AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24411, 24 September 1940, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

THE CURRENT PROGRAMMES STATE THEATRE A dramatic story ot a man who is sent to prison at the instigation of his wife is told in '• The House Across the Bay." which heads the current programme at the Stale Theatre. George Raft appears as a night-club proprietor who becomes involved in so many profitable schemes that his enemies determine to dispose of him His wife, played by Joan Bennett, discovert that he has been evading income tax and on the advice of her lawyer, who unknown to her, is in love with her. gives the authorities information which leads to her husband's arrest Instead oi s light sentence of one year's imprisonment, however, Raft is sent to Alcatraz prison for 10 years, principally because the lawyer purposely mishandles the case The wife is heart-broken at the result of her treachery, which she had thought would merely place her husband beyond the reach of his enemies for a short period, and takes a house on the waterfront, where site can look at the prisor. in which her husband is incarcerated The lawyer, rebuffed by the girl, tells her husband the truth concerning his imprisonment, and he breaks gaol with the intention of kilting her. There is a good supporting programme. The box Dlans are at the theatre and at Begg's •• DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK ' All the adventure and romance ot the settling of America is brought to the screen in the technicolor film " Drums Along the Mohawk," which will be the next attraction at the State Theatre. A fine cast Includes Claudette Colbert. Henry Fonda and Edna May Oliver. EMPIRE THEATRE An exciting story of the pioneering days of America is told In " Geronlmo,' which is at present being shown at the Empire Theatre. The large and competent cast is headed by Andy Devine, Preston Foster, and Ralph Morgan, with Kitty Kelly and Ellen Drew filling prominent feminine roles. The production tells the story of Geronlmo, a chief of the Apache Indians, whose chief desire is to kill as many of the white invaders of his territory as possible. Ralph Morgan plays the part of General Steele, a martinet whose stern sense of duty has compelled him to forgo domestic life with his wife and son and remain in the field with his forces. He is ordered south with an army of 5000 men. poorly equipped, with instructions to pacify Geronimo instead of fighting him. With the general, unknown to him, goes the son he has not seen since childhood, and the struggle between the white troops and Geronimo's savage hordes makes an exciting climax to the story. There is a good supporting programme. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C.

" CHARLIE MCCARTHY, DETECTIVE " It is Edgar (Slow-Burn) Kennedy who suffers most under the slings and arrows of Charlie McCarthy's thorny wit in Universal's " Charlie McCarthy, Detective," which will come to the Empire Theatre on Friday. Kennedy is cast as a " dim-wit" police inspector who is constantly heckled by McCarthy during the investigation of a mysterious murder which Charlie subsequently solves. Also annoyed by Charlie in the picture are Robert Cummings, John Sutton, Louis Calhern, Constance Moore, Samuel S Hinds, Harold Huber, Milburn Stone, Ray Turner, Alec Craig, Warren Hymer and Charlie's enemy, bucolic Mortimer Snerd Miss Moore, formerly a top-line radio singer, has been under contract to Universal studios for the past two years and has vocalised in but two pictures. In " Charlie McCarthy, Detective," she is cast as a night club entertainer, partner with Bergen in his act. She is the romantic interest of the story. STRAND THEATRE Two pictures which, although widely different in type, both provide first-class entertainment, are the features of the bright double bill now being shown at the Strand Theatre. Damon Runyan's popular story, " Joe and Ethel Turp Call On the President," which has been cleverly adapted for the screen, forms the leading attraction, and with William Gargan and Ann Sothern in the principal roles, it is, a particularly attractive piece of screencraft. The second picture, ." Santa Fe Marshal," is another of Clarence Mulford's Hopalong Cassidy series, and in it the ever-popular William Boyd gives one of his typically virile performances in the leading part. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. ST. JAMES THEATRE Ami Sothern again plays the part oi Maisie Ravier in " Congo Maisie, which heads the current programme at the St James Theatre. She is assisted by John Carroll, Rita Johnson, Shepherd Strudwick, and J. M. Kerrigan. On this occasion Maisie has some amazing adventures in South Africa, and even faces death in a native uprising, only saving herself and her companions by some impromptu " black magic." The second film Is " Dangerous which deals with the adventures of a criminal who baffles Scotland Yard. The box plans are at the theatre, the D.I.C, and Jacobs'. "TALKING FEET" " Talking Feet," the St. James Theatre's coming attraction, has Cockney comedy and laughs galore, and the following celebrities: —Mark Hambourg, the worldfamous pianist, well known by his New Zealand recitals, together with 14 of his specially-selected pupils, play 14 pianos simultaneously and introduce a number of popular themes. In addition, William Heughan, the Scottish baritone, sings a number of popular melodies. Associated with him is the band of the Second Battalion, Seafqrth Highlanders, and Dagenham Girl Pipers, who portray " The Gathering of the Clans," which will live long in the memory of those fortunate enough to see this film. The final scene, portraying the decks of a battleship with big guns firing, is both stirring and thrilling, being amply suppoited by little Hazel and the band of the Royal Marines. This famous band led the procession of " Sailor Heroes " of H.M.S. Ajax and H.M.S Exeter in London recently. OCTAGON THEATRE " Rebecca." the film version of Daphne du Maurier's novel, continues to attraci large audiences to the Octagon Theatre. Laurence Olivier, who established an impressive reputation by his work in " Wutherine Heights,' again gives- a masterly portrayal as Max de Winter a sombre Cornlshman, and Juan Fontaine rises to inspiring heights In her delineation of the role of de Winter's second wife The slorv is dominated by the influence of cle Winter's first wire. Rebecca, who, though dead, almosl succeeds in wrecking the couple's happiness. Her influence Is transmitted through Mrs Dnnvei's. the housekeeper who was passionately foid of Rebecca and hates the young wife with a vliulenee thai casts a bliV.Hi upon the household There is a s'ood supporting programme, in which majoi place is held by a newMarch of Time, entitled "News Fronts of the War—lMO" The box plans are at the theatre and the DIC. ■ EVERYTHING HAPPENS AT NUJH'I " Sonja Henic, Ray MllJand and Robert Cummings have a lot of misunderstandings in " their latest film, " Everything Happens at Night," which will be shown at the Octagon Theatre on Friday Tliej even start off by having an accident GRAND THEATRE To-dav will afford the final opportunity of witnessing " I Was a Spy " and ' Aniline! the Town," which, for the past week have comprised the double bill at the Grand Theatre The main picture, which has Conrad Veldt. Madeleine Carroll and Herbert Marshall in the leading roles, is founded on the real-life story of a lemulc Belgian spy. and the associate feature, in which a number of well-known stars arc featured, is an entertaining vaudeville production. The box plans are at the theatre and at Begg's " KRUIO. BLONDE. AND 21 " " Free, Blonde, and 21." the new Twentieth Century-Foy tilm. will be screened at the Grand Theatre to-morrow. Lovely Lynn Bari, Mary Beth Hughes, Katharine Aldridge, and Helen Erieson head the brigade of beauties, while the " leading men" in their Ives are portrayed by Henry Wilcoxon, Robert Lowery, and Alan Baxter. Joan Davis provides plenty of comedy as the hotel maid, and Chick Chandler is her ardent taxi-driver boy friend. A distinguished doctor, played by Wilcoxon, falls in love with Lynn, and his assistant. Robert Lowery, " falls for " Mary Beth. But the young doctor has not enough money or time to spend on her, so the little blonde steps out with a dubious young man she knows nothing about (Alan Baxter), thus involving Lynn, Wilcoxon, and Lowery. as well as herself, in a murder mysterv which is not solved until Lynn recruits Joan Davis and Chick Chandler as a pair of matchless amateur i sleuths. Trains seem to be the most I

favoured inspirations for film backgrounds. Way back In 1933 " Sleeping Car" and " Rome Express." were made. Then followed the " Ghost Train," "The Lady Vanishes," " The Silent Battle," and now there is the G-B-D attraction " The Spider," which will be the associate film. This is another train thriller, featuring a heartless rogue—the leader of a jewel thief gang, who traps his acquaintances into his net and stops at nothing, not even murder. REGENT THEATRE A sparkling modern comedy of a lady commissar who ignores her country's fiveyear plan is the theme of " Ninotchka," the feature film that Is attracting big audiences to the Regent Theatre. Here is Greta Garbo in one of her best pictures —and it is sufficient to show picturegoers that the famous Garbo has never abdicated from her proud position gained in the first days of the talkies. The fact that she has made about 25 films in her career is sufficient proof of her ability. In all of these, however, she has confined herself to the more serious roles, most of which have been tragic This Is the first time that she has revealed herself as Ihe principal of a full-length comedy. Her work has been directed by Ernst Lubitsch the world-famous director of a hundred polished films of the past. Garbo is cast as a Bolshevist agent who goes to Paris to see that the three trusted agents of the Communists do not get up to any monkey business in the matter of selling the Russian Crown jewels. There is no lack of fun and excitement in this film. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C "JUAREZ" A turbulent but significant period In the history of Mexico forms the background for the magnificent production "Juarez" (pronounced "war-ezz"), a picture which, it is claimed, is destined to be one of the greatest films of all time. Paul Muni plays the name part in this engrossing iortrayal of the life work of a great patriot, who liberated his beloved country from the yoke of an oppressor. Bette Davis gives the leading feminine portrayal opposite Paul Muni, and Brian Aherne Is also cast in a main role. " Juarez " will be presented at the Regent Theatre on Friday. MAYFAIR THEATRE Set against the exotic background of indo-China. " Lady of the Tropics," which heads the programme at the Mayfair Theatre this week, features glamorous Hedy Lamarr. Robert Taylor is cast opposite her as a young American in love with the beautiful Miss Lamarr, and Joseph Schildkraut heads the supporting cast. The second film is " Unexpected Father." a delightful comedv featuring Mischa Auer and Baby Sandy. The box olans are at the theatre and the D.I.C