CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 23, 28 January 1938, Page 4

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Lk'"; ■. . REGENT THEATBE. , ■ All the beauty, colour, and swash* . ■ -buckling adventure of. the famous An- \-:. /thony Hope romance are seen at the V; Regent Theatre,in David O. Selznick's magnificent film production of "The of Lenda," with Ronald Colmmi, Madeleinei Carroll, and Douglas Fairbanks;-jUh.,' playing the leading roles, iColman plays the dual.role of King Rudolf V and the adventurous Rassendyll in this tale of love and intrigue artibng the courts of Europe, Which John Cromwell directed from a screeh play which John L. Balderstonand Wells Root based on Edward • \Rose?a. dramatisation of the Anthony ... Hope novel. Miss'Carroll plays the l-vbeautiful-. princess FlaVia and young ' -P>irbanks is seen as the dashing Ru- •■■ ",tert=:6f ,Hent2au. Also" prominently T- featured in the cast are Mary Afitoi*, C. ■■<■ Aubrey smith, Raymond Massey, and ■'"■■- David iNiveti, Sixty-two seta, rang■■;ing in size from a gentry-box no larger i>.> than - a : telephone'booth, to a huge ~ cathedral ancTtwo castles, wefe 'con* r.:.vstructed;for -the picture. ; . C'2v'iV;;i;iIViAJESXIcVTHEAll'llE.-. ■ ir .:.f.'Jclitising: eVefl'theii? tfiumphs in ■v : Marietta" and "Ross Marie," i,;!iJSanette MbcDonald and Nelson Eddy, the favourite singing stars, are tiow at ■■:-thev-Majestle'Theatre in "Maytime," :r -..MetrO'Qoldwyn-'May.er's lavish adaptsa tion Of the Rida Johnson Young opeJ*« ■ iettaj which was one of the memorable -'■- hits Of the New York stage. Directed # -;by. Robert Z. Leonard, the man who i'agav'e filhigoers "The Crreat Ziegfeld," M with"a- wide Variety of songs by, Sig» ■t ;-mund; Rornberg arid Herbert Stothart. '-■> -and-with a brilliant-supporting east -:. .headed by-John; Barfymorej the picture, which is in its second week; at " "the' Majestic, "is "one of the outstanding ' sensations of the new movie season. , The famouß song hit Of the original play, "Sweetheart, Will You Remember?" was retained for the film version, with the remainder of the music divided, bdtweea the sentimental and - . operatic. .'.'." ' ■'■. ■ (■■ 1 ■ ,-. ; '\m. .JAMES THEATRE, - ;: .- ':■ ,li: there: -is 'any serious doutrt •as 4o woman's, ability in competition with mdn; there "is amusing .argument for, the fair sex in1 the new Metro-Gold* wyn-Mayer" film, / "My Dear Miss' Aidrich," which commences today .at the St. James Theatre* This is the story of a school teacher who iii« herits a newspaper. The managing editor is one of those males who refuses to believe that women are' fitted for work' bey 6nd the home, He » will not even hire a girl reporter, The new owner not oisiy changes his view*, . but makes him love her. Maureen O'Sullivan plays the owner, with, Wai* ter Pldgeon, the Broadway star, as the managing editor. Edna May Oliver is a puzzle addict who provides hilarious comedy in the most humorous role of her long career. J. yarrell ' Mac Donald, Veteran character star, is the city editor, with ready wit and keen understanding. Janet Beecher, another, screen -and stage veteran; ap« peafsvasa militant feminist. Others ift« the.bast include Rita Johnson, RdtieriViiConverse,, Brent Sargent. ' Gharl6tf;WaldronV.Guinn, Williams,- antt Paul;Hsxvey;.c\George Seitz wag the dirisctdr; ■ The picture has; good news■paper '-atmosphere , and <ls} rich - with • conijedy,fthroughout. ;' : ;■ ': .■../ * ';.' ' :'' rNEW! paSaMount theatre, ■ ■'." '■■■;■■ "Mr. Deeds Goes To Town" commences at the New Paramount Theatre today. " It stafs Gary Cooper and Jean 'Arthur, and gives the former a breezy comedy role to which he is well suited. "Mr. Deeds" may be said to have started the modern screen fashion for crazy, comedies. Gary Cooper ig seen as a quiet young man of suddenly, acquired, extreme .wealth- who seeksiadventurti in :■% large city;' He mtieti- Jean ■ .Arthur,' a *' girl reporter^ who, without letting :>im know what if "HeF'p'rofessidn-- is,Mearjs--hrrn- -to-many r'l wild escapades, which at the same | time provide her with good "copy." | ;.•■.,' /■':;■■■KlNG'S" THEATRE. ■■ ' ■■■■.'' ■! The ordeals of girls, in search of aIj! career are vividjy portrayed in "Stage H Door," which has been, transferred to ii! the King's Theatre. Katharine Het>i .burn, Ginger Rogers, jind Adolphe ', Mehjou take the leads. Miss Hepburn j is a society debutante determined ori i a stage career, despite the opposition j of. her wealthy, family. . Her ropm- ; mate is Ginger Rogers, a carefree night •i club entertainer who yearns to go into ;; musical comedy, ''with ; them are I dozens of others, air fired with the" one f; desire of winning; rfootlight -fame. ii "Stage Door" weaves a kaleidoscopic ?, pattern of heartbreak; and .triumph >i through its .drama; .success for. one ii means disappointment' for? another. '.A "ii midshipman r -who ,endeavours .to", up; - '■' hold the-'traditijJntfrOf' the"U.S. Naval, ■f|. Academy^Md'a cadet Mvlio scoffs at '•i them/clash witheach other until their i; Ipv6#or.-the same/girl brings about a ■."■ series -of adventures; which eventually j,' saariithem^anifriehdshipj according:to ' the: draniatic';;-':story, of; "Annapolis i> Salute," the' second' feature.- James ■i Ellison is seen as a midshipman whose i,| father, a petty bfflcer ln:the; navy,, is f! giving, his son the training advantages Sj he hfinself missed as a younger man. r NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. ll' Claudette Colbert and Fred Maci;. Murray, the romantic pair of 'The '; Gilded. Lily." and "A Bride Comes J Home,"" are teamed together again in !;i Pafamount's "Maid of Salem," romance "■\ of a Puritan maiden and a Virginia I'j cavalier,-^ which is showing., at ■ the New Princess Theatre. "Maid of ■\ Salem" was produced and directed by ■'. FrankXloyd, three-time winner of the jj Academy Award, and it boasts a cast. '■'■ of Hollywood's most brilliant feature H and character players. ..The associate '-mature-is "Double or Nothing"; a romantic comedy starring Bing Crosby. '""Also in the cast are Martha Raye and it! Andy Devine:; , , •' . Ij '": ':<}y KILBIRNiE KINEMA. ' : lii Another demonstration, of the versa- ;:| tile taTent of J^an. Sarlow and Rob- • "i crt Taylor is evident, in- the dellght!r! ful romantic cbmedy,"Man in-PoS-i'l session," now at the Kilbirnie Kinema. '■.!■( Miss Harlow and Taylor are teamed for Pi the first time, and their collaboration is <i\ distinctly a success. Adventure, as only i Rudyard Kipling, could write it, blazes ■!< from the screen in the Twentieth Cen!U tury-Fbx picfurlsation of his "Wee ■3. Willie Winkle," which is the second ',1 feature, with Shirley Temple and Sj Victor McLagl'en ih the starring roles. II ' ■ PALACE THEATRE, PETC^NE. ii' The killer who terrifies a great j'! metropolitan hospital by his unseen de,o predations' is neatly . tripped by .the ' j scatter-brained antics of a nitwit night j nurse in "The Great Hospital Mystery," ii now showing at the Palace Theatre, is with Jane Darwell, Sally Blanc, and H Thomas Beck in the cast. Care-dis-'f pelling entertainment is provided in the ;.i associate feature, "Hideaway," with j-jFred Stone in his most lovable, laughh able-role. \l GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. :;■ '"Man of the People" Will be shown -finally tonight at the; Grand Theatre. -: Paul Robeson,-one of the world's {greatest and mostgloriOus singers, re- • turns to the screen;in,an original,,dra'matic film w,ith music.' "Big Fella," i which opens tomorrow. "Big Fella" •presehtg.'him-ih- a role unlike any;thing/Tie ■ has ■ ever ;done, combining' ;powerful drarrta jand human -character" :;isatl6ni-with'sai number of ■ stirring, mv- .' sical*;iiumbers> i.written especially ■ for iißob^sdn^y;,--'.;'-'.'--..'" ■ ;-■- - ■ . • ;'i , '"'.STATE, THEATRE, P.ETONE. I "Easy'; Living" concludes tonight at ''the State Theatre, Petone. "■-The thrilling tale of how one man's daring rid the Old West of its worst ifeang of-cattle-rustlers is told in. "Hopalohg Rides ; Again." latest in Paramount's series, of .Clarence E. Mlilford^Westerns, which opens at the State' -Theatre '-tomorrow, with William Boyd again cast in his familiar role of "Hopalong." The second attraction is "Partners in Crime," starring Lynne Overman and Roscoe Karns. .It is a,thrilling story.of G-men - and gangsters and a,blackmail scheme.

GITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

PLAZA THEATRE. Dazzling in its spectacle, exhilarating in its fresh, gay out-of-doors romance, "Thin Ice, . Twentieth Century-Fox film starring Sonja Henie, more radiantly exciting than ever before, and Tyrone Power, handsome young screen star who soared to fame in "Lloyd's of London,'1 is showing at the Plaza Theatre. A. (Star in her first picture, Miss Henio tops "Girl in a Million" with new miracles of grace never before revealed, as she1 skates and skis along the silvery Alpine slopes, with Tyrone Power and romance following close behind. Arthur Treacher, Raymond Walburn, and Joan Davis are featured in the notable supporting cast. The story is swiftly paced, exlilaratingly exciting, and hilariously funny. Interspersed throughout the romantic story.. are three elaborate Skating numbers, the Prince Igor Russian Ballet, a beautiful Vienna Waitz, and the Foxttot Fantasy. DE LUXE THEATRE. A fine character returns to' the screen with the'neW picture, "Biilldog Drummond Comes Back," which opens today at the De Luxe Theatre. The picture brings a new Dtummond to the public in the person of John Howard, who plays the role With eminently satisfying dash and humour. John Barrymore takes the part of Colonel Nielson, a Scotland Yard official. The film commences With the kidnapping of Louise Campbell, just before her Scheduled wedding to Howard., A woman, whose lover Howard had killed in his investigation of a previous crime, has organised a; series of clues for Howard in the style of a treasure hunt, and tells him in the/first clue, which is' a phonograph recording in rhyme, that if he follows all the Clues she leaves in the trail he may find his fiancee. But danger surrounds each clue, and if Howard goes to the police his fiancee will be killed at once. For that feasoh he does not tell his trouble to Barrymore, who finds out in spite of it,- and sets out secretly on Howard's track tQ;,protect and help him.-The supporting. programme Include* the breezy comedy "Blohde Trouble" and Wb of the latest newsreelß.; ~v: ■■■■': ;.STATI^iHEATRE. I] The famous block' in New . York located on 52nd Street, bounded on the east by sth Avenue and on the west ay 6th Avenue, and which contains in .us small area more music, excitement, thrills... and entertainment :than, any other spot in the World,' has been transferred to the.screen in; Walter Wanger's "52nd Street/ .Which, com* mences today at the State . Theatre. "52nd Street" is based,' on a story which ranges from the springtime of 1912 to the swingtime of, 1937, adapted to the screen by Grover;Jones.; Iw action unwinds along .Manhattan's night-club thoroughfare and dramatises its world-famous personalities. Kenny Baker, tsensatiortal radio star, heads the distinguished cast comprising lah Hunter, Leo Carrillo, Pat Paterson, Ella Logan,-Sid Silvers, Zasu Pitts, Maria- ShaitOn, ahd a veritable-army at night club, entertainers". Among the, -" song:■■• hits' are' "Don't, .Save Your ' Love , for. a .Rainy Day,'! "I' Would :Like to See Samoa of Samba," "Nothing Can Stop Me Now," "52nd Street," Ybur Hair Down." A special ballad, is introduced by ; Miss Paterson, "I Still Love to Kiss You GOOd Night," and .a comic ,number, "Twenty-three Skidoo," fs presented by ZaSu Pitts. . REX THEATRE. The .highly-dramatic story of what happened to.a young man who borrowed from the loan sharks in order to bring Vacation happiness to his. little family is told in "I Promise" To Pay^inoW'Ut^he Rex ; jTheatre. .Ches^ ter. Morris 'vand HeleniMack are^ the two "priti'cipals--the -young hushand "heavy" characterisation. "Millions, the second attraction, starring Gordon Harker, is a hilarious comedy, following the adventures of one, Otto Forbes, the newly-rich with, a rather shady past, and his aspirations to the rank of gentleman—in spite of a Billingsgate accent. ■ SHORTT'S THEATRE. Kid," : Warner'. Brbf-1" >draBiatic pictuWsation' of the thrilling pioneer ;days' of old San Francisco .when the Wbary Coast seethed with activity and life within its borders was the wildest adventure, is ' showing ..at Shortt's Theatre. The all-star; cast ,is headed- by.,: James Cagney, .who is supported by Margaret ■Lindsay, Ricardo— Cortez,'', and ■■■_,- Lili Damita, : more: than forty persons ■id, the- prinCipar roles and thbusands in the' gigantic, mob scenes More, hilarious laughs :and more big thrills^han seen' onj the gereen4tvmany a^ long day are packed into the Warner Bros, .comedy drama. "The Big Noise "the second attraction,' - starring' Guy Kibbee and -Warren'-Hu11..: ■■' .■■■i.- ■> • i ..;:.'.' ':':',:' ;v-.- "'V . "Mountain' Justice," now at the Roxy Theatre,'is a gripping melodrama based upon a young girl's ambition to bring the benefits of civilisation to the benighted people of her.remote village in the, hills. Thwarted by nearly all of them—especially her own father—she almost sacrifices her life for her ideals of betterment. Bringing to the screen for the ;first time as a leading man that idol of the U.S.A. radio waves, Kenny Baker, . a Mervyn Leßoy musical comedy callea "Mr. Dodd Takes the Air," is the second feature. - . OUR THEATRE. Entertainment of the highest order is offered at Our Theatre tonight. "Saratoga,'" Metro Goldwyn Mayer's successful thrill romance of the turf heads the programme. Clark Gable and Jean Harlow are co-starred with Lionel Barrymore, Frank Morgan, and Una Merkel, in a fast-moving story of a rich horse owner's daughter and her hates and loves. Also showing is Jean' Arthur and George Brent in a whimsical comedy romance, "More than a Secretary/ The story tells of a prim secretary with submerged emotion who is editor of a healtlv magazine, and her subsequent stepping out with the boss. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. Arresting and spectacular melodrama adds particular vividness _to "Pal-a-mount's colourful production,, 'High, Wide, and Handsome," which is,showing at the Regal Theatre. This film shows capable Irene Dunne from still another refreshing angle, and reveals Randolph Scott in a performance permeated with strength . and: virility. Lionel Barrymore, always master of the Character analysis" in a screen portrayal, again touches the heart in his latest role as a fearless old country judge in "A Family Affair,'' the second attraction. , .'• ' - - : ' EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. The story of a poor working girl who gets a £12,000 sable coat as a gift and then has to live up to it, brings Jean Arthur, Edward Arnold, and Ray Milland to the screen of the Empire Theatre in "Easy Living." The coat literally comes to her from Heaven — while she is riding on top of a bus. It causes a Wall Street crisis, saves a hotel- from bankruptcy, gets a waiter fired from a restaurant, and wins Miss" Arthur a handsome husband. For the third time in his screen career, George O'Brien takes to the sea for the locale of his latest starring picture, "Windjammer," the second feature. CAPITOL THEATRE. The fact that "Merry-go-Round of 1938/' which is showing at the Capitol Theatre, enjoyed an extended season at th j St. James Theatre is in itself a recommendation. A non-stop comedy, featuring a team of flrst-raxe artists, the picture is replete from start to finish with racy dialogue and excellent stage work. The popular comedian Stanley Lupino heads a large cast in'the laugh sensation "Over She Goes," the second feature. Deanna Durbin is heard m a delightful short, entitled "Every Sunday Afternoon."

TIVOLI THEATRE. With Spencer Tracy, Gladys George, and Franchot Tone teamed in the leadIng roles, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's "They Gave Him a Gun" is showing at the Tivoli Theatre. Tracy is seen as Fred Willis, circus barker, while Franchot Tone plays the small-town bookkeeper, Jimmy Davis, who turns racketeer following the war. Gladys George is the Red Cross nui'se, Rose Duffy, whom they both love. Featured ■ supporting l'oles include Cliff (Ukulele Ike) Edwards as Laro, Tracy's circus helper, and Mary Lou Treen as Saxe, Rose Duffy's fellow-nurse. There are approximately 250 speaking parts, all told. A rollicking whirlwind of mischief and excitement, the irrepressible Jane Withers romps merrily through the laugh-provoking situations of "The Holy Terror," the Twentieth CenturyFox comedy hit which is the second attraction. In this latest. and gayest fun-feast of her career, involving her in hilarious doings with the Navy, tho young madcap is ably supported by Anthony Martin. Leah Ray, Joan Davis, El Brendel, and Joe Lewis. RIVOLI THEATRE. "Camille," now at the Rivoll Theatre, With Greta Garbo and Rbbert Taylor as its sensational cb-starring team, brings mutual distinction to Hollywood's two most glamorous stars. The notable supporting cast includes Lionel Barrymore, Elizabeth Allan, Jessie Ralph, Henry Darnell, Lenore Ulnc, and Laura Hope Crews, and there is not a performance among the group that does not deserve praise. The Dumas love classic of "The Lady of the Camellias" provides a peculiarly brilliant Vehicle for the glamorous Garbo. She gives an unforgettable , intensity to. the most dramatic^ role of her btilliant career. Taylor, Whose amazing success in a brief two years on the screen has made him an international figure, comes into his own as a dramatic actor of rare talent in the exacting role of Armand. A brilliant cast headed by Joan Crawford, William Powell, and Robert Montgomery, appear in "The Last Of Mrs. Cheyhey, based on the stage play by Frederic Eonsdale, which is the second feature. Miss Crawford portrays the charming American Widow in .London society with finesse, and William Powell is excellent as the suave butler who is in reality a crook. Robert Montgomery portrays the young English lord who falls in love with the American girl only to find her under suspicion^ of jewel theft. SEASIDE THEATRE, LYALL BAY. Jack Oakie and Ann Sothern are starred in the hilarious comedy, "Super Sleuth," the main feature at the Seaside Theatre. Oakie is cast as a famous screen sleuth whose hobby is bragging about his ability to solve crimes even off the screen. After receiving a "poison pen" Warning and witnessing the murder ot another screen star who isl mistaken for him. the would-be crime solver decides it is high time to show up the police by capturing the criminal himself. "North of Nome," starring Jack Holt, is the associate .attraction. , OUTDOOR WRESTLING. The Kilbirnie Wrestling will stage some interesting wrestlmg bouts on the Evahs Bay foreshore tomorrow gftprnnnh at 2.30 O'ClOCk.