AMUSEMENTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19980, 4 July 1939, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

REGENT THEATRE DEANNA DURBIN IN ‘THREE SMART GIRLS GROW UP.” Once again the freshness of youth is brought to the screen in Deanna Durbin’s latest film, "Three Smart Girls Grow Up,” which is delighting audiences at the Regent Theatre. With a new note of maturity in her voice and an additional realism in her acting. Miss Durbin continues to hold her place as the most charming young actress on the screen. Her part in this film, as in her others, iias been carefully chosen for realism and sincerity and outstanding entertainment has resulted. She again appears as Penny Craig, devastatingly frank and with an enthusiasm that refuses to be daunted, and her adventures take the form of finding a suitor for her sister, Kay, played by Helen Parrish, who has been badly forgotten on account of the charms of the other sister, Joan (Nan Grey). She finds a willing assistant in the butler, portrayed by Ernest Cossart, and together they choose what seems to be a perfect young man. Despite Penny’s desperate efforts, however, he, too, falls in love with Joan, and the stage is set for a hilarious series of awkward situations. Robert Cummings, who appears as the very suitable young man, gives an excellent comedy performance as a member of a band, while Charles Winninger, the father, is delightfully wrapped up in his business affairs and gives a characteristic portrayal of a family man who is too busy to listen to what his family has to say. The two sisters are capably played by Nan Grey and Helen Parrish, and both contribute materially to the success of the film. Several numbers sung by Miss Durbin during the production are among the finest features of the entertainment, perhaps the most beautiful being the familiar ballad, “The Last Rose of Summer.” It is a tribute to the acting throughout that a story which is much of a fantasy has been presented as absolutely real.

—Friday: “Four’s A Crowd.”— With a cast headed by Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Rosalind Russell, and Patric Knowles, “Four’s A Crowd,” Warner Bros.’ swiftly-mov-ing comedy romance, will open at the Regent Theatre on Friday. Walter Connolly, Hugh Herbert, Melville Cooper, and Franklin Pangborn are also featured. In the filming of “Four’s A Crowd,” the objective of every one concerned was to set a new laugh record, and there is not, a single moment in the picture which is intended to be taken seriously. The quartet to whom the title refers, is made up of Errol Flynn, as a former newspaper editor 'who has become a high-powered public relations counsellor: Olivia de Havilland. as a spoiled heiress to many millions; Rosalind Russell, as a clever and witty, as well as goodlooking. newspaper reporter: and Patric Knowles, rich playboy engaged to wed Olivia, who inherits the paper on which Rosalind works. The crowding to which the members of the quartet subject each other begins when Pa< decides to end his newspaper’s existence, because it is losing money, but is roundly denounced by the outspoken Rosalind, who ends her tirade with the advice that all the owner need do to turn his paper into a moneymaker is to hire a live-wire newspaperman, such as Errol, as managing editor.

MAJESTIC THEATRE

AKIM TAMIROFF AND ANNA MAY WONG IN “KING OF CHINATOW'N.”

The violent behind-the-scenes struggle for power in a big-time racket gang forms the action-packed story of Paramount’s new crime film, “King of Chinatown,” which comes to the Majestic Theatre to-day with a large cast of familiar character players. Akim Tamil 1 off, who has scored such outstanding “hits” of late in “Spawn of the North” and “Escape from Yesterday,” is the principal racket chief, while J. Carol Naish, one of the most menacing of screen menaces and handsome young Anthony Quinn arc tlie other principals in the vicious three-cornered struggle. Anna May Wong, filmdom’s favourite Chinese acitfess, gets mixed up with gangland’s worst hoodlums and comes out the winner. Cast in the colourful role of a woman-sur-geon, Miss Wong faces a dramatic dilemma when called upon to save the life of Chinatown’s most vicious racketeer, knowing that lie ,is her fa that’s mortal enemy and a coldblooded murderer as well. After her professional code lias forced her to perform the. necessary operation, an exciting series of events, in which she plays no small part, leads to the breakdown of the gang and the realisation of her intense ambition to send an ambulance corps to war-torn China. An interesting supporting programme includes a timely film entitled “Inside Goods,” which gives •some linside information '.regarding the R.A.F. men in. training, “FoxHunting," “Beauty talks,” “Super Athletes.” a Betty Boop cartoon, "Jokes of the Month,” and the latest Paramount news.

KING’S THEATRE

“TOPPER TAKES A TRIP”: LAST DAY An hilarious comedy, “Topper Takes a Trip,” will conclude a very successful season at the King’s Theatre to-night. It tells of the further adventures of Mr, Topper and Marion Kcrby, the Litter still endeavouring ito do her “good turn,” but succeeding generally in merely adding to the confusion. These two pants are capably played by Roland Young and Con elan c<.‘ Bennett,

j —“ There Goes My Heart:” Sparkling Comedy To-morrow — The merry romantic adventures of a madcap heiress who runs out on her fortune and into a roving reporter who is out to get her story but comes back with her bead, are gaily depicted in Hail Roach’s "There Goes My Heart,” in wibicili Fredric March and Virginia Bruce are .starred. II comes to the King’s Theatre to-mor-row. A great cant, healed by Patsy Kelly, Alan Mowbray, Nancy Carrc.ll, Eugene Pallett:- and Etienne Giya dot, supports tic stars in this comedy romance of a gihl who threw away a million dollars, deserted her yacht for a (bargain basement, and found that you can have a barrel of tun eating (hamburgers, riding subways—and falling in love with a man to whom you had always been j unit a headline—a.r.d a headache. Patsy Kelly and' Alan Mowbray strike a bizzarre romantic note as an electric vibrator demonstrator and her ■subway metorman sweetheart, who works alt night and spends his days ■studying chiropractic.