AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24408, 20 September 1940, Page 9

AMUSEMENTS

THE NEW PROGRAMMES OCTAGON THEATRE " Rebecca,” Alfred Hitchcock's brilliant screen adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s unusual story, will begin the third week of its Dunedin season at the Octagon Theatre to-day. The sombre atmosphere of the Cornish mansion in which the story is unfolded has been faithfully captured by the director, and the performances of the two principals, Lawrence Olivier and Joan Fontaine, still further raise the high level of the production. Miss Fontaine plays the role of an unsophisticated girl who marries a rich young Cornishman, whose life and that of his household is ruled by the spirit of his dead wife. The struggle of the young girl to rise above the sombre atmosphere and capture the love of her husband makes a gripping story which mounts to an unusual climax. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg’s. REGENT THEATRE Greta Garbo's long dream of playing in a sophisticated, romantic comedy has become a reality with “ Ninotchka,” her first picture in two years, which opens to-day at the Regent Theatre, and the gay, new Garbo it presents indicates that her ’desire was, well justified. The Swedish star is seen as a gay. ultra-modern girl in a romance with a French count. She dances to swing music, sings, wears

glamorous gowns, figures in clever situations and dialogue. Garbo plays a Russian woman raised in the st°rn Soviet code w'ho, sent to Paris on a Government mission, falls in love with a count (Melvyn Douglas), outwits her love rival (Ina Claire) and ’’ gets her man. Gay moments in Paris night elubs and swank hotels are among the many delightful sequences in the production. Garbo was never more fascinating than as a modern charmer with a sense of humour, and Douglas plays his role with debonair urbanity. Miss Claire provides brilliant lines with a brilliant performance and a hilarious new comedy team is introduced in Felix Bressart. Sig Rumann and Alexander Granach as three philandering officials. Box plans are at the D.I.C. and the theatre. GRAND THEATRE Even more timely to-day than it was when, it was first shown to the public, " I Was a Spy,” which Is now being presented at the Grand Theatre, tells a gripping story most effectively. With the fives of the brave men and women who risked at all times an ignommous death by working behind the enemy s hues as its inspiration, the film has an authentic background in the life of Marthe McKenna, the Belgian nurse who was awarded th* Iron Cross while working as a British agent. This striking role is taken by Madeleine Carroll and co-starred with her is Herbert Marshall. The story tells how the young Belgian girl was gradually more and more deeply involved In espionage work until she is a partner in actions which result in the blowing up of an ammunition dump—a realistic piece of work—and an effective surprise attack on German troops. Another striking sequence is that of the arrival of the first gas victims at the base hospital. The second feature Is a musical film with comedy Interludes, “Around the Town.” The box plans are at the theatre and Begg’s. STATE THEATRE With George Raft and Joan Bennett sharing stellar honours, and a strong supporting cast featuring Waited Pidgeon, Gladys George. Lloyd Nolan, and June Knight, Walter Wanger’s “ The House Across the Bay ” will have its initial showing at the State Theatre to-day. The new film production is based on an original story by Myles Connolly, and the central figure in the picture is Brenda Bentley, played by Miss Bennett, a young girl confronted with the problem of adjusting her life to a strange fate when her husband is sent to prison for income tax evasion. This role, which is outstandingly dramatic, gives the alluring Miss Bennett wide scope, as she Is seen as a singer and dancer in addition to her dramatic opportunities. In one sequence of the film she sings and dances ” Chula Chihuahua,” her own interpretation of the South American rhumba, and later introduces " I’ll be a Fool Again.” This, of course, is a radical innovation for the actress who in the past has confined herself to the more sedate measures of ballroom dancing. The story revolves around the women who are left behind to battle their own odds and to retain their faith and balance while their husbands are serving terms behind prison bars. Miss Bennett, impersonating Brenda Bentley, therefore presents a composite picture ot a whole group of women who wait for that dim to-morrow when at last their husbands will be free and thus set them free, too. Box plans are at the theatre and Begg’s. EMPIRE THEATRE “Geronimo!” to-day’s attraction at the Empire Theatre, deals with a phase of the Indian wars in the United States about which the screen has previously had little to say. The great Apache chief, who for years held off the entire American Army in the period immediately after the Civil War, is shown in all his barbaric splendour. No painted-up “paleface ’’ plays the part, but a real redskin warrior, Chief Thunderland. Towns are swept out of existence, wagon trains attacked, and units of the army ambushed in the authentic style of the gory and dangerous nineteenth-century West. Ralph Morgan scores a success as the disciplinarian General Steele, sent without adequate supplies to bring the great chief under control. As the crafty, scheming Government agent who builds up a lucrative trade In selling arms and munitions to the Indians, Gene Lockhart is most convincing. The hero of the story is a dashing, but rather sentimental, captain, played by Preston Foster, who gives his usual fine performance in the part. Andy Devine adds some comedy relief as “ Sneezer,” leader of the scouts attached to the post. “Geronimo!” also features William Henry, Marjorie Gateson. Kitty Kelly, and many others. Indians who acted in the huge battle scenes were not the only actors in the cast who were born to character. Andy Devine was born in the section in which the action centres, and often, as a child, took part in re-enacted Geronimo hunts. Box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. ST. JAMES THEATRE Placed in the African jungles, " Congo Maisie,” which will be seen at the St James Theatre to-morrow. combines adventure, thrills and comedy with the problems of scientists battling the superstitions of the natives and brings into vivid relief a cross section of the lives of four every-day people. Outstanding among the problems of the jungle is the straight-forwardness and honesty of the tawdry showgirl. Maisie, who through her own Integrity brings happiness to the scientist and his bride. Regardless of locale, Maisie is Maisie. Her quick thinking is as sharp in the Congo as it is at Forty-second street and Broadway. The story, from a book by Wilton Collison, opens with the title character slipping out of an hotel window to avoid embarrassment concerning the hotel bill, and stowing away on a Congo river boat in hopes in reaching another city, where employment awaits her. On the trip the boat blows a boiler, and the crew is forced to find refuge ashore. From all advance reports, the film should he well up to the recognised M.G.M. standard. ” Dangerous Fingers,” the associate feature, is a British production, melodramatic in type and dealing with the war between society and crime. Box plans are at the theatre, the D.I.C. and Jacobs’s.

STRAND THEATRE “Joe and Ethel Turp Gall on the President,"' which will be shown at the Strand Theatre to-day, is the story of Joe and Ethel, who decided to go to see the President of the United States to get the postman’s job back after he has been fired for destroying a letter. Lewis Stone proves to be a very nice President, and complies with their wishes after they tell him the story of Jim, the post, man, which is re-enacted in retrospect. Jim's crime was committed to keep from an elderly dying woman the news that her son had been killed in a prison break. The fact that Jim had loved this woman from the time they both were young and had protected her in his naive way through years of widowhood gives a heart-tugging appeal to the story. Incidentally. besides getting Jim’s job back, Joe and Ethel give the President some advice that keeps the. country out of war. This film is adapted from a story by Damon Runyon. "Santa Fe ; Marshall, one of the Hopalong Cassidy series, will be the other film on the programme. Box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. MAYFAIR THEATRE Lionel Barrymore and Sir Cedric Hardwicke have the leading roles in “On Borrowed Time,” the unusual film which heads the current programme at the Mayfair Theatre. The latter takes the part of Death, who is defied by an old man and his grandson. “ Blondie Takes a Vacation, another of the adventures of the Bumstead family, is the second attraction, Penny Singleton and Larry Simm . being featured. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C.