THE THEATRES

Southland Times, Issue 24233, 17 September 1940, Page 2

THE THEATRES

THE REGENT

“ANOTHER THIN MAN”

WILLIAM POWELL AND MYRNA LOY

That famous detective Nick Charles and his wife Nora—this time with the addition of Nick Junior —and Asta the Pup, have come to town again and are keeping Regent audiences in a state of laughter and thrill during the screening of “Another Thin Man.” In this third picture of the series, for which movie-goers have been waiting impatiently, the story is brand new and different, but it contains all the thrill and chills, the mystery and suspense, the laughs and hilarious gags that made the “Thin Man” and “After the Thin Man” instantaneous hits. Detective Nick Charles and his wife, Nora, are the same gay pair who laugh their way through a spine-tingling murder chase and prove you can be romantic though married and happy though hitched. In “Another Thin Man” Bill and Myrna, as the domestic duo of gay gumshoers, arrive in New York for a holiday, some new hats for Mrs Thin Man, a chance to see if the aquarium is still there and a lot of fun. They have the fun but all the rest is forgotten when a friend and adviser of Nora Charles is murdered on his palatial estate. Powell, as Nick Charles, the debonair, shrewd and witty sleuth, goes to work on the case and follows the devious trail of the killer through two other murders and such bizarre happenings as the inexplicable killing of a giant Irish wolfhound, a mysterious fire which burns a swimming pool and a baby party given by the underworld pals of the Charles pair. Solution of the case calls for the most masterly deduction yet shown by Detective Charles. The audience will be thrilled, surprised and weak with laughter when the inimitable Thin Man sleuth lays the answer on the line for the police. Seen in important roles in “Another Thin Man” are Hollywood’s new and only baby comedian, eight-months-old William Poulsen, and C. Aubrey Smith, Virginia Grey, Tom Neal and Nat Pendleton. The picture was directed by W. S. Van Dyke 11, who handled the first two “Thin' Man” pictures. There is a thrill every moment and a laugh in between in this picture for which “Thin Man” fans have been waiting for three years.

STATE

“Boy Slaves,” which opens at the State today, stars Anne' Shirley, Roger Daniel and America’s Little Tough Guy Gang, “Tim, ’ “Knuckles,” “Miser,” “Peewee” and “Atlas.” The story opens when 15-year-old Jesse runs away from home. His brother having lost his factory job, there is no money to feed them. He vows to make enough money to send home to his mother. On the road he is accosted by a gang of urchins who steal his few belongings. Remorseful at his tears, Tim Marty, the leader, takes Jesse along to their camp with them and returns his money. JesSe stays with them, learns that they think of themselves as modern Robin Hoods, jobless, stealing only enough to keep them alive. In a nearby town, they organize, make a complete haul of the town, stealing everything they can lay their hands on. Tim goes back after Jesse, who has been lost in the ensuing shuffle, and the two boys are caught by the police. The boys are rounded up, brought in, and all bitterly accuse Jesse of squealing. At first the judge considers sending the boys up, but a man steps forward and offers to give them jobs and good salaries and thus take them off the State’s hands. He is the owner of a large turpentine farm not far away. All the boys agree, except Tim. He wants a free life, not work. The judge fines him a hundred dollars and puts him in gaol. Jesse vows that he will accumulate the money to free Tim. Exciting incidents follow and the story is brought to a satisfactory conclusion. Excellent supports complete the programme.

The State announces that Walt Disney’s techr.icolour sensation, “Pinocchio,” will begin screening next Friday. Box plans are rapidly filling at Begg’s and the State Theatre.

MAJESTIC

Boasting a daring, timely, provocative story and a great cast headed by four of the screen’s most sensational performers—Akim Tamiroff, Lloyd Nolan, Mary Boland and Patricia Morison— Paramount’s new drama, “The Magnificent Fraud,” will open today at the Majestic Theatre. Briefly, the story tells how, in a mythical South American country, an actor dares to take the place of a dictator who has been assassinated in a bombing. The actor is forced to do so by a reckless, romantic American, the man behind the dictator, because the young American realizes that the country will not be able to obtain a badly needed ten million dollar loan unless the dictator is thought to be alive. Tamiroff plays the dictator-actor, Nolan the young American, Mary Boland a former darling of the dictator, while Patricia Morison provides love interest opposite Nolan. The supporting picture on today’s programme at the Majestic Theatre. “Million Dollar Legs,” is a gay and snappy musical comedy with plenty of action and lots of fun. Plans are now on view at H. and J. Smith’s department store, Rice’s Majestic sweet shop and at the Majestic Theatre.

CIVIC

The mystery master stakes his life to play a dangerous game against a phantom killer in “Mr Moto’s Gamble,” the first feature on the Civic’s halfprice programme at 7.45 tonight. This 20th Century-Fox drama provides detective story fans with a most exciting murder thriller. Guns without bullets—silent, invisible and deadly—with 20,000 witnesses unable to tell how death struck in the midst of a packed fight arena, provide Peter Lorre, the star, with an entirely different and far more exhilarating type of drama than ever before. To add still further intriguing elements Keye Luke, playing his famous role as Charlie Chan’s Number One Son, helps Mr Moto clear up the strange case of a prize-fighter’s death. ' Revealing the work and perils of the Texas Rangers, one of America’s oldest and most picturesque law enforcement agencies, the Civic’s second feature, “The Renegade Ranger,” brings George O’Brien to the screen in a story of romance and revenge. O’Brien portrays a ranger assigned to bring in a fugitive Mexican girl who is accused of killing a ranchman. The stirring adventures he experiences during his task make for an unusually colourful picture. Civic prices tonight and Thursday night are all stalls 6d, circle 9d.