CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 26, 31 July 1939, Page 5

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. The smart, modern comedy makes i: welcome return in] "Midnight," whicl: is now in its second week at the Re gent Theatre, starriiig Claudette Colber! and Don Ameche. Cast as a penniless American entertainer, Miss Colbert i; shown arriving at 1-jaris at night in the pouring rain with _ut a penny to hei name. A handsome tout poor taxi-drive* (Don Ameche) takes.; her under his wing only to lose her ij-.gain when she crashes into a society music party and is taken for a Hungarian countess Caught in a romance intrigue, she continues to be a countess for a while, revelling in fur ctfat. and motor-cars supplied by a gentleman who enlists her help in smoc&hing out his own matrimonial difficulties. From then on romance and comedy hold sway The supporting programme includes scenes in colour of the visit'of the King and Queen to Ottawa, and a beautiful pre sentation by a lesiding American symphony orchestra, of Schubert's "Unfinished Symphon;r." PARAMOUNT THEATRE. ' The Bumsteads—-Biondie, Dagwood, and Baby Dum_?ling—are in the movies. The pop ular characters at Chic Young's fttmous newspaper comic strip are ■ seen in Columbia's 'Blondie," fUst of a projected new series, which heads the new bill at the Paramou est Theatre. Portraying Blondie is Penny Singleton, vivacious youi ig musical comedy star of many Br [>adway stage successes. Dagwood' £. role is taken by Arthur Lake, ;an old hand at portraying comic ; strip characters whose most notal/le role previously was "Harold Teen." '"The same gang of kids who first won fame in Mono gram's "Boy of the Streets," which starred Jackie Cooper, again play members of his geihg and their rivals in "Streets of New*; York," the associ- . ate film. It is the story of an idealistic young boy who _ _ms a newstand so he can go to hw siphool at night. Out- . standing in the ca.st are Martin Spellman, Dick Purcell, George Irving, Marjorie Reynolds, Rolvert- Emmett O'Connor, and David Durtend. MAJESTIC THEATRE. "Honolulu," now showing at the Majestic Theatre, is easily the best light musical show which has been screened here for some time. It has more to it than even the dancing of Eleanor Powell and the corrjbdy of Burns and Allen can provide. .'■ Robert Young has the dual role of Brooks Mason, a very, popular film star, and Joe Smith, a Hawaiian pineapple grower. The film star, in need of a holiday from his tog-enthusiastic admirers, changes place is with the planter and goes off to Hawaii. He meets on the boat a girl (Eleanor Powell), with whom he falls in lope, but on arrival at Honolulu finds himself already provided with a fiancee. A series of mis- - adventures results ha the film-star being thrown into gae>l, and the planter into a strait-jacket. Burns and Allen break new ground in that it is not until the last fifty feet or so that they are seen together. ; ST. JAMES THEATRE. Magnificent scenei?,?, jealousy and love, thrills, endurance, crime, and retribution throng ritund the headquarters post of the North-West Mounted Police in "Heart of the North," in technicolouir, at St. James Theatre. The usual ic"{ea of the duties of the "mountie" is ;> solitary mush through snow for da.ps to catch his man, but this beautiful picture is screened in the riotous flush of Nature as it springs to life in the summer of the'^lforthlandSi Neither horses nor huskies take any part in the swift actiph of a story replete with clashing human interests. The work is done afoot or in canoes or launches. The hero is Dick Foran, p'iaying the part of a trooper whose outspokenness has barred promotion under a martinet, and his fiancee is an "outside" type, with a. longing for ci'rilisation. But. there is a trapper's daughter. The story, which works sensationally to a climax, is too good to -spoil. Patrick Knowles, Gale Page, Allen Jenkins, and Gloria Dixon act convincingly. \ i DE LUXE THEAi'.TKE. i Bulldog Drummond, thai, surprisingly resourceful anti-crime adventurer invented by "Sapper," has Ipeen brought to the screen in various jjiiises, but in none more suitable than in "Bulldog Drummond's Secret Polic P." the main attraction in the double-fuature bill at the De Luxe Theatre, 'hit which John Howard has the. title roilo (the Bulldog part). Apparently '. Bulldog's interest in crime and advent tire has frustrated his various attempts at marriage, and in this film, though lihe wedding rehearsal and actual ceremony are scheduled for the following day, neither the bride nor her aunt a: re very sanguine. Their premonition s are right. A brace of murders abovft>the ground and torture spikes and richer horrors below the ground are worked into an excellent story, grimness: relieved by a delightful vein of humcimr. Charlie Ruggles and Mary Bolapd" share the trouble in "Boy Trouble,'' the second big pictui-e. Charlie hates boys and Mary loves them, and the i efforts of Mary and two boys to (rihange his mind make fine corned_ r. ; RQXY THEATRE, The powerful "bad man" pbrtrayal of "Wallace Beery, the unifo.rrnly fine work of such stellar supposing play ers as Virginia Bruce. Derm is O'Keefe. Joseph Calleia. Lewis Stone, Guy Kibbee, and Bruce Cabot, aornbined to bring to the screen an absorbing drama in "The Bad Man of Brimstoioe." which is screening at the Roxy The.*;atre "Men Are Such Fools," the assoejiate film, is a fast-paced succession of amusing, exciting, and sometimes mewing incidents. NEW PRINCESo THEATRE. Myrna Loy comes to t.'fce Princess Theatre in "Man-Pro of." surrounded by a stellar ca„ I' which includes such well-known i >ersonalities as Franchot Tone. ißosalind Russell.' and Walter Pidg eon In the new picture Miss Loy !- makes a striking departure from her .familiar role of the "perfect wife" to \ play an ultra-modern girl who overii pcs old-1 fashioned conventions in her pigrsuit of: the man she loves. The assoc liate fea-1 ture is "Beauty for the Askin ~" starring Lucille Ball. Donald Woods {, Patric Knowles. and Frieda Inescort. j KILBIRNIE KINEMA. i Fredric March and Carole Lconbard have the leading roles in the j sensational comedy hit in "Nothing SUcred," in technicolour, which is show big at the Kilbirnie Kinema. Walter [ Connolly, Charles Winninger, Sig Rutmann, and Maxie Rosenblum head a Aarge cast, of supporting players Univ-ej .'sal's new blood-freezing drama, "S_n of Frankenstein," is the associate I film. Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosij* of "Frankenstein" and "Dracula" Same, personify hair-raising characters iuii the drama. f 1 i REGAL THEATRE, KAROttS. . "If I Were King" and "Up theilEiver" conclude tonight at the Regal Theatre. Powerful in its grip upon the h liman emotions, "The Nearest Tiling to Heaven," one of the mjst interesting films of the year, opens tomorrow, with Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer. . An engrossing story, brilliant dialogue:, big I emotional scenes —all unforgettably! sympathetic —contribute to the , dramatic sweep of his poignant romai ice of > two intuitive and highly intelMigent I people who are able to analyse 'their ( own hearts —and brave enough 1 b do something about it. Ou the supporting programme is another issue of the "March, of Time" series. i

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

j KING'S THEATRE. _ In translating Emily Bronte's fainl ous novel "Wiunanug tieigms" to the -■screen, Samuel Goldwyn has produced ~'his gi'eatcsl Inumpii. The picture, ,! which is stili attracting h-ii'go j! audiences at the King's Theatre, ; has been acclaimed the most. ;, outstanding picture so far of 1939. r because of its compelling artistry, its <: beauty, and dramatic power. Emily ; Bronte, the lonely spinster who wrote I "Wutbering Heights," died 91 years I ago at the age of 30, without ever -j knowing that her book would become , j one of the imperishable treasures of ;i English literature, and that she had i given to the world a haunting, tragic i love story that would thrill generai tions whose grandmothers were then ? unborn Merle Oberon, Laurence Oli- ; vier. Flora Robson. David Niven, Gerl aidine Fitzgerald, and Hugh William head the cast. PLAZA THEATRE. Dangerous, spectacular, and thrilling, air racing is a subject which iends itself admirably to the creation of a film story, and the new picture at the ■ Piaza Theatre, "Tailspin," makes the ■ most of it. The American national ■ air races at Cleveland provide the ' background for the plot, which deals ' not with famous aviators known to ! all the world, but with the group of I women who gather from all over the • continent to compete for the women's ■ trophies. As the moment for the race ' draws near the little band of en- ■ thusiasts work . feverishly at the 1 machines, but their hopes are dashed - when a society girl sweeps down to • the aerodrome in a brand-new racer that can run away from anything else •on the field. Jealousies and ill-feeling become apparent, but the society girl shows that she is at least a sport in the best sense of the word. Alice Faye and ; Constance Bennett head the cast. STATE THEATRE. The very likeable criminal created . by Leslie Charteris. the "Saint," the . modem Robin Hood, is portrayed in a further adventure, "The Saint Strikes Back," which is the main feature on the new programme at the State The atre. George Sanders is entrusted with the role of the Saint in this clever mys- « tery film, and he is a very suave and : polished crook Always on the side '. of the underdog and aiding the law to i track down and ounisb the gangsters • and crooks, the Saint uses methods [ that a police officer cannot follow The second feature is 'Tm From the City," a straight-out farce, ! starring Joe Pcnner. The story deals with the adventures of a circus rider who can ride only when he Is: hypnotised. A ranching family en- . gages him to ride a horse in a big race, j but at the critical mom en' his hypno-j tist disappears The comedy is honest j and hearty. A short subject deals co j ; vincingly with earthquakes. | TUDOR THEATRE. No excuses for the fact that Jesse James came to be utterly ruthless in his outlaw escapades are made in the picture, "Jesse James," which is showing at the Tudor Theatre. Driven with his brother. Frank, into the realms beyond the law by his simple determination to exact vengeance for the murder of his mother by an employee of the railroad which is just beginning to thrust its way across the vast grazing i lands of the West, he finds a joy in the i new life of freedom and danger The j associate film is the musical comedy j vei'sion of Alexandre Duinas's "The; Three Musketeers " The Ritz Brothers ' masquerade as musketeers, but they ( ! know more about the use of carving i knives than swords. -;: VOGUE; THEATRE, BROOKLYN.; "The Mikado," in glorious technicolor, is the main attraction at the Vogue Theatre. The cast includes j Jean Colin, Kenny Baker. Martyn , Green. Sydney Granville, John Bar- j clay. Gregory Stroud, and Constance j Willis. "No Parking," with Gordon Harker. is the supporting feature. There I are also selected supports. j i EMPIRE THEATRE. ISLAND BAY. I For the first time in his illustrious j career. Charles Laughton, in the role; of the arrogant entertainer of the London theatre queues in "St. Martin's | Lane," which is showing at the Empire i Theatre, appears without make-up of any kind. But by a clever combination of costume, he possibly looks more unlike Laughton than he ever has previously. The never-toid-before drama of the heroic "Splinter Fleet" is seen in "Submarine Patrol," the associate film. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. A romance, a murder mystery, and a comedy of errors comprise the triple themes of "The Mad Miss Manton," R.K.O. Radio's starring vehicle for Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda, which is showing at the Grand Theatre. Two excite-ment-seeking reporters go looking for New York's loneliest girl and' find Broadway's most dangerous woman and a story they dare not write in "Inside Story." the associate film. Michael Whalen, Jean Rogers, and Chick Chandler head the cast. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. "Homicide Bureau," the thrilling Columbia drama, featuring Bruce Cabot and Rita Hayworth. is showing at the Palace Theatre. The film exposes a series of baffling crimes committed by international dealers in war munitions. Romance and war hit the range country at th_ same time in Paramount- new "Ilopalong Cassidv" outdoor action thrilier. "The Frontiersmen," the associate film, stars William Boyd. George Hayes, and Russell Hayden cast in familiar roles. STATE THEATRE, PETONE. "Three Smart Girls Grow Up" heads the bill at the State Theatre. Directed by Henry Koster, who directed "Three Smart Girls" and "100 Men and a Girl," the current offering is a happy reminder of "Three Smart Girls." It presents approximately 7 the- same cast—Deanna Durbin. Charles Winniger, Nella Walker, Nan Grey, and Ernest Cossart, with the addition of Helen Parrish, Bob Cummings. and William Lundigan. DE LUXE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. In flaming sequence after flaming sequence, and filmed in all the thrilling reality of technicolour, is the whole story of American aviation . . . a saga of men with their hearts in the skies . . . from the first days of the Wright Brothers to the giant air transport ships of today! "Men With Wings," which is showing at the De Luxe Theatre, stars Fred MacMur ray, Ray Milland, Louise Campbell, Andy Devine, and Lynne Overman. The associate feature. "I've Got a Horse," stars Sandy Powell. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. "A Family Affair" and "Yellow Jack" conclude tonight at the Prince Edward Theatre "Gold is Where You Find It," a Warner Bros.' all technicolour production, starring George Brent and Olivia de Havilland, opens tomorrow Ambrose. Evelyn Dall Harry Richman, and Florence Desmond head the allstar cast of "Kicking the Moon Around," the associate film. KING GEORGE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" Will be finally presented at the King George Theatre tonight. "Fra Diavolo," [ the Laurel and Hardy comedy sueI cess, in which Dennis King and The.lma Todd are also featured, will form the second half of a perfectly-balanced 'programme to be presented tomorrow. I Preceding this hilarious musical comedy is another Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer favourite, "Espionage." in which Edl_nund Lowe and Madge Evans are co--1 starred.

lIVOLI THEATRE. "Pygmalion,' the screen version of Bernard Shaw s brilliant comedy, is showing at the Tivoli Theatre. Bernard Shaw's story tells ot a Cockney flower girl (Wendy Hiller) who becomes the subject of an experiment to a professor ot phonetics —a role which provides Leslie Howard one ol the gr_ai_si opportunities oi nis I distinguished career to display his un- ' challenged histrionic genius The idea ; from the phonetic expert's point of I view is to prove that it is possible to ! take a girl out oi the gutter and trans- '. form her into a society lady of fine speech and exquisite manners. The i experiment is a brilliant success. The i girl is taken for a Princess at an Anij bassadors' reception—but the real I problem arises when this triumphant j result has been achieved. What is to • become of the girl now? "Stranded in | Pari.-,'" a hilarious comedy starring Jack < Benny and Joan Bennett, with Mary ! Boland and Charley Grapswin in sup- ! port, is the associate film. j "Kentucky," with Loretta Young and Richard Greene, commences a season at the Tivoli Theatre tomorrow. The associate attraction is "Pacific ; Liner," with Victor MtLaglen. RIVOLI THEATRE. "Little Tough Guys in Society" and "The Cowboy From Brooklyn" conclude , might at the Rivoh fheatre. Alexandre Dumas's "The Count oi ! Monie Cris.o," which commences tomorrow, is a story that has thr.lied miii.ons and become immortal. For generations this Story has made glow . ihe faces of people of all nations, its appeal to young and old remains un- ; dimmed through the years. No greater adventure has ever been written than j uhis sco.y oi iiiunivj.iu v m>.. wuo j was convicted without trial and con- | demned without mercy to 20 years in i a dungeon; twenty years of nerveracking patience in which he planned his freedom and revenge upon the three men who had betrayed him to a living death in that dungeon. Robert Donat plays the role of Edmond Dante, ana Eiissa Landi is Mercea.es. The cast is a big one, and includes j William Farnum, Louis Calhern, Sidj ney Blackmer, and Raymond Walburn. I Blending all the romance, fun, ancl i heartache of two young people in j love, Universal's new drama that gains I power from the simplicity of its theme, I "Youth Takes a Fling." is the associate attraction. Joel McCrea and An- > drea Leeds register the top performj ances of their careers. ; — OPERA HOUSE. "Hei Tiki," Alexander Markey's saga of Maoriland, which is showing at the Opera House, is the first world standard talking picture to be made in New Zealand. "Hei Tiki" was pro-, duced at Taupo by a crew of Hollywood technicians and has recaptured in sound and sight the glory of the day before the coming of the pakeha. The story tells of the love of Manui, daughter of the chieftain, for Mara, warrior of an enemy tribe, and of Mara's impersonation of the war god. to whom Manui is to be sacrificed. Not the least exciting sequences in the film are those showing, the lovers' j flight from Manui s people, who purI sue them across the lake in sixty-foot j war canoes, which were specially built jfor the film. The climax of the picture is particularly exciting, being a | spectacular pitched battle between ! the rival tribes, fought with typical Maori fervour. The associate film is "Forged Passport,'" starring Paul Kellv and June Lang. REX THEATRE. "The Return of the Scarlet Pimnernel" and "I Stand Accused" conclude j tonight at the Rex Theatre, j The most exciting star combination jever brought to the screen appears in I "Ladies in Love," which opens tomorrow. Janet Gay nor, Loretta Young, i Constance Bennett, and Simone Simon j nave the leading roles, with the cast ! featuring Don Ameche, Paul Lukas lyrone Power, jun., and Alan Mow- ; bray. Racketeers take to the wide | open spaces and are taken for a ride by a rough-and-ready rancher in the associate film, "Secret Valley." EMPIRE MAT TITLE. i Earl McCready. of Canada, is to dejfend his British Empire professional heavyweight wrestling title against prank Forster, of South Africa, at the i Wellington Town Hall tonight. The I «-F c.« dl,? pJ&y given by forster against j Lofty Blomfield at Christchurch last I week has quickened interest in toi night's bout. In one of the fastest 'and most exciting matches seen in 'Christchurch this season Forster held (Blomfield to a draw. When Forster j made his New Zealand debut here he had ]ust completed a long journey jfrom South Africa but, although he j had had no opportunity to find hi_ land i legs, he turned on a first-class display ! and greatly impressed the crowd. I I Forster has size, speed, and strength.! as well as skill, and there is no doubt tnat he is a worthy challenger for the formidable McCready. The preliminaries will include a five-round bout be-' jtween two local boys who have j ust I I turned professional, B. Monastra and I C. Croskery.