AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 307, 11 December 1936, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

Plaza Theatre. Jack Oakie plays an impertinent reporter who frustrates a gang of crooks in their attempt to steal a forzmtune in diamonds from an eccentric 'millionaire while en route to the South, in “Florida Special,” Paramount’s latest thriller, which shows at the Plaza Theatre, Stratford, tonight for the last time. Fast-moving action, excitement and plenty of comedy fill the picture. Oakie is accompanying Kent Taylor, a wealthy play-boy whose every move is news, on a trip to Miami where he hopes to forget about his thwarted romance. They' meet Claude Gillingwater, .the millionaire, whose secretary is murdered and jewels stolen. Rival gangs get things mixed up, however, and Oakie helps to recover the stolen gems for Gillingwater and patch up Taylor’s heart by introducing him .to Sally Eilers, hostess on the train.

A Comedy Of Great Merit. “Mr Deeds Goes to Town,” a Columbia picture which opens at the Plaza on Saturday for a three-day session, is a delightful comedy which ranks among the most entertaining films shown in recent months. Clarence B. Kellard’s whimsical story has been excellently adapted for the screen and capital acting performances are given by Gary Cooper, Jean Arthur, Raymond Walburn and a large supporting cast. Gary Cooper, whose claim to recognition has hitherto rested on his competent handling of “strong, silent” roles, reveals unsuspected talents for light comedy by his portrayal of Longfellow Deeds, an impecunious young man, who writes poetry for a living and. plays the tuba in the town band. Then an. uncle dies, leaving his 20,000,000-dollai- estate to Mr Deeds. The poet, slightly daze/d, but unimpressed by his sudden riches, is .transported to New York. There he finds himself the centre of world interest. He is. beset on one side by schemers who want to rid him of his (wealth and on the other by tabloid newspapers, which jeeringly’ name him the “Cinderella Man.” When hei finally decides to give away his millions in land grants to the unemployed everyone thinks he is insane and legal action is takeji to put a stop to it.

King’s Theatre. The death of a young woman from an overdose of morphia led the police to examine the poisonbook of David Stanley Norton and Henry Pryor, two doctors in partnership in Harley Street. Norton knew that Pryor, hard-pressed for money, had been supplying morphia to patients illegally, and he says the partnership must end. In revenge, Pryor accuses Norton of misconduct with his wife, Helen. There has been nothing between them, but events force them to confess their secret love for each other. There is an examination before the General Medical Council. Norton is struck off .the register as a result of the charming and convincing way in which Vera Kennedy, the doctor’s secretary, lies for Pryor s sake, to whom she is more than a secretary.

Norton goes to America with Helen and achieves fame as a heart specialist, under the name of Stanley, but Pryor, true to his word does every dirty job which will bring him nearer to Norton, reaches him at last, and for the second time ruin at the hands of this man is imminent for Norton. »What other choice has he? And how will Gale reconcile his double capacity of Norton’s friend and District Attorney? This is the dramatic appeal of the 8.1. P. production, “Living Dangerously’,” which shows at the King’s Theatre to-night for the last time. Otto Kruger and Leonora Corbett play the leading roles.