THE THEATRES

Southland Times, Issue 24239, 24 September 1940, Page 3

THE THEATRES

REGENT

“JUDGE HARDY AND SON” TOMORROW FOR LAST TIME "Judge Hardy And Son,” the latest and most popular of the Hardy Family pictures, in which Mickey Rooney again plays the role of Andy, and the judge, his father, is played by Lewis Stone, will be screened at the Regent for the last time tomorrow. The others in the family are Fay Holden, Cecilia Parker and Sara Haden, while Ann Rutherford heads the list of Mickey’s girl friends. There is plenty of humour in “Judge Hardy And Son,” and there are also moments of pathos when mother is taken seriously ill, and the family realize the danger that they might lose her. Much of the humour is provided by Andy’s endeavours to raise money for tyres and repairs to his car, and the complications which follow his entanglements with his girl friend, Polly Benedict, and the other fair charmers who from time to time cause the course of true love to run otherwise than smoothly. There is a greater depth of story in this one of the series. It can be rated as excellent entertainment, and all those who are fortunate enough to see “Judge Hardy And Son” either today or tomorrow, when the season ends, will agree that they have seen a good show. The supports include another of the inimitable Pete Smith novelties, “Spots Before Your Eyes,” which contains much entertainment and many valuable hints to housewives; an Our Gang Comedy; a Fitzpatrick Travelogue, and the latest in newsreels. Box plans are at H. and J. Smith’s, Rice’s Regent shop and the theatre.

STATE

“PINOCCHIO”

FULL-LENGTH CARTOON

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 screening at the State Theatre > at 2.0 and 8.0 daily until Thursday. A film for young and old, it is the second of Walt Disney’s fulllength cartoon features in full colour. Disney, who, it will be remembered, was the pioneer in this field of entertainment with “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” goes one better with this production, since he had the experience with the technique for such a venture, and the sure knowledge that such films would find a ready market when released. Technically, the show is superb. In its story, the film presents a little wooden puppet who is given life by the Blue Fairy. He is sent off to school, but on the way the bad men get at him, and he has some amazing and highly-entertaining adventures before he gets back to normal life once more. “Pinocchio” is a production all should see. Special supports accompany “Pinocchio.” Box plans are at Begg’s or the State.

“REBECCA”

SEASON BEGINS FRIDAY Powerfully enacted and superbly produced, “Rebecca,” the screen version of the famous novel by Daphne Du Maurier, will begin its Invercargill season on Friday. So outstanding is this special production that it is too big for just one theatre, so will be screened at both the State and the Civic Theatres on Friday, Saturday and Monday. Primarily for mature types of filmgoers, it is one of the most remarkable films of the year to date, and will be talked of for a long time to come. The screenplay differs only slightly from the original book, in its essentials, and it loses nothing in the retelling. The story is developed in impressive fashion, for which high credit is due to the director, Alfred Hitchcock, who has few peers in his department in the motion picture world. Outstanding in the strong cast are Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine, the latter in her first big role. Olivier portrays a wealthy English squire, whose first wife, a faithless wanton, dies under suspicious circumstances. The woman he marries the second time, played by Miss Fontaine, is a sensitive, nervous girl, who feels the presence of the first wife as a real and tangible horror. She becomes more and more introverted, and the film works up to a powerful climax before happiness comes to the newly-married couple. Judith Anderson and George Sanders are also in the cast. Box plans for both the State and the Civic theatres are at Begg’s or the State. Immediate reservations are advised.

CIVIC

“Nurse From Brooklyn,” the first attraction on the Civic’s 6d and 9d programme at 7.45 tonight, drives home the emphatic lesson that crime does not pay. It reveals many of the hitherto hidden methods used by a police department in tracking down a hidden killer in a great city. In “Love and Hisses,” the second feature, Ben Bernie and Bert Lahr try to interest Walter Winchell in Bernie’s new French protege, Simone Simon, who is supposed to be a great singer. Bernie arranges a gag by means of which Simone is independently ‘discovered” by Winchell who gives her a tremendous build-up, unaware of her true identity or connection . witn Bernie. The song Simone is to sing at the opening of Bernie’s, new night club was written by Dick Baldwin, struggling young tunesmith, who believes, through a misunderstanding, that the old maestro is trying to steal it. In the meantime he meets Simone and their friendship ripens into loye. Winchell arranges a national radio hook-up for his “find,” and at the end of the program she reveals Bernie’s gag to him. To get even Winchell arranges a fake kidnapping of the old maestro on the opening night of his club. The film ends in a climax of hilarity. Civic prices tonight are all stalls 6d, circle 9d. The Civic announces that Daphne Du Maurier’s sensational novel “Rebecca," will be screened on Friday, at both the Civic and the State theatres. Plans for either theatre are open now at Begg's or the State.

MAJESTIC

In a roistering, rough and tumble role, as the fighting, singing skipper of the “Marigold,” known in every port in the South Seas, George Houston, popular screen baritone and star of “Wallaby Jim of the Islands,” scores yet another hit in Action Pictures alltechnicolour “Captain Calamity,” which opens at the Majestic Theatre today. George Houston is heard singing several stirring sea chanties. “Captain Calamity” may be said to be one of the first films to bring natural colour to the screen, for the beautiful background of the South Sea Islands forms an entrancing setting for the adven-

tures of Captain Bill Jones, better known as Captain Calamity. The native melodies, swaying palms, and island beauties are brought to the screen in all their glamour, and must provide a genuine thrill for every film-goer. The miracle of modern-day police science as opposed to old-time “strong-arm” methods provides the major conflict in Universal’s action drama, “Inside Information,” the associate feature on today’s programme at the Majestic Theatre. Dick Foran, June Lang, Harry Carey and Maxy Carlisle have the leading roles. Dick Foran, cast as a new detective, volunteers to track down a gang of jewellery robbers and is hampered in the execution of his knowledge of scientific detection against the opposition of a grizzly dog of the force played by Harry Carey. Plans are now on view at H. and J. Smith’s department store, Rice’s Majestic sweet shop and at the Majestic Theatre.