CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 85, 7 October 1938, Page 4

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE.

"Yellow Jack," which is showing at : the Regent Theatre, is one of those mll teresting American stories which dramatise the march of medical research, giving a personal effect to the sacrifices of those who risk their lives for others. ' The stars are Robert Montgomery and Virginia Bruce, who as sergeant in a medical corps and nurse respectively, give the human interest in the fight put up by the United States .Army medical officers 1 against the dreaded, yellow fever which at the time the story opens was looked upon as utterly beyond the reach of medicine. Lewis Stone, as the medical officer, is in a typically • impressive role. Havana is the spot : where the army is dying off like flies. ■ Languorous nights, golden moons, and , the native music merely emphasise the tragedy of the loss of man after man, until the victims are numbered by thousands. The love affair of the sergeant and the nurse proceeds apace, if stormily. He is rough and uncultured, she dainty and educated. Painstaking research into the past, and. numerous experiments leave the head of the medical corps no wiser, and the fever still triumphant. There is no germ that can be found, and it is only after meeting a discredited island doctor, who has solved the secret in the bite of one particular mosquito out of 800 species which frequent the island, that he is put on the right track. - Humour, pathos, and horseplay run side by side with a powerful drama when volunteers are j called for to submit to tests which ' will prove the truth of the discovery. I Supports include a Swedish scenic, I a racecourse comedy, and a cartoon, while the gazette shows the first meeting of Chamberlain, and Hitler. ST. JAMES THEATRE. Catchy songs, magnificent settings, two famous band organisations, a swiftly paced inside story of Hollywood life, a star-studded cast headed by Dick Powell and Louella O. Parsons, are some of the elements which make up "Hollywood Hotel," the musical comedy which is the main film at the St. James Theatre. Inclusion in the picture of an entire broadcast of the most famous of all U.S.A. air programmes—"Hollywood Hotel"—meant adding enormously to the cost of a production. The result is a film which gives the audience double value in the loveliest and most tuneful picture of the year. Dick Powell in the best role of his career gives an endearing acting performance. Opposite him play two of the famous Lane sisters —Lola as a temperamental movie queen who refuses to appear at a premiere for her producer, and Rosemary as a little unknown waitress who is called in to double socially for the star. A stellar array of laugh-makers are at their rollicking best. Ted Healy as the freelance photographer who becomes Dick Powell's manager and Hugh Herbert as the befuddled father of the movie star give inimitable perfoi-mances. Alan Mowbray playing the handsome leading man does it to any star's taste. ROXY THEATRE. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer introduces a novel picture in "Night Must Fall," which is showing at the Roxy Theatre. The film is a daring venture in the production field, but- even more experimental for Robert Montgomery, who deliberately chose to drop his accustomed heroic roles for the characterisation of a pathological killer. His performance is remarkable from every standpoint. Noted for his action roles, Preston Foster portrays a clever jewel thief who writes successful mystery stories about his own crimes in "Double Danger," the second feature. REX THEATRE, "Desert Gold" and "Her Master's Voice" conclude tonight at the Rex Theatre. Detective Joe E. Brown declares, "It's an open-and-shut face!" It is a scream when this one-man Scotland Yard wins the wooden medal for reporting. Supporting Joe in "Wide Open Faces," which is showing at the Rex Theatre, are Lyda Roberti, Alison Skipworth, Jane Wyman, Alan Baxter, Lucien Littlefield, Berton Churchill, Barbara Pepper, and Sidney Toler. Convicted men loose on the street. When will they strike next? — as the worst racket of them all spreads its reign of terror. This action tale is unfolded in Columbia's vivid production, "Freedom For Sale," which is the associate feature. Featured in the cast are Paul Kelly, Rosalind Keith, Leona Maricle, Thurston Hall, and Gene Morgan. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. 1 "The Awful Truth," now at the Kilbirnie Kinema, depicts the marital mishaps of the Warriners, played by .Irene Dunne and Gary Grant. Wealthy and very much in love with each other, they nevertheless come to grief in the divorce courts when misunderstandings are amplified with disastrous results. At this point in the story Mr. Smith makes his entrance. Mr. Smith is their wire-haired terrier. Irene wants him, but so does Gary. By a ruse Irene wins custody of the animal; but the Court permits Cary to visit him once a month. A romance between the secretary of America's leading racketeer and a G-man whose job is to crush the dangerous gang forms the exciting love plot of "Tip-off Girls,", the second feature, Mary Carlisle and Lloyd Nolan are the stars. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. "Arsene Lupin Returns" concludes tonight at the Grand Theatre. "Cain and Mabel," a spectacular Cosmopolitan musical production released by Warner Bros., and starring two of the screen's most brilliant celebrities, Marion Davies and Clark Gable, opens tomorrow. The picture is filled with catchy musical airs and gigantic specialty numbers, in which one hundred and sixty beautiful chorus girls take part, in addition to its hilarious comedy, its glowing romance, and many thrills. STATE THEATRE, PETONE^ "I'll Take Romance" will be shown finally tonight at the State Theatre. From out of the depth of the tenements of a great city rises a stirring, triumphant story of youth and honour and a boy's fight to find himself. It is Monogram's splendid "Boy of the Streets," which comes to the State Theatre tomorrow, and its star is Jackie Cooper, whose moving characterisation of Chuck, the tenement "big shot," definitely establishes him as an adult star. "Boy of the Streets" is a story of the children who grew up in the sombre shadow of the tenements and their subsequent battle in life. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. "International Settlement" will have its final screening at the Palace Theatre tonight. The "top" names in entertainment today are cast in "Radio City Revels," RKO-Radio's new musical screen comedy, which comes to the Palace Theatre tomorrow. Bob Burns, Jack Oakie. Kenny Baker. Ann Miller, Victor Moore, Milton Berle, Helen Broderick, Jane Froman, Buster West, Melissa Mason, plus Hal Kemp and his orchestra are in the top billing. Dealing with Bob Burns's odd talents as a "sleeping-writing" song composer, the picture is offered on a spectacular scale. "Wings Over Africa," the second attraction, is a story of gold and treachery in Africa. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE, WOBURN. The successful romantic team of Clark Gable and Jeanette Mac Donald is brought again to the screen in "San Francisco," now at the Prince Edward Theatre. Again the rugged, two-fisted Gable of old and the lovely Miss Mac Donald are seen together with Spencer Tracy sharing stellar honours. Another of the series of the Jones Family j pictures, "Borrowing Trouble," is the 1 second attraction.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

TIVOLI THEATRE.

Glamorous nights in the tropic wilderness—three brave companions . fighting against the jungle's menace— romance, adventure, and daring feats >of courage. Those are the things 20th Century has captured in "A Message . to Garcia," which is showing at the . Tivoli Theatre. Topping the cast .is Wallace Beery, in the role of a lovable rogue, while Barbara Stanwyck and John Boles are joined in the romantic leads. About the perilous adventures of the man who carried the message to Garcia, the picture unwinds its story, leads up to a crashing climax in which Beery gives his life so that those of his friends may be spared. Played by Arthur Treacher, P. G. Wodehouse's Jeeves makes his debut on the screen in the new 20th; Century-Fox picture, "Thank You, Jeeves!" which is the associate film. With Virginia Field as "the lady in distress" and David Niven as the amiable Bertie Wooster, fiction's most furiously funny characters —as charming as theyj are convulsing—move through a hilarious series of typical Wodehouse adventures. DE LUXE THEATRE. "Alcatraz Island," a Warner Bros, melodrama, is showing at the De Luxe Theatre. It is said that the story is not merely one of life behind the stone walls of the Pacificwashed prison. There is plenty of action on the mainland, both before and after the protagonist—one Gat Brady, played by John Litel—is confined for income-tax evasion. The story itself deals with a powerful racketeer (John Litel), who is forced to remove his daughter (Mary Maguire), from an exclusive boarding school, and take her to live with him. When he is imprisoned for income-tax evasion, his one wish is to get out as soon as his term is up to rejoin his daughter, now in love with a district attorney (Gordon Oliver), and his own sweetheart (Ann Sheridan). How this desire is thwarted time and again by a former mobman seeking revenge takes the audience through the various prisons in the story, thus forming as powerful a background as has been seen in a long while. The double romance in the story keeps the film from being grim and thus well up in the realm of excellent entertainment. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Columbia's bright comedy, "There's Always a Woman," is the new film at the Paramount Theatre. This comedy starts on a novel note, introducing Joan Blondell as the new operator of the defunct private detective agency of her sleuth-husband Melvyn Douglas now happily reinstated on the District Attorney's staff. And lo a murder. Douglas assigned to solve it, is amazed, and not at all pleased, to learn that this bewildering young wife is working independently on the self-same mystery. The comedy clash that ensues leaves Douglas the most harassed young man in town. He must even obtain a warrant to search his own apartment for a letter his wife has which he wants. The picture, strikingly mounted with an all-star supporting cast, bears the hallmark of excellence in every department—writing, directing, acting, and production. "Extortion," a mystery drama featuring Scott Colton, J. Farrell MacDonald, and Mary Russell, will be the supporting feature. STATE THEATRE. Handsome Charles Boyer has his most romantic role as a lovable fugir tive in Walter Wanger's "Algiers," the colourful adventurous romance that stars him opposite Hollywood's two most glamorous newcomers, Sigrid Gurie and Hedy Lemarr, which is showing at the State Theatre. "Algiers" casts the dark-eyed screen lover as Pepe le Moko, devil-may-care international jewel thief, who takes refuge from the French police by living in the Casbah, the mysterious native quarter of Algiers where the law dare not intrude. Here Pepe le Moko rules as king. Sigrid Gurie is seen as Ines, his beautiful and wildly jealous native sweetheart. Then one day there strolls into the Casbah, a beautiful Parisian tourist. This is the day for which Slimane, suave provincial detective, has been patiently waiting. For he knows that if nothing else can lure the great lover out of the Casbah and into the hands of the law, perhaps a woman can. Pepe and Gaby fall madly in love, and after a series of exciting and romantic adventures, in the course of which the jealous native sweetheart betrays Pepe to the police, the story ends on a breathtaking surprise climax. Joseph Calleia plays the detective, Slimane, PLAZA THEATRE. "We're Going to be Rich," a surprising, different, and thoroughly enjoyable 20th Century-Fox production, begins a season at the Plaza Theatre today. With Victor McLaglen, one of the favourite he-men, in his finest role as a somewhat irresponsible devotee of the "get-rich-quick" idea of getting on in the world—and with Gracie Fields, as his devoted showgirl wife, "We're Going to be Rich" presents a broad, lusty story of life in Australia and South Africa. These two stars, Victor and Miss Fields, are set in two points of a triangle which is completed by Brian Donlevy. Life during the "eighties" in the Boer country is vividly paraded before the audience to the acompaniment of six new song hits and a stirring "Trek" song of the veldt territory. As fast as Gracie Fields can save money to "go back 'ome to England," McLaglen manages to lose it in swindles. She meets Donlevy, who runs a dance and gambling hall in Johannesburg while Victor is cooling his temper in jaiL The McLaglen-Donlevy feuds are well enough known to their thousands of admirers, and for once there is a different twist to this one. Among the supports is a film of events in the recent international crisis in Czechoslovakia and Europe. NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. "Dead End," Samuel Goldwyn's film production based on the Broadway stage hit by Sidney Kingsley, is the main attraction at the New Princess Theatre. Sylvia Sidney and Joel McCrea are in the starring roles. This powerful drama of a day in the lives of a handful of humans who inhabit a "dead end" city street, where fashionable apartments rub elbows with the squalid tenements of the waterfront, which set records in its Broadway run and was cheered from coast to coast, reaches even greater heights in the film version. The associate feature is Paramount Films hilarious romantic comedy, "Turn Off the Moon," starring Charles Ruggles, Eleanore Whitney, and Johnny Downs. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. Samuel Goldwyn knew that he had a truly great picture in "The Hurricane" which is showing at the Empire Theatre, with Dorothy Lamour and Jon Hall heading a great cast. "The Hurricane," with its tender romance, its powerful drama, its picturesque setting, and its amazing spectacle climax, is a story ready-cut to the screen's most heroic measure. Fortyfive members of an exclusive Fifth Avenue club find they have dynamite on their hands when they adopt Jane Withers in "45 Fathers," the second attraction, in which Thomas Beck, Louise Henry, and the Hartmans, famed ventriloquists and satirical dancers, are featured. KING GEORGE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. One of the laughter high lights of "Let George Do It," Cinesound's comedy, starring George Wallace, which is the main film at the King George Theatre, is diminutive Joe Valli, rowing to the rescue of Letty Craydon. Joe's hat and hands are all that can be seen arid when he catches numerous "crabs" the hat disappears from sight entirely. The popular Scottish comedian plays the role of "Happy," George Wallace's offsider in the film, and the perfect team work of the comedy couple is a high light of the production.

RIVOH THEATRE. A drama of Paris highlighted bythrilling fights in the underworld, the shadowing of notorious criminals by the French police and the romantic affairs of a jewel crook comes to the screen in "The Rat," which is showing at the Rivoli Theatre. Ruth Chatterton and Anton Walbrook are starred. A condemned murderer leaves his young and pretty daughter to the care of the Rat, who protects her with his life; and then as romance unites the two, the crook begins to leave his haunts on secret visits to the apartment of a wealthy and sophisticated woman of the world. The woman's millionaire companion is murdered in the Rat's garret, and the story takes surprising turns in a sensational murder trial in the Paris courts. The colourful and interesting film "Walter Wanger's Vogues of 1938" is the second feature. Warner Baxter and Joan Bennett head a large and imposing cast. MAJESTIC THEATRE. In today's mad race of modernity, the marital "triangle" has been pushed into limbo and in its place rises the matrimonial "rectangle" in the faststepping comedy-drama, "Man-Proof," which is showing at the Majestic Theatre. With Myrna Loy, forming the quartet of principals, are Franchot Tone, Rosalind Russell, and Walter Pidgeon. Miss Loy is a young artist disillusioned in love. Miss Russell is a wealthy socialite. Franchot Tone is a newspaper cartoonist and Walter Pidgeon is a social climber. Miss Loy loves Pidgeon, but he marries Miss Russell. Tone loves Miss Loy, but he keeps it to himself. Miss Loy is determined to separate the newlyweds and marry Pidgeon herself. While they are away on their honeymoon, she temporarily forgets Pidgeon and remains "wedded" only to her art. Tone, idolising Miss Loy, marks time. The honeymooners return and Miss Loy's waning spark of love for Pidgeon is rekindled. They have lots of fun together at the fights and in night clubs, until the wife finds the husband in Miss Loy's rooms. Admirable performances are given by the principals and by such supporting players as Rita Johnson, Nana Bryant, Ruth Hussey, Leonard Perm, and John Mil Jan. TUDOR THEATRE. 'four Men and a Prayer," now showing at the Tudor Theatre, is a delightful transition of a popular story which has thrilled millions. Four stalwart young sons of a grand old soldierlather are bound by a gallant pledge to rove the world to avenge his dishonour and death. That great love pervades the entire story. Yet the beauty of Loretta Young, and her love for one of the brothers, Richard Greene, is a joy to behold. The second feature is "Island in the Sky,' starring Michael Whalen and Gloria Stuart. The German annexation of Austria is dealt with in a film of the "Time Marches On" series. REGAL. THEATRE, KARORL One of the brightest comedies ever made is showing at the Regal Theatre. This is Victor Saville's delightful Scottish satire, "Storm in a Teacup," which introduces a charming new romantic pair, Vivien Leigh and Rex Harrison. The fun is fast and furious throughout, culminating in a hilarious climax in which the fun is provided by a mischievous crowd of dogs. Alice Faye, Tony Martin, and Fred Allen head a merry, mad march of mirthmakers in "Sally, Irene, and Mary," new musical hit, which is the supporting film. The cast includes Jimmy Durante, Gregory Ratoff, and Joan, Davis. CAPITOL THEATRE; MIRAMAR. Based on the superb whimsy of the screen play, adapted from Thorne Smith's sensational novel, "Topper," is showing at the Capitol Theatre. Constance Bennett and Cary Grant are presented as delightfully gay but rollicking madcap ghosts who involve Roland Young in astounding adventures and ribald escapades in their conception of doing a "good deed.'' "China Clipper," the supporting film, is a glamorous romance of the air, marking, a milestone in the pictorial history of daring ..-.aviation. OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. Gary Grant arid Katharine Hepburn are co-starred in "Bringing Up Baby," the main attraction at Our Theatre. Miss Hepburn enlists Grant's aid to transport a leopard from New York to Connecticut. Later she employs a dog to hold Grant's attention, while she hides his clothes to prevent his plan of marrying .his secretary. She devises new schemes to hold him, and before the picture reaches its happy conclusion the two have landed in gaol, stolen a motor-car, stoned an innocent man, posed as circus entertainers, and met with dozens of other madcap adventures. Sydney Howard is starred in "Chick," the second attraction. "GYM FROLICS 1938." Tomorrow night at 7.45 o'clock the Wellington V.M.C.A. will stage its annual gymnastic display in the Wellington . Technical College Auditorium. Physical activity plays an important role in the association's policy of the all-round development of the individual, and some idea will be gained at this demonstration of the extent to which the V.M.C.A. goes in order to' achieve its objective. Although a display of physical work, "Gym Frolics 1938," as the name suggests, has been produced in the nature of a revue, each item being presented in a pleasing and spectacular manner. Commencing with a novel introduction, the curtain rises on a picturesque tableau of some 50 gymnasts who perform with remarkable agility on the springboard, horse, and parallel bars. Mat exercises arid a Maypole dance by. the girls show agility and co-ordination of movement. Interesting scenes depicting other association activities are presented by the boys and members of the V.M.C.A. Swimming and Life-saving Club. The ladies will show grace and beauty of movement in an attractive series of calisthenics. The men will be seen in silhouette hand-balancing, fencing, jujitsu, calisthenics, and parallel bars. On the lighter side there will be clever sketches by the clowns. Assisting artists will be Mr. K. Macaulay, baritone, and pupils of Miss Hazel Martin. An orchestra under Mr. Burder will supply the music. The box plan is at the D.I.C. ACADEMY EXHIBITION. Continued interest is being shown in the 50th anniversary exhibition of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts in the National Art Gallery, Buckle Street. It is an excellent exhibition, being truly representative of New Zealand art. The following sales have been made, in addition to those already reported:—"At Low Tide," by J. Fitzgerald; "Newton Abbott" and "Misty Morning," by Peggy Spicer; "NorthWesterly," by T. A. McCormack; "Storm Clouds, Puponga," and "Morning, Kaikoura," by W. Basil Honour; J "Coal Barge, Lyttelton," by Evelyn Page. The exhibition will be open daily and every evening except Saturdays, when the gallery closes at 5 p.m. BOXING ON THURSDAY. "Young" Gildo, the "Filipino Flash," will be seen in action at the Wellington Town Hall on Thursday evening against Jack Jarvis, of Eltham, former | lightweight boxing champion of New j Zealand. These boys met four times last year and the odds at the end of the season were a little in Jarvis's favour. The contest between the pair at the Town Hall last year was one of the best of the season and with Gildo stated to be in even better form than last year an excellent bout should result. Jarvis, who has been having a spell from the game, should be in his old form on the night of the bout and his ruggedness and skill may once again be the decisive factor against the brilliance and speed of his opponent. In a preliminary professional bout two Wellington boys will be seen in action. They are Fred Finnigan and Joe Hansen, both of whom had firstclass amateur records. There will be a number of amateur preliminaries. Particulars are advertised.