THE THEATRES

Southland Times, Issue 24235, 19 September 1940, Page 4

THE THEATRES

THE REGENT “ANOTHER THIN MAN” SEASON CLOSES TOMORROW 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. The season closes tomorrow.

“JUDGE HARDY AND SON” FAMOUS FAMILY GROUP Comedy, heart interest, thrills and drama blend into another family adventure of the Hardys in “Judge Hardy and Son,” with Lewis Stone, Mickey Rooney, and the rest of the famous family group, which comes on Saturday to the Regent Theatre. The new story deals with Andy Hardy’s comical adventures as an amateur detective, through which he is involved with three pretty girls and gets into various comical complications. There is drama in the illness of the mother of the family who is near death, a thrill in Andy’s piloting his sister across a flooded river to her mother’s bedside, and several dramatic highlights. Stone, Rooney, Cecilia Parker, Fay Holden, Sara Haden and Ann Rutherford, the “regular” cast of the series, are augmented in “Judge Hardy and Son” by three new charmers, June Preisser, Martha O’Driscoll and Margaret Early. Mme. Maria Ouspenskaya, famous Russian actress, also plays an important role.

STATE

“BOY SLAVES” FOR LAST TIME “Boy Slaves,” which stars Anne Shirley, Roger Daniel, and America’s Little Tough Guy Gang, will be screened finally today at the State Theatre. Hailed as the year’s most sensational drama, “Boy Slaves” is a daring expose of the reform system as it applies in certain American states where erring boys are forced to hard labour. This exciting story is packed with action throughout. Supports include “River of Death” (travel), “Control Yourself” (aviation) and a two-reel musical. “PINOCCHIO” TOMORROW Musical treatment in Walt Disney’s second full-length feature production, “Pinocchio,” in technicolour, which commences at the State tomorrow, is on a scale as elaborate as that which marked “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” Six songs are featured, each furthering the plot of the story. The picture opens on little Jiminy Cricket singing a melodious .ballad, “When You Wish Upon a Star.” As Jimmy completes his song, he offers to give the audience an example of a wish come true, which leads into the actual story of “Pinocchio.” The story concerns a kindly old wood carver who creates a particularly engaging puppet, which he names Pinocchio. As he finishes painting a face on Pinocchio, he tries out the marionette to see how successful it is. He winds up his music boxes and, to the tinkling tunes, he manipulates Pinocchio’s strings so that the latter does a dance, as Geppetto sings a quaint song, “Little Woodenhead.” Another song in this sequence is, “Turn on the Old Music Box.” That night, the Blue Fairy gives Pinocchio life because Geppetto, who has always wanted a son, has brought so much happiness to others. Jiminy Cricket, a little vagabond, becomes involved in the situation to the extent that the fairy dubs him Pinocchio’s conscience. Jiminy sings the lively song, “Give a Little Whistle,” in’which he tells Pinocchio that the puppet should always whistle for the conscience when getting into trouble. Geppetto sends Pinocchio to school, hut a Fox and a Cat, a pair of slick villains, spirit him away to the rollicking tune of “Hi-diddle-dee-dee, an Actor’s Life for Me,” selling him to Stromboli, an unscrupulous puppet master. In the puppet show the little marionette sings a spirited song, “Got No Strings.” The picture ends on a joyous note with Jiminy repeating the song. “When You Wish Upon a Star,” for the Blue Fairy has made Pinocchio a real boy because he has proven himself worthy of the honour by almost losing his life to rescue Geppetto from the villainous Monstro the Whale. Plans for tomorrow’s four sessions, at 2.0. 4.45, 8.0 and 10.30 p.m., are filling quickly at Begg’s and the State Theatre.

MAJESTIC

“MAGNIFICENT FRAUD” Akim Tamiroff, Lloyd Nolan and Patricia Morison are jin the leading roles of Paramount’s explosive new drama, “Magnificent Fraud,” which will conclude at the Majestic Theatre today. The supporting cast includes Mary Boland, George Zucco, Steffi Duna and Ernest Cossart. The supporting picture on the programme, “Million Dollar Legs,” is a gay, snappy comedy with plenty of action and fun featuring Betty Grable, Jackie Coogan, Larry Crabbe, Donald O’Connor and Dorothea Kent

“THEY MADE ME A CRIMINAL”

The whole world is talking about Warner Bros.’ exciting and emotional screen play, “They Made Me. a Criminal,” not only because of the convincing nature of the story, but because of the fact that John Garfield, the sensational screen discovery of “Four Daughters,” is elevated to stardom in this picture. Another attractive point from the audience angle about “They Made Me a Criminal” is the inclusion in the supporting cast of both Claude Raines and May Robson, who figured so prominently also inj “Four Daughters.” May Robson is quite as endearing as she was in that picture. Co-starred with John Garfieldj are the famous “Dead End Kids,” who turn in another convincing performance. The story opens with Garfield, a cocksure fighter who has, jjist won the light.weight championship of the world and

is giving a party to celebrate the occasion. He gets drunk, a brawl takes place in which a reporter from a paper is killed and Sheridan, with Garfield’s manager, runs out with the boxer’s money and watch, leaving the apparent blame on Garfield. However, a motor smash takes place and the victims are incinerated. The charred remains of the watch make it look as though Garfield is dead and from then on he leads the life of a fugitive wandering from state to state and eventually finding haven with May Robson, Gloria Dickson and the “Dead End Kids” on a Californian fruit ranch. From here on an amazing change in theme takes place in the picture; from an emotional and exciting drama the story somersaults to a series of light and hilariously funny comedy. The supporting picture, “Torchy Gets Her Man,” has Glenda Farrell, Barton

McLane and Tom Kennedy again in the principal roles.

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 finally 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 are all stalls Gd, circle 9d.