, and her „;■■ scheming-mother (Alice .Brady) .-■give- ." realistic .-.. -perfprmances. which' / aroi ■f. evenly balanced by, the 'efforts': of;. "■■''.'Charles Wihninger, John 'King,' :Eay:l " MiUand, Nan Grey, and Barbara Read.- -- An excellent supporting programme is X screened and includes-gazettes of the f ; latest.world nsws.,' .c!j ■:/' ■:&-:;l'\\'].-'..

KING'S THEATRE.

:4 -.-: A novelty, in musical pictures, .with 'I, a hilariously funny story as a thread .'' on which the world's foremost cblora- "■' tura .'soprano .strings her pearls of song, -; ;is offered to picture-goers, :.in ."That "•• Girl, From, Paris," .-which is screening .: 'at the King's Theatre,'with a bril.t liant cast headed by Lily Pdns, Jack ;• Oakie, and Gene . Raymond. Break- •-.-. ing away entirely from the customary i, -type'of musical comedy, the offering : : is a gay laugh-feast from start to finish. ,;,\ Combining, some of the best-knovvn "' classical numbers with a group of •V sparkling new tunes, throbbing drama,1 revolving around a brilliant attorney .-■■ and't\yo girls who seek his affection, ■>■■■ and climaxing in a thrilling-courtroom ■*, , scene,' is . presented in ;■ R;K.O.' Radio's- ;,'■ "Criminal Lawyer," which will be the ', other attraction, with Lee .-Tracy and Margot Grahame in the top roles.'

REX THEATRE,

A film story as fast-moving and as .- - typical of the modern age as the mighty ■i airliners1 which served as its back- , ground, Universal's "Flying Hostess" is . now showing at the Rex Theatre. Judith Barrett, William Hall, William ■" Gargan, • Astrid Allwyn, the comical - Andy Devine, Ella Logan, the radio star, Addison Randall and Maria Shel:

ton all are in the cast. "Flying .•' Hostess" is packed with drama, com- ' ; edy, thrills, and suspense.- The story of America in the period of 1775, the , struggle of settlers to acquire new ' lands and homes, and their battles' with the wilderness and the hostile ' Indians furnish the vivid background -' for the associate feature, "Daniel ». -Boone," starring George O'Brien and Heather Angel.

OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN.

Sparkling with scores of novel fea- ;-' tures'that make it one1 of the most en- . tertaining films of recent years, "Swing Time": is screening at Our Theatre for a return season. Love affairs and complications feature the story plot, with Astaire endeavouring tft rid himself of a haughty fiancee, so! that he can marry i Miss Rogers,..at the same time trying - to discourage a. glamorous orchestra '■'; leader, who also has matrimonial de- ' signs on Ginger. Victor Moore, Helen =■■' Broderick, and Betty Furness head the .- supporting cat. The powerful drama, ,V "Honours Easy,".; starring' Greta 1 JNissen, is the second attraction.

CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR.

A new romantic . team of unusual appeal is introduced in :■ tlje Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, - picture : "Fury," screening at the Capitol Theatre to-

■'■ night.' Spencer Tracy, and Sylvia Sid- ? ney, are co-starring leads. With Rich- ., ard' Arlen heading a notable casti ... ''Three Live Ghosts," with its comedy. I. . drama, and :romance ■ ; comeis: to the ". screeh in a sparkling-new version. An; " excellent supporting.programme is also, ■' ShOWing. I;. :, ' \ ."■ -. ,: . ■■;.■ •. ;; ::

STATE THEATRE, PETONE.

Dainty Deanna Durbin, a brilliant c and altogether- charming personality, ■* makes her screen debut in Universal's ? gay comedy' drama, "Three Smart

Girls," which is. showing at the State Theatre. Surrounded by a cast of established cinema favourites, incluci/-

;> ing Binnie Barnes, Alice Brady, Ray f Milland, and Charles Winniger, this i youthful newcomer to the screen lives f, up to advance notices of her musical i genius. "

GRAND THEATRE, PETONE.

'j "The Devil is a Sissy," showing at the ] !*' Grand Theatre, teams for the first •i time three of the biggest young names I in pictures, ; Freddie Bartholomew,! -* Jackie'Cooper,.and Mickey Rooney. If ' lsastory of three boys facing life on *' the sidewalks of New. York. Katherine "-■• Alexander, lan Hunter.Peggy Conklin. J and Gene and Kathleen Lockhart are * others prominent in the cast.

', PLAZA. THEATRE.; ~..'■:.;. "Lloyds of • London"," the drairiatic film of the.role which the famous organisation has played in British hisr tory, is in its' third week at the Plaza Theatre. The .film, which is of an ingenuity ' rare even- on the screen, deals with • the boyhood pact formed between Jonathan Blake, enlarger, of the functiqns , ot Lloyds, and another youngster whose name was Horatio Nelson., . The.. re-j velation of the activities of Lloyd's | coffee house in the late.eighteenth century' is: skilful and dramatic arid .from that -point- the . film '-develops a. cleverly' woven and absorbing, story of love,, adventure, and : war. The principal roles are played by such well-knowns as Madeleine ; Carroll, Freddie Bartholomew, Sir Guy Standing, and.;G. Aubrey ' Smith; and such newcomers'of high promise-as Tyrone Power, :arid:. the: New Zealander... Ra Hould. ;:The supporting bill is an excellent.one.;; ! • V-. . ; ■'.

DE LUXE THEATRE,

Two. first-class . features ~,are. now screening '* at.- the De : Luxe ..Theatre. "Sea Spoilers,'-, starring John ..Wayne and Nan; Grey, , is ;a; drama, of the American's;c6astguards,va'nd)"Two in a Crowd," with' Joel McCrea^and Joan Bennett in the ; leading :roles; is \a ro-mantiC'dfariia.with-plenty,; of .chuckles arid -v'its, quota' ;:of:.;. pathos. "Sea ■'■:•.. Spoilers" .traces the efforts of a vyoungvcoastguard officer to track down' a -gang ■. of smugglers. who have not- only escaped ■■■with seal skins in their possession;. but 'have -taken his fiancee .with-them. "Two in a'.Crmyd" portrays-..the' -things, that happen to. a bqy > and. a girl, both down arid - out",, Hyheri"" they "find'a.-thousand-' dollar-note'in - the. street. ' -The nqte.:.i}s: in 1tw.6... pieces, .each . has one, . and. ,:f. they.separate^ their fortune: is worth less':than a penny stamp.'; The supporting [subjects include newsreels depicting the flood havoc in the .United States. ' ' ; .:

STATE' THEATRE

Jane Withers eclipses all her previous performances in ' her latest picture, "Can This Be Dixie?" the current -attraction , .at the -State Theatre. '. > Four ~ new " song hits ■■ are introduced,' a number of excellent dancing , tableaux shown, and a story of unusual merit presented. The tale operis ivithTJane and' Slim Summerville touring, Dixieland as universal joy-' spreaders - and venders of a famous medicine; While they are on the'property of an old colonel, however, the local "sheriff., detains, them on various charges and their caravan-home is taken' from them. The '"colonel;?befriends '•;them ".and takes; them to, his mansion where they learn - that he is in danger:of losing his plantation' unless" the mortgage is forthcoming. Many / amusing incidents occur before the picture'is brought to a very happy' climax. The supports. are of a high standard;,,:;: "-J ■ '•:' ■'■... : ■ . ;

TONIGHT'S WRESTLING.

• The "• 1937 • professional wrestling season will open at the Wellington Town Hall :-tohight. with ,a ' bout between Tommy' Mead (Los Angeles) and Dr. Gordon McKehzie 4 (Chicago). Both men- have -well-established reputations ■in the wrestling world and are noted for-' theiri-spectacular ; and -' aggressive tactics. They use flying tackles, dropkicks,; flying scissors .holds;, and- other colourful moves, The victories of these :two overcome of the. best men in the game, including: some who have reached- 'championship class, .prove that they, are of-the'quality to which New Zealanders have become accustomed in recent-: years, and .capable of advancing further the',, great popularity,.of: the sport;l; There will.be amateur, preliminarde's from : ;B,o'clock.. .. ~.:.:,,.:..;,..:*.,..:

KOXX THEATRE.

>'"They ,■ Met in a Taxi," Columbia's romantic -..-■;/comedy-drama, ' featuring Chester Morris and Fay Wray, is. the main' feature- at the Roxy-. Theatre. It tells of (the-.diverting-..experiences' of a pseudo-heiress "and' a 'Manhattan cabdriver who has become the :unwilling squire of the • lady in distress.. The supporting picture, "The Isle of Fury," based on. the, Somerset Maugham novel "Three in Eden," is packed with thrills from start to finish, culminating in a titanic struggle to the death of two men caught in the snakelike tentacles of an octopus at the bottom of the ocean. The feaured players are Humphrey Bogart, Margaret Lihdsay, and Donald Woods. . .

SHORTT'S THEATRE.

The;!Dionne quintuplets appear for 'the. first-'time■'■■as-stars of a feature length /story :in "The"Country .Doctor,", now'showing at Shortt's Theatre. Jean Hersholt ■ has the' leading role in this human, heartwarming drama of, a physician"-who. -devoted -his entire life ::andv energy :to helping backwpod people. June , Lang, Slim Summerville, Michael Whalen, and Dorothy Peterson are featured in the leading supporting roles. : Brilliant spectacular. all-star drama : depicting the construction of a sub-Atlantic tunnel.is presented in "The: Tunnel," the associate-feature. Richard Dix has the main role. :v;'■, ; >'

KILBIRNIE KINEMA.

■,Janet: Gaynor and Robert Taylor are .'co-starred,>iri"! the ■ excitingly, dramatic "Small ;Towh >; Girl," which shows at the. Kilbirnie ■- Kinema tonight. The story is. of- a .bad good little girl who marries;,a s i■.brilliant ,and- handsome young doctor,';ito get: away from the' boredom ."of "her,', sleepy little town. Supporting:-the, stars is a finished cast includirig-Biririie: Barries, Lewis Stone,' Ahdyf" -Devirie, .Elizabeth Patterson, Frank1 Craveri,'.and': James Stewart., The associate, feature'is "The Poor Little Rich;-Girl,";: .regarded :by : many as Shirl'eysTemple's. greatest 'picture; The. new •'song: hits-featured ■-in^ the pro--duction are ;"When7 I'm ■■, With You," "But Definitely," '"You've 7 Gotta Bat Your: SpinachY/Baby," .''Oh, My Goodness',", and.-"Military, Man." ;.% . ' . ■■

PRINCESS THEATRE,

"The Charge '.of; the1 Light. Brigade," Warner : Bros.'" stupendous•■ production suggested by the immortal poem of Alfred, Lord .Tennyson, is: the main feature.at the Princess Theatre, with an all-star cast headed by Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland— and over ; 15,000 extra people. The film story is replete with thrills from start to finish, and- presents a glamorous 'romance in which two brothers areVirivals' -for '■'■' the . . love of a beautiful -girl;- :.'-Paramount;s "Poppy," starring W. C. Fields, is the additional attraction. It is a story of circus life' in, the early days. The supporting cast includes Rochelle, Hudson, Richard Cromwell,- Lynne Overman, and Catharine Doucet._

EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY.

"Without Orders," showing at the Empire Theatre. tonight and featuring Robert Armstrong, Sally Eilers, Frances Sage, Charley -Grapewin, and Vintori: Haworth,'.revolves around the professional and personal rivalry-of-, two transport pilots on ■ a udrth-west air line. One; of the greatest comedy casts ever assembled in Hollywood, including Alice Faye, Adolphe Menjou, Gregory Ratofty Ted. Healy, •, .Patsy Kelly, Michael Whalen, and the Ritz .Brothers, is featured in "Sing, : ■ Baby, Sing," the other attraction. . : . .

REGAL THEATRE, KAHORI.' '

A versatile Riot, exciting adventures, and an engaging love story are features of the new. Clive Brook-Victoria Hopper production, "Lonely Road,'' which screens tonight at the Regal Theatre. Glorious song numbers, sung as only Richard Tauber can sing them; crisp, wise-cracking comedy put over as only Jimmy (Schnozzle) Durante can put it over; and an enchanting love story set to Oscar Strauss's most beautiful melodies are the features of 'Land I Without Music," the second attraction.

TIVOLI THEATRE. "Ramoha" and "Kelly the Second" conclude tonight at the Tiyoli Theatre. All the glamour of undying loyalties, love affairs, thrilling rapier- duels, and high court intrigues have been preserved in the film version of tho Dumas classic, "The Three . Musketeers," which comes to the Tivoli Theatre tomorrow. Because of the central theme of-selfless devotion the romantic tale has.,;been considered admirable entertainirient for .juveniles as well as adults...: Walter Abel portrays d'Artag-rian.-arid; Paul Lukas, Moroni Olsen, and Oslow. Stevens are respectively Athos,. Porthos, and Aramis. Margot Grahame, Heather Angel, Rosamond Pinchbt. Lan Keith, .Ralph Forbes, John Qualen, and Nigel de Brulier are in the cast. ■ Gertrude Michael appears for the second, time as. Sophie Lang, international diamond thief, in Paramount's "The. Return of Sophie Lang," which will also.be shown. Sir Guy Standing and Ray Milland ihead the supporting cast. ■ ■ -

PALACE THEATRE, FETONE.

The current features at the. Palace Theatre are "The Girl on the Front Page," starring Gloria Stuart and Edmund' Lowe,-and "Bengal Tiger," with Satan, the man-killer; Barton Mac Lane, June Travis, and Warren Hull.