CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 85, 7 October 1940, Page 10

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

ST. JAMES THEATRE.

All the bitter hatreds and" strife of the American Civil War are brought to the screen in "Virginia City," which is continuing its successful season at St. James Theatre; there is the love, too, that springs from warfare, made stronger when it tries to bridge the gap between the Union supporters and the Confederates. Errol Flynn and Miriam Hopkins are starred. They are on opposing sides throughout the film, he as the Union officer who escapes from a prison in Richmond to stop an attempt to run gold from Virginia City to help the southerners in their war effort, and she as the beautiful spy who helps to pave the way for the gold-train. MAJESTIC THEATRE. The vivid portrayal of the life and character of Thomas Edison in "Edison the Man," now in its second week at the Majestic Theatre, is not only remarkable for the -splendid acting of Spencer Tracy, but also because it is a striking example of the. possibilities of the talking screen in the realm of biography. The picture shows, the lovable character of Edison the man, his early struggles when he began life as a telegraphist, and the stroke of luck that brought him the first funds to found his famous laboratory. The story carries on the tale of the work of the-»inventor and his picked team of workmen. Further dramatic incidents of the war are shown in the newsreel. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. j "On Your Toes," the musical I triumph which is showing at the Paramount Theatre, offers a double dose of entertainment. First and foremost, perhaps, it is a dancing show, and superlative dancing at that. It stars Zorina, an exotic dancer of extraordinary versatility and charm, and in the big numbers she is supported by a ballet whose terpsichorean talents are almost equal to those of Zorina herself. But "On Your Toes" is not solely an exhibition of dancing. In a way the dancing is only incidental to uproarious comedy: indeed, throughout the whole production'nothing seems to be taken seriously. There is continuous rollicking humour provided by a cast made up almost wholly of comedians, and the fun never flags for a moment. The supporting programme contains topical newsreels. TIVOLI THEATRE. "The Saint's Double Trouble and "Babes in Arms" conclude tonight at the Tivoli Theatre. ' ' ' , . - "French Without Tears," starring Ray Milland and Ellen Drew, which opens tomorrow at the Tivoli Theatre, tells what happens when the beautiful sister of one of the students at a French school for adults decides to sojourn at the school. She is a designing young woman, who likes to have all the available men at her feet. It is one of the most entertaining comedies to come from Hollywood. "The ; Lone Wolf Strikes," Columbia's newest addition to the thrilling Lone Wolf series, is the second feature, with Warren William in the title role. Joan Perry supplies the so-essential romantic touch in the newest and most exciting adventure of the debonair exrogue who laughs at love and locksmiths alike. -" j STATE THEATRE. So good is the acting and so cleverly is a tense story unfolded in "Girl m* 313." at the State Theatre, that it is hard to tell the crooks from the police agents. At an invitation display of fabulously valuable jewels by an ostentatious millionaire a necklace is stolen, and the hounds of the police are in full cry, together with the insurance companies and the minor crooks, who for adequate sums undertake to secure the return of the jewels. Somewhere in all these varied interests the crooks have their agents. Florence Rice, as the daring police spy, succeeds in fooling and enmeshing the crooks, but falls in love with their smartest operator. Cesar Romero, in "The Cisco Kid," keeps the action fast and lively in a story of the old West. REGENT THEATRE. Fascinating chapters in the history of man's fight against disease are brought to the screen in dramatic fashion in "Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet," a Warner Brothers production, which is showing,' at the Regent Theatre. Dr. Ehrlich, one of . the greatest figures in medical science, evolved the theory of "magic bullets" of chemicals to be shot into the bloodstream to destroy disease-carrying germs, and the film is the story of his life and of how, despite the parsimony of politicians and the jealous animosity of his colleagues, Dr. Ehrlich proves his theory right in practice. Edward G. Robinson, in the title role, gives a masterly performance. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. The comedy sensation of the year, "French Without Tears," with Ray I Milland, Ellen Drew, Janine Darcy, David"Tree, Ronald Culver, Jim Gerald, and Guy Middleton, is now showing at the Kinema. The story is set in France at a school for diplomats and absolutely bristles with witty dialogue and comedy. The associate feature, "U-boat 29," with Conrad Veidt, Valeric Hobson, and Sebastian Shaw, comes as the thrill successor to "Clouds Over Europe." It is the romance of a U-boat commander who had no code and of a beautiful spy who had no heart. STATE THEATRE, PETONE. "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" concludes tonight at the State Theatre. They live again—"Blackie Norton," "Mary Blake," "Father Mullin.'" and | "Jack Burley"—in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's never-to-be-forgotten production, "San Francisco," coming to the State Theatre tomoi-row. Pictured hero are Clark Gable, Jack Holt, Jeanette Mac Donald, and Spencer Tracy in theiv famous roles from this mighty production. DE LUXE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. As the title so aptly indicates, "The Angels Wash Their Faces," the Warner Bros.' picture which is showing at the De Luxe Theatre, presents the "Dead End" Kids in the somewhat unfamiliar guise of law-abiding citizens. "Whispering Enemies," Columbia's expose of the "whispering campaign" and oMts vicious role in modern American life, is the second feature. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. Double portions of mystery, action, and comedy are contained in Universal's "Honeymoon Deferred," the attraction at the Grand Theatre. Edmund Lowe and Margaret Lindsay are the stars. The story of how a-crooked boxing racket is smashed is told in Paramount's "Golden Gloves," the second attraction. ' KING GEORGE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. "French Without Tears,", which is showing at the King George Theatre, is a smart Parisian cocktail, .'with a whirl of romance and the destiny of one girl and four men in a merry mix-up of smart comedy twists. Ray Milland and Ellen Drew are the stars, supported by Janine Darcy, David Tree, Ronald Culver, Jim Gerald, and Guy Middleton. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. "My Son is Guilty," the feature at the Palace Theatre, is one of those rare films which combines convincing characterisations, believable and exciting incident, and sound down-to-earth human values into a whirlwind of exciting entertainment. "Oh, Johnny. How You Can Love," Universal's musical comedy-drama of that title, is the second feature.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

KING'S THEATRE

j The beauty of tropical scenery can-' j not be conceived in the ordinary light' ! and shadow of the general run of; j films, and so it was a happy inspiraItion which resulted in the makers of i 'Isle of Destiny" using Cosmocolour for the picture, which is now screenling at the King's Theatre. The : plot is well in keeping with the setting, and traces the adventures of a small group of people who are involved in a duel between gun-runners and U.S. Marines. June Lang is seen as a care-free girl pilot who breaks her round-the-world flight at the island, and William Gargan and Wallace Ford I (are cast as the two marines to whom the arrival of the girl comes as a welcome break in the monotony of their existence. TLAZA THEATRE. Rich in humour, occasionally dramatic, and with several song hits, "Star Dust," which is showing at the Plaza Theatre, is one of the finest Hollywood productions about Hollywood. It is! perhaps only natural that Hollywood's latest discovery, ■ the beautiful Linda Darnell, should have the leading role, j She is cast as a small town dramatics school girl, who, by fair means or foul, is determined to get a start in Hollywood. John Payne and Linda Darnell provide the love interest. Mary Healy sings some really delightful numbers. Donald Meek, Charlotte Greenwood, and William Gargan arej others in the cast. j | . ~ I OPERA HOUSE. Refreshingly different in its theme and in its treatment, the Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer picture "Florian" has met with great popularity with Wellington audiences and now at the Opera House it is in its third week of shov/ing. The story of the film commences during the colourful period of the old Austrian Empire and traces, through the romantic theme, incidents leading to the Great War and the overthrow of the Habsburg dynasty. Around the life of Florian, the white Lippizan stallion be- j longing %o the Emperor Franz Josef, is woven the love of a groom for a beau- J tiful duchess. Robert Young and Helen Gilbert are starred. The Russian ballerina Irina Baronova makes her first appearance on the screen in this film. j DE LUXE THEATRE. "Castle on the Hudson," which is the feature attraction of a fine doublebill at the De Luxe Theatre, is a typical story of the gangster world in America, where two youngsters live a life that knows no law and defy every force that tries to keep them apart. For the main part the story concerns an egotistical and cocksure young gangster and a tempestuous young lady who are separated through a term of imprisonment merited by the former.] John Garfield, Ann Sheridan, and Pat O'Brien head the cast. Johnny Downs plays the romantic lead opposite Constance Moore in Universal's "Laugh It Off," the second attraction. A quarter! of an hour of community singing be-j fore the programme starts is a popular] innovation. REX THEATRE. I Latest and most unusual horror pic- ! ture of that famous pair, Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. is Universal's "Black Friday," which is showing at the Rex. Karloff is a surgeon who performs a daring operation in which he transplants part of the brain of a{ criminal into the brain of a mild college professor, who then is led uncon-1 sciously into a life of ruthless crime. A stirring insight into the tragedy and sorrow behind the administration of social service is provided in "Prison Without Bars," the associate film. NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. Lupino Lane's latest release, "Lucky to Me," which is showing at the Princess Theatre, is one long laugh from start to finish. Lane is a stockbroker's clerk, and on the day of his marriage he is sent down to a seaside house, party to do a deal with a wealthy client. His wife, a typist in the same office, goes with him, and poor little Lane gets into tons of trouble when he tries to get affectionate with his own wife, the marriage having been kept a secret. "Proud Valley," starring Paul Robeson, is the second feature. ROXY THEATRE. A picture designed for the entire family, "The Ice Follies of 1939," starring Joan Crawford, is showing at the Roxy Theatre. There are breath-taking beautiful Technicolour skating scenes, a story with a Hollywood background, and intimate glimpses into studio life and original songs. With Fred Mac Murray, Madeleine Carroll, and Allan Jones co-starred, Paramount's new comedy romance. "Honeymoon in Bali," is the second feature. _____ . ASCOT THEATRE. Stephen Foster's immortal romance and songs come to the screen at the Ascot Theatre in "Swanee River," starring Don Ameche and Andrea Leeds. It is a story of the origin of America's most beloved music, and the life of the man who wrote it told in beautiful technicolor. "Shooting High" is also showing, with Jane Withers and Gene Autry. It is a dashing Western comedy full of humour and mischief. The accompanying short subjects have been well chosen. VOGUE THEATRE, BROOKLYN. "Beau Geste" and "Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence" conclude at the Vogue tonight. "French Without Tears," starring Ray Milland, Ellen Drew, Janine Darcy. David Tree, and Ronald Culver, opens tomorrow. Merle Oberon and Gary Cooper will be seen in "The Cowboy and the Lady." Other players include Patsy Kelly, Walter Brennan, Fuzzy Knight, Mabel Todd, and Henry Kolker. Selected supports complete the programme. CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. Starring George Raft, Jane Bryan, and William Holden, "Invisible Stripes" is showing at the Capitol tonight. The associate feature is "Our Neighbours the Carters," with Fay Bainter and Frank Craven. SEASIDE THEATRE, LYALL BAY. There are forty seven different sets and just as many different kinds of thrills in "It's a Wonderful World." which is showing at the Seaside Theatre, with Claudet.te Colbert and James Stewart. Universal's newest Crime Club feature, "The Witness Vanishes," starring Edmund Lowe and Wendy Barrie, is the second feature. TUDOR THEATRE. A programme of adventure and comedy is offered in the two films which are showing at the Tudor Theatre. "South of Pago Pago" • has an impressive cast headed by Jon Hall, Frances Farmer. Victor McLaglen. Gene Lockr hart, Douglas Dumbrille, Olympe Bradna, and Francis Ford. The story concerns the strange adventures of Bucko Larson and Ruby Taylor, who undertake an expedition to a fabulous pearl bed "South of Pago Pago." Those master comics, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, appear in "Saps at Sea," the associate film. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. Joel McCrea and Nancy Kelly are co-starred in the rollicking comedy, "He Married His Wife," which is showing at the Empire Theatre. A sterling comedy cast is featured in support of the stars, including Roland Young, Mary Boland, Cesar Romero, Mary Healy, Lyle Talbot, Elisha Cook, jun., and Barnett Parker. A love triangle in swingtime is the theme of "Naughty But Nice," the associate film. Ann Sheridan, Dick Powell, and Gale Page head the cast.

RIVOLI THEATRE. Dorothy Lamour, Akim TamiroM, and John Howard share top dramatic honours "in "Disputed Passage," an exciting story about +he problems of medical men, which is screening at the Rivoli Theatre. Based on Lloyd C.' Douglas's best-selling novel it ' asks the dramatic question, will marriage interfere with the career of a promising young surgeon? "Opened by Mistake," the second feature, gives Charlie Ruggles an opportunity to portray again his most memorable characterisation, that of a drunken reporter. Robert Paige plays a companion reporter

REGAL THEATRE, KARORI,

"He Married his Wife," which is showing at the Regal Theatre, tells of an ex-husband who wants to find a husband for his wife so he can stop paying heavy alimony but who balks when she turns down the colourless prospect he digs up for her in favour of a dashing, romantic Romeo. Joel McCrea, Nancy Kelly, and Roland Young head the cast. The associate film is "All at Sea," starring Sandy Powell. Also showing is Walt Dismey's "Tugboat Mickey." s