THE THEATRES

Southland Times, Issue 24236, 20 September 1940, Page 7

THE THEATRES

THE REGENT

“ANOTHER THIN MAN’’ FINAL SCREENINGS TODAY The latest William Powell-Myrna Loy picture, “Another Thin Man,” will have its last screenings at the Regent Theatre today. Combining a first-class murder mystery with riotous comedy, this third adventure of Nick. Charles, the famous detective, and his charming wife, is well up to the high standard set by the previous films. William Powell and Myrna Loy again play the parts of the Charles’s, and on this occasion, besides their wily, dog Asta, they have another member of the family, Nick, junior. The story is by the well-known American author, Dashiell Hammett. “JUDGE HARDY AND SON” LEWIS STONE, MICKEY ' ROONEY Lewis Stone, Mickey Rooney and the rest of the famous Hardy Family come on Saturday to the Regent Theatre in “Judge Hardy and Son,” eighth all-new adventure of the group. This time, instead of travelling, the family stays home. Andy Hardy, son of the family, turns amateur detective to help his father in a law case, and becomes involved with three pretty girls who fill his life with trials and tribulations. The mother of the family becomes ill; for a dark hour they fear they will lose her. It is in this episode that Andy inspires his father to a new courage in a poignant dramatic' scene. Andy turns hero and pilots his sister across a raging flood to her mother’s bedside. But the crisis passes, the mother recovers, Andy extricates himself from the entangling girls, and all ends well. Stone, Rooney, Cecilia Parker, Fay Holden and Sara Haden, comprising the “family,” are all together in the picture. And Ann Rutherford again plays Polly Benedict, Mickey’s “regular” girl friend. Three pretty girls are introduced to plague the great puppy lover—June Preisser, Martha O’Driscoll and Margaret Early. A notable member of the cast is Mme. Maria Ouspenskaya, eminent Russian actress. Henry Hull, Leona Maricle, Egon Brecher, Edna Holland, George Breakston and Marie Blake are other members of the cast.

STATE

“PINOCCHIO" STARTS TODAY WALT DISNEY CLASSIC Musical treatment in Walt Disney’s second full-length feature production, “Pinocchio,” in technicolour, which will be screened at the State today at 2.0, 4.45, 8.0 and 10.30 p.m., 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 Jiminy 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 vagalxmd, 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, but 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 today’s four sessions are filling quickly at Begg’s and the State Theatre.

MAJESTIC

The whole world is talking about Warner Bros.’ exciting and emotional screen play, “They Made Me a Criminal,” which opens at the Majestic Theatre today, 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 in “Four Daughters.” May Robson is quite as endearing as she was in that picture. Co-starred with John Garfield are the famous “Dead End Kids,” who turn in another convincing performance. The story opens with Garfield, a cocksure fighter who has just won the lightweight 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

One of the most poignant and penetrating dramas of the year, “Convicted Woman,” comes as the first attraction at the Civic Theatre at 7.45 tonight. Among the many unusual features of the new film is its stellar cast which includes no less than. seven leading ladies. Rochelle Hudson, Frieda Inescort, Lola Lane, June Lang, Iris Meredith, Lorna Gray and Linda Winters

comprise the septette and Glenn Ford plays the only important male _ role. “Convicted Woman” tells the inside story of a woman’s prison and is saidjj to be a forceful ana bitter indictment of the greed and selfishness which makes such a place a living z hell. Miss Hudson is seen as the young girl who is unjustly committed to a house of correction. On her arrival, she is immediately plunged into a maelstrom of hate and fury which culminates in a sensational riot, the suicide of one of tlie girls and the resulting expose of the shocking conditions.

“Two-Fisted Ranger,” the Civic’s second attraction tonight, is a fistflinging, lead-slinging, tune-swinging

thriller of the west, starring Charles Starrett (the singing cowboy) and the melody-making “Sons of the Pioneers,” together with Iris Meredith and Bill Cody, jun. Popular Civic prices tonight are all stalls 1/-, all circle 1/6, children half-price. Plans are at Begg’s or the Civic.

THE EMPIRE, RIVERTON

“Shipyard Sally,” featuring Britain’s favourite, Gracie Fields, assisted by Sydney Howard and Norma Varden, will be presented at Riverton tonight and on Saturday night. Irresistible, irrepressible Gracie sings and dances,

bringing her happiest capers as queen of the shipyards. The story, is an engaging one, telling of Gracie’s singlehanded efforts to restore prosperity to Britain’s great shipbuilding centre at Clydebank. The jovial queen of comedy is seen in her greatest picture.

THEATRE ROYAL, WINTON

Bobby Breen’s new starring picture, “Way Down South,” which .will be screened at Winton tonight and tomorrow night, is rich in entertainment and endowed with a novelty of setting and beauty Of photography that mark it as the young singing star’s most attractive

and appealing film. Bayou Lovelie, a great plantation on the outskirts of New Orleans, is the locale. It is the pride of Bobby’s father, Ralph Morgan, that his slaves are contented. But wheh Morgan meets accidental death and control of the plantation goes into the hands of a shrewd lawyer who values money above human happiness, the plantation workers are threatened with the collapse of their family, ties. How Bobby manages to return security and happiness to the estate is, in brief, the story.