AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24405, 17 September 1940, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS

THE CURRENT PROGRAMMES EMPIRE THEATRE A gripping story of a man’s unavailing struggles to lead a normal and uselul life after having served a term in prison is told in “ Invisible Stripes," which is at present being shown at the Empire Theatre. The two major characters in the story are men of widely differing outlooks. When they are released from prison, one, knowing that It will only be a matter of time before he is again pounced upon by the law. cynically returns to his customary haunts, but the other, who has just completed his first gaol sentence, is determined to go straight. The stigma of a prison sentence clings to him, however, and, despite his best efforts, he is eventually compelled to embark upon a life of crime in order that he might provide money for iris family. At last his chance to live a decent life comes, but fate still dogs him. and circumstances beyond his control compel him to return to his gang activities. with the result that he is killed. George Raft gives a fine performance in the principal role, and other prominent players are Humphrey Bogart, Jane Bryan, William Holden and Paul Kelly. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. “ GERONIMO! ” A violent page of the history of the United States of America is brought to the screen in “ Geronimo! " the Empire Theatre’s coming attraction. It is the story of one of the greatest of the Indian wars. Geronimo was an embittered Apache chief who pitted the strength of his tribe against the United States cavalry. Ellen Drew, Preston Foster and Andy Devine have the leading roles. STRAND THEATRE There is an abundance of melodramatic action in this week’s' double-feature programme at the Strand Theatre. " Enemy Agent" is a tale of espionage, the activities of the spies in this instance being directed towards the obtaining of some important plans from an aircraft factory and of the efforts of a young suspect to clear his name. Richard Cromwell, Helen Vinson, and Robert Armstrong head the capable cast. “ Gangs of Chicago ” tells of the career of an embittered young lawyer who takes to the borderline specialty of defending racketeers, and becomes himself caught in the thralls. Lloyd Nolan has the leading role. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. ST. JAMES THEATRE Two delightfully amusing comedies are at present attracting large attendances to the St. James Theatre. The principal attraction is “ Home from Home.” in which the famous Sandy Powell tries to remain in prison rather than face his terrifying wife. In his attempts to get back ‘to gaol after his release Sandy goes through the most amusing adventures Another well-known comedian, Hugh Herbert, is featured in “ La Conga Nights, an amusing story of American night life. Constance Moore and Dennis O’Keefe are also in the cast. The box plans are at the theatre, the D.1.C.. and Jacobs k “ CONGO MAISIE ” Primarily humorous in intent, and produced with the adult observer principally in mind, “ Congo Maisie,” opening at the St. James Theatre on Friday, has Ann Sothern once again as the character Maisie, and as before she makes of the character a lively and highly diverting person. This time she ventures into the Congo country and takes in her stride such events as an emergency operation requiring her services as impromptu nurse and an uprising of savages led by native witch doctors, beating these last at their own game by feats of vaudeville magic plus a dash of vaudeville hip-flinging in approved stvle. The story, from a book bv Wilson Collison, opens with the title character slipping out of a hotel window to avoid embarrassment concerning the hotel bill, and stowing away on a Congo river boat in hopes of reaching another city where employment awaits h~r. On the trip the boat blows a boiler a"d the crew are forced to find refuge ashore. It is here that the above-mentioned interesting events occur. From all advance reports the film should be weR up to the recognised M.-G.-M. standard. “ Dangerous Fingers ” will also be showing. , OCTAGON THEATRE Against a background of mystery’ and eeriness. David O. Selznick’s production of “ Rebecca,” best-selling novel by Daphne du Maurier, heads the programme at the Octagon Theatre. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, "Rebecca" has Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine in the starring roles, while the feature supporting' cast includes Judith Anderson, George Sanders, Nigel Bruce, C. Aubrey Smith. Reginald Denny and Florence Bates. The story of “ Rebecca ” concerns a young end unsophisticated girl who becomes the bride of the wealthy and socially prominent Maxim dc Winter. When they return to live on his vast Tudor estate, Manderley, the second wife learns to her horror that her life is being dominated by the past of Rebecca. Maxim’s first wife, a very beautiful woman who fascinated all who knew her. Furthermore, the memory of Rebecca is kept alive by Mrs Danvers, de Winter’s housekeeper. The short supporting programme includes the latest “March of Time.” The box plans are at the theatre and at Begg's. GRAND THEATRE The efforts or a gang of international racketeers to blow up the Panama canal at a moment of crisis give the celebrated Chinese detective one of the hardest jobs of his career in “Charlie Chan in Panama,” which is now being shown at the Grand Theatre. Lionel Atwill, Jack la Hue, and Mary Naish head the. supporting cast. “ The Jones Family on their Own ” is the associate feature. It presents another entertaining adventure of the screen’s most popular family who are this time down on their luck. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg’s. “ I WAS A SPY ” “ I Was a Spy ” will be the main attraction at the Grand Theatre to-morrow. This great British film, on its first issue, so thoroughly deserved the packed houses which greeted it that the present re-issue during the present war is more than justified. The story tells the true emotional and factual history of the young Belgian woman, Martha McKenna, who was in the town of Roulers in 1915, after the G mans had occupied it. She is-engaged by the medical authorities to serve in the hospital, but still she is a Belgian, and helps her aunt in furtive missions. Her immediate superior in the hospital is also in the service. She risks the fate of the thousands of soldiers whom she is among when they are caught unawares, and bombed by Allied planes. Then she and the doctor nurse those who are left wounded. Together they make a fruitless attempt to blow up a dump of poison-gas cylinders when they first came into use by the Germans; then they nurse the Allied wounded after the first gas attack. “Around the Town ” will also be on the programme. The picture is built round the story of a casting agent who helps an American theatre magnate in his search tor British talent in London. Vic Oliver is the agent, and he is undoubtedly even better on the screen than on the rado and music hall stage. All the time he is wisecracking and clowning in a most entertaining fashion. There is a galaxy of talent supporting him too numerous to mention. Some of the most entertaining appearances are those of the Rhythm Sisters in harmony. Terry's Juveniles, the Two Charladies, the Three Hill Billies, Jimmy Kennedy and Michael Carr. Leslie Carew, the Tin Pan Alley Trio, Elisabeth Welch, and the boy singer Pat McCormack. REGENT THEATRE In " Disputed Passage,” the drama which heads the current bill at the Regent Theatre. Akim Tamiroff is seen as Dr “ Tubby ” Forster, and is responsible for another brilliant portrayal of the kind that has placed him to the forefront of character players. Beautiful Dorotfiy Lamour has the feminine lead, while John Howard makes a success of his biggest part to date. Judith Barrett. Victor Varconi. William Collier and Keyc Luke are also prominent. The story tells how Forster, a great doctor, chooses a young medical student. Beaven (Howard), as his most likely successor. Their hatred of each other is mutual and bitter, and finally Beaven falls in love with one .of his patients (Miss Lamour). The scene moves to war-torn China, and the story of mental conflict and devotion to an ideal is worked out against a dramatic background, culminating in a gripping sequence in which the young doctor is dangerously injured, but is saved by the man who hated him but loved him. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. “ NINOTCHKA ” “ Ninotchka.’’ which comes on Friday to the Regent Theatre, has as its star Greta Garbo, in the role of a comedienne. ” Ninotchka ’’ tells an intriguing romantic story in which there is much goodhumoured satire at the expense of the

Soviet system. Garbo is seen as a Bolshevist who is sent to Paris to keep an eye on three Red agents supposed to be selling Imperial jewels. In Paris she meets a suave young man-about-town, who causes her to forget her Spartan-like upbringing to such an extent that she falls hopelessly in love with him. The ensuing complications make up a delightfully entertaining plot. STATE THEATRE Ginger Rogers has lost her brilliant dancing partner, Fred Astaire, in “ Fifth Avenue Girl,” which is now being screened at the State Theatre; but she needs neither him nor her dancing to make first-class entertainment of a film that has a very bright plot. Life, apparently, is not too sweet for Ginger, and it calls for deep meditation on a park bench. There she meets Alfred Borden (Walter Connolly), also unhappy, but for different reasons. He is a millionaire on the shadowy side of middle age, and he is having the worse side of the family quarrels. A scheme to get him a little more attention, inspired by jealousy, germinates, and Ginger is the means adopted. Ginger Rogers is in her brightest “ wise-cracking ” form, a method of attack that routs her temporary enemies. The film moves along at a consistently brisk pace, helped by the forbidden love-making of the daughter and the chauffeur. The box plans are at the theatre and Bcge’s. “ THE HOUSE ACROSS THE BAY ’’ Joan Bennett has another first class role in “ The House Across the Bay,” which will be shown at the State Theatre on Friday. It is a picture which deals with those outlaws who arc sent “ up the river " to ill-famed Alcatraz. Miss Bennett plays the part of the sweetheart of George Raft, who is sent to the island. She rents a house just across the bay from the prison. Walter Pidgeon and Lloyd Nolan are also featured. MAYFAIR THEATRE Two extremely entertaining films, “ Susannah of the Mounties ” and " Dodge City,” are being screened at the Mayfair Theatre. Shirley Temple is the star of “ Susannah of the Mounties,” which Is an attractive story of the North-west Mounted Police. Margaret Lockwood and Randolph Scott are also in the cast. Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland are featured in ” Dodge City.” The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C.