AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24420, 4 October 1940, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS

THE NEW PROGRAMMES STRAND THEATRE 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 to-dav. Morris plays an unusual triple role as a murder suspect, a detective, and a newspaper reporter, while Miss Lindsav likewise is a reporter and Gargan her lovelorn editor. Appearing In supporting roles are such well-known players as Hoseoe Karns. Robert Emmett Keane, James Burke. William Pawley, Frank Mitchell and Wade Boteler. “ Hopalong ” Cass;dy‘s quick-trigger thinking clears an innocent man of guilt in a highway robbery plot; bis barking six-guns and flying fists clear the way for Justice in the hardriding. claim-hunting frontier west Of “ Hidden Gold,” the supporting feature. Box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C

ST. JAMES THEATRE Against a spectacular background of oil well fires, a tensely dramatic theme, Edward G. Robinson is said to play one of the greatest roles of his career in “ Blackmail.” which will open a season to-day at the St. James Theatre. It Is a vital, different, sympathetic role, one that, when coupled with Robinson’s portrayals of racketeering gang leaders and ruthless gunmen, finds him emerging one of the most versatile actors on the screen to-day. Although he is once more on the wrong side of prison bars, be is there for. a crime he did not commit. The heavy is Gene Lockhart, curiously enough nearly as well known for his kindly or comic roles as Robinson is as a killer. Robinson is cast as an oil well shooter who nine years before had escaped from a prison , camp after being sent there for a crime committed by Lockhart. Seeing Robinson's picture in a newsreel, Lockhart shows up in town, professes friendship, worms his way into Robinson's confidence, then blackmails him for 25,000 dollars in exchange for a confession to the crime. By a ruse, Lockhart receives his confession back, destroys it. and turns Robinson over to the police. Robinson is returned to prison, escapes from a road gang camp in the swamps when he learns that Lockhart has secured all his property, and forces the latter to make his confession. Bobs Watson, the brilliant boy ‘star of "On Borrowed Time,” is cast in the role of Robinson’s son. while Guinn (Big Bov) Williams plays Robinson’s partner in tlv precarious business of dynamiting oil well fires. Laurel and Hardy are featured in another hilarious farce, " Blockheads,” the associate featu’-e. Box plans are at the theatre, the D.I.C. and Jacobs’. OCTAGON THEATRE Story value and acting performances are counted on in "Everything Happens at Night" more than in any of Sonja Henic’s previous five productions. It is a completely different type of story for the famous skating star and queen of the ice. It is a timely tale of modern intrigue, with the added attraction of Sonja’s artistry on silver blades and slippery skis Ray Milland and Robert Cummings are featured as Sonja's leading men in the attraction, which will open a season to-day at the Octagon Theatre. The cast includes Maurice Moscovitch, Leonid Kinskey, Alan Dinehart and Fritz Feld. Signed by Twentieth Century-Fox originally Just for her skating genius, the studio asked no real acting talent from Sonja Henie in her first few pictures, where they were content Just to have her perform on the Ice. But it was soon apparent that a real dramatic talent was possessed by the Ice champion. As the daughter of a famous European statesman hiding in Switzerland from his enemies. Sonja aids her father in revealing to the world the sensational inside story of the new international intrigue. These stories, because of their style and content, lead news editors to believe they can be the work only of Dr Hugo Norden, world-famous peace leader, supposedly assassinated a year before in Warsaw. To Switzerland, then, come two young reporters—Ray Milland from London, and Robert Cummings from the Paris office of a New York paper—to seek .out the author of the world-rousing revelations, Box plans are at the theatre and Begg s. GRAND THEATRE Drama and action are . convincingly blended in the two" films which are now being shown at the Grand Theatre, and together they offer .sound entertainment which should have a wide appeal. The main feature is a tense drama, With a murder trial as the background, A Woman is the Judge.” The film, which is well conceived and ably directed, is presented by a brilliant cast headed by Frieda Inescort, Rochelle Hudson, and Otto Kruger, Frieda Inescort first won recognition in this type of role in George Arliss’s production of the " Merchant of Venice.” and she makes a profound impression in this film. The story tells of a successful woman Judge who has built her career after a most unpromising beginning which resulted in her separation from her criminal husband and her baby daughter. It falls to the woman’s lot to Judge a case in which a girl is charged with the murder of a racketeer, and at the last moment she discovers that the accused in her own daughter. She resigns her seat and takes up the girl’s defence in a tense scene. “ Outlaws of the Prairie,” starring Charles Starret, is tire associate film. The box plans, arc at the theatre and at Begg's. REGENT THEATRE The drama of the medical profession is brought to the screen in "The Secret of Dr Kildare, which will open at the Regent Theatre to-day. Lew Ayres, Lionel Barrymore and others from past pictures in the " Dr Kildare series will be the featured players. Against the background of science s

struggle fqr mankind there: is a tense mystery and a great romance, ail woven into a glorious piece ot entertainment. Helen Gilbert will be seen as the heiress in the thrall of a strange mental malady that Ayres, as Dr Jimmy Kildare, employs detective work to cure. Lionel Barrymore has one of the greatest roles of his triumphant career. The romantic factor is the story of a young doctor and a faithful nurse. The story is based on Max Brand's great novelette in the Cosmopolitan Magazine, and was by Harold S. Bucquet. who, in addition to the previously successful “Dr Kildare pictures, directed “On Borrowed Time. Lionel Atwill, Nat Pendleton, Laraine Day. Sara Haden. Samuel S. Hinds, Emma Dunn. Walter Kingsford are the rest of the “ Kildare " group. Box plans are at the D.I.C. and the theatre. STATE THEATRE Each of Dr Cronin’s sensational novels has had a motive; almost all attacked, openly and convincingly, some grave puulic injustice which resulted in exploitation and misery for thousands of the world's ordinary people. In “ The Stars Look Down." coming to the State Theatre to-day. the dangers faced by the British coal miners are graphically depicted, but the drab and heart-breaking existence ,1s all the more realistic as the film, like the hovel, shows how, but for the avarice and callousness of the mine owners, the plight ot the miners could be greatly alleviated. Michael Redgrave is cast as the youhg scholar, ex-miner, whose ami in liie is to gain a political position sufficiently prominent to make men listen to him and learn about the miners hardships. Margaret Lockwood is Jennie, his selfisn and worldly little wife, who all but ruins his chances and career. The best-remem-bered of the novel's characters. Jow Gowlan. Is played by Emlyh Williams, who gives a fine portrayal of the attractive scamp. All who hope for a swift return of peace throughout the world will find the latest March of Time film. “ The Vatican of Plus XII,” exceptionally interesting. This feature, which will be on the supporting programme, pictures the ' efforts of Pope Plus XII to bring back peace to a war-racked world, end presents the first complete motion picture story ever filmed inside the Vatican. Featuring many informal scenes of the Pontiff, the film shows how Pius XII is td-day using the official Vatican newspaper, the dally Osservalore Romano, the Vatican short-wave radio station, and every other means at his disposal, to end the wars now raging In Europe and Asia, and to effect a lust and lasting peace for mankind. Box plans are at the theatre and Begg’s. EMPIRE THEATRE The problem of heredity versus environment is effectively treated in Republic's “ Wagons Westward,” Which will come to the Empire Theatre 10-day. David cook and his twin brother. Tom, are raised in different environments after the deajh of their father, who is killed in an Indian fight. David, brought up by his mother, becomes an honourable and upright lawenforcement officer, tom, who jourheyea to New Mexico with hts unde, becomes a tough-going scoundrel, as evil and la\f less as his brother is good. Complications arise when David Cook receives orders from his superiors commanding him to capture his outlaw brother, Tom, dead or alive. Tom Is captured and placed safely In gaol awaiting trial, and David, to round up the remainder of his gang, goes into Tom's territory disguised as his brother in order to amass the evi? dence he will require to wipe out all lawlessness In the south-west. David, as ‘‘Tom," finds himself in difficulties when he falls in love with the elder sister of the girl with whom Tom is supposed to be in love. In order to carry out his disguise he must make love to Phyllis—whert he really loves Julie. Chester Morris Is cast In the dual role of David and Tom Cook. Ona Munson is the girl he loves. Anita Louise 1$ the girl hts brother Tom loved, who dies as a result of Tom's viciousness. George “ Gabby ” Hayes Is cast ih one of his typical " old-timer ” roles, and the roster of supporting players includes Buck Jones, Guinn Williams, Douglas Fowley, and Charles Stevens. Box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C MAYFAIR THEATRE An exciting full-blooded drama of the old west is told In " The Oklahoma Kid,” which is now being featured at the Mayfair Theatre. Starring Jimmy Cagney and Humphrey Bogart, two of the most popular virile stars of the screen, the film is more than just another western, but it is as full of melodramatic actloh as the best of them. The associate film is “ King of Alcatraz,” a story of criminals and of the rewards of cfilne. It is presented by an able cast. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.LC.