AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24418, 2 October 1940, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS

THE CURRENT PROGRAMMES STATE THEATRE Darryl F. Zanuck’s production of “ Drums Along the Mohawk ” is now showing at the State Theatre. Filmed in ,the latest technicolor, with Claudette Colbert and Henry Fonda in the starring roles, this entertaining picture is replete with action and excitement. The story is based on the best-selling novel by Walter D, Edmonds of the stirring days of adventure and romance when America was young. The action is set in New York’s peaceful, beautiful Mohawk Valley, and depicts the colonists under the onslaught of the savage Iroquois. Battle scenes in this film reach a pitch,of realism and excitement seldom equalled on the screen. There is a strong supporting programme, lue box plans are at the theatre and at Begg's. ‘•THE’STARS LOOK DOWN” ■ There can be few who have not read ©r, at least, heard of the popular story, “ The Stars Look Down," by Dr A. J. Cronin. This grand story of the coalmining industry and of the men who toil and sweat below the ground, made Cronin’s reputation. This story has now been filmed, and, if anything, has been strengthened by its adaptation ‘to the screen. Few British pictures have ever been made with a finer cast or with more realistic spectacle and tense drama than Jl “ The Stars Look Down,” which co-stars Michael Redgrave, Margaret Lockwood and Emlyn Williams. Supporting these three are Nahcy Price, Edward Rigby, Allan Jeayes, .Linden Travers, Cecil Parker, Milton Rosmer and George Carney. The story, as is generally known, deals with the hopes and aspirations of a studious young miner. David Fenwick, who sacrifices his ambitions for pretty, shallow little Jenny Sunley, who lets ■ him down in preference to the unscrupulous self-made Joe Gowlan. This human drama is being played out whilst the mine itself and its impending disaster looms in the background throughout the whole film. The climax is one of the most impressive ■cenes ever brought to the screen. & EMPIRE THEATRE Something new in the way of detective mysteries, is brought to the screen in “ Charlie McCarthy, Detective,” which is now being screened at the Empire Theatre. The sleuth in this instance is none other than the dapper dummy motivated by the ■one and only Edgar Bergen. At the outset of the film Charlie is a night club entertainer, putting over his usual stream of wisecracks for the edification of socialites. A baffling murder takes place, and Charlie is Involved in it. Like a hound on the scent, McCarthy enlists Bergen’s aid, and sets out after the criminal. The manner in which the evil-doer is brought to book makes brightly entertaining screen fare. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. , “ WAGONS WESTWARD ” 4 With Chester Morris, Anita Louise, Buck 1 Jones and Ona Munson topping a cast of outstanding players, and with a story filled with swift action and thrilling drama, the Republic picture “ Wagons Westward ” will have its initial showing at the Empire Theatre on Friday. Chester Morris plays the dual role of Tom Cook and his twin brother, David, with sureness, fire and deep sincerity, portraying a cruel, sadistic killer on the one hand, and a fine, clean-cut Government officer on the other. Ona Munson, appears in one of the dramatic roles of her screen career as a dance hall entertainer who tries to protect her younger sister (Anita Louise) from the wiles of outlaw Tom Cook. What happens when she meets David, disguised as his brother Tom, provides the highlight of the picture, and places' (Miss Munson in the top brackets as a fine dramatic actress. The fragile beauty of Anita Louise in a tough New Mexican dance hall setting is an interesting contrast. A new type of role for her, Miss Louise adds new laurels to her versatility in the role of Phyllis O’Conover, sweetheart of a man wanted for a hundred murders. The final episode of \ the serial “ The Green Hornet ” will also be shown. STRAND THEATRE An exciting story of the tropics, ” Zanzibar,”'' heads the current Rouble-feature programme -at the Strand Theatre this week. Lola Lane and James .Craig are starred. andlFduardg_ClaqfieULon(L-Samucl S. Hifi’ds have important roles.-'-The story concerns an attempt by a party of explorers to find the' skull of a famous native ruler, a quest that is fraught with danger in thick jungle and from a volcanic explosion. The associate film is “ Blondie,” featuring Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake in another. amusing story L of the Dagwood family. The box plans f are at the theatre and the D.I.C. “ DOUBLE ALIBI ” Wayne Morris, Margaret Lindsay and William Gargan share stellar honours in Universal’s “Double Alibi,” a new kind of mystery picture, which will be shown at the Strand Theatre on Friday. Morris plays an unusual triple role as a murder suspect, a detective and a newspaper reporter, while Miss Lindsay likewise is a reporter and Gargan her lovelorn editor. Appearing in supporting roles are such well-known players as Roscoe Karns, Robert-Emmett Keane. James Burke, William ’ Pawley, Frank Mitchell and Wade Boteler. “ Hopalong ” Cassidy’s quicktrigger thinking clears an innocent man j of guilt in a highway robbery plot: his barking six-guns and flying fists clear the way for justice in the hard-riding, claim-jumping frontier west of “Hidden Gold,” the supporting feature. V ST. JAMES THEATRE % —— An appealing story, convincingly told, makes “Talking Feet,” which heads the current programme at the St. James Theatre, an outstanding production. Hazel Ascot, as a small girl whose efforts to raise funds for a hospital are both novel and amusing, heads the cast, which includes such--well-known artists as Mark Hambourg, the famous pianist, and William Heughan, the Scottish baritone. There is a strong supporting programme and the box plans are at the theatre, the D.I.C. and Jacobs’s. V « BLACKMAIL ” Stark drama at a fast pace through Edward G. Robinson's first great sympa- * thetio role, as vivid and as tense as any- ' thing he has ever done, will make a noteworthy contribution to film entertainment at the St. James Theatre, whereßlackmail” will be screened on Friday.- It is an entirely different Robinson that comes to the screen in this picture. There is a distinctive new quality to his performance as he plays the sympathetic role of an soonest citizen who is uprooted from his . family,. thrown into a prison camp for a crime he did not commit, and who gradually changes from a man whose strongest emotion is love • for his wife to one whose bloodlust and only motivating desire is to wreak some terrible vengeance on the betrayer whose *duplicity placed bin} behind prison bars. Robinson is seen as an oil well shooter who is recogr nised by a, former shipmate, Gene Lockhart, who turns-in an admirable performance as the betrayer. Once Robinson has shaken off the pursuit of prison authorities, he goes about the grim and, in a final dramatic climax, terrifying business of meting out a fiery and a just vengeance upon his betrayer. The associate production will be the comedy “ Blockheads” ©tarring Laurel and Hardy. OCTAGON THEATRE “ Rebecca,” the outstanding screen version of Daphne du Maurier’s brilliant novel, still -continues to attract considerable attention at the Octagon Theatre. Brilliantly directed by Alfred Hitchcock and raised to a high level of entertainment by the act=r£ of the large cast, the film deals with *e life of a young unsophisticated girl who marries a wealthy young Cornishman, only to find that the whole household, including her husband. Is dominated by the spirit of the first wife, “Rebecca.” Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine have the chief roles, and Judith Anderson, Reginald Denny, Nigel Bruce, and George Sanders head the supporting cast. The box plans .Are at the theatre and Begg’s.

“EVERYTHING HAPPENS AT NIGHT” Sonja Henie’s latest 20th Century-Fox picture is thrillingly different from anything this famous star has yet done on the screen and makes plus entertainment for anyone. With the aid of Ray_Mil!and and •Robert Cummings, who as a pair of enthusiastic young reporters after a big scoop, fall for Sonja simultaneously, there is air excellent comedy note injected. The timely story centres on an exiled statesman startling the world with his revelation's and pleas for peace from his Alpine hideaway. Darryl F. Zanuck selected 'lrving Cummings to direct, and this screen ■ veteran has given Blanktown an enjoyj able picture everyone ought to see. ' "Everything Happens at Night, a 20th Century-Fox picture, will be shown at the Octagon Theatre on Friday.

GRAND THEATRE Superb characterisations by Frieda Inescort, Otto Kruger, and Rochelle Hudson—fitting enactments Of persons whose problems are absorbing and authentic—make Columbia’s "A Woman is the Judge,” which, will have its first local screening at the- Grand Theatre to-day. one of the most enthralling films in recent months. An engrossing story of a woman jurist suddenly called upon to decide the fate of her own daughter, accused of murder, the new attraction is a deft, moving tale of the machinery of the law and of the people who become enmeshed in its relentless coils. The fine portrayals and engrossing detail with which "A Woman is the Judge ” abounds lends force and 'drama to the film. A noted woman jurist, Mary Cabot is honoured in her community for the fairness, courage, and intelligence with which she metes out justice. “A Woman is the Judge ” opens with Mary Cabot at the height of her career on the Bench. Suddenly, she resigns. She takes over the apparently thankless task of defending a young girl accused of murder, and successfully wins the underworld waif’s acquittal. Behind the judge’s sudden renunciation of her career is a story of tense and emotional conflict. A novel note in “ Outlaws of the Prairie,” the supporting film, is the introduction of four range ballads, typical of the ones sung by generations of cowboys. Donald Grayson sings the. songs, accompanied by the Sons of the 1 Pioneers, a unique musical and vocal quintet. The songs, which are sure to prove most popular, are “ Blue Prairie,” “Song of the Bandit,”. “Open Range Ahead,” and “My Saddle Pal and I.” Box plans are at the theatre and Begg’s. REGENT THEATRE " Juarez,” Warner Bros.’ brilliant new production, starring Paul Muni and Bette Davis, is showing at the Regent Theatre. Supporting Muni and Miss Davis are sucli stellar names as Brian Aherne, John Garfield. Claude Rains. Joseph Calleia, and Gale Sondergaard. From an historical standpoint, “ Juarez ” is extremely important, for it depicts the only widespread efforts on the part of a European Government to' infringe upon an independent nation’s liberty. Napoleon 111 of France sets up a puppet empire in Mexico, with Maximilian and Carlota as innocent and hapless pawns, in order to collect the debts owed to France, but cancelled by Juarez, president of the Mexican republic. This turbulent but significant period in the history of America forms the background for “ Juarez,” a picture which is destined to be one of the great films of all time. The supporting films are of a high standard. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. •‘THE SECRET OF DR KILDARE” “ The Secret of Dr Kildare,” based on Max Brand’s popular story, which will be seen at the Regent Theatre on Friday, is third in the " Dr Kildare ” series. Barrymore as Dr Gillespie, and Ayres as young Dr Jimmy Kildare, his protege, head the cast. Helen Gilbert, who leaped to fame as the dramatics teacher in “Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever,” plays the mystery patient, a girl with a strange mental malady. Ayres turns detective to discover the source of the malady and unmasks a quack doctor in so doing. Laraine Day plays the nurse, Mary Lament, his heart-throb in the big hospital Included in the cast are Lionel Atwill, Nat Pendleton, Sara Haden, Samuel S. Hinds, Emma Dunn, Walter Kingsford. Grant Mitchell, and Alma Kruger. MAYFAIR THEATRE

Featuring the days of lawlessness during the great land rush to Oklahoma in 1889, “ The Oklahoma Kid ” will bring James Cagney. Humphrey Bogart, Rosemary Lane and Donald Crisp to the Mayfair Theatre to-day. “ King of Alcatraz,” which will be in support, is a racketeering drama starring Lloyd Nolan, Robert Preston and Gail Patrick. Box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C.