CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 20, 25 January 1938, Page 4

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE.

All tho beauty, colour, and swashbuckling adventure of the famous Anthony Hope romance arc seen at the Regent Theatre in David O. Solznick's magnificent film production of "The Prisoner of L.euda," with Ronald Colman, Madeleine Carrol), and Douglas Fairbanks, jun., playing the leading roles. Colnian plays Hie dual role ol! King Rudolf V and the adventurous Rassendyll in this tale of love and intrigue among the courts of Europe, which John Cromwell directed from a screen play which John L. Baldcrston and Wells Root based on Edward Rose's dramatisation of the Anthony Hope novel. Miss Carroll plays the beautiful Princess Flavia and young Fairbanks is seen as the dashing Rupert of Hentzau. Also prominently featured in the cast are Mary Astor, C. Aubrey Smith, Raymond Massey, and David Niven. , Sixty-two sets, ranging in size from a sentry-box no larger than a telephone booth, to a huge cathedral and two castles, were constructed for the picture. MAJESTIC THEATRE. Eclipsing even their triumphs in "Naughty Marietta" and "Rose Marie," Jeanette Mac Donald and Nelson Eddy, the favourite singing stars, are now at the Majestic Theatre in "Maytime," Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's lavish, adaptation of the Rida Johnson Young operetta, which was one of the memorable hits of the New York stage. Directed by Robert Z. Leonard, the man who gave fijmg'oers "The Great Ziegfeld," with a wide variety of songs by Sigmund Romberg and Herbert Stothart, and with a brilliant supporting cast headed by John Barrymore, the picture, which is in its second week at the Majestic, is one of the outstanding sensations of the new movie season. The famous song hit of the original play, "Sweetheart, Will You Remember?" was retained for the film version, with the remainder of the music divided between the sentimental and operatic. ST. JAMES THEATRE. The -fact that "Merry-go-Round of 1938" is having an extended season at the St. James Theatre is in itself a recommendation. A non-stop comedy, featuring-a team of first-rate artists, the picture ■is replete from start to finish with racy dialogue and excellent stage work. The names of Mischa Aver, Alice Brady, Billy House, Jimmie Savo, and Bert Lahr are household ones in the American entertainment world, and these artists all combine to produce a film of untiring comedy. Briefly,' the story concerns the adventures of four comedians, who have perforce to grapple with; the problem of bringing up an ■ adopted infant daughter, and then having accomplished this to their satisfaction are faced with the equally difficult problem of getting her married to the right millionaire (John King). This they find not so easy of solution. The supporting programme is excellent. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. One ol the most delightful musical offerings.. the screen has produced in recent years, "One Hundred Men and a Girl," is showing at the Paramount Theatre. Deanna Durbin, possessor of a remarkable and exquisitely-trained voice ahd a winsome and appealing personality, would alone make the picture outstanding, but she has the backing of a symphony orchestra under the baton of the famous American conductor Leopold Stokowski, and the superb combination provides a feast of music of the highest order. Adolphe Menjou and Mischa Aver have leading roles, the former giving a fine characterisation of an out-of-work musiciarii Eugene Pallette and Alice Brady; are responsible for much of the humour of the film. The story provides ati\ admirable vehicle for the musical .theme.- Supports include .'a cartoon and travelogues. KING'S THEATRE; The most talented of juvenile actresses, Shirley Temple, is at her best in "Heidi of the Alps," which is now screening at-the King's Theatre. She has a charm all of her. own, and her acting in, this picture, as it has been in all her other successes, is superb. The story tells of the great attachment of an orphan, (Shirley .Temple) to her grandfather (the versatile Jean Heiv sholt), who lives the life of a hermit in. the mountain fastnesses far removed from civilisation.., There are many complicated situations in which the hermit becomes involved, and on one occasion he breaks away from gaol in time to rescue Shirley from falling into the hands of a wandering band of gipsies. The supporting feature is "The Californian," adapted from a well-known story by, Harold Bell Wright. Ricardo Cortez is in the starring role. SHORTT'S THEATRE. Joe E. Brown is the star, in the musical comedy romance, "Sons o' Guns," now at Shortt's Theatre. The picture is based on the rollicking Broadway stage hit of .the same title by Fred Thompson and Jack Donahue, a colourful, tuneful comedy of World War days, dealing only with the bright and hilarious side of doughboy life in the A.E.F. "Man Hunt," the second feature, combines tense, exciting melodrama with hilarious comedy. There is a talented cast headed by Ricardo Cortez, Marguerite Churchill, William Gargan, and Charles (Chic) Sale, r —OPB-.y.HgAIM^ NEWTOWN. "Dangerous Number,"""the M.'g'.m'. Comedy-romance ' starring Robert Young and Ann Sothern, heads the double-feature bill showing at Our Theatre., The story deals with the marriage of a young business man to a vaudeville actress. They fail to understand each other; there are countless comical quarrels, an odd marital mix-up hinging on California's threeday marriage licence law, and a comedy denouement in which the husband gives the recalcitrant bride the soluble dress, drives her.into a pool in a purloined taxi-cab, .and thus tames her rebellious . spirit.. .The? associate feature is the romantic comedy, "Sing and Be Happy," .with, an all-star cast. ' NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. All the musical hits of the stage production are presented in new and entertaining fashion in the film version of "Over She Goes," starring Stanley Lupino and Laddie Cliff, which i s showing at the New Princess Theatre.. Merry entertainment aptly describes "Over She Goes." Smart gags, capital fooling, lilting songs, and expert direction make this picture highly entertaining. The associate feature is "Kathleen Mavourneen," starring Sally O'Neil and Tom Burke, the world-fam-ous tenor. KILBIRNIE KINISMA. Jessie Matthews returns to the screen in her best musical film to date, "Head Over Heels," which is showing at the Kilbirnie Kinema. This Gaumont- British film gives the favourite star every opportunity of appearing at her best. "Head Over Heels" is a zestful comedy-romance, set in the Parisian cabaret world, of three young people and an actress, who has homewrecking tendencies. Bringing to the screen the romance based upon the career of Jim Fisk, one of the most colourful and spectacular financiers of the period immediately following the Civil War, "The Toast of New York," the associate feature, presents Edward Arnold, Cary Grant, Frances Farmer, Jack Oakie, and a huge cast in a glittering panorama of American drama. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. Dealing with the regeneration of a young doctor after he is forced by a freak of circumstances to abandon his career and become a derelict, ''The Man Who Found Himself," now at the Palace Theatre, presents powerful human drama' against the highly modern setting of a big airport. John Beal lias the starring part. A superblywritten drama, brilliantly unacted by an imposing casf'and set in the scenic grandeur of the very summit of America's timber belt, "Roaring Timber," starring Jack Holt, is the second attraction.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

PLAZA THEATRE

Dazzling in its spectacle, exhilarating • in its fresh, gay out-of-doors Romance, s "Thin Ice," Twentieth Century-Fox film .starring Sonja Henic, more radiantly exciting than ever before, and Tyrone Power, handsome young screen star who soared to fame in "Lloyd's of London," is showing at the Plazn Theatre. A star in her first picture, Miss Henie tops "Girl in a Million" with new miracles of grace never before revealed, as she skates and skis . along the silvery Alpine slopes, with Tyrone Power and romance following close behind. Arthur Treacher, Raymond Walburn, and Joan Davis nro featured in the notable supporting cast. The story is swiftly paced, exhilaralingly exciting, and hilariously funny. Interspersed throughout the romantic story are three elaborate skating numbers, the Prince Igor Russian Ballet, a beautiful Vienna Waltz, and the Foxtrot Fantasy. DE LUXE THEATRE. Combining all the best virtues, of the recent cycle of semi-crazy films, "Married Before Breakfast," which is showing at the De Luxe, gives Robert Young the funniest part of his career. He invents a soap which can, he says, "do everything a razor can do except open cans." The soap is a flop;! but one company on which Young tries to foist his product, dismayed at the possibility of losing their razor trade, pays him 250,000 dollars for the invention. In a burst of exuberance, Young distributes gifts lavishly to all his friends. And as a final task he sets out to aid Florence Rice in her endeavours to marry a young insurance agent whose hopes of matrimony have been dashed by failure to sell a policy to a milkman. The otheif feature is "The Westland Case," starring Preston Foster. STATE THEATRE. Three of filmdom's oest-known stars, Katharine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, and Adolphe Merijou, head the : cast in "Stage Door," a drama, of the ordeals of girls in search of a career, which is showing at the State Theatre. It blends in its vivid dramatic fabric the hopes and dreams of a score of stage-struck girls, 'eager, ambitious, confident that they will succeed in opening the portals to fame and fortune. Until that day arrives, they live at a theatrical boardinghouse, whose landlady is herself a former actress, and in this setting mu.ch 'of the film's action takes place. Miss : Hepburn is one of these girls, a society debutante determined on a stage career, despite the opposition of her wealthy family. Her room-mate is Ginger Rogers, a care-free night club entertainer who yearns to go into musical comedy. , REGAL THEATRE. Claude Rains, Gloria Dickson, Edward Norris, Otto Kruger, Allyn Joslyn, and Lana Turner play the leading roles in the sensational film "They ' Won't Forget," which is showing at : the Regal Theatre tonight. It presents ; the argument that a politically ambi- ! tious district attorney, by building up i a chain of circumstantial evidence— ■ and at the same time craftily stirring [ anti-sectional hatred—can send to . death a perfectly innocent man ac- , cused of murder. Starring the mis- '. chievous Jane Withers in her best > comedy, "The Holy Terror," will also ; be shown, with Anthony Martin, Leah i Ray, Joan Davis, El Brendel, and Joe '. Lewis featured in the cast. !'■.„,.;'. /JREX..THEATRE. ■'~. '■ The story of a man who dedicated • his life to winning control of a flnan--1 cial empire, then threw away feVery--1 thing he" had won for the sake of the woman he loved is that of Paramount's "Shanghai," - which is now " Showing at the Rex Theatre. Charles i Boyer, Loretta Young, Warner Oland, 1 and Alison Skipworth head the cast. ; George Burns and Gracie Allen, known . as the screens-foremost comedy team, [ score another success inj Paramount'S . "Love in Bloom," the other feature. , They are supported by Joe Morrison ; and Dixie Lee in this film which, features four new Gordon and Revel song • hits. - •■.•■-. : CAPITOL THEATRE. Something new in murder mysteries brings Jack Oakie to the screen as an amateur detective in "Super Sleuth," showing at the Capitol Theatre, with Ann Sothern co-starred. Unlike the usual run of mystery pictures,: this story makes no secret of the killer's identity. He is established early in the story, and the suspense of the picture is derived from the attempts of the murderer to slay Oakie, who believes him to be his friend. The throbbing excitement of a railroad story is the central theme of Universal's "West Bound. Limited," which is also screening; featuring Lyle Talbot and Polly Rowles. : i STATE THEATRE, PETONE. "Wee Willie Winkie" concludes tonight at the State Theatre, Petone. Edward Arnold, Jean Arthur, Ray Milland, and Luis Alberni come to the screen of the State Theatre, Petone, ' tomorrow evening in one of the most pretentious productions of the current season. The picture is Paramount's "Easy Living," a comedy of the ultrasmart sort, which Director Mitchell Leisen selected as his follow-up to the recent hit, "Swing High, Swing Low." The plot of the film, which is froip. a screen play by Preston Sturges, is laid in New York. '~.-■, GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. "Rustler's Valley" and "Blonde Trouble" conclude tonight at the Grand' Theatre, Petone. . Metro - Gqldwyn - Mayer presents Joseph Calleia in a new role, this time a hero -instead of a villain; in "Man of the People," which /comes to the 'Grand Theatre, Petone, • tomorrow night. The original story pictures a modern city and the political machine which makes it go. Florence Rice has the romantic role. Ted Healy provides comedy, and a capable supporting cast includes Thomas Mitchell, Catharine Doucet, Paul Stanton, and Jonathan Hale. ROX* THEATRE. The extent to which circumstances can weave a noose around an innocent man's neck is dramatically portrayed in Paramount's "The Accusing Finger," a tense drama of circumstantial evidece which is showing at the Roxy Theatre, with Paul Kelly in the starring role. A jewel robbery, an excellent mystery story, and gay music arc contained in 'Hideaway Girl," the supporting feature. In the cast' are Shirley Ross, Robert Cumming, Monroe Owsley, and Louis DaPron. SEASIDE THEATRE. Grace Moore and Cary Grant have the leading roles in Columbia's popular comedy musical "When You're in Love," the main feature on tonight's programme at the Seaside Theatre. Paramount's "Expert's Opinion" is the associate attraction. ■It provides a gripping story of international espionage and revenge, aerial thrills, excellent character drawing, and brilliant acting. The supporting programme is varied and interesting. UMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAT. "His Affair," the story of a love supremely courageous and unashamed, endangering the nation's highest places and gambling life itself for the greater stake is now showing at the Empire Theatre. ■ It provides Robert Taylor and Barbara Stanwyck with the most important story either of these great stars has ever had. The second' attraction is "Good-morning, Boys," a Gaumonl-British film starring the famous comedian Will Hay, in one of his •Ivuical successes.

TIVOLI THEATRE. Arresting and spectacular melodi'airm adds particular vividness to I'nrumount's colourful production, "High, Wide, and Handsome," which in showing at the Tivoll TlicrU-c. Tills Him shows capable Irene Dunne from still another refreshing angle, and reveals Randolph Scott in a performance perinea Cud with Klrenglh und virility. The picture hns been frankly developed as entertainment in tho broad and picturesque .sense. In thin it has the advantage of ;i well-con-ceived narrative with v sprinkling of. historic fnct. The production begins as a romantic lovo Htory, but suddenly develops into a gripping melodrama. All the musical hits of the stage production ure presented in new und entertaining fashion in the film version of "Over She Goes," starring Stanley Lupino and Laddie Cliffe, which is also screening. Smart gags, capital fooling, lilting songs, and expert direction make this picture highly entertaining. lUVOU THEATRE. A significant phase of modern American life is portrayed with dramatic intensity in universal's "Let Them Live," which is screening at the Rivoli Theatre. The story sets forth the valiant battle of a young doctor to compel political bosses to improve health conditions in a city. The romantic element of the screen drama develops when two lovely girls are attracted to the doctor. The leading role is played brilliantly by John Howard, who scored in "Lost Horizon." Nan Grey, Judith Barrett, Robert Wilcox, and Edward Ellis are the other I main players. "The Case of the Velvet Claws," the associate feature, is a baffling mystery thriller by the famous author, Erie Stanley Gardner. Warren William heads the cast, which also includes Claire Dodd, Winifred Shaw, Gordon Elliott, Joseph King, Addison Richards, Eddie Acuff, and Olin Howland. Warren William plays the role of Perry Mason, fiction's famous attor-ney-detective.