CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 133, 7 June 1937, Page 5

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

SEGENT THEATRE. E<-rol Flynn, Anita Louise, Margaret Li'..dsay, and Sir Cedric Hardwicke have the principal roles in "Green light," the main feature at the Regent Theatre. This picture breaks new jrround, and is admirably acted, j The prominent and charitable ■ Mrs Dexter dies on the operating table as the result of a surgical mistake. The operation was begun by the young and brilliant surgeon Newell Paige; it was taken over by Dr. Endicott, a man who at this moment has been caught up in a crisis and momentarily unnerved. Paige is blamed by the hospital and bound to silence by the terms of his medical vow. And then there comes back ;o America the daughter of the woman j who died so unnecessarily, and the two fall in love. This tense and dangerous situation for them both is worked out in a novel and thrilUna 1 way. The supporting films include an | interesting newsreel which has some startling pictures of the Hindenburg crash, spectacular and incredible in it* speed and horror, a musical novelty, "Swine for Sale," and a pictorial news, in colour. MAJESTIC THEATRE. Not only for the beauty of the singing but for the awe-inspiring outdoor scenes, the high standard of acting, and the strength of the story, "Rose Marie, starring Nelson Eddy and Jeanette Mac Donald, which is in its fourth week at the Majestic Theatre, will live in the memory foi- many years to come. In such numbers as 'Rose Marie," "The Indian Love Call," "Song of the Mounties," and selections from the operas "Romeo and Juliet" and "La tosca," the stars are given ample opportunity to demonstrate their ability, and the result is a feast of song. Miss Mac Donald ,is cast as a leading opera singer who, on learning that her brother has escaped from gaol and is hiding in Northern Canada, sets off to find him, and falls- in love with Sergeant Bruce, of the Mounties (Nelson Eddy). The supports include an M.G.M. newsreel of the Coronation. ST. JAMES THEATRE. Grace Moore achieves another triumph with "When You're in Love," which is screening at the St. James Theatre.' She makes a real hit in the "tough" song "Minnie," and .slips with equal versatility into the memorable number from "Madam Butterfly," "One Fine Day." Jerome Kern and Dorothy' Fields produced'two excellent songs, "Whistling Boy" and "Our Song," the first of which cleverly exploits a very effective accompaniment by children. "Vissie Darte,' from "La Tosca," "In the Gloaming, the waltz aria from "Romeo and Juliet, _ "Siboney," and Schubert's "Serenade" are some of the other numbers that make the film a music-lovers . delight. Cary Grant's acting is excellent. Others in the cast are Aline McMahon, Henry Stephenson, Thomas • Mitchell, Cather- ..- me Doucet, and Luis Alberni. The supports include a very thrilling film > "Plane Devils," and a special animated cartoon number. NEW PARAMOUNT THEATRE. To playwrights, novelists, biographers, and poets, the winning of the famous American award, the Pulitzer Prize, for the best work of the year in their respective fields, represents the acme of accomplishment. The prize itself is not very important from a financial viewpoint, only £200. But the winning of it means world fame and unlimited, unpurchasable advertising for the victorious product. "The Green Pastures," the spectacular and controversial Warner Bros.' screen version of which is now in its second successful week at the New Paramount Theatre, won the award for the author, Marc Connelly, in 1930, and it has made more money for him than has any other literary work since the award was established. The stage version of "The Green Pastures" enjoyed a run of no less than five years in the U.S.A. "The Green Pastures" is a. unique motion picture entertainment depicting the negroes' idea of the great dramas of the Bible and the hereafter, and as such it is attracting big audiences to the New Paramount, who, apparently, ■ are finding "The Green Pastures" so far removed from the trite and ■ commonplace as to, completely satisfy a craving for "something different." ■ Not the' least attractiye feature of "The jGreen Pastures" is the glorious singing of the world-famous Hall-Johnson Choir of sixty rich voices. KING'S THEATRE. "Lloyds of London," which is playing a return Wellington season at the -, King's Theatre, is a consummatqlyI told romance, dealing with the glam- ,! orous period of English history "j which culminated in Nelson's victory jat Trafalgar in the early part of last century. Around that famous insurance house, Lloyds of London, the producers have woven a tale of adventure and romance. The lead is taken by Tyrone Power, who is cast as Jonathan Blake, the enterprising member of Lloyds, who brought that firm to the high international reputation it holds ' today. Others in the cast are the late Sir Guy Standing, C. Aubrey Smith, Douglas Scott, and John Burton. Madeleine Carroll supplies the romantic interest. The second attraction is "Pigskin Parade," a fast and furious musical comedy with football as its theme. The cast includes Stuart Erwin, Johnnie Downs, Arline Judge, and Betty Grable. ROXY THEATRE. With the theft of the world-famous "Mona Bell" of Rembrandt as its motivating theme, "Woman in Distress," a fast-paced comedy-melodrama featuring May Robson, Irene Heryey, and Dean Jagger, is screening at ihe Roxy Theatre. The daring robbery of the Rembrandt painting from the modern Maine home of Miss Robson sets in motion a series of exciting escapades which culminate in a hairraising climax. Joseph Schmidt is starred in "A Star Fell From Heaven," the supporting picture. This is a romantic musical comedy, a scintillating satire on the eccentricities of filmland, set in a Continental atmosphere and decorated with a delightful musical score, magnificently rendered by the famous "pocket tenor." OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. The love story which changed the destiny of an empire, with the screen's new romantic sensation, handsome Tyrone Power and beautiful Madeleine Carroll, is told with stirring beauty against a magnificent setting in the 20th Century-Fox triumph, "Lloyds of London." which heads the double-feature programme now showing at Our Theatre. Starring Freddie Bartholomew and Madeleine Carroll the film also features Sir Guy Standing and C. Aubrey Smith. Merrily rolling along on a vacation on wheels, the happy, scrappy Jones Family fill the wide open spaces with fun and hilarity in their latest hit, "Back to Nature," which is the second attraction. SEASIDE THEATRE, LYALL BAY. Bi.vi Travers, that prince of ultra-1 modern comedy authors, wrote "Dis- j Honour Bright," showing at the Seaside Theatre tonight, specially for Tom i 'ij'alls, and the result is the most scandalously funny film the popular star has made, even eclipsing the unforgettable "Rookery Nook." "Suzy," the other attraction, tells an electrifying story of an American chorus girl stranded in London at the outbreak of the World War and caught in the web of wartime espionage. Jean Harlow is starred, and has two of the screen's most popular leading men in Franchot Tone and Cary Grant. BROOKLYN THEATRE. "Half Angel." a mystery comedydrama, with Frances Dec and Brian j Donlevy. and "King of Burlesque," with Warner Baxter, Alice Faye, and Jack Oakie, will be the main features at Brooklyn tonight. '

PLAZA THEATKE. A brilliant new star, an entirely ■ original theme, and an exceptionally ; strong supporting cast all help to make '■ I "Girl in a Million," which is continuing for a third week at , the Plaza ■ S Theatre, the most outstanding comedy I romance of the year. Sonja Henie, world champion skater, demonstrates her ability on the ice in a number of sensational exhibitions, and proves herself to be a charming and accomplished actress. Combining graceful figure skating routines and ice ballets, catchy musical numbers, and plenty of humour, the film is indeed an out-1 standing one. The story is that of a beautiful Swiss girl whose father, an innkeeper and once famous skater, is I training her in the hope that she will win the Olympic championship. Complications arise when a troupe, of I American musical artists and a reporter i visit the inn, but all ends happily. The supporting programme includes a film of the Coronation. DE LUXE THEATRE. Two feature pictures, of an entirely different character, together with one of the most amazing newsreels ever filmed, form the programme which is now screening at the De Luxe Theatre. The first feature, "The Man Who Lived Twice,'' is an unusual drama of a criminal's transformation after a miracle of modern surgery, and the theme has something of the Jekyll and Hyde motif in the background. Ralph Bellamy carries out a dual role with complete understanding, portraying first the crime-hardened thug, and then the new man, with a new outlook on life, arisen from the operating table. Supporting players include Marian Marsh and Isabel Jewel. In lighter vein, with a certain amount of tuneful melody is "When Love is Young," the picture featuring in a new role the talented Virginia Bruce. Miss Bruce emerges not only as a first-class actress but as a singer" of considerable merit. A short feature which must be acknowledged one of the most sensational news films ever screened shows in tragic detail the burning of the gigantic Zeppelin Hindenburg. Norman Dawe at the Wurlitzer and Jimmy Fitzpatrick, boy soprano, are additional attractions each evening. STATE THEATRE. Winsome Shirley Temple makes a greater appeal than ever in her latest picture. "Stowaway," which is featured at the State Theatre. Orphaned by a bandit raid in the Chinese interior. Shirley is forced to flee to the coast, and there, accompanied by Mr. Woo, a dog of uncouth appearance and questionable pedigree, she meets Robert Young, who acts the part of a millionaire playboy. Fortuitously, Shirley and Mr. Woo stow away on the luxury liner that is taking the playboy back home, and on discovery she is taken in hand by the playboy. Also on the boat is Alice Faye, who takes the role of a young bride-to-be going somewhere to be married. Shirley acts as an unofficial Cupid in the matter, and before long it is obvious that there are complications ahead. However, the bride-to-be changes her mmd the playboy reforms, and Shirley gets herself a position as adopted daughter Topical features and a cartoon supplement the main picture. REX THEATRE. "Breezing Home," the main feature at the Rex Theatre, is a sprightly comedy drama featuring William Gargan Binnie Barnes, and Wendy Barrie. The story has its settings in modern night clubs 'where Wendy Barrie is a singer and at the.Santa Anita.track where Gargan trains/ a string of horses owned by BinnLe Barnes. There is romantic rivalry between the 'wo girlsover the affections of Gargan. The ominous threat of drought and the villany of unscrupulous beef dealers who plan to use it to enrich, themselves by forcing up the price of beef, is the story of Paramount's "Trail Dust," the latest "Hopalong" Cassidy picture, which will also be shown. William Boyd, Jimmy Ellison, and George Hayes head the cast. PRINCESS THEATRE. Paramount's "College Holiuay," which is the principal attraction at the Princess Theatre is one of the funniest, gayest, and most hilarious comedies with music to reach the i screen this season. Jack Benny, George Burns and Grade Allen, Mary Boland, Martha Raye, Marsha Hunt, Eleanore Whitney, Lief Erikson. Johnny Downs, Olympe Bradna, Louis DaPron, Ben Blue, and Etienne Girardot are the principal players. A courageous English girl valiantly sacrificing her own desires for her daughter's is the dramatic role played by Katharine Hepburn in "A Woman Rebels," the associate feature. Herbert Marshall, an English diplomat, plays opposite Miss Hepburn in this RKORadio picture. SHORTT'S THEATRE. A short story by Damon Runyon, dean of Broadway writers, serves as the basis for the plot of 20th Century s "Professional Soldier," which is the main feature at Shortt's Theatre. Starring Victor McLaglen and Freddie Bartholomew; it tells of warlike aaventures in a strange European kingdom. Gloria Stuart and Michael Whalen occupy the chief supporting roles. "The Country Beyond," the Fox picture which is also showing, featuring Buck, the giant St. Bernard, with an all-star Hollywood cast, is perhaps the most famous of James Oliver Curwood's tales of courage and hardship in the Northern wastes. Rochelle Hudson, Paul Kelly, and Robert Kent are the leading players. nILBIRNIE KINEMA. Moments of sheer beauty contrast vividly with moments of the tensest sort of dramatic suspense in "Stolen Holiday," the First National romantic drama which is showing at the Kilbirnie Kinema. The picture stars lovely Kay Francis, whose "Give Me Your Heart" and "The White Angel" are still fresh in the memories of her multitude of admirers. The romantic interest is provided by lan Hunter, the handsome young British actor. Jean Harlow reaches the high note in her glamorous career as a star hi the associate feature, "Suzy," the unusual M-G-M picture, of . an American girl caught in the intrigues of wartime spying. Franchot Tone and Cary Grant play the main roles opposite Miss Harlow. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. Lee Tracy and Gloria Stuart are costarred at the Palace Theatre, Petone, in "Wanted! Jane Turner," a story of the U.S. Postal Department's fight asainst postal thieves, crammed with excitement and thrills. The second feature is "Love Letters of a Star," a story of a family hounded by blackmailers. Henry Hunter and Polly Rowlcs have the leading parts. The supporting programme is. a good one. STATE THEATKE. PETONE. Cecil Kellaway, Australia's foremost character comedian, has one of his conI genial roles in Cinesound's latest production, "It Isn't Done," which is screening at the State Theatre, Petone. It is a scintillating, modern comedy romance with Australia's new screen "find," lovely Shirley Ami Richards, as Kellaway's screen daughter, Pat. Brilliantly enacted, "It Isn't Done" is the brightest and breeziest of entertainment. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. A musical melange ranging from modern swing tunes to an operatic aria sung by the world-famous diva, Lily Pons, is brilliantly and unobtrusively presented in the melodic comedy, "That Girl from Paris," in which Miss. Pons is starred with Gene Raymond i and Jack Oakie. The picture opens tonight at the Grand Theatre, Petone. The cast includes Herman Bine, Mischa Aucr, Frank Jenks, and Lucille Ball.

TIVOLI THEATRE. . "The Gay Desperado" and "Wives Never Know" conclude tonight at the Tivoli Theatre. RIVOLI THEATRE. Mar'lene Dietrich and Charles Boyer are co-stars of David O. Selzmck's Technicolour production of "The Gar- < den of Allah," the main feature at the Rivoli Theatre. The famous Robert r Hichens love story presents Miss Die- t trich and Boyer in their greatest roles ' as Domini Enfilden and Boris Androvsky, a woman and a man from widelyseparated worlds who fled to the , Algerian desert to find a new life and were swept into one of the strangest and most beautiful romances ever , brought to the screen. An unusual murder plot is unfolded in the supporting picture, "Fugitive in the Sky." The victim is a passenger on a speeding aeroplane, and the killing takes place far ( above the clouds in the presence of a ; G-man who is pursuing a woman , I criminal whom he believes to be on board. Besides the stars, Jean Muir and Warren Hull, the cast includes Gordon Oliver, Carlyle Moore, jun., Howard Phillips, Winifred Shaw, Mary Treen, John Litel, Gordon Hart, Gor- j don Elliott, and Nedda Harrigan. i NEW OPERA HOUSE. > "Land Beyond the Law," a story of , New Mexico in the days of the pioneers, heads the programme at ] the New Opera House. It is ( a vigorous Western film, easily the best in which Warner Bros, have , starred their singing cowboy, Dick j Foran. There is plenty of action, tense situations in which primitive passions , are unleashed, tender scenes in which Linda Perry plays opposite Foran, and : catchy music which is in keeping with the story. "Midnight Court." a melo- ; drama whose character are introduced to the audience at a novel police tribunal, is the associate feature, with the popular Ann Dvorak in the star-' ring role. John Litel, an excellent I. actor who recently left Broadway for Hollywood, has the featured male role. THE THESPIANS. A welcome attraction for theatregoers will be the Thespian production of J. Jefferson Farjeon's thriller, No. 17," a play with a reputation- that is world wide, which opens a four-nights season in the Concert Chamber next Wednesday. It would spoil the fun to tell much of the plot qf "No. 17," but there is an explanation for every mystery—unlike many thrillers, which leave half the plot unexplained in the end—and the ghastly happenings in "No. 17" during a London fog are guaranteed to thrill every member of the audience. A strong cast is in rehearsal, under Evan Harrowell, who is producing the play with Victor S. Lloyd as advisory director. Those taking part include H. A. Painter, Selwyn Toogood, Ola Nielsen, Constance Bradstock, George Aldridge, W. M. Wills, H. Norman Hannah, L. M. Schneideman, and Eric Evan-Young. The stage manager is Myles F. E. Wright, the property mistresses Isabel Burton and Peggy Lucas, and the prompter Susie Painter. The box plan is now open at Begg s. TONIGHT'S WRESTLING. The eagerly-awaited return wrestling bout between "Lofty" Blomfield, the i New Zealand champion, and Sammy Stein, champion of the Jewish race, will take place at the Wellington Town Hall tonight. Few wrestling bouts in recent years have attracted the attention which attaches to this one, which is regarded as marking an important stage in Blomfield's career. If he can defeat-Stein he will place himself in line for a world's championship bout with Dean Detton, when the champion arrives later in the season, and there will be other profitable engagements to be carried out. Stein won when they met the first time by the only fall of a thrilling encounter and Blomfield's performance suggested that he had excellent prospects of reversing the result in. a return match. There will be amateur preliminaries from a i o'clock. :. CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. Universal's gay comedy drama, "The Luckiest Girl in the World," is screening at the Capitol Theatre. Jane . Wyatt proves her right to high rank- ', ing in this laugh-rousing production ' and Louis Hayward gives an outstand- [ ing performance. The supporting fea- , ture is "Conflict." from a Jack Lon- ' don story, "The Abysmal Brute,'' It is acted out by John Wayne. Jean Rogers, and Eddie Borden, and is colourful, exciting, and romantic, i There are also specially-chosen short : subjects.