AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 410, 17 April 1937, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS.

Plaza Theatre. JOAN CRAWFORD IN "THE GORGEOUS HUSSY.’’ The producers who gave theatregoers “San Francisco” score another ou standing triumph wi ll "The Gorgeous Hussy,” which will how at i.e Haza Thectre to-night. Joan Crawford, playing the part of Peggy O’Neale, a beautiful woman with a power in American politics at the time of President. An dr >w Jackson, is seen in a new atmosphers. She does av.Gy with her old flambuoyance and becomes a personality with a deep.r appeal, with a backing of sincere, intelligent and sure emo ional rU-ing. The result i s . a fin;, Lympar the.ic portrayal of one oi the most remarkable women in Am rican history. The picture ; 5 fuD of good -acting. Lionel Barrymore, in the part of the rough-tier’a old; President, is impressive, while Melvyn Douglas’s performanc i as the President’s bitter enemy, but the man whom Peggy loves, is excellent. Other good porti’raits.are provided by Franchot Tone, Robert Taylor and Sidney Toler Tn | film aims to capture the spirit of the | chief character. This it succeeds ir 1 doing very (admirably, with a that is veil balanced between a political intrigue and romanc \ There is a vial period atmosphere, much | powerful drama, and many emotion- - al moments. King’s Theatre. "ALIBI FOR MURDER,’’ MYSTERY THRILLER. If you are au amateur detective—j and who isn’t? —you will find an in■riguing mys-ery picture in "Alibi for Murder," which will not only give you plenty of enjoyment., but will offer , you a problem in crime solu ion that ij'lll tax your ta!ent s of deduction to a maximum. It is a Columbia pru- , duccion wh'ph shows at the King’s Theatre to-night, paturiafg William Uargan wi.h Marguerite Churchill, ! and is one of the most untertaining , screenplays, booked at the local house in recent months. t “Alibi tor Murder” is the story of ! a radio news commentator, played by Gargan who, aided by his s.ooge, ! “Brainy" Barker, play d by Gene | Morgan, attemp s to get a famous inventor on the air. for an interview and runs into a man-sized murder mystery. r Garga turns his attention from interviews to solving the crime, and, incidentally, becom. s involved in a very pleasing romance v'i.h the mui-d-red man’s secretary, played by Miss Churchill. Every avenue of in- , vestigation runs into a s one wall un '1 it appears that the murderer has been handled expertly by Director D. Ross Lederman to make the most of that valuable dramatic element—suspense. Gargan and Miss Churchill are- excellent in the leads and Gene Morgan qualifies as one of the screens’ j best, funny men. JIMMY DUNN IN "MYSTERIOUS CROSSING." I- ; “Mysterious Crossing” is a Univer. snl film set in New Orleans, which . fea.ures Jimmy Dunn as a newg reporter who solves the disappearance of the town’s leading banker and pre--1 vents a three-million-dollar fraud, i- Jan Rogers portrays the banker’s j daughter. Andy Devine is seen and heard a s a hillbilly singer with a mountain goat voice. ‘'Mysterious i- Crossing" showing at the King's i Theatre to-night. I The s’ory sets forth Jimmy's adven. 8 tures, from the time he sees two men loap from the railway ferry which crosses the Mississippi, until he cap ture s the guilty criminal. The action is fast and furious, as loaded wi h excitement as a thunderstorm with elec- . tricity. The humour zips along at just as rapid a pace. Romance skips v along th?? trail at Jimmy’s heels, wa.it- ■> ing to catch him unaware. The film > presents Jimmy following clues, Andy 3 Devine following Jimmy, and thugs following them both. For the event of the year, the miracle of all mir--8 acles, wait until you h ar Andy Be. • vine sing! It’s just too, too divine! j There’s a great deal of fun and a great deal of mystery in this picture. , Be sure to see it.