THE THEATRES

Southland Times, Issue 24234, 18 September 1940, Page 3

THE THEATRES

THE REGENT

“ANOTHER THIN MAN”

WILLIAM POWELL AND MYRNA LOY

"Another Thin Man,” with its merry, marital banter and its extraordinary situations, has been made by the leading players and the producer, Hunt Stromberg, into an entertainment sufficiently bright to stand on its own feet alongside its illustrious predecessors. And that is high praise. Invercargill audiences are finding “Another Thin Man” very much to their liking and consequently the Regent Theatre continues to be a very busy place. William Powell has a delightful part to play in a murder mystery that contains much quiet comedy. As the “Thin Man,” Powell has created a screen character that is unique in many ways. As Nick Charles, detective, his portrayal of his part leaves little to be desired. His humour lies as much in his facial expression as in his speech, and in this he is superb. Myrna Loy has, once again, the part of Mrs Nick Charles, and her quiet acting makes her a splendid foil for the witticisms of her screen husband. The story is one worthy of the principals. An old colonel, played by C. Aubrey Smith, has been receiving threats from a Cuban engineer who was his partner in some of his earlier ventures. The colonel has been threatened with death if he does not pay a large sum of money to the Cuban, and he calls in Nick Charles to assist and protect him. While Charles is in the house the colonel is murdered. The problem of finding the murderer is a tricky one, as there are several suspects, each of whom has a motive, and several of whom would have had the opportunity.

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-r-Paramount’s new drama, “The Magnificent Fraud,” is the present attraction 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.

STATE

“Boy Slaves,” which will be screened today and tomorrow at the Theatre, 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, hut 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. Selected featurettes complete the programme. Enchanting in its fantasy, and almost unbelievable in the quality of its production, the screen version of the immortal old American fairy story “Pinocchio” is coming to the State Theatre on Friday. A film for young and old, it is the second of Walt Disney’s fulllength cartoon features in full colour.

THE EMPIRE, RIVERTON

“The Duke of West Point,” featuring Louis Hayward and Joan Fontaine, will be presented at Riverton tonight. It is a story that will make your- blood tingle—a saga of youth and courage inspired by the age-old tradition of a nation’s fighting men. Two thousand men and one. girl. With a whole corps of cadets to pick from, why did she choose the one who had violated the army’s code of honour? This is an entertainment extravaganza.