THE THEATRES

Southland Times, Issue 24231, 14 September 1940, Page 7

THE THEATRES

REGENT

“ANOTHER THIN. MAN” WILLIAM POWELL AND MYRNA LOY

That inimitable screen couple, “Mr and Mrs Thin Man,” personified by William Powell and Myrna Loy, are back again in the latest adventures of a series which has’ provided undiluted light • entertainment for countless thousands of picturegoers. The new picture, “Another Thin Man,” which will be presented at the Regent Theatre today unfolds an' even more novel mystery plot than any of its predecessors. Both Powell and Miss Loy excel in the sort of merry marital banter, half quizzical and half tender, with which the picture provides them. Powell once again enacts the unperturbed and debonair Nick Charles, who takes his sleuthing lightly, but proves himself to be as much of a master mind as the greatest of Scotland Yard. _ A first-rate cast supports the stars, including Virginia Grey, Otto Kruger, C. Aubrey Smith, Ruth Hussey, Nat Pendleton, Patrie Knowles and Tom Neal. Asta, the quaint little wire-haired Fox terrier that made some of the most amusing scenes in the previous pictures, is with them again, and has learned some new laughter-making tricks in the meantime. The menage is completed by an eight-months-old baby, William Poulsen, who represents the new arrival in the “Thin Man ’ household, Nick Charles, jun.,—a captivating little bundle of mischief, whose look of utter boredom is a pure delight. “Another Thin Man” brings the Charles family back to New York; scene of Nick’s first well-remembered sleuthing triumph, and plunges them at once into a mystery of a murdered friend, a business magnate. The mystery upon which the fooling of the Charles family is threaded is quite insoluble until the affable Nick gets ready to lay the solution before the audience. The picture was directed by W. S. Van Dyke 11, who screened the first two pictures of the “Thin Man” series; and Hunt Stromberg was again the producer. The supporting programme includes more of the good M.-G.-M. shorts—- “ What’s Your IQ?” a Pete Smith novelty; “Seattle,” a Fitzpatrick travel picture; the latest Air Mail News. Box plans are at H. and J. Smith’s, Rice s Regent shoo and the theatre.

CIVIC

An exciting story of espionage within the grim walls of France’s famous frontier fortification, which proved so useless in the Republic’s fight against Germany, is unfolded in “Double Crime in the Maginot Line,” which will be screened at 2.0 and 7.45 today at the Civic Theatre.. It was produced and acted in France, but an English dialogue has been substituted for the French, and this has been so well done that a few moments are quite sufficient to get the “hang” of the whole idea. The film is not an ordinary thriller, but a play which takes into account several character studies and human relationships as well. The story deals with the sudden and dramatic death of the new commander of the line, who, while on a tour of inspection, meets sudden death in company with his adjutant. Suspicion falls at first on Captain Bruchot, a veteran of the Great War, who ruined a brilliant career by marrying a German woman. Hi’s wife, Anna, is madly loved by her husband, who is, however, prone to fits of insane jealousy. He is arrested for the crime, but when it is proved that he could not have done it, he demands that he be given the opportunity of tracing the criminal himself, for he feels that his honour has been slighted. The soldier turns detective, and in an exciting climax brings the culprit to justice. The second feature is “The Marines Fly High,” a thrilling comedy drama, featuring Richard Dix, Chester Morris, Lucille Ball and Steffi Duna. Popular Civic prices are: All stalls l/~, circle 1/6, and children half-price at the matinee. Plans are at the Civic.

MAJESTIC

Further adventures of Mr Wong, the celebrated Chinese detective, will be seen at the Majestic Theatre tonight under the title of “The Fatal Hour.” Boris Karloff is again seen as James Lee Wong, the celestial sleuth, while Grant Withers plays Police Captain Street and Marjory Reynolds is again seen as the go-getter Bobbie Logan, a newspaper girl, who butts in where she is not wanted but generally helps with the solution of the crime. “The Fatal Hour” opens with the murder of a police officer assigned to a smuggling case and Captain Street, broken-heart-ed at the death of his friend, calls in the Oriental detective, Mr Wong. The trail leads to the Neptune Club and its proprietor Hardway, a former gangster; it leads to Belden’s jewellery store, until Belden sen. is murdered and his son accused of the crime; it leads to Town apartments, until a suspect, Lanya Petrova, is murdered also. It is not until a new murder occurs right in the police headquarters, as the law is lining up the chief suspects, that Mr Wong can tie together all the clues that definitely point to the murderer. The associate feature on tonight’s programme at the Majestic Theatre, “Blondie on a Budget,” depicts the adventures of the newspaper “comic strip characters,” “The Bumstead Family.” Chapter XI of Universal’s absorbing serial, “The Green Hornet,” and the latest issue of the Cinesound News will complete a programme which compares favourably with any picture entertainment which has yet been offered in Invercargill.

STATE

Tyrone Power and Linda Darnell have the leading roles in “Daytime Wife,” the gay new Twentieth Cen-tury-Fox romantic comedy, which will be screened today at 2.0 and 8.0 at the State Theatre. The film concerns the hilariously romantic carryings-on of a husband who goes whistling under the wrong balcony (his secretary’s)—and a perfect peach of a wife who rests on her oars (but not for long!). Power is at hi_ gay romantic best, and Linda (the hit of Elsa Maxwell’s “Hotel For Women”) is a' sensation in her first starring role. Warren William, Binnie Barnes, Wendy Barrie, and Joan Davis are featured, and the spirited direction of Gregory Ratoff makes this a picture to delight the heart of every fan! Excellent featurettes will complete the programme. Owing to the phenomenal reception being accorded Walt Disney’s sensation, “Pinocchio,” in other towns, this outstanding film will not be screened on Monday as previously advertised, but will begin on Friday next, September 20, at 2 p.m. Those patrons who have already reserved for “Pinocchio” are requested to apply at Begg’s booking office for a refund of their money. Box plans for Friday next and the ensuing week are open now at Begg’s or the State Theatre. • -...